The Town of Pompey Planning Board held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, August 21st at 6:30pm at the Pompey Town Hall. The official meeting started at approximately 6:45pm due to technical difficulties connecting virtually to the Zoom app. A full video of the two-hour and 45-minute meeting can be viewed on the Town of Pompey Facebook Page.
On the agenda was the continued review of the Heritage Hill meat processing facility site plan.
The Town Hall was standing room only, and a Sheriff’s deputy was present for the entirety of the meeting due to concerns over the potential for public disturbance from members of the community who are opposed to the new facility and current activities taking place on the Heritage Hill property.
Once the technical issues were resolved, Board Chair Sue Smith asked Dan Palladino to approach the Board to submit to a series of detailed questions and answers regarding the new operation as well as the existing brewhouse, restaurant, and event venue. Among the topics discussed at length were hours of operation, water usage, septic, and noise levels.
Mr. Palladino stated that the value of Heritage Hill is in its story, not in mass production and private labeling. His desire is to maintain the “Family Farm” environment and to use as much beef from his own property as possible, supplementing with beef from other local farmers within the community or, worst case, New York State.
Palladino has 30 head of beef currently with 100 acres of existing pasture and 300 acres in total. He intends to convert the West side of Sweet Road to additional beef pasture as demand ramps up.
There was some confusion over water usage, as conversations with Palladino and Steigerwald (Palladino’s partner in the meat processing venture) had previously suggested that water usage was expected to be 75 gallons a day. Numerous residents questioned the veracity of that number, and the Board asked for clarification from Palladino, who said the 75 gallons is the expected wastewater amount, with approximately 500 gallons a day total expected to be used for the meat processing facility. All operations at the brewery/restaurant/event venue as well as the new meat processing facility are expected to use approximately 2,000 gallons per day.
Palladino said the water they use is spring fed and that not attached to other people’s wells. They use the spring-fed water for Heritage Hill.
Town Engineer John Dunkle’s report states that the existing DEC approved well is capable of 17gpm, which can produce more than 24,000 gallons per day. The septic for Heritage Hill has been approved by Onondaga County and the DEC. It was noted that a new septic plan would have to be approved for the meat processing facility.
Additional discussions included lighting modifications and noise levels, which have been of particular concern to the owners of neighboring properties.
Smith opened the discussion up to the public briefly to address the noise issue, allowing some members of the community to speak — but refusing others equal time. Of those who were allowed to speak, the common theme was the “nuisance” of persistent music at Heritage Hill. Neighbors complained repeatedly about decibel levels and rumbling bass disturbing their peaceful enjoyment of their property every weekend of our brief CNY summers.
While neighbors claim to have recorded decibel levels of 70 and over on their properties, the Palladinos report their own measurements at no greater than 60 decibels in front of the state, with averages around 38-44 at the property line.
It was decided that the entire Heritage Hill property would be allowed to host no more than 578 people and 370 vehicles at any given time and that music would be allowed no more than three hours a day, four days a week, and could go no later than 9pm.
The Board then proceeded to read their previously prepared SEQR determinations, after which they voted unanimously to adopt the negative SEQR findings. Following this, Board Member Kevin Coursen read the also previously prepared resolution to approve the site plan with conditions, which was also voted on and unanimously approved.
