HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-08 - PB Vt—:
Town of Ulysses
Joint Master Plan / Planning Board Meeting
May 8, 1996
Village Meeting Room
Trumansburg, New York 14886
iii Present : Chairperson Sue Poelvoorde,Members : Greg Hoffmire, Krys Cail, David Tyler
Joanne Molino
Also Attending : Catherine Stover - From the Town Board
The meeting came to order at 7: 14 pm.
® Mr. Tyler suggested they start by discussing Doug Austics memo and that they review
the summary of the survey.
Mr. Tyler noted that Rte. 89 could be a sensitive area concerning any construction of a
hotel or convention center in that area . Krys Call mentioned that there had been some
discussion about limiting the number of commercial sites on Rte. 89 and asked if Rte 89
would be removed from the criteria in terms of accessability to a major highway artery.
Mr. Tyler responded as far as commercial use Rte. 89 is limited in its potential, Rte 227
and Rte. 96 being the key arteries into town.
PUD ' s were then discussed and whether the master plan would protect the existing
PUD ' s. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that they used land use maps to select areas grandfathered
in by current use. Mr. Tyler noted that existing PUD ' s for the most part are well
established . , and that this will be a kind of road map for the future and that in 10 - 15
years it should be close but not identical.
Ms. Call then mentioned that they did discuss grandfathering, and that variances are
the downside of that approach, also that rules about variances will need to be studied.
Mr. Tyler noted that the standards for a use are variance are set by statute. They then
discussed use variances, area variances and the differences between them.
Mr. Tyler then asked if their were any comments on the high density residential areas
that were originally proposed. Mr.Hoffmire noted that he feels that the Village Master
Plan and Proposed Town Map line up very wen . Mr.Tyler asked if they have Mr. Aubles
Property Downgraded to a B-2. Ms. Poelvoorde answered yes they do. Gregg Hoffmire
noted that it is mainly to fit the neighborhood. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that they had
already discussed that the feeling is that putting commercial property on that side of town
draws business out of town.
Ms. Cail then explained that they must consider the cost of extending the water and
sewer to that end of town and the fact that tourism which needs to be encouraged and is
more likely to be towards the park and the falls.
Mr.Tyler stated that he supported Mr. Auble' s property being zoned commercial and
that he felt that the shape of the lot was very appealing not being lined up on main Rd. ,
although it needs water and sewer to be developed further. He noted that it would be have
a positive effect for both to the village and Covert area to have something on the North end
of village. Ms. Cail then stated that the water system needs upgrading and that getting
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water to the North end is an impediment. Mr. Tyler noted that it was unrealistic to plan for
things away from major sources of utilities such as commercial property in Perry City
which is to far from those resources.
Ms. Call noted that there are some legal questions that will have to be defined such as
would a greenhouse supplying retail outlets be agricultural exempt use. Ms.Poeivoorde
explained that Tourism or Overlay Zones could be put in any areas if not disturbing the
neighborhood and. that Chapter 3 would cover that area in better detail. Mr. Tyler asked
what are you including in a recreation zone. Ms. Call answered a gym ,swimming pool,
dirt bike track, siding for examples. Ms. Poelvoorde noted that there must be mechanics
to review such requests to insure that it will not bother the neighborhood. Also that
business' s such as these would provide the community with an opportunity to keep
people in the town. Mr•Tyler stated that with the universities here there is a demand for
good accommodations and that hotels in country settings could bring business to the town •
as well.
Mr•Tyler asked if there would be a special permit process? Ms. Call. answered that is one
of the reasons that what we need these meetings is to make these determinations • But that
it would be either a rezoning request with reasons why it was needed or it could also be
done on a special permit basis. .
Mr.Tyler then noted that as far as the tax base issue is concerned a community is far
better off if it builds on its strengths instead of grasping at straws As an example he used
the Town of Dryden which now with all of its poorly managed growth has bigger tax base
but has lost much of the charm of its community .
