The Canandaigua Planning Board approved plans Tuesday night for the demolition and reconstruction of a lakefront home on North Menteth Drive, while also receiving an update on a separate shale removal project that has generated months of regulatory review and discussion.
Board members spent much of the meeting reviewing a proposal from Scott Harter to replace an existing single-family residence at 4699 N. Menteth Drive. The project involves demolishing the current home and constructing a new residence on the half-acre lakefront parcel, along with associated site improvements.
The proposal returns to the board after receiving area variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Since the original submission, the design has been modified to include a crawl space instead of a slab foundation, resulting in a higher finished floor elevation and a slight shift of the structure on the lot.
Architect Jay Harris-Maxwell presented updated renderings showing a two-story lakefront home featuring simulated wood siding, stone accents, extensive lakeside windows and a covered patio facing Canandaigua Lake. Project representatives said the design was intended to fit within the character of surrounding development while maximizing views of the lake.
Stormwater and shoreline concerns dominate discussion
Board members focused much of their review on stormwater management, floodplain compliance and shoreline protection.
The project includes a courtyard constructed with permeable pavers designed to allow water infiltration and reduce runoff. Representatives said soil testing confirmed the site could support the proposed septic system and drainage features.
Several board members requested additional documentation related to the permeable paving system, including detailed cross-sections, stone depths and a long-term maintenance plan to ensure the system continues functioning as intended.
Questions were also raised about fill material that will be used to elevate portions of the site. The applicant agreed to provide additional information regarding fill specifications and compaction methods.
Floodplain issues received significant attention as well. The new home will be elevated above the mapped floodplain, with representatives stating the first-floor elevation will exceed required standards while still remaining within the town’s height limitations.
Board members also reviewed landscaping plans and shoreline guideline considerations, discussing tree preservation, screening and the visual impact of the project from neighboring properties and the lake.
Following discussion, the board approved the site plan and granted a waiver allowing a 10-foot-wide driveway connection rather than the standard 12-foot width. The approval included several conditions requiring additional engineering details, maintenance plans and documentation before final signatures are issued.
Shale removal project takes unexpected turn
After completing action on the site plan application, the board heard an update from Harter regarding a separate project involving the removal of accumulated shale from a shoreline property at 5275 Menteth Drive.
The project had previously required extensive discussions with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and local boards because of plans to temporarily stockpile removed shale material.
Harter told board members the project’s direction changed after additional discussions with DEC staff. According to Harter, state officials ultimately determined the shale could be managed through the agency’s Beneficial Use Determination process, allowing it to be reused rather than treated as solid waste.
As a result, the proposed stockpile area that previously generated review from both the Planning Board and Environmental Conservation Board is no longer needed.
Instead, the material will be transported off-site for reuse on a driveway project in Middlesex.
Harter described the permitting process as one of the most administratively challenging projects he has encountered during his career, noting that different conversations with state regulators produced significantly different guidance as the review progressed.
Board members said they wanted the update because the project had prompted substantial discussion during previous meetings and highlighted the complexity of shoreline permitting and materials management regulations along Canandaigua Lake.
Board begins review of shoreline guidelines
The board also began preliminary discussions about updating the town’s shoreline and ridgeline guidelines.
Planning staff said a recent review found that portions of the guidelines were removed from the town’s site design criteria in 2018, creating uncertainty for both applicants and board members when evaluating development proposals.
Board members discussed the need for clearer expectations regarding shoreline development, landscaping, stormwater management and visual impacts. Several members expressed interest in creating more objective standards that would provide applicants with clearer direction while helping protect the lake and surrounding viewsheds.
The Planning Board and Environmental Conservation Board are expected to review the existing guidelines and provide recommendations before further discussion later this summer.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for June 30 after adjustments were made because of the June primary election.
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