Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTomp. County Planning Dept Letter re. Comp Plan Tompkins County DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING 121 East Court Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Edward C.Marx,AICP Commissioner of Planning Telephone(607) 274-5560 and Community Sustainability Fax (607) 274-5578 July 17, 2012 Martin Harms,Chair Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board 836 Hanshaw Road Ithaca,NY 14850 Re: Review Pursuant to§239 4,-m and—n of the New York State General Municipal Law Action: Proposed Village of Cayuga Heights Comprehensive Plan Dear Mr.Harms: This letter acknowledges your referral of the proposal identified above for review and comment by the Tompkins County Planning Department pursuant to §239-1, -m and-n of the New York State General Municipal Law.The Department has reviewed the proposal and has determined that certain provisions of the proposed zoning amendments may have negative inter-community or county-wide impacts.We recommend modification of the proposal. If the Board does not incorporate this recommendation into its approval, such approval will require a vote of a supermajority(meaning majority plus one)of all members of the decision- making body. Recommended Modification • A stated recommendation of the Village of Cayuga Heights Comprehensive Plan is to"Develop inclusionary or incentive zoning tools to encourage developers to provide market rate affordable housing units in a new mixed-use zoning district."We commend the Village for addressing this important affordable housing issue; we do however recommend that these tools be utilized in each of the Village's zones and not just limit this to a potential new mixed-use zone.The Village can promote affordable housing in many different ways through these measures, with some programs being mandatory and others providing incentives to developers through redevelopment and new projects, such as density bonuses,or parking waivers. Some programs require cash contributions to an affordable housing fund,while others involve construction of affordable units within the development.We recommend that the plan identify the need to include both inclusionary and incentive measures in the Village's zoning ordinance for all zoning districts. See the County's Model hiclusionary and Incentive Zoning Ordinance at http://www.ipmpkins-co.org/planning/housing choices. Inclusion through Diversity Other Comments • The Village Comprehensive Plan does an excellent job detailing the resources of the Village's three Unique Natural Areas(UNAs)and includes good strategies for increasing protection.Please note that the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council(EMC)is in the process of updating several of the UNA database's boundaries and information,and plans to have that information finalized this fall. Additionally, the EMC's Invasive Plants of Tompkins County, NY list 021!p://www.Igmpkins- co.org/emc/docs/13 invasive plants of tomnkins countv.ndfl,which is updated periodically,maybe useful in advancing the identified Ecological Diversity objective.Also,the County's Scenic Resources Inventory(htto://www.tompkins-co.orgiplanning/nri/Scenic Resources.html may prove useful in protecting scenic assets. • The Village of Cayuga Heights Comprehensive Plan includes a recommendation to"adopt stream buffer ordinances that will protect riparian corridors from development impacts."We applaud the inclusion of this recommendation.When it comes to implement this aspect of the plan we recommend that the Village establish a buffer of 100 feet as measured from perennial stream banks. We further recommend that the first 50 feet of the buffer adjacent to the stream be maintained as natural vegetation. For the Village's many intermittent streams we also recommend buffers of 50 feet as measured from streambank. This recommendation is fully justified as a minimum standard by the scientific evidence regarding the value of stream buffers.Tompkins County Planning has a number of resources,including a model stream buffer ordinance and planting guide, available your review and consideration at http://www.toml)kins-co.ore/planning/W ater%20Resources/streambuffers.htm. • As a part of the County's Development Focus Areas Strategy we recommend that`Established Nodes', of which the Village of Cayuga Heights is one,be developed at net residential densities between 4 and 15 dwelling units per acre.When it comes to updating the Village's zoning code,we recommend requiring that new residential development achieve, at a minimum, the 4 dwelling unit per acre minimum standard within the node,or realize an objective of between 1,000 and 1,500 residential dwelling units within the half-mile walking distance of the center of the node where services are provided,i.e., Community Corners. • We applaud the Village's prioritization of safe, connected pedestrian improvements between major activity nodes and recommend that analyses and planning for these improvements incorporate all of the surrounding jurisdictions and stakeholders. Please inform us of your decision so that we can make it a part of the record. Sincerely, Edward C.Marx,AICP Commissioner of Planning and Community Sustainability Inclusion through(Diversity