Neighbors press planning board on flooding as board declares lead agency for 308 Melbourne subdivision

The Village of Maranek Planning Board declared itself lead agency under SEQR for a proposed subdivision at 308 Melbourne and adopted a negative/unlisted significance determination to circulate the environmental review; the decision came after extended public comment from neighbors raising groundwater and basement‑flooding concerns.

Architect Greg D'Angelos presented the application as a subdivision that relocates an existing driveway and creates a vacant lot (Lot B). He said the applicant prepared a build‑out analysis to demonstrate a typical single‑family development would be feasible on Lot B, but several board members and neighbors pressed for clarity about whether that analysis reflected the current maximum impervious coverage allowed by zoning or only a typical house. "If someone wanted to do a garage or things like that, would that impact the calculations that were done today?" a board member asked; the applicant acknowledged that any larger future design would require new calculations and approvals.

Neighbors told the board they already experience groundwater intrusion and frequent basement pumping after modest storms. Frank Schroeder told the board the area has "ground water problems, zipping into our basements," and Dr. Robert Levitan said that after a one‑inch rain he pumps "150 gallons a minute" from his basement. Neighbors asked for test‑pit photos and confirmation of where testing occurred; the applicant and the village engineer said test pits had been performed and the engineer offered to witness future testing if the board requested it.

Consultant AKRF recommended a negative declaration for the subdivision's environmental review based on submitted materials; the board voted to be lead agency, classify the action as unlisted/Type II‑style for circulation and to send the package to Harbor/Coastal reviewers for their recommendation before scheduling a full public hearing. Board members asked the applicant to provide clearer plan labeling to distinguish what is actually being approved (subdivision and driveway relocation) from demonstrative build‑out materials and to supply any requested test‑pit documentation to the village engineer.

The board emphasized that while subdivision approval may proceed administratively for SEQR purposes, any future development on Lot B would require separate review and, if necessary, additional stormwater mitigation and site‑specific testing.