Clay, New York
· Tuesday, September 1, 2026· Sep 1, 2026
click for forecast ↓↓
📐 Planning Board
Clay Planning Board Postpones Equestrian Center Hearing to Feb. 25, Church Plan to Feb. 11
Both applicants requested continuances, so the board's ten-minute session pushed the Black Creek Road equestrian center to a Feb. 25 hearing and the Northside Baptist Church expansion to Feb. 11.
●Case #2025-054 (Clay Equestrian Center): Public hearing adjourned to February 25, 2026 (Vote: 7-0).
●Case #2025-056 (Northside Baptist Church): Amended site plan review adjourned to February 11, 2026 (Vote: 7-0).
●Meeting minutes from the previous session on January 14 were unanimously approved (Vote: 7-0).
The Town of Clay Planning Board moved swiftly through its agenda Wednesday night as they continued two site plan reviews.
Meeting for less than ten minutes at Town Hall, the board unanimously voted to adjourn both the Clay Equestrian Center proposal and the Northside Baptist Church expansion. The decisions, made at the request of the applicants, will push the next public hearings into February and March.
**Equestrian Center Takes Center Stage**
The most substantial item on the agenda involved Case #2025-054, a site plan for the proposed "Clay Equestrian Center" located at 9605 Black Creek Road. The project was submitted by applicant Cheryl D. White.
According to the minutes, the applicant requested a continuance to finalize details ahead of the next review. The board granted the request, moving the public hearing to February 25, 2026.
Specific details of the center's scope were not discussed during the brief session.
**Church Expansion Continued**
In a shorter proceeding, the board also handled Case #2025-056, an amended site plan for the Northside Baptist Church at 7965 Oswego Road.
The applicant for the church project also requested additional time. Board member Paul Graves made the motion to adjourn this specific case to the board’s next meeting date, February 11, 2026. The motion carried 7-0.
This adjournment ensures that the church's expansion or alteration plans will be ready for formal review later this month.
**Meeting Details**
Wednesday’s session was marked by a distinct lack of public comment or board discussion, a stark contrast to typical planning reviews which often last hours. Chairwoman Michelle Borton called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and presided over a unanimous board.
Deputy Chair Russ Mitchell and members Karen Guinup, Hal Henty, Paul Graves, Jim Palumbo, and Al McMahon were present, along with Brian Bender, the Commissioner of Planning & Development.
The board will next convene on February 11, 2026, where the Northside Baptist Church plan is expected to return for potential action. The Equestrian Center will follow on February 25.
Early coverage (re-verified). An early article, drafted by AI before our verification gate existed. Every one was later adversarially re-reviewed against its source record, and the errors found were corrected and republished in August 2026.
●Unanimously recommended zone change and special permits for The Summit FCU to construct a 3,100 sq. ft. branch with a drive-thru at 4955 West Taft Rd (Vote 7-0).
●Heard a presentation from Nexamp regarding a 5,000 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at 4664 Wetzel Rd.
●Chairwoman Michelle Berton and member Jim Palumbo recused themselves from voting on Nexamp projects due to business ties.
Clay Planning Board Approves Byrne Dairy Digital Signage, Flags Concerns Over Battery Storage
●Approved special permit for Byrne Dairy electronic sign (Case #2026-010) by a 7-0 vote.
●Voted 5-0 to send negative recommendations to the Town Board regarding Nexamp battery storage proposals (Cases #2026-001 and #2026-002), citing lack of zoning laws and proximity to residents.
●Adjourned review of Ironhorn Enterprises site plan to April 8, 2026, to establish lead agency status under SEQR.
●Continued review of Northside Baptist Church site plan to March 18, 2026, to fix lighting technicalities.
●Adjourned John E. Fisher Construction cases to April 22, 2026, due to outstanding wetland issues.
●Adjourned Northern Credit Union site plan review to March 18, 2026.
Zoning Questions Stall Elmcrest Subdivision as Clay Delays VFW Pavilion, 144-Child Day Care Plans
●Great Northern Medical Complex:** Board granted preliminary plat approval (7-0) for Conifer LLC to subdivide 121 acres, facilitating a partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University.
●National Grid Shredder:** Approved a special permit (7-0) for a new metal shredder line at 4651 Crossroads Park Dr. to recycle aluminum cable.
●Clay Equestrian Center:** Public hearing adjourned to Jan. 14, 2026, to allow time for septic and wetland designs to be finalized.
●Northside Baptist Church:** Public hearing on an 18,977 sq. ft. expansion adjourned to Jan. 14, 2026, to address lighting details.
Redevelopment Planned for Beloved "Sweetheart Corner" in Clay
●Recommended approval of a zone change from residential to regional commercial (RC-1) for 102 ½ Wally Road (Sweetheart Corner) in a 7-0 vote.
●Issued a Negative Declaration under SEQR for the Ironhorn Enterprises warehouse project on Henry Clay Blvd, determining no significant environmental impact.
●Adjourned the Northern Credit Union site plan review to May 13, 2026, due to ongoing wetland issues.
●Adjourned the EV Charging Stations site plan review on Buckley Road to April 22, 2026.
●Adjourned the Donald Gabor subdivision preliminary plat on Morgan Road to April 22, 2026.
●Adjourned the Mauro Subdivision preliminary plat on Elmcrest Road to April 22, 2026 to resolve fence and drainage easement issues.
Community Discussion
0 commentsBe the first to comment on this story.