Monthly Report
Zoning/Codes Officer
May 1 – May 30, 2013
Essex Town Board
Essex Planning Board
5/1/13 – Site visit Cannon Point, blasting permit for foundation and septic installation. Copy materials for planning board meeting. Klipper SPR amendment for exterior changes at the Estus House (dormers and windows).
5/2/13 – Look up old pool house permit for Gary Heurich and make copies. Reissue for 2013. Talk to Sandy Lewis re. septic field completion at farm housing site in Whallonsburgh…hook up other two houses to system, enlarge leach field, etc. 500’ abutters list for Country Store project and deed. Put together project files for PB meeting. Meeting with Karen Judge and Jim Van Hoven re. parking availability in the village. Karen will draw up a map and key to parking places and post on CFES website as part of the conference addition project. PB meeting in evening.
5/3/13 – Not in office.
5/6/13 – Take documentary photos before blasting work at Cannon Point. Meet with Jim Van Hoven re. PB permits to be written up. Talked to Richard Aberle about vacant trailer on Leaning Road (Benway). David Graves is going to purchase the lot and have the trailer removed this summer. Spoke with John Klipper about a few aspects of the zoning ordinance revisions that effected his properties on School and Elm Streets. Easement list update from David Hislop at ECHO for files. Spoke to Mike Hance re. his garage operation on Sayre Road and possible sites for his expanding hauling business. Directed him to the SBA office in Plattsburgh to help put together a business plan and to look for grants/loans, etc.
5/7/13 – Copy 2013 building permits for assessors. Site visit to the French house on Daniels Road, second phase of construction work beginning. Check on Fiegl garage project on Jersey Street. Inspect blasting at Cannon Point project.
5/8/13 –Draw up list of annual inspections for fire & safety codes. Research temporary storage container regulations for possible adoption by Town of Essex.
5/9/13 – Answered complaint about large-scale dumping of household and construction waste on a property in Whallonsburgh. Called John Blaise at DEC to investigate. Met with Mike Hance and SBA rep from Plattsburgh re. business plan, grants and possible relocation of his garage business from his home to an existing commercial location.
5/10/13 – Septic system design and permit to Mike and Cindy Pratt. Site visit to new house location on Alden Road. Site visit to Klipper project on South Main Street re. deck installation and new windows.
5/13/13 – Asssist with fillng out APA JIF for Mike and Cindy Pratt for new house project on Alden Road. Work on board report. Site visit to Klipper project on Elm Street.
5/14/13 – Inspection at Cannon Point project re. underground electrical and septic installations for new camp. Work on board report. Make list of potential property maintenance violations in Essex village to investigate.
5/15/13 – Researched question from Racey Bingham about height and construction of a new stair railing needed for their farmhouse entrance re. insurance company request. Researched handicap access requirements for ramps, doorways and bathrooms and print out specs and diagrams to give to contractors. Site visit to Ierardi project on Lakeshore Road.
5/16/13 – Talked to Emily Gardner about plans for her home studio in the barn on Elm Street and for renovations to the house on the same site, including specs needed for building permit and planning board permit applications. Finished monthly report. Talked to Deb Schrodt re. a possible loading zone in front of her store for antique pick-up, etc. Town Board meeting in pm.
5/17/13 – Building permit for Mike Pratt’s new house foundation and site work. Building permit for a board fence out behind the old Country Store building north of the village. Letter to Jane Klaus-Scarborough re. height of fence in her side yard and impact on a neighboring property.
5/20/13 – Sign for Chez Ray and Lynn at the Essex Shipyard re. conformance with sign ordinance in village, consult with PB members. Deteriorated fence along Shipyard driveway taken down by Bessboro Builders during Orberg project (thank you!) Inspect site work at Cannon Point re. prep for concrete foundation work.
5/21/13 – Copy of Scarborough letter to Linda Coffin. Discussion of scope of landscaping work at Quarry Cottage and resolution of driveway issue with neighbor. Look into property maintenance issues at Ames house (South Main St.), Estus house (School Street) and Sweatt House (Route 22) for possible action. Two houses may be in foreclosure, making it hard to get anything taken care of.
5/22/13 – Out of Office – Drs. appt in VT.
5/23/13 – Talked to David Graves re. his purchase of the Benway property on Leaning Road, trailer demolition, water and septic separation distances, footprint of new house, building code requirements, distance from the river, etc. Site visit to property to look at actual separation distances for water and septic and footprint of new house re. setbacks from front and side lot boundaries and the Boquet River. Talked to contractor re. brick repair work at Norma Goff’s on Beggs. Talked to John Blaise at DEC who had investigated an active dumping site near the Boquet River in Whallonsburgh and next steps.
5/24/13 – Out of Office (New Jersey)
5/27/13 – Out of Office (New Jersey)
5/28/13 – Review Stransky and Orberg draft permits for PB meeting.
5/29/13 – Meet with Jim Van Hoven re. PB agenda for 6/6 meeting. Copies of short form EAF for 3 public hearings. Mike Pratt building permit. Talked to Mike MacNamara at APA re. Pratt and Pataki projects re. “subdivision of sites” and principal building counts on a large property. Refund for blasting permit Cannon Point. Town does not have an ordinance nor wants the responsibility of one…just check that any blasting outfit is properly licensed and has insurance prior to blasting. Inspect Barbara Kunzi’s house for C. of O.
5/30/13 –Discussion of Town buying and installing 3-4 garbage containers in the village by stores as brought up by Deb Schrodt at the Pink Pig. C. of O. for Barbara Kunzi’s new house on Bull Run. PB agenda updated. Ok for Ray for sign by road at Chez Ray and Lynn. Review and comment on draft parking plan from Karen Judge. Talked to Kay Scarborough re. height of fence at her Whallonsbay Camp and steps to resolve zoning violation.
5/31/13 – Finalize PB meeting agenda. Copy meeting/permit materials for PB members. Schedule site visits to Ierardi and Fortune projects with Mark Hall. Revision made to parking plan and submitted for PB review by Karen Judge. Emails with Todd Goff re. treehouse project at his Main Street house.
Building Permit Fees (May 2013): $290.00
Cloudsplitter Carpentry (Blasting Permit) – $50.00
Mike Pratt (New House) – $120.00
Meredith Hanna (Renovations) – $40.00
Mike Pratt (Septic Permit) – $40.00
Cloudsplitter Carpentry (Foundation Work) – $40.00
Zoning Permit Fees (May 2013): $25.00
Deborah Schrodt (Special Use Permit) – $25.00
Total Fees: $315.00
Respectfully submitted,
Lauren Murphy
Essex Zoning/Codes Officer
4/15/2013
