Regular Meeting
Town of Watertown Planning Board
January 28, 2026
Members Present: Tom Boxberger, Co-Chair
Pam Desormo, Co-Chair
Terry MacAdam
Jim Smith
Excused: Randy Vaas
Jean Waterbury, Alternate
Mr. Boxberger called the rescheduled February meeting of the Town of Watertown Planning Board to order at 3:00 p.m on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Motion 7-26: Motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to accept the minutes of the January 7, 2026 meeting as written and distributed.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Reminder: The March meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING – SITE PLAN/SPECIAL USE PERMIT
St. Lawrence Seaway/Greenwood Trust – 20356 County Route 63 – Tax Map #90.07–29.2 – Cell Tower
Evidence was provided that notice was posted in the newspaper.
The public hearing was opened at 3:02 p.m. No one from the public wished to speak. The public hearing was adjourned to allow the developer to provide additional material for review. The public hearing will reconvene on March 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
SUBDIVISION
Dale Morse/Gregg Casselman – Falls Road – Tax Map #90.18-1-13.41 – 2 Lot Subdivision
The Board review plans submitted by Gregg Casselman. The plan meets all zoning requirements. Discussion followed.
Mr. Morse needs to sign the application. The application fee of $100 needs to be submitted along with a short EAF.
Motion 8-26: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to schedule a public hearing for Dale Morse/Gregg Casselman on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. for a 2 lot subdivision on Falls Road, Tax Map #90.18-1-13.41.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
SITE PLAN/SPECIAL USE PERMIT
St. Lawrence Seaway/Greenwood Trust – 20356 County Route 63 – Tax Map #90.07-1-29.2 – Cell Tower.
James LaValle, Young/Sommer LLC, on behalf of St. Lawrence Seaway/Greenwood Trust, stated that the Balloon Test still has not been completed. Once it has been completed, the result will be submitted to the Planning Board.
Comments from the Jefferson County Department of Planning dated January 28, 2026 were entered into record (Attachment #1).
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Mr. Boxberger addressed some of the comments from the Jefferson County Department of Planning.
• Avoid barbed wire on top of the compound fence as it is not permitted under Town Zoning Law.
It is the consensus of the Planning Board that it is not the intent of local regulations to restrict barbed wire as it pertains to this proposed project.
• All lighting must be Dark Sky Compliant.
• Clarification needs to be made on whether this proposed project is a telecommunications facility or public utility facility.
It is the consensus of the Planning Board that this proposed project is a public utility facility.
SITE PLAN/SPECIAL USE PERMIT
St. Lawrence Seaway – Utility Pole NM 80/ VZ 68 – Adjacent to 20823 NYS Route 3 3 – Micro Wireless Communication Center
James LaValle, Young/Sommer LLC, on half of Verizon, submitted a completed application and proposed plans for a micro wireless communication center on Utility Pole NM 80/ VZ 68- Adjacent to 20823 NYS Route 3.
The plans are to mount 4G a antennas on Utility Pole NM 80/ VZ 68- Adjacent to 20823 NYS Route 3 in the Town of Watertown to improve coverage in the area. Discussion followed.
Motion 9-26: Motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to schedule a public hearing for St. Lawrence Seaway for site plan/special use permit on Wednesday, March 11, 202 at 3:00 p.m. for a micro wireless communication center on Utility Pole NM 80/VZ 68- Adjacent to 20823 NYS Route 3 in the Town of Watertown.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Mike Lundy – Jefferson County Industrial Park – Lot #11 – Tax Map #73.20-1-2.172 – Manufacturing Building – Site Plan
Mike Lundy requested that the final approval on this proposed project be extended sixty days to allow for completion of an updated land study, final SWPPP, and water and sewer permits.
SITE PLAN
Mike Lundy – CWT Hatchery Expansion – 20835 Alexander Drive – T.I. Ag Park – Tax Map #82.00-2-1.5 – 20,000 Square Foot Expansion to Existing Building.
Mr. Lundy submitted a completed application, short form SEQR, and reviewed plans for a 20,000 square foot expansion to the CWT Hatchery located in the T. I. Ag Park, 20835 Alexander Drive, – Tax Map #82.00-2-1.5. The SWPPP is being modified. Discussion followed.
• Mr. Boxberger revisited the request from the New York State Department of Transportation for an updated traffic study for the T. I. Ag Park as they have contacted the Planning Board numerous times regarding this matter.
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Mr. Boxberger stated that the original study that was completed and accepted in 2019 addressed a lot of properties that have not been developed. Only three of eight lots are actually developed. Lot #6 has conditional approval only.
If the proposed event center happens, a new traffic study would have to be conducted.
At this time, in lieu of an updated traffic study, Mr. Lundy was asked to take a look at the predicted flows generated for the original eight lots and compare to the actual flows generated by the three lots that are developed including the proposed expansion of CWT Hatchery and proposed Lot #6 and submit a plan showing a comparison to what we show for demand versus what it actually is so it can be submitted to the Jefferson County Department of Planning and NYS Department of Transportation.
• The other issue is that the temporary highway cut from Route 3 to Lot #1 has expired. The highway cut is being used for construction only. Can the highway cut be relocated?
Mr. Lundy stated that the reason it stayed is because it is being used as an alternate path for Joel Bartlett’s water and sewer project in the event the main road is tied up there would still be a way in and out. Once the project is complete, the highway cut should be able to be removed..
Mr. Lundy was asked to provide documentation regarding the highway cut so it can be submitted to the NYS Department of Transportation.
Motion 10-26: Motion by Mr. MacAdam, seconded by Mr. Smith to schedule a public hearing for site plan of the CWT Hatchery Expansion for Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. for property located in the T. I. Ag Park, 20835 Alexander Drive, Tax Map #82.00-2-1.5.
Ayes all: Motion Carried.
Motion 11-26: Motion by Mr. MacAdam, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to adjourn the meeting 3:48 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Susan Burdick
Secretary