Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The North Salem Planning Board met on August 6, 2025, at 7:30 PM in a hybrid in‑person and Zoom session. The meeting covered public hearings, several site‑plan and subdivision applications, removal bonds for two wireless facilities, a wetlands permit, and routine administrative items.
A.P.C. Group (4 Hardscrabble Rd. – 3‑lot subdivision, preliminary plat approval): The board reviewed a draft resolution of approval. A correction was made: on page 2 the “Park Scrabble Road” reference was corrected to “Sun Valley Road.” The applicant was asked to add a note that no parking is allowed in yards (already placed under a chart) and to also include it as a numbered note. The resolution was adopted with these changes.
New Cingular Wireless/AT&T (39 Delancey Rd. – equipment swap on flagpole): Applicant Marty McGee (Arismith Development) described a nationwide antenna‑swap program (27,000 sites). The work is minor; no new equipment. The board discussed comments from the town engineer (Hahn) and agreed to defer a decision on the exemption resolution until the revised materials and an increased removal bond ($30,000) are submitted. The removal bond reduction referral to the town board was approved (motion, seconded, all aye).
AT&T Mobility (40 Sun Valley Dr. – equipment swap on monopole): Similar antenna swap; the applicant noted a reduction in antennas (from 12 to 9) and smaller units. The board received reports and again deferred action on the exemption resolution pending revised plans and an increased removal bond ($72,000). The removal bond referral was approved (motion, seconded, all aye).
Lorusso (26 Whittier Hills Dr. – fill permit/stormwater management): The board considered a draft resolution that included conditions for a demarcation barrier (HDPE or approved equal) in all green areas. Applicant Julia Lorusso requested: (1) change the term “contaminated fill” to be more specific, (2) remove references to neighboring properties (28 Whittier Hills), (3) allow weekly reporting only when work occurs (otherwise no email needed). The board agreed and approved the resolution with those modifications, plus a condition that the as‑built plan include the expanded demarcation layer for area J. Vote: 4 ayes (unanimous).
Reed Road Group (Reed Rd. – lot line adjustment): Applicant’s engineer (Rich Williams, Insight Engineering) sought a procedural discussion: whether the board would approve a lot line adjustment for four lots without requiring full DEP/stormwater permitting at this stage. The board discussed that the site’s access (common driveway over DOT land and DEP jurisdiction) would trigger additional reviews. The board agreed that a lot line adjustment could be considered separately, with a condition that the applicant would later return for a planned common driveway (tree removal and other permits would require board review in any case). A resolution for the lot line change will be prepared for the September 3, 2025 meeting. The board directed staff to schedule a work session to discuss technical comments.
Fischer (6 Cottage Ln. – wetlands permit for house reconstruction on Peach Lake): The board heard from project engineer Robert Watts (WASP Engineering) and architect Richard Vail. The main issue is phosphorus removal. The proposed underground infiltration chamber (Cultec) may not meet stormwater manual requirements due to high groundwater and a 1.5‑foot site slope. An alternative filtration strip (rain‑garden concept) was suggested. The board asked the applicant to explore reducing the deck size to allow more planting area for phosphorus uptake. The board voted to refer the variances (front, rear, side yard setbacks) to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), with the condition that the applicant report back within one week on any deck reduction that would improve phosphorus mitigation; that information would be included as a positive note in the referral letter. Vote: all aye.
Also have technical difficulties with Granicus. Oh, is that and is your um recorder on? All right. Um I'm gonna call the meeting to order. The first item on the agenda for public hearings is um Grant Road LLC, which will be carried over to the September meeting. Um on our regular meeting, the first the next item is a LaRusso application. They are going to be late, so we're going to move them down the agenda and put up first the APC group. We do have Tim Allen with us tonight. Um, Tim, if you want to unmute yourself and join in, we can test that we can hear you. No, I just didn't come out of the air. Thank you. Yes, we can. Thank you. So for the APC group, um, we have a draft resolution of approval. And it is a long one, a long document that I do not intend to read. Oh, I'm sorry. I have two people to admit board members. Have you had a chance to review this draft resolution? I have, yeah. And do you have any questions? No. I don't. The only um the only one that I'm gonna ask Tim is you did add on two of the pages the condition that, or the note I should say, that no parking is allowed in the yards. Um I was wondering if on the page that's labeled sub, if that shouldn't also be part of the notes. Um you have like I don't know, maybe 12 or 13 notes on the page. Because it's I see where you put it under the chart, and it's a little hard for it took me a while to find it. Um it typically could be a note. So let me believe it would request it that uh that being um leave it where it is, but I also want you to make it a note, is what I'm saying. Because these things are hard to find. Okay, very good. Um we had one other issue with the district page two of the resolution. Uh the second whereas references a water course along Park Scrabble Road. It should be some valley road. Absolutely. What page is that?