HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.28.2010 Special Planning Board Minutes.pdfMinutes
for
Village of Cayuga Heights
Special Planning Board Meeting #2
Held on April 28, 2010
The special meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board was called to order
at 7:03 PM.
Board Members Present: Members: Martin Harms, Henry Richardson, Graham
Gillespie, Frederick Cowett and Alternate Member, Sean Cunningham
Board Member Absent: Mark Morris
Board Secretary: Mary Jane Neff
Others: Kristin Gutenberger
Guests: See attached list
Chairman Harms requested authorization allowing Alternate Sean Cunningham to vote at
tonight’s meeting.
On a motion by Richardson, seconded by Gillespie the following was unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 25
AUTHORIZING ALTERNATE MEMBER TO VOTE AT TONIGHT’S MEETING IN THE
ABSENCE OF MEMBER MARK MORRIS
RESOLVED, that Sean Cunningham is hereby authorized to vote at tonight’s meeting in the
absence of Member Mark Morris.
The minutes were presented and reviewed for April 14, 2010 meeting.
On a motion by Gillespie, seconded by Cowett the following was unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 26
APPROVING MINUTES OF APRIL 14, 2010
RESOLVE that the minutes of April 14, 2010 meeting are hereby approved as presented.
Public Comment:
Joe Kreitinger, 211 Hanshaw Road, requested the Board to expedite their recommendation on the
fence ordinance and to not recommend the extension of the fence moratorium.
Chairman Harms stated that since tonight’s meeting focus is the request from the Board of
Trustees to make recommendation on the fence ordinance; he invited the guests to make
comments during the Board’s discussion.
Member Gillespie started the discussion by stating that he favored separating the deer issue from
the fence issue. The fence issue should be part of the Planning Board’s comprehensive plan.
Chairman Harms asked for the consensus of the Board – separating out deer fencing with an
ordinance for deer fencing only or addressing all of the fence issues. It was the consensus of the
Board that they make a recommendation for a deer fence ordinance intending it to be temporary
until the completion of the comprehensive plan which will also include fencing.
Member Cowett had compiled the fence information that he had gathered for the Zoning Board
of Appeals into an overhead presentation, which the Board reviewed, starting with the current
Village of Cayuga Heights fence ordinance. Next they discussed fence material and color of
fence material by reviewing other municipal’s fence ordinance descriptions and looking at a
sample that Chairman Harms provided. Setbacks were discussed next including defining front,
side and rear yards. The presentation had several different ordinances that addressed setbacks
and descriptions. They next discussed whether all fence constructions should require a building
permit and what an acceptable height of a deer fence should be.
The Board compiled the following:
1. The material description of a deer fence from the Town of Ithaca’s new fence ordinance
requiring through visibility of 90% with proof being from the manufacturing specifications.
2. Posts cannot be higher than the fence material.
3. The height not more than 8 feet measured from the downhill side. Any height extension to 8
feet on existing fence must meet the 90% visibility requirement.
4. Deer fences can be placed on property lines on rear and side lots.
5. Requiring permits for all fence constructions
6. No grandfathering of existing, non conforming fences.
There was a considerable amount of discussion on the setback requirement for front yards, after
which no consensus of the board was determined.
Prior to requesting Attorney Gutenberger to compose a draft ordinance for deer fences in the
Village of Cayuga Heights for the Planning Board to review, the Board concurred that they
would need to discuss the front yard setback in more detail. Due to the lateness of tonight’s
meeting this discussion was tabled until the Board’s next meeting.
Although the Board members had discussed setting the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00
PM as their regular meeting day and time, no resolution had been completed.
On a motion by Cowett, seconded by Gillespie the following was unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 27
SETTING MEETING DATES FOR THE PLANNING BOARD
RESOLVED, that the Planning Board will hold its regular monthly meetings on the second
Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM at 836 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY for the next official
year of the Village.
Secretary Neff was requested to advertise the meeting dates appropriately.
On a motion by Richardson, seconded by Cunningham the following was unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 28
ADJOURNING MEETING
RESOLVED, that this meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jane Neff
Planning Board Secretary