The Walworth Planning Board approved two subdivision requests and continued action on several other applications during its meeting this week, including a proposed 33-unit townhouse development at Gananda Parkway and Eagles Roost Lane.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a vote to approve the minutes from the December meeting, after board members were asked whether they had received them.
Before moving into the night’s agenda, the board discussed a request from “Walworth solar” seeking an additional meeting so its review timeline could meet a 30-day requirement. A board member said the request stemmed from the prior month’s meeting being held a week late and proposed holding the additional meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22. The board discussed availability and said a time would be set after checking what worked for both the board and the applicant.
Subdivision approvals: Walworth-Ontario Road and Ontario Center Road
The board opened a public hearing on an application listed on the agenda as a subdivision request at 4090 Walworth-Ontario Road. During the discussion, the applicant was identified as Gary McGee, who told the board he was “taking four acres and giving it to my grandson.” After no public comments were offered, the board closed public comment. A board member said the application did not require a county referral, and the board approved the SEQR and resolution together, with a roll call vote that included “Kristin Rush” voting yes and “Patty Marie” voting yes.
The board then opened a public hearing on a subdivision request listed on the agenda for 4309 and 4311 Ontario Center Road. The discussion described splitting off a portion of an existing parcel, referencing that it had been a separate lot previously, and noting access considerations including a “flag lot.” After no further questions from the board and no public comments, the board closed public comment and approved the resolution and SEQR, with a roll call vote recorded as yes votes.
KT Property Holdings subdivision: Swadling/“Squadron” Road discussion
The board opened a public hearing on the KT Property Holdings LLC subdivision request listed on the agenda at 5424 Swadling Road. The applicant’s engineer, identified as Don Lewis of “Costich Engineering,” described dividing the parcel into three separate lots and discussed revisions related to grading and groundwater, and a lot-line adjustment described as moving a line 20 feet to allow both homes’ basements access to a ditch line for drainage.
During the hearing, a speaker raised a point of order asking that the title of the resolution be read into the record; the resolution was identified as “final subdivision approval and SEQR determination” and referenced 5424 “Squadron” Road in the discussion. A motion was made and seconded “as written,” and the discussion then moved on to the next agenda item.
Special use permit for horse-related use continued for county review
The board opened a public hearing on a special use permit application listed on the agenda for 3816 West Walworth Road. The applicant, Donna Salentino, told the board she had previously been before the board regarding use of the property and said she was now seeking approval related to renting out horse stalls, describing an arena and stalls on the property and saying she did not want the building to deteriorate. In response to a board question, she said she would rather rent the facility than personally care for the horses, and she discussed an expectation of “seven horses.”
Board members said the application required county review because it is on a county road, and said the SEQR form and special use permit materials would be sent for county referral. The board then voted to adjourn the public comment portion of the hearing to next month.
Windward Lake Homes application: Address and zoning clarification, hearing adjourned
The agenda listed the Windward Lake Homes, LLC subdivision and site plan application at 1 Country Club Drive as tabled at the applicant’s request, with no action to be taken. During the meeting, the board continued the public hearing and noted no one was present to speak for the applicant. A speaker thanked the board for correcting the property address in legal notices and also discussed the zoning terminology for the PD planned development designation. The board then adjourned the public hearing on the matter.
Verschage Construction townhouse proposal: Board questions, public raises traffic and drainage concerns
The board continued the public hearing on the Verschage Construction site plan application for a vacant lot at Gananda Parkway and Eagles Roost Lane. A representative for Verschage said the application proposed 33 townhouse-style units on roughly a 3.5-acre parcel, and said updated materials and a traffic study had been submitted, with the project still under review.
During the hearing, a town consultant said review of revised plans had not advanced earlier because the traffic analysis had not yet been provided, and said MRB Group expected to provide a comment letter after reviewing the traffic analysis and revised plans. The representative for the applicant objected to delays in the process, and the discussion included differing statements about when materials were received.
Board members raised concerns including project density, pedestrian safety, parking near the road, and road width and drainage features. In response, the applicant’s representative said the property would allow for 48 units and that 33 were proposed, and said 71 parking spaces were planned compared with a stated requirement of 50.
After the board prepared to adjourn public comment, it reopened the public comment portion to invite speakers. Several residents spoke about traffic and safety at the intersection, including one speaker who said vehicles travel “60-65 miles per hour” on the roadway and that pulling out can be “treacherous.” Another resident, Jason Liebig, asked for the traffic study results and said informal counts showed “10 cars average per minute,” while also referencing a 2023 town plan identifying the parkway as a traffic concern. A third speaker, identifying an address on Beaver Creek, reiterated traffic concerns, argued the proposed density differed from surrounding development, and raised concerns about drainage and potential basement impacts, while also saying residents had attended prior meetings when the applicant did not appear.
The board then adjourned public comment on the Verschage application and concluded the meeting, voting to adjourn.
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