HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-20 PB Final Minutes
Planning Board Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4
August 20, 2024
Planning Board
Zoom Hybrid Meeting
Meeting Minutes
August 20, 2024
Approved: September 17, 2024
Board Members Present: Chair Karl Klankowski, Vice Chair Linda Liddle, Bart Gragg
Quorum Present
Absent Board Members: Mo Klein
Applicants Present: David Wilcox, Rebecca Hamilton
Applicants Present on Zoom: Catherine Conklin
Town Staff Present: Niels Tygesen, Mollie Duell
Members of the Public Present: Shannon Sprague, Pete Houghton
Members of the Public Present on Zoom: Peder Jakobson
Proceedings
Chair Karl Klankowski called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM at Town Hall.
Approval of Agenda
Tygesen suggested rearranging the agenda to discuss the proposed AT&T Generator after the Hamilton
minor subdivision.
Motion: Liddle motioned to approve the amended agenda; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye; Chair Klankowski, aye.
Motion Carried.
Approval of Past Minutes
Motion: Liddle motioned to approve the August 6 meeting minutes as written; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye; Chair Klankowski, aye.
Motion Carried.
Privilege of the Floor
No members of the public addressed the Board pertaining to items not on the agenda.
Motion: Liddle motioned to close privilege of the floor; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
Old Business Items
MNSUB2407-01: Wilcox 2 Lot Land Division, Sketch Plat Review
3503 Jacksonville Rd, Parcel Number 35.-2-4.2
The applicant and property owner, David Wilcox, applied for a minor subdivision for the subject site to
subdivide the existing 10.38 acre lot into two lots. The A/R zone requires a minimum lot area of 2 acres,
200 feet of lot depth, and 400 feet of lot width at the front lot line per the Code of the Town of Ulysses
(CTU) 212-29. Flag lots are permitted in the A/R zone per CTU 212-29.M, subject to the requirements of
CTU 212-130 which requires the pole(s) of the lot(s) to have a minimum width of 50 feet and a minimum
depth of 100’, and permits a parcel to be subdivided into no more than two flag lots.
Motion: Liddle motioned to open the public hearing at 7:05 PM; Gragg seconded.
Planning Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
August 20, 2024
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
Shannon Sprague of 3471 Jacksonville Rd stated that she was concerned about heavy traffic adjacent to
her property, where the driveway for the proposed flag lot would be. Sprague questioned what would
be impacted, including changes to culverts and drainage, as well as the clearing of trees and shrubs.
Wilcox stated that there is a wet spot on the other side of the hedgerow, but Sprague’s property would
not be affected by drainage. Sprague replied that the drainage currently goes underground and drains
on her side, so either way drainage would come onto her property. Sprague expressed that many
unanswered questions remain.
Tygesen stated that a condition of approval can be added that requires review from the Town engineer
and/or Tompkins County prior to issuing a building permit.
Sprague stated a home will be built following the subdivision and sale of the parcel. Wilcox added that
there is a purchase offer, and they are waiting for the final subdivision.
Discussion ensued over conditions of approval and what will need to be done to access the property.
Motion: Liddle moved to close the public hearing; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
Discussion continued about potential tree removal and what neighbors can expect.
Wilcox stated that there are many tall white pine trees, and some may need to be taken out to widen
the route of access, but these are toward the other neighbor.
Liddle suggested that it sounds like some engineering will be needed due to the known wet spots on the
property. Wilcox stated that it is fine if it needs to drain toward his property.
Tygesen suggested adding a condition of approval that would require stormwater management review
from the Town’s engineer and/or Tompkins County prior to building permit approval.
