The Town of Canandaigua Planning Board opened 2026 with approvals on a small solar project and a short-term rental permit, while pushing several larger or incomplete applications to its next session. The board also heard another round of resident concerns about a proposed 38-home conservation subdivision off County Road 16, then agreed to continue the public hearing as the applicant revises plans and responses to agency comments.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, Jan. 27, the board is scheduled to revisit multiple items carried over from prior meetings, including a continued wireless facility proposal, a continued house construction site plan, a tear-down and rebuild in the lake district, and several extension requests tied to older approvals.
Solar special use permit approved on Middle Cheshire Road
The board approved a continued special use permit and associated site plan for a Tier 1, ground-mounted solar array at 4410 Middle Cheshire Road. Board members discussed the installation approach and noted neighbor concerns, including disturbance from trenching and typical questions about glare. As part of the approval, the board emphasized maintaining existing trees that help screen the installation from nearby views, and clarified the project’s Tier 1 classification in the approval language.
38-home conservation subdivision remains under review, hearing continued
The board reopened the public hearing on the “Ashton Place South” conservation subdivision proposal off County Road 16, which includes an overall preliminary subdivision for 38 single-family homes and a final Phase 1 subdivision for the first set of lots. The applicant’s engineer said the development team is updating plans based on town and agency comments and highlighted one layout change aimed at expanding the conservation buffer along the northern property line.
Board members and residents again focused heavily on stormwater management, grading, and how runoff would be routed during larger storms. The chair reviewed the scope of referrals and the issues being considered, noting that multiple agencies had the opportunity to comment and that stormwater and stream impacts remain central topics as the plan revisions move forward. Residents reiterated concerns about drainage, construction impacts, and quality-of-life disruptions.
Rather than take action on environmental review or subdivision approvals, the board agreed to continue the hearing to a later meeting to allow revised plans and written responses to be submitted and reviewed before the next substantive discussion.
Tenant identification sign approved, with a split vote
The board approved a special use permit for a 90-square-foot, wall-mounted tenant identification sign at 3225 State Route 364. The motion passed 4–1.
House construction site plan on Goff Road continued to Jan. 27
A site plan application to construct a single-family home at 5983 Goff Road was presented as a re-approval of a previously approved plan that expired before a building permit was obtained. With the applicant not present, the board voted to continue the item to its Jan. 27 meeting.
Short-term rental permit approved for County Road 16 property
The board approved a special use permit for a short-term rental at 3402 County Road 16. Discussion included overnight occupancy, parking, and house rules. The applicant representative said the current sleeping arrangements are for 12 guests, and the board discussed whether to cap occupancy at that level as part of the approval. The board ultimately approved the permit with conditions, including an overnight capacity limitation reflected in the special use permit language and operating requirements.
Generator variance referral had no substantive review with applicant absent
The agenda included a referral tied to a proposed generator installation at 3510 Sandy Beach Drive that would require variances related to stream setback and lot coverage. Meeting discussion indicated the applicant was not present, and the board moved on without conducting a full review of that referral during the session.
What’s coming up next: Jan. 27 Planning Board agenda
The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. The published agenda includes:
- Continued wireless facility proposal (re-referral): A continued site plan and special use permit item involving a personal wireless communication facility on a large parcel at 2061 County Road 8. The agenda notes the location differs from the original proposed site and that the matter is being moved to a new application.
- Continued house construction site plan: The continued site plan for the single-family dwelling at 5983 Goff Road.
- Tear-down and rebuild: A site plan application for a tear-down and rebuild of a single-family dwelling at 3385 County Road 16 in the lake district.
- Extension requests:
- A first extension request tied to a previously approved commercial landscaping facility on Airport Road.
- An extension request for a septic system site plan at 5041 County Road 16, involving disturbance within 500 feet of Canandaigua Lake.
- A fourth extension request tied to the Sunset Ridge/Lakewood Valley approvals at 3535 State Route 364.
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