Village of Aurora Planning Board
June 27, 2018 Minutes
Held in the Firehouse Meeting Room

Present:  Patricia Bianconi, Chair; Frank Zimdahl, Michele Murphy, 
				Pat Foser and Thea Miller.  
	   
Also Present:	Deborah Brooks, Deputy Village Clerk, Laura Holland, Jay O’Hearn, 			David Brooks and Sue Edinger Inns of Aurora Manager

	Chairwoman Bianconi opened the meeting at 7:00 PM.  She reported that the Planning Board had done a site visit Monday, 6/26/18, at 78 Court Street to review the revised plans for Grace Bates.  She noted that Ms. Bates requested a postponement of her Special Use Permit Public Hearing and review of Application #18-14, as she was not ready to move forward with the plans submitted. 
	Changes to the agenda:  On motion by Ms. Foser, seconded by Ms. Murphy, the Planning Board voted to remove Special Use Permit Public Hearing and Application # 18-14 from the agenda.  

AYES: Bianconi, Foser, Murphy, Miller, and Zimdahl
NAYS: None
Motion carried unanimously 

	Chairwoman Bianconi asked for approval of the May 23, 2018 Minutes.  Ms. Miller moved to accept the May 23, 2018 Minutes.  Mr. Zimdahl seconded the motion.  

AYES: Bianconi, Foser, Murphy, Miller, and Zimdahl
NAYS: None
Motion carried unanimously 

	Announcements – none

	Visitors – Mr. Zimdahl wished Mr. O’Hearn Happy Birthday.

	Old Business – Chairwoman Bianconi informed the Board that Ms. Edinger had requested a discussion of their May 24, 2018 letter submitted to the Village Board with the Planning Boards’ recommendations regarding the Table of Uses in the Village Zoning Law.  Ms. Bianconi noted that:
	1] The Table of Uses requires a complete revision to correct several mistakes before consideration of any additions;
	2] Applying conditions on the use such as square footage, etc. does not necessarily preclude other residential properties from meeting the criteria for a conference center;
	3] The residents of Court St and Cherry Ave will be subjected to on-going disruption and inconvenience in their neighborhood that they have endured since the conversion of Wallcourt and Shakelton’s to hotels, beginning in 2016;
  	 4] Parking and traffic concerns;
	 5] A complete, detailed master plan from the Inns of Aurora/ a full environmental impact study/ an update to the village master plan is needed to better understand the effect of each individual application on the Village (see attached letter).  
     Ms. Bianconi also read the email from Ms. Edinger (see attached) requesting this discussion.
     Ms. Edinger spoke on the Inns need to finish Shakelton House, plus get approval for Taylor House renovations and the Event Conference Center at the Eldred property located at 491 Main Street.  She noted that Ms. Rowland has set aside the necessary funds to complete these projects which need to be finished in the next 3-5 years.  Ms. Edinger also informed the Board that the Inns could not do a GEIS as there is no application submitted yet for this type of review.  She reviewed the plans for the various buildings the Inns own by using the October 17, 2017 document presented at the Village Board meeting. She questioned the Planning Board as to whether they wanted the Conference Center and if not the Inns would go somewhere else.  The Planning Board replied that if Conference Centers were permitted in the Village Zoning Law, they would act upon it. 
	Chairwoman Bianconi emphasized that the Planning Board can only recommend zoning changes to the Village Board.  All the Board members noted the need for a detailed mapped out plan of all the properties that Ms. Rowland and the Inns control.  They asked that the map be a projection from now until 2025. It was noted several times by each Board member that the Inns have changed their focus on building uses often and that the business district has dwindled to only facility operated by themselves.  
	Discussion ensued: 
	1] on the need to have the public involved on the Events Center being constructed in a residential area.  The Board asked Ms. Edinger if the Inns had asked the surrounding neighbors what they thought about this project.  She had not done so.  
	2] the Planning Board noted that an Environmental Study completed at the beginning of the Inns development would have been helpful for the Village to access zoning needs.  Ms. Edinger reminded the Board that the Village had done a Traffic Study in 2015 which concluded that the amount of parking was adequate for this village.  Ms. Brooks also reminded by the Board that the study was done three (3) years ago when the Inn business was not as large as they are today.
        3] on the need for the Village to grow and the number of homes Ms. Rowland’s has purchased and left empty.  It was noted how disappointing it is to the residents to not have the businesses and families that were here when she started her projects. 
	4] on the use of Ms. Rowland’s acquiring the “First Refusal Right” from Wells College on all their properties if sold.  Ms. Edinger noted that she could not speak for Ms. Rowland, but felt that Ms. Rowland would protect the properties she has developed already.

	In conclusion, the Planning Board asked Ms. Edinger to provide the Village Board a Master Plan with a detailed map of all their properties and how they are tied together including future plans.
	
	Again the Planning Board emphasized that the Village Board is in charge of changing the zoning law and that they have to abide by NYS regulations.

	Next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 7:00 PM.
	
	Mr. Zimdahl moved adjournment at 7:40 PM.  Seconded by Ms. Murphy.    Motion carried 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah M. Brooks
Deputy Village Clerk