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Town of Wheatfield revises, increases certain permit, building fees

by yarger
Thu, Sep 13th 2018 12:00 pm
By David Yarger
Tribune Editor
The Town of Wheatfield Town Board met Monday night for their first meeting of the month. At the light meeting, the board discussed increases to certain permit and building fees in the town.
The renewal of a building permit; residential and commercial fence permits; above ground and in-ground swimming pools; annual cell tower inspection fee; and applications for site plan review all experienced increases in price.
The prices are as follows: Renewal of a building permit (extension of one year) - 50 percent of original cost, $30 minimum; fence permit - $30 residential, $35 commercial; fwimming pools - above ground $35, in-ground $75; annual cell tower inspection - $1,000; and application for site plan review - $200 (Each review after the second review is $150).
The updates were made to get with the times, as past prices were deemed low by the town.
Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan said, "There was a change because an abutting town was challenged on calling it an annual renewal fee, and they lost. And if you put in an inspection fee in to fact that you do inspect the tower at the end of the year, it's more in compliance with the town's regulations that you can charge an inspection fee."
Building Inspector Mike Klock said, "It has been about four to five years since the last time we did take a good, hard look at it. So, I think we're a little more current and right on line with a lot of the other townships."
Klock added that he and MacSwan spent quite a bit of time going over and evaluating proper fees.
The Town Board also approved increases to certain engineering review fees. The fee increases involved site plan review, subdivisions, stormwater pollution prevention plan review and the public improvement program.
Most notable fees for site plan and subdivisions are as follows: Site plan - $500 for less than one acre, plus $150 for each additional acre over one. After the second review, an additional fee of 50 percent of the initial fee will be charged for each additional review; and subdivisions - 20 lots or less is $75 per lot, over 20 lots is $1,500 plus $50 per lot over 20. After the second review, an additional fee of 50 percent of the initial fee will be charged for each additional review.  
In other news:
• The Town Board scheduled a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, in regards to a proposed change in town code, chapter 200, article XIV: administration and enforcement, section 200-94: Zoning Board of Appeals.
• The town also authorized installation of an LED street light at 3317 Colleen Terrace. The light is being installed on the corner of Colleen Terrace now that the road extension for phase two of the Eagle Chase subdivision has been completed. The installation is also a step forward in Councilman Curt Doktor's motive to bring LED lighting to Wheatfield. Doktor said he has an upcoming meeting with the New York Power Authority where financials will be discussed regarding the LED lighting.
• The town will also apply for block grant funding from the New York State Office of Community Renewal for the new Pellicano's Marketplace building along Niagara Falls Boulevard. The town held a public hearing on the matter in August, and after further discussion the board authorized MacSwan to execute the grant documents and move forward. The Pellicano's extension will result in approximately 18 new jobs, which will benefit the town.
• The Recreation Department will soon be on Facebook and/or Instagram. The board approved that Recreation Director Mike Ranalli could set up the social media pages to help better inform residents of events, programs, updates, cancellations and more.
• The next Town of Wheatfield Town Board meeting is at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24. 

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