HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-01 - PH 1 (a
Ulysses Town Board
Public Hearing for Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Monday, March 1, 1999
Present: Supervisor Doug Austic, Carolyn Duddleston, Andy Hillman, Sue Poelvoorde,
Bobby Weatherby, and Attorney for Town Bruce Wilson .
Recording minutes: Deb Austic
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Public present: Wayne Titterington, Allan Grant, Robert Brown, Grace Wolf, Dave Kline,
Sandra Jones, Joanna Lynch , Lauren Bishop, Paula Horrigan, Ben Curtis, Krys Call ,
Richard Berggren, Kai Shafft, J B Lockwood , Marvin Pritts, Tim Martinson, Peter
Demjanec, Eileen Jacobs, Jim Brown , Norman Foley&r!Charlie Lounsberry, John
Schroeder, Gregg Bell , Jules Burgevin , Cindy Robinson, Scott Sears, Ruth Kahn .
Supervisor Austic called the hearing to order at 7 : 30 p . m . Austic read the legal
ad that appeared in the 2/ 13/99 Ithaca Journal and the Free Press. Austic explained the
ground rules for the public hearing and stated that written comment would be accepted
until 3/25/99.
Peter Demjanec, Krys Call , and Paula Horrigan from the Planning Board gave a
short presentation describing changes to the plan . Supervisor Austic explained that the
first paragraph under "Industrial and Commercial Development" on page 28 had
inadvertently not been updated t : match the revised map and would be rewritten prior
to passage. Bobby Weatherby noted for the record his ownership of a piece of property
designated for a C3 zoning change .
Supervisor Austic opened the hearing for public comment.
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Allan Grant stated that he owned the Baran us and that property e ! '
Ij 9 p p rly was excl uded , i, ,
fromjeacommercial zone.
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Ben Curtis questioned the premiseton page 7 that the Town was experiencing
development pressure from the south . Curtis also suggested that tourism related
enterprise was not low-impact and that high-tech industry could be much lower impact
than tourism .
Richard Berggren stated that he owned the old county home property and felt it
should be zoned commercial to increase the tax base.
Tim Martinson applauded the proposed change in zoning at the Route 96, Perry
City and Van Dorns Corner Road intersections.
Eileen Jacobs expressed concern about the impacts of C3 in Jacksonville,
particularly in relation to the gasoline leak years ago. Jacobs also disagreed with
statement on page 31 that the plan was equivalent to an environmental impact
statement and questioned why part 2 of the EAF was not filled out. Jacobs also
suggested that site plan review was important so that new commercial development
would look nice.
Jim Brown with in regard to C1 near the Cayuga Nature Center, that the Cayuga
Nature Center was not a low-impact use. Brown also stated he felt that if someone had
bought commercial land it should remain commercial .
Norman Foley said it was not wise to zone C3 near Jacksonville over a tributary
that runs to the lake.
Larry Thompson stated he owned Ulysses Square and it is currently zoned for
industrial so C3 would not constitute a zoning change .
Joanna Lynch said she was fairly supportive of the plan because it did not
change the character of the Town and allowed for controlled growth .
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03/01 /99
Dave Tyler expressed appreciation for the community input and the amount of
pride in the community .
Joanna Lynch echoed Dave's sentiments and said she felt it is a good plan for a
community as a whole.
Wayne Titterington asked which were the two new areas of development. Austic
pointed those out on the map.
Charlie Lounsberry said he saw the changes along Route 96 as not too great, but
that commercialism should be watched as to what was developing and where .
John Schroeder from Ithaca and the Citizens Planning Alliance read a prepared
statement that commended the Town for undertaking the plan and the goals and
objectives expressed in the plan . Schroeder's statement expressed concern over
isolated uses, the spread of undifferentiated residential growth and sprawl . The
statement suggested promoting traditional village form with mixed uses and
preservation of open space and agriculture . Schroeder submitted a copy of the
statement to the Board .
Krys Cail stated that the plan allowed residential growth in all zones and that
commercial uses were nested .
Greg Bell from Ithaca suggested the Town review the Town of Ithaca open space
plan . Bell commended the effort of the town-wide survey and the goals of historic
preservation, but felt the map did not match the goals and survey results, Bell said that
residential zoning could be very impact-full and lot size was important.
Ben Curtis suggested that the goal to "encourage development" should include
proactive recruitment of types of desirable development and businesses .
Jules Burgevin expressed concern for the amount of farmland and topsoil lost to
development and encouraged the preservation of farmland .
Paula Horrigan made a plea to the Town Board to hire a planner for the Town of
Ulysses .
Supervisor Austic opened the floor for comments on the SEQR or environmental
issues for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan . There were no public comments and
Austic noted that written comments would also be accepted until 3/25/99. Austic asked
for any final comments.
Cindy Robinson said she agreed with the need for a planner for the Town .
Eileen Jacobs asked for clarification that the SEQR in the draft plan was a
recommendation to the Town Board as lead agency. Supervisor Austic also noted that
he received a letter from the Village of Trumansburg asking to be an interested agency
in the SEQR.
Allan Grant asked why the Barangus had not been included in a commercial
zone, Supervisor Austic stated that the Board would not be answering questions at the
public hearing , but would discuss it at a later time.
Charles Lounsberry expressed agreement with the idea to get together with the
Town of Ithaca and other neighboring towns. Supervisor Austic reported that all
neighboring municipalities had received a copy of the draft and he had received no
comments .
Krys Call stated that she had attended a workshop by the Town of ;thacO op
their open space plan and had reported back to the Ulysses Planniq' '0Qord .
Scott Sears said he supported the plan and the work that had been done and his
understanding was that it could be reviewed and revised as time goes on .
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03/01/99
Ruth Kahn said the comprehensive plan was only the beginning and that the
zoning revision would be the hard work.
Supervisor Austic noted aciain that written comments would be accepted pntiI
3/25/99 and a date would be set der that for the Board to review and discuss
comments, do the SEQR review ligd decide on their action .
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Eileen Jacobs said she felt there was better advertising of this public hearing and
it would be important to keep the public posted . 1
Larry Thompson noted on page 19 the objective to recognize water as a prime
catalyst for development, and sJQdested effort should be put toward bringing ow
throughout the Town .
rvisor Austic asked per any last comments. Sue Poelvoorde made idn
a r n, seconded by r9l fl pvddleston �
Q4� C X Ca , � , , passed unanimously. The hearin�q �� ea
at 8� 5 p. m . 'T
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