Catskill planning board conditionally approves fence permit, asks trustees to allow alternate member

Chair Gilbert Bagnell called the Village of Catskill Planning Board to order at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The board approved the minutes from Sept. 9, 2024, without objection. After two applicants failed to appear for a window permit (107 Greene Street) and a sign permit (432 Main Street, Greene County Chamber of Commerce), the board took up a fence and renovation matter at 15 Summit Avenue.

Chair Gilbert Bagnell reviewed the application and displayed a historical photo showing the house as a typical American foursquare with Craftsman details and porch supports consisting of doric columns on masonry piers. Bagnell said a contractor had replaced part of the porch without a permit and had propped the sagging arch with an unpermitted timber post.

Planning board member Michele Pulver described that center post as "jarring," and the board said the unpermitted work constituted a violation that must be cured before approving additional changes. Planning board member Anthony Petrianni moved — and the board approved without objection — to declare lead agency for environmental review. Planning board member Michele Pulver moved to declare the action Type II under SEQR; the motion carried without objection. Planning board member Ricky Lark then moved to approve the fence permit with conditions; the board approved the permit on the condition that the owner replace the center timber post with a masonry base and doric column to restore the porch's historical appearance.

The board recorded that the conditioned approval would cure the violation created by the unpermitted porch work and allow the remainder of the proposed interior and exterior work to proceed subject to that remedy.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, Planning Board members Deb Samuels and Lisa Marifolio expressed concern about prior board recommendations to the trustees that could permit planned unit developments (PUDs). Both said PUDs could be useful in limited cases but urged the board and trustees to consider alternatives; Chair Bagnell observed that the concerns focused mainly on one parcel.

Later in the meeting, Planning board member Ricky Lark moved, without objection, to enter an executive session to interview prospective Planning Board candidates. The board exited executive session on a motion by Anthony Petrianni. Immediately after, Petrianni, seconded by Michele Pulver, moved that the board suggest the trustees amend the village code to establish an alternate Planning Board position — an alternate who could attend most meetings and vote when a full complement of members was not present. The board approved the recommendation.

Chair Bagnell noted several ongoing restoration projects around the village and asked members to consider ways to formally recognize such efforts at a future meeting.

Anthony Petrianni moved to adjourn; the motion carried and the meeting ended at 7:55 p.m. The board noted its next meeting, if needed, would be Oct. 14, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at The Senior Center.