Petition to the Planning Board, November 2015 Henry Avenue

We respectfully request that the Planning Board refrain from addressing environmental concerns on a piece-meal basis and, instead, make a positive declaration of significance for the 1216 Henry Avenue subdivision under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) for the following reasons:

• Segmentation: The phases of the subdivision are being segmented by the developer in an attempt to avoid environmental review under SEQRA; it is a three lot subdivision and all of its components that require discretionary permissions: the enlargement of the existing house: the demolition of outbuildings to create zoning-compliant lots; the subdivision of the property in to a three-lot subdivision should be considered as an entire action under SEQRA
• Rock Chipping: There is significant rock involved in this development potentially impacting the neighboring foundations and creating an adverse building situation. In addition, there has been fill and grading that has already taken place although it is unclear whether permits were issued to do these development activities.
• Storm water - Infiltration system proposed in the submitted Storm water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) does not conform with Chapter 294 (Storm water Management), the New York State Storm water Design Manual and Best Management Practices.
• Neighborhood Character; the centerpiece of the new development, the greatly expanded house at 1216 Henry Avenue is out of character with the rest of the neighborhood; the Planning Board has expressed concerns that the proposed new buildings should be required to be consistent in scale and massing with the community character and cannot possibly issue a negative declaration until it is presented with the evidence that the proposed houses are consistent with the neighborhood. (This is not a zoning or FAR issue it is an aesthetic issue).
• Environmental impacts acknowledged by applicant: The developer has acknowledged that there are potential environmental impacts and concerns, going so far as to propose alternatives.

We respectfully request that the Planning Board make a positive declaration under SEQR and require an Environmental Impact Statement.