Yates board approves senior living complex

Yates board approves senior living complex

    YATES COUNTY—The Yates County Planning Board approved the project to build a 15-unit, senior apartment facility in Jerusalem, Thursday, June 28.
    Gerald Kernahan, representing Steven McMichael, said they have completed the missing parts of the application that was also presented to the planning board last month. He said the preliminary site plan was approved by the town on June 7 and will go before the town for final approval, Aug. 2.
    In May, the planning board decided the proposal lacked some of the documents to complete the long form state environmental quality review (SEQR), which has since been completed. Discussion after the approval included whether the planning board could request a document they are not required to read. County Planner Shawna Bonshak said it is within the board’s discretion and that the project should have done this environmental review originally.
    In other business:
    • The board also approved Joan Hansen-Eldred, owner of the Nest Egg, to add a third sign to her business and to allow one of the other signs to be 13 feet long. Village code limits the length of storefront signs to 10 feet. Board member Douglas Skeet said the large sign is painted onto the existing exterior. Member Alan Snyder said the village needs to review the zoning because the planning board has received similar referrals from Penn Yan recently.
    • Hydrofracking moratorium extensions were approved for both the towns of Benton and Middlesex. The Benton extension is for one year and the Middlesex expansion is for six months. Bonshak said moratorium extensions should only be approved if the municipality is in fact continuously working on laws to address fracking. She said specifically Benton is “working really hard. They just need a little more time.”
    • The board welcomed new member William Hall, representing the village of Dresden.