HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.8.2010 Planning Board MinutesMeeting #16 Planning Board December 8, 2010
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Village of Cayuga Heights
Planning Board Meeting #16
December 8, 2010
Minutes
Board Members Present: Chair Martin Harms, Alternate Sean Cunningham, Frederick Cowett,
Graham Gillespie,
Others: VCH PB Consultant George Frantz, Police Chief Boyce, Clerk Mills, Clerk Poppensiek
Guest: VCH Trustee Szekely
The meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board was called to order at 7:04 PM.
Chairman Harms reviewed the agenda.
There is no further update on the Upland Road development by Mark Mecenas. Mr. Mecenas
has agreed to extend the review period.
Motion: Frederick Cowett
Second: Graham Gillespie
Resolution No. 52
AUTHORIZING ALTERNATE MEMBER TO VOTE AT TONIGHT’S MEEING
RESOLVE, that the Alternate member, Sean Cunningham,
is hereby authorized to vote at tonight’s meeting.
Aye Votes: Martin Harms, Frederick Cowett, Graham Gillespie, All Approve
Motion: Frederick Cowett
Second: Sean Cunningham
Resolution No.. 53
APPROVING MINUTES OF November 10, 2010
RESOLVE, that the written, reviewed and revised minutes of November 10,
2010 meeting are hereby approved.
Chair Harms opened the floor for Public Comment at 7:15 pm
There were no public comments at this time. Chair Harms invited George Frantz to make an
announcement: Sunday, December 12th at 7:00 pm at the Ithaca Town Hall there will be a
Marcellus Shale presentation by his graduate students.
Chair Harms closed the floor at 7:18 pm
Next item: Board Training – A presentation at TC3 last week was attended by several Board
members. The focus was on the SEQR process.
It was discussed that members need by law to complete four training hours per year. Currently
there is no formal record keeping with regard to training hours. Certificates of training hours
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earned should be submitted to the Village Clerk. The Clerk will create a database to record
training hours completed.
It was pointed out that there are alternatives to the training at TC3. G. Frantz indicated that the
NY Planning Federation offers training courses in the fall. There are also on-line classes
available through New York State. In any event, it was advised that the Planning Board
members not wait until near the end of the year in order to complete their training.
Next item: Comprehensive Plan – Collection of information from the VCH department heads
regarding suggestions, changes, and additions to the Comprehensive Plan.
Chief Boyce started by noting that adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes can be costly, and many
people may not want a sidewalk in front of their home. A bicycle lane must be four feet wide by
law, which could mean in some cases buying land from the property owners. Adding parks,
pathways, and trails may also mean hiring more police. Parks, pathways, and trails can provide
access to predators and thereby require an increased police presence or response.
Parks used by families during the day may bring out undesirables at night. There is a growing
need to watch out for trespassing, break-ins and car item theft. Chief Boyce indicated more goes
on in the Village than one would thing. The Village currently employs 6 full-time and 14 part-
time police officers. In response to a question by G. Gillespie, Chief Boyce indicated that there
is one officer on duty during each shift.
Discussion continued regarding the types of people who are out during the night, and the volume
of negative occurrences. The Village’s Fire and Police Departments provide great service to
Village residents. However, if parks, pathways, and trails are added, then these services will also
need to increase and paying for this increase needs to be addressed.
Chair Harms asked a question regarding record computerization, and renovations and additions
to Marcham Hall. Currently, Superintendent Cross is working on court room renovations
pertaining to lighting and reworking the electric panels downstairs with a contingency budget not
to exceed $50,000. With respect to record computerization, grants may be available to assist in
records management. Mention can be made in the Comprehensive Plan to improve records
management.
Trustee Szekely suggested that the Comprehensive Plan should include mention of the need to
appoint a village historian to research, document, and publicize Village of Cayuga Heights
history.
F. Cowett suggested that it would be advantageous to Village residents to have as much data
digitized and made easily accessible to residents, possibly via the Village website. Data could
include documents submitted to the Planning Board such as stormwater plans, SEQR reports, etc.
Greater availability of such documents might increase resident interest in the work of the
Planning Board.
Chair Harms noted that, with regard to renovating Marcham Hall, proactive, long-term planning
should be emphasized. For example, the server needs to be updated and Marcham Hall needs to
be made handicap accessible.
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F. Cowett added that the Comprehensive Plan should include mention of the need to expand and
renovate Marcham Hall to accommodate existing and future needs for provision of Village
services.
Chair Harms offered possible additions to the Comprehensive Plan: improve efficiency of
Village agencies through improved record management and provide greater access to Village
records for Village residents.
G. Frantz also noted that Cayuga Heights has a historic pattern of development and many places
in the Village might be considered historic.
Chair Harms reminded the group that Janet Shure has conducted as in-depth review of historic
places in the Village: this review could provide the basis for a Village of Cayuga Heights register
of historic places.
More discussion followed regarding changes to the Comprehensive Plan, including the concerns
and issues regarding the construction of new sidewalks and the repair of existing ones; creating
subdivisions and its implications; coordinating with NYSEG and Village street paving projects;
and if there are any updated, accurate maps or GIS layers of VCH utilities.
A suggestion was made to change the meeting day from Wednesday to another day of the week
to give Superintendent Cross opportunity to attend meetings. Consideration of any change was
tabled for the next Planning Board meeting: January 12th.
G. Frantz will take suggestions and changes so far discussed and implement them in a revision of
the Comprehensive Plan for the January 12th meeting. It was noted that Chair Harms will not be
available for the February and March Planning Board meetings. Hopefully, the Comprehensive
Plan will be far enough along by the June meeting to forward a draft to the Board of Trustees for
their review and possible approval. Chair Harms asked Mr. Frantz to revisit and revise the
proposed timeline for completion of the Comprehensive Plan for the January 12th meeting.
F. Cowett suggested prioritizing completion of the Comprehensive Plan before proceeding with
plans for the Community Corners charette. G. Gillespie advised of the need for additional
manpower with respect to the charette and the possible need to rethink its implementation.
Discussion continued regarding the charette and was tabled for a future meeting.
Motion: Graham Gillespie
Second: Sean Cunningham
RESOLUTION No. 54 – Adjourn Meeting
Resolve, that this meeting was adjourned at 10:15 PM.
All in favor – Aye None opposed
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