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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.7.2011 Planning Board MinutesMeeting #19 Planning Board March 7, 2011 Page 1 Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board Meeting #19 Monday, March 7, 2011 Marcham Hall – 7:00pm Present: (Acting Chair) G. Gillespie, F. Cowett, S. Cunningham, M. Morris Absent: Chair M. Harms, H. Richardson Others: VCH Deputy Clerk A. Korbel Guests: Scott Doyle- Tompkins County Planning Department Item 1 - Called to order by Acting Chair G. Gillespie at 7:03 pm. Item 2 – Motion: F. Cowett Second: M. Morris RESOLUTION No. 57 AUTHORIZING ALTERNATE MEMBER TO VOTE AT TONIGHT’S MEEING RESOLVE, that the Alternate member, Sean Cunningham, is hereby authorized to vote at tonight’s meeting. Aye votes – All in favor Opposed- None Item 3- Motion: M. Morris Second: F. Cowett RESOLUTION No. 58 APPROVING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 8, 2010 RESOLVE, that the written, reviewed and revised minutes of December 8, 2010 meeting are hereby approved. Aye votes – All in favor Opposed- None Motion: M. Morris Second: S. Cunningham RESOLUTION No. 59 APPROVING MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 2011 Meeting #19 Planning Board March 7, 2011 Page 2 RESOLVE, that the written and reviewed minutes of January 12, 2011 meeting are hereby approved. Aye votes – All in favor Opposed- None Motion: F. Cowett Second: M. Morris RESOLUTION No. 60 APPROVING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 9, 2011 RESOLVE, that the written and reviewed minutes of February 9, 2011 meeting are hereby approved. Aye votes – All in favor Opposed- None Item 4- Acting Chair G. Gillespie opened floor for Public Comment 7:11 pm. No public in attendance for comment. Acting Chair G. Gillespie closed floor for Public Comment 7:11 pm. Item 5– The applicant was not present to present the Heights Café & Grill Sign Permit Application. Tabled until further notice. Item 6- Comprehensive Plan a) UNAs (Unique Natural Areas) update and discussion • Stream Buffers- Scott Doyle from the Tompkins County Planning Department attended to discuss stream buffers and UNAs. • S. Doyle presented a map showing the streams of Cayuga Heights. • The county utilizes 4 tools to protect stream buffers: 1) Stream Buffer Planting Guide- informs what to plant to create healthy stream buffers. 2) Riparian Protection Agreement- legally binding document which restricts what may be done in area to protect recent tree and shrub plantings. This agreement is attached to land survey. 3) Riparian Buffer Easement - protects restoration investments of riparian corridors and ensures the long-term protection of the easement area through a legally binding document. More detailed than Riparian Protection Agreement. 4) Model Stream Buffer Ordinance- Restricts developments adjacent to streams. These tools are described in length on the Tompkins County Planning website: http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning • S. Doyle presented several handouts and booklets which have been retained in the monthly Planning Board meeting folder. These handouts include: Meeting #19 Planning Board March 7, 2011 Page 3  “Enhancing Water Resources in Tompkins County: Benefits of Riparian Areas and Stream Buffers”  “Stream Buffer Planting Guide”  Copy of the Tompkins County Model Stream Buffer Ordinance • UNAs- S. Doyle presented a map of the UNAs in Cayuga Heights. • UNAs and other jurisdictions according to S. Doyle, there are currently no regulations in place in other jurisdictions. UNAs were conceived as more of a planning tool. • S. Doyle provided a pamphlet titled “The Unique Natural Area’s of Tompkins County” and a handout containing information on the 3 existing UNAs in Cayuga Heights. Both have been placed in the board folder. S. Doyle also informed the board that the county is in the process of updating the UNAs including redrawing their boundaries. (Q) S. Cunningham asked S. Doyle how UNAs are delineated. (A) Most delineations are based largely on interpretations of aerial imagery coupled with on-site inventories of existing conditions such as plant communities. (Q) S. Cunningham asked S. Doyle if UNAs can have enforceable regulations. (A) Often difficult. Would have to be done in a way that specifically designates the area with set boundaries and UNA boundaries are by nature provisional given changes to ecologies on site (Q) S. Cunningham asked S. Doyle if there have been any court challenges regarding UNAs. (A) Not to his knowledge. Will look into. (Q) S. Cunningham asked S. Doyle if any efforts have been made to inform property owners if their property is part of a UNA. (A) Yes. Efforts have been made to inform property owners about UNAs on their property and any updates to UNAs will be communicated as well. b) PNY (Preserve New York) information and discussion • Recurrent program. If unable to apply this year, potential projects should be identified to apply for funding in the future. The board may be unable to proceed with applying this year due to time constraints and other issues that need to be addressed. c) Board Discussion: Recommendations to Goals and Objectives • George Frantz will update the board in a few weeks. • Discussion on lack of communication between the Village and its business owners. S. Cunningham suggested creating a Development Director position similar to the role Gary Ferguson plays in the City of Ithaca. The position would address communication issues between business owners and the Village. • Board discussed developing periodic water quality testing for streams and storm water outflows. Meeting #19 Planning Board March 7, 2011 Page 4 • F. Cowett presented recommendations to the Comp. Plan- See below. Meeting #19 Planning Board March 7, 2011 Page 5 • M. Morris brought up an issue regarding deteriorating sidewalks. - F. Cowett  deteriorating sidewalks are not only unsightly, but pose a potential legal liability for the Village. -This could be addressed under Quality Assurance in the Comp. Plan • Updates to the Comp. Plan will be sent to George Frantz. Item 7- Discussed an alternate meeting date of the 1st of the month. April 4th tentatively set for next meeting. Item 8- No new business discussed. Item 9- Motion: M. Morris Second: F. Cowett RESOLUTION No. 61 – ADJOURN MEETING RESOLVE, that this meeting was adjourned at 8:57 PM. Aye votes – All in favor Opposed- None