Motion: Liddle moved to accept Planning Board Resolution No. 2024-015: Resolution of SEQR
Determination for the Wilcox 2 Lot Land Division Located at 3503 Jacksonville Road, Town of Ulysses,
Tax Parcel 35.-2-4.2; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
Motion: Liddle moved to accept Planning Board Resolution No. 2024-016: A Resolution of Final
Subdivision Approval of the Wilcox 2 Lot Land Division Located at 3503 Jacksonville Road, Town of
Ulysses, Tax Parcel 35.-2-4.2; Gragg seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
MNSUB2408-01 (MGSUB2491-01): Hamilton 2 Lot Subdivision, Sketch Plat Review
4179 Waterburg Rd, Parcel Number 23.-2-10.3
The applicant and property owner, Michael & Rebecca Hamilton, applied for a two-lot subdivision for
the subject site to subdivide the existing 18.67 acre lot into 2 lots, ‘Parcel A’ approximately 16.28 acre
lot, and ‘Parcel B’ approximately 2.39 acre lot with an existing house, barn, and well. The A/R zone
requires a minimum lot area of 2 acres, 200 feet of lot depth, and 400 feet of lot width at the front lot
line per the Code of the Town of Ulysses (CTU) 212-29.
Rebecca Hamilton spoke about the adjustments to the previous proposal. Setbacks from buildings have
increased and ‘Parcel B’ is slightly larger than before.
Planning Board Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4
August 20, 2024
Tygesen spoke about the previous cluster subdivision proposal and explained that the Hamiltons chose
to seek a variance instead. The variance allows a reduction of the required 400-foot frontage to 254 feet
with a condition of approval: a deed restriction shall limit further dwelling units from being built on each
subdivided parcel after the Hamiltons build their home. All setbacks will be met under the current
proposal. The existing driveway will be shared between both subdivided parcels. Non-dwelling buildings
such as sheds or barns are not limited by the deed restriction.
Motion: Gragg motioned to schedule the public hearing for September 17; Liddle seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
New Business Items
SPR2407-01: Crown Trumansburg - AT&T Generator, Sketch Plan Review
3250 Mekeel Rd, Parcel Number 24.-2-5.22
The applicant, Catherine Conklin, AT&T agent on behalf of the owners Crown Castle, proposes to install
a new back-up self-contained 30kW diesel generator and 4'x10' concrete pad within the leased area of
the existing telecommunications tower. Per the Code of the Town of Ulysses (CTU) 212-145, the
proposed generator is defined as a ‘telecommunications facility’, and per CTU 212-27.E,
telecommunications facilities are permitted in the A/R zone but require site plan approval from the
Planning Board.
Catherine Conklin stated that a backup generator is needed for first responders. Fuel is enclosed in a
tank within a tank. If something like a leak were to occur, a silent alarm would notify the control center.
The generators are tested twice monthly. There are no houses near the property.
Liddle noted that the original site plan was approved in 2022; Tygesen added that this is an amendment
to this site plan.
Chair Klankowski stated he is comfortable with the secondary containment, and it is unlikely there
would be any issues such as rust since the unit sits above ground on rails.
Conklin shared photographs of the site from various angles.
Chair Klankowski indicated that a public hearing would not be necessary due to the lack of residences
adjacent to the site.
Motion: Gragg motioned to schedule the final site plan review for September 17; Liddle seconded.
Vote: Chair Klankowski, aye; Liddle, aye; Gragg, aye.
Motion Carried.
Old Business Items (Continued)
Board Member Training
Board members must send documentation of completed training courses to staff for the credited hours
to count toward their annual 4-hour requirement. These 4 hours of training are mandated by New York
State.
The annual ethics, workplace harassment, and sexual harassment training required by the Town are
separate obligations that do not fulfill this requirement.
Potential Zoning Code Amendments
Chair Klankowski spoke about the ad hoc zoning committee and the strategies to continuously improve
communication with the Town Board.
Discussion ensued over proceeding with current issues to be reviewed for a future zoning update.
Pete Houghton of 1333 Taughannock Boulevard asked if there would be a second privilege of the floor.
Chair Klankowski allowed Houghton to ask questions about the potential zoning code amendments.