Monthly Report
Zoning/Codes Officer
January 1 – January 31, 2013
Essex Town Board
Essex Planning Board
January was a quieter month for permitting, though many projects were underway and progressing nicely despite the colder weather and snow! I was also not in the office as much (but worked from home and did site visits when needed) because my dog, Tucker, was being diagnosed and then treated for a rare form of cancer. I thank Sharon for being so understanding and allowing me that flexibility. Tucker is on chemo and doing pretty well considering what he is up against.
1/2/13 – Review Klipper permit materials with Mark Hall for public hearing at PB meeting. Discussion of Ierardi (Lochanbrae) interior work for spring and whether the project has to come to the PB re. exterior changes in Shoreline Overlay District with JVH and Mark Hall. Mary Hopkins at PB secretary. Emails. Permit money to Audrey re. Lochanbrae camp/Mitch Rabideau ($360.00)
1/3/13 – Klipper project – public hearing prep. Erin Hall to be there in Mark’s stead. Planning Board meeting in pm. Emails and filing. Research size of windows for egress re. second vs. first story of living space.
1/4/13 – Inspect and issue C of O to Philip Draper for renovation of ell at the Tucker Farmhouse in Boquet into single family living space. Email with Mary Draper (owner of house) re. same. C of O includes ok of woodstove installation. Emails. Code issue re. railing height for outside deck.
1/7/13 – Review final permit for Klipper project at 2222 Lake Shore Road which was approved at last night’s PB meeting. Site visit to Nat Klipper house at 2222 Lake Shore Road to inspect completed foundation and drainage work being done by Gilbert Belzile. Site visit to Kunzi house on Bull Run to inspect electrical and roof work.
1/8/13 – Building permit issued to Gilbert Belzile re. Nat Klipper’s renovation project at 2222 Lake Shore Road in the village. Discussion of temporary storage building section in the zoning ordinance with David Hislop and Jim VH. Needs to be ok’d by Ann Holland re. SEQR review of changes. Mary Hopkins and review of January PB meeting minutes. Meeting set up with Mary to go through files, PB application forms, etc. 1/15.
1/9/13 – Albany/Vet’s
1/10/13 – Albany/Vet’s
1/11/13 – Inspection of electrical and woodstove/fireplace installation at Barbara Kunzi’s new house on Bull Run. Photos from Tom Duca re. same. Further discussion of temporary storage unit ordinance with JVH. Refered to Ann Holland re. SEQR review.
Emails. Site visit to Wekin House on Blockhouse Road re. punch list for final C of O on new house project.
1/14/13 – Site visit to check on demolition at Jeff Hasting’s on Jersey Street – old storage building 75% gone. Site visit to CFES conference room addition to check on progress of project and get specs on exposed roof trusses from S & R.
1/15/13 – Meet with Mary Hopkins re. PB files and interaction with Zoning Officer. Review APA JIF for Stu Brody’s minor (2-lot) subdivision on Jersey Street. Talk to Jim VH re. agenda for next two PB meetings. Nothing for February. Possibly Brody subdivision for March. Site inspection at old Country Store property north of the village re. renovations for Larry Smead (Gerry Spooner).
1/16/13 – Albany/Vet’s
1/17/13 – APA permitting for both temporary and permanent docks researched re. thresholds for permits and variances. Inspect Nancy Budd’s new addition on Leaning Road re. door and window and floor finishes and trim work. Emails. Follow up with John Lease about mattresses and rodents living in a barn behind a rental house he owns on Route 22 in the village.
1/18/13 - Complaint by Karen Crowningshield about rats coming over to their house in Whallonsburgh from an abandoned house nearby. Rats are chewing through Styrofoam insulation and getting into their slaughterhouse facility*. (*Is this a permitted use or a grandfathered home occupation use?) Talked to owners of the abandoned house (to be bought out by FEMA and torn down because it was too damaged by Hurricane Irene), and they had checked and found no evident sign of rat infestation. Tried to contact owners by phone but no answer during the day.
1/21/13 – Conversation with Mike Hance about a motor vehicle service garage and inspection station at his house on Walker Road or about purchasing a property re. same use. There already is one more home on his property than is allowed under the APA and Town of Essex regulations. So an additional use may not be allowed. Have to send a JIF to APA to find out. Or find a more suitable location for such a use. Talked to Steve Kellogg re. the removal of the top of his stone chimney at Blockhouse Farm barn and that it is now safe from collapsing. S & R used their crane to take down the top 15+- feet. Lack of a proper sized footer is the probable cause of the chimney starting to lean out from the wall of the barn.
1/22/13 – Williston/Vet’s
1/2313 – Talked more with Mike Hance about relocating his auto repair and inspection business to a more suitable and central location. Talked to Lou Commeau about a neighbor’s hedge and how tall could it be if on the property line…6’, but unlimited if there is a 5’ setback from the property line.
1/24/13 – Talked to Mark Wrisley about plans for a pole barn and shop at his farm on the Clark Road. 30’ side lot setbacks and 75’ front setback from road must be observed. Only needs a zoning permit for the barn and a building permit for the shop, which will have a bathroom/septic. The buildings are going to be kits and designed/engineered by the supplier. Being in Resource Management, the Planning Board/APA may need to take a look at the project. Talked with John Bingham re. Comprehensive Plan and further community input/initiatives re. same.
1/28/13 – Called Mike French to schedule meeting about more work on his new house on the Daniels Road and give him info on the minimum size of bedroom windows re. egress. Talked to Stu Brody about the timing of his 2-lot subdivision and building of a log cabin on Jersey Street. Will not bring to the PB until May or June meeting. Talked to Joe Garso at Northwoods Engineering re. a dock project on the Essex waterfront and his experience on this kind of project and the permitting process re. same (APA, DEC/Army Corps, etc.)
1/29/13 – Call to Mike Blanchard at NYSEG re. undergrounding power lines along the Essex waterfront north of the ferry landing. Notarize papers for Sharon. Talked with Sharon about rat problem in Whallonsburgh. Called Mike Hance to set up time to meet and talk about garage project and potential good locations. Called Crowningshields about rat problem (no answer.)
1/30/13 – Talked to the IDA about grants for new businesses and free help drawing up a business plan in preparation for raising funds to start up a new business. Emailed Jim Van Hoven about agenda for February PB meeting and March projects.
1/31/13 – Talked to Ed Monoski re. stair railing and newel posts in his barn re. code requirements. Site visit to Jan Fortune’s on Albee Lane re. electrical and sheetrock and fireplace work. Talked to Mike Pratt re. building an additional house for himself on his home farm parcel on Alden Road. Review plans for renovating the second floor of the garage apartment at South Farm with David Sayre and requested drawings and photos. The first floor of the garage had been used by the Secret Service and state police officers as an apartment and now will be expanded to the second floor loft space. A building permit will be issued for this project unless there are any major exterior changes that the PB has to review, the building being within the Shoreline Overlay District.
Building Permit Fees (January 2013): $610.00
1/2/13 – Mitch Rabideau, Camp Lochanbrae renovations, Crater Club, $360.00
1/8/13 –Gilbert Belzile, renovations at 2222 Lake Shore Road (Klipper), $250.00
Respectfully submitted,
Lauren Murphy
Essex Zoning/Codes Officer
2/20/2013
