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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-11-19 501 TOWN OF DANBY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 19, 1997 PRESENT : Chairperson Kenneth Horst Planning Board Members : Arch Dotson, Gerald Catlin, William Farrell, Linda Hansen, Robert Roe, Nancy Weitzel 1 Others Present : Code Enforcement Officer - Susan Beeners Secretary - Carol Sczepanski Circuit Rider - Rebecca Lubin Members of the Public : Karl Kayser, Nancy Rice, Dawn Parks, John Henderson Chairperson Horst called the meeting to order at 7 : 04 P . M . Rice Landscaping, Inc. Final Site Plan The Planning Board received a letter from Rice Landscaping, Inc . dated November 12 , 1997 asking the Board to consider approving a "Final Site Plan" . The Planning Board reviewed the " Site Plan No . 1428 Danby Road", for Rice Landscaping, the communications received and Local Law No . 2 of 1997 entitled : "A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE TOWN OF DANBY ZONING ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF COMMERCIAL ZONE "B2 " , ON DANBY ROAD NEAR MUZZY ROAD" materials that have been submitted to date . Susan Beeners reported that she had contacted most of the immediate neighbors and notified them that the Final Site Plan for Rice Landscaping would be considered at the Planning Board Meeting . Karl Kayser reported to the Board that they would correct the lighting problem reported by Suzanne Hiney as soon as they were located at the site . RESOLUTION NO. 10 OF 1997 RICE LANDSCAPING, INC. , REQUEST FOR FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL By Robert Roe : Seconded by William Farrell WHEREAS , Rice Landscaping, Inc . Has requested that the Planning Board grant final site plan approval for the proposed improvement of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No . 2 . - 1 -26 . 1 , located at 1428 Danby Road ; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Danby on October 27 , 1997 approved the general site plan entitled " Site Plan, No . 1428 Danby Road, Tax Map Parcel #26 . - 1 -26 . 1 " , by Nancy Rice, dated September 3 , 1997 ; and enacted Local Law No . 2 of 1997 , which local law established a commercial zone on said tax parcel for a landscape installation, maintenance and snow removal service business along with a preexisting dwelling ; and WHEREAS, the project is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Danby Town Board on October 27 , 1997 made a negative determination of environmental significance ; and WHEREAS, the Planning Board on November 19, 1997 has reviewed said site plan along with a letter dated November 12, 1997 from Nancy rice describing various improvements to be made to the property; now, therefore, it is RESOLVED, that the Planning Board grants final site plan approval to the project as presented . A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows : 502 Planning Board Minutes 2 November 19 , 1997 Catlin Aye Roe Aye Dotson Aye Weitzel Aye Farrell Aye Horst Aye Hansen Aye Carried Unanimously Code Enforcement Report : Susan Beeners reported that the Town of Danby has issued fifty ( 50) permits to date in 1997 . The Town of Danby is a very attractive place because of our rural character and it is easy to get to major employers in Ithaca . She asked the Board to drive around look around at other areas and to think about development areas that are appealing and those that are not. In some subdivisions the houses are located so that there is still a feeling of open space . Comprehensive Plan Working Session Rebecca Lubin said that there has been a lot of work done in the area of subdivisions or conservation subdivisions that are designed to conserve natural resources and areas that should not be built upon . There are also secondary conservation areas that have been deemed by the community as being important. She will bring some of published materials for the Planning Board to view at their next meeting. By allowing people to be on smaller lots with more open space in suburban subdivision development you are allowing access for open space . By developing green ways property values do not go down . Rebecca distributed some information from the 1990 census materials for background information to help put together a comprehensive plan and also develop goal issues . She would like the Board to concentrate on the goal issues . It is hoped that a list of goals can be developed by early January to use as a base to work on . 1 ) Population Changes by Age 1980- 1990 2) Population Projections 2000-2020 3 ) Household Income in 1989 4) Residents in 1985 , Ages 5 and Older 5 ) Number of Housing Units 1980- 1990 6) Median Value of Owner-Occupied Units , 1980 - 1990 7) Number of Units by Type of Structure 8 ) Age of Housing The Board reviewed the Background Information & Goal Issues presented at the November 19 , 1997 Planning Board Meeting . Agriculture : - farmers should not be penalized for retiring from their land by preservation development . Commercial/Industrial Land Use Tax incentives for businesses issue -- needs more research and can be considered as a goal . - is there a market for additional industrial and light industrial use - is business development contradictory to what the vision is for Danby . - business development should not be focused on what can Danby do for the business but what can business development do for Danby . Linda Hansen reported that many businesses in the area are actively looking and advertising for skilled labor. Goal Issues : Rebecca suggested that the Board should ask a representative from Tompkins County Development to come to one of the board meetings . They are now working on an economic forecast for the entire 503 Planning Board Minutes 3 November 19, 1997 county . Susan suggested that we should include in its goals a statement that the Town should seek