HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-05-20 - PB 51
Town of Ulysses Planning Board
May 20 , 1998
Present : Chair Peter Demjanec, Krys Cail , Greg Hoffmire, Paula Horrigan, and Rick
Geiger.
Recording minutes : Deb Austic
Peter called the meeting to order at 7 : 40 p . m . Peter explained the Town was
planning a moratorium on commercial building for 180 days . Peter said the task of the
Board was to rewrite the commercial part of the zoning ordinance, including site plan
• review. The Board felt the commercial ordinance and site plan review should be written
concurrently and delivered to the Town Board as a package . Peter recommended that the
new ordinance should reflect the intent of the comprehensive plan. In addition, the adult
entertainment moratorium ends August 23rd and that ordinance should also be done .
The Board briefly discussed the site plan review process and referred to the
ordinance drafted (but not passed) in 1991 . The question of whether or not agricultural
buildings should remain exempt from site plan review was brought up and there was a
discussion of the possible scale of an agricultural building and federal or state protection
for farming .
The Board discussed possible ideas for the Town to recognize exemplary building
projects such as a letter or publicity . Also mentioned was the possibility of information
sessions on site plan review or other topics to increase public understanding .
The Board discussed the comprehensive plan and specifically the reference to
"small town atmosphere . " Peter pointed out the tension to balance the need for
development and still maintain the small town atmosphere . Paula described a planning
tool from the Connecticut River Valley that she was familiar with that could be useful to
review.
The Board reviewed the three commercial districts identified in the
comprehensive plan . These would need to be defined by the Board . The Board discussed
the establishment of commercial zones and build-out, whether effort should be put into
determining which areas are suitable for commercial development or provide a variety of
options to choose from .
Paula suggested having a planner from county planning or the Town of Ithaca be
at one or two meetings to assist the Board with some of the issues . Peter suggested Board
members read the current zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan before the next
meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9 : 10 p .m .
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