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Sodus Point planning board splits on requiring surveys for preliminary approvals
Summary
Board members debated whether the Planning Board should require formal surveys before granting preliminary subdivision approvals; some members warned sketch plans could lead to unapprovable construction later, while the chair said the code does permit preliminary approval and members agreed to work within existing regulations.
The Sodus Point Planning Board debated whether preliminary approvals for subdivisions should be conditioned on formal property surveys, with remote member Mark Costich urging a stricter requirement and the chair citing existing code authority.
"The PB should not grant preliminary approvals which allows people to construct things that later may not be approvable if a survey is not done first," Mark Costich said, arguing the board should require a full survey and sketch plan before issuing preliminary consent. Chair Bruce Evener read the code aloud noting the board has authority to give preliminary approval under current regulations (Code 190-61), and other members described a pragmatic approach that seeks to balance certainty with procedural efficiency.
Members discussed how preliminary approvals inform subsequent Zoning Board review: Bill McKee said that preliminary approval signals to the Zoning Board that the Planning Board is generally comfortable with a proposed plan, while Costich argued allowing preliminary approvals without surveys risks enabling construction that could later fail compliance checks. Janine Fogarty and other members indicated comfort working under existing language but agreed to consider clarifying when surveys are required.
The exchange ended without a formal code amendment; the board agreed to continue working on internal guidance and requested members submit specific suggestions for revisions.