Mr•Tyler then stated that a commercial zoned property is not always a positive tax base
and that it can at times include an unsuccessful business which draws down everyone
around it and may have negative effect on the tax base•Ms• Call noted that it must be done
in reasonable way for example if the Jacksonville Convenient store closed it would have a
negative effect on the community and that we need several area 's for such neighborhood
services on Rte. 89.
Mr.Tyler asked what do you consider the strengths of the town that need to be
promoted ?
Ms. Poelvoorde answered the quaintness of Trumansburg and the surrounding open
land are essential in the makeup and fabric of the Town, which can remain attractive ,
and maintain these qualities yet still have growth. This requires a responsible
comprehensive plan followed by a zoning ordinance that has within its mechanism an
ability to make sure that the quality of the area remains but still allows for growth.
Mr.Tyler asked where do you see the Town of Ulysses in the year 2020, 25 yrs from
now? Ms. Poelvoorde answered there will be some growth but there will not be any drastic
visual changes to the landscape. The growth may be more to the North and South but it
will be in a rational and responsible way, not in gross opposition to the town.
Cornell and Ithaca Colleges were then discussed as per the possibilities for future growth
or reductions and their effects on the town as the future changes in technology allowing
people to live in small towns such as ours and work via the net in large cities.
As well as the possibilities that the town may look very similar yet underneath be very .
different because of high tech. residents. Ms. Call noted that an advantage that we have in
our area is that it is less dairy oriented with more crop farming, keeping the agricultural
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land use up. Also we have the advantage of having better soil which caused nicer homes to
be built here originally. Also zoning and planning have been very important to the
community which has enabled us to have preferred school and lower taxes.
Mr.Tyler asked about the possibilities of new business coming into the area and finding
themselves limited in their choices will they not go elsewhere where the zoning is less strict?
Ms. Cail answered that hasn ' t been the case with other surrounding areas the towns with
the most strict zoning have had the most growth.
Ms.Poelvoorde stated that it is a form of protection having a plan and zoning is insurance
when you live here you have an idea of what it will be like in the future and can protect
your property value. Ms. Call stated that the Flip side is you the have freedom to
personally do things such as run a small business from house you have the freedom to do
so Such as a Tree Farm, Greenhouse, Consulting from your home.
• Mr. Tyler then asked where do you draw the line between home enterprise and business?
Ms. Cail answered when you need to hire employees and cannot be defined as a personal
business, or there is a point where you need to buy commercial property. This point must
be clearly defined and understood
Mr.Tyler asked what are your recommendations for for water and sewer long term?
Ms. Call answered to extend for commercial not residential . Mr.Tyler then asked would
you want to make it available for high Density and Commercial ? Ms.Poelvoorde answered
they would be staying within the cluster areas that are adjacent or near services and
logical growth will be near existing services.
Mr.Tyler asked if there are any recommendations for working together with the Town.
on the issue of water and sewer. Ms.Poelvoorde noted that it comes to an issue of money
and that the Town plan is in concert with the village plan. Also that this is the first step in
introducing to the town the goals that are like for both municipalities.
Mr. Tyler noted that some people feel that the village is discouraging growth and that
others feel that growth outside the village will drain business from within it.
Ms.Poelvoorde answered that those feelings may be well founded but are not shown
happening in this plan, and that the community may be less apprehensive about discussing
upgrading the water the system if it can serve other areas.
Mr. Tyler stated that they should try to keep the designated commercial areas as close to
the Water and Sewer Services as os i
p s ble. Ms. Carl agreed that they should keep the
concentrated areas in clusters and keep them from spreading out.
Mr. Tyler asked how many acres are zoned commercial now? Ms. Call answered that she
can get that information from the assessment office. Mr. Tyler noted that a great deal of
land which is zoned commercial shouldn ' t be, and that it needs to be feasible to get water
and sewer to those areas.
Ms.Poelvoorde went over some corrections in wording on sales tax ,senior tax exemptions
revenue sharing ,school taxes local impact of state and federal income taxes with the
assistance of Ms. Stover, Mr.Tyler, Mr.Hoffmire, Ms.Molino, and Ms. Call.
Meeting was adjourned at 9: 16 pm.
Respectfully Submitted ;
Julie Kraus
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