April 26, 2017
New York

Milo enacts subdivision law changes

The Observer Review & Express | April 25, 2017 | www.observer-review.com

MILO–The town board of Milo held two public hearings Monday, April 17 regarding subdivisions and solar and wind energy tax exemptions.
After hearing no public comments on the subdivision proposal, the board approved the new “Subdivision of Land” law for the town.
The new guidelines include general requirements about development and also very specific stipulations about cluster development, lot consolidation, lot line adjustment and subdivision.
The purpose of the guidelines for cluster development include the following: (1) to encourage creative and flexible site design that is sensitive to the land’s natural features and adapts to the natural topography, (2) to protect environmentally sensitive areas of a development site and preserve on a permanent basis open space, natural features and farm operations, (3) to promote cost savings in infrastructure installation and maintenance by such techniques as reducing the distance over which utilities such as water and sanitary sewer lines need to be extended and (4) to provide opportunities for social interaction and active and/or passive recreational activities in open space areas.
Among other requirements, the code specifies that a cluster group must include at least 20 percent open space land. The proposed plans must include details about landscaping and protection of existing vegetation during and after construction.
The code will go into effect as soon as it is received by the state, a process that takes one to two weeks.
The second hearing was on the proposed local law disallowing solar and wind tax exemptions. Again, there were no comments from the public. Milo approved a law to disallow tax exemptions for solar and wind installations. (If a town doesn’t have this law in place installations can be 100 percent exempt for 15 years). Even though there are no large solar or wind projects currently underway in Milo, the board wanted to take pre-emptive action and passed the law.
Sheriff Ron Spike gave crime and 911 call information for the town of Milo. The top reasons the sheriff was called in Milo include dog complaints (66), motor vehicle accidents (49), animal complaints (37), hitting a deer while in a vehicle (36), home alarms (36), speeding (31) and domestic violence (30).
Four burglaries outside the village but in Milo were reported, 11 possession or sale of drug charges and 19 larceny charges. There were two arrests for driving without a license, 19 for harassment and four for trespassing. There was one overdose.
Seventy-five traffic tickets were issued in the town of Milo while 24 were issued in the village of Penn Yan. The sheriff noted his deputies do not patrol Penn Yan regularly but issue tickets “if they happen to be passing through” and note a problem.
The sheriff said the “next generation” of 911 calling will include texting for help. This is not yet available. At the present time residents can text crime tips by downloading the “YATES TIPS” app for free at the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store by searching YATES TIPS. The Sheriff’s Office emblem is the icon. The sheriff said some tips he has received have led to arrests.
Town supervisor Leslie Church read a letter she had received from Dundee Central School inviting participation in a regional resources group to explore expansion of broadband services in the area. She also explained that dark fiber is in the process of bringing broadband to areas of Milo. The board agreed continued development of broadband is crucial to improving everyday life in the town.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/04/26/milo-enacts-subdivision-law-changes/