ways for economic development and enhance and diversify its economic base as a general kind of statement and to include considering appropriate zoning for business, light industrial and incubator use . (If the need is demonstrated) . She said that we have talked about encouraging community areas possibly near the hamlets of central Danby and West Danby . Chairperson Horst asked where is it going to go with Cornell working on spin-off companies as part of a major plan . There is a limitation on the business technology part of development . Rebecca suggested the following language to put in a general goal related to Conditions on existing industrial development -- Seek ways to insure that existing industrial and commercial uses remain compatible with surrounding land uses . Arch Dotson asked who we could talk to at Cornell to find out what is included in their " Spin-off Plan" . Chairperson Horst asked the Board to review the 1989 Comprehensive Plan before the next meeting. Community Facilities/Services Bob Roe said that under Goal Issues -- he thinks that the idea of a community center will not fly in this Town right away and that coordination between town and county may not work out as there has been a change in focus . There is no political support for a community center. Susan said that she thinks there is strong support for community activities . Rebecca asked if there should be a statement of support for a community center or a place for activities (developing and fostering of a community place) . There is a need for more information on what police protection is available and average response time for emergencies . Banking facilities are a priority -- move to commercial section . Mission of municipal boards -- communications should be fostered between various boards and interacting with other municipalities . Coordination between Town and County -- relates to staying in touch with other agencies with better coordination in routine as well as in planning and economic activities . Use for Danby school/education planning -- how the Town would like to see the school used . Susan suggested "to promote quality education for all Danby residents including potential increased use of the Danby School " . Nancy said that we need something to cover all school districts because Danby is involved in several school districts . Ken Horst reported that he, John and Margaret Henderson, and Ed Roberts had a meeting with Judith Pastel today and she was visualizing some potential plans for the Danby School . The general feeling was that the meeting went very well . Nancy Weitzel said that we need to include a wider horizon and include West Danby because those children are also involved in education. She said that we are putting too much emphasis on Danby School and not the overall education in the Town. After discussion the Board wanted the statement for the education element to be broader-- Bob Roe and Nancy Weitzel said that for the goal statement -- promote locally acceptable high quality 504 Planning Board Minutes 4 November 19 , 1997 education for all Danby residents that is locally accessible . (To take the emphasis off the Danby School and promote interaction from all the Town residents) . Historic and Cultural Resources The Historic Ithaca has received a grant to do a historic survey in the Town of Danby . A lot of information will be obtained from the survey. Housing Rebecca explained the goal issues listed and said that she has set up some goal issues . She will provide some additional information on affordable housing at the next meeting . Robert Roe said that we are desperately short of suitable dwellings for our seniors when they are no longer able to utilize their homes effectively. Seniors need housing where there are living units and where they can be independent and that are physically more manageable for them . Nancy Weitzel said that a past survey was done and most seniors did not respond . They said that they did not planning on leaving their homes . The Board discussed the many types of housing and care units for senior residents throughout the county . Many of the units available in Tompkins County for seniors are not subsidized by the government and not considered affordable housing . Robert Roe said that young people, factory workers and farm workers are going to find it difficult to find affordable housing in the Ithaca area as employment wages are low and kept low by the major employers . Service workers are also not paid a living wage . Natural Resources Rebecca Lubin said that there are certain areas where you have conservation or areas of steep slope and wet lands . Susan said that there are already a lot of existing regulations that already protect a lot of undevelopable land . Some natural resources appear to be adequately protected at this time . The Town should look into the future and insure that will remain the case. She would like to know how the County Assessment is going to access some undevelopable land. Public Utilities-Information Opening area near gas line for development -- Move to background information . What impact do gas line corridors have on existing land use i . e . do you put a road there, or is it possible for a gas tap along them, or is it possible to use them for multiple use corridors? Are there other uses that utility corridors could be put to? Bill Farrell said that gas line corridors are right-of-ways granted by landowners by contract and to use them requires permission must be obtained from the landowner . Transportation : Add maximizing use of existing roads through clustering to goal issues . (Creative subdivision design by maximizing the use of the existing road by smaller road frontage on lots . ) Linda Hansen said that may be against what the Board is trying to do . Nancy Weitzel said that would be addressed in subdivision regulations . Rebecca said that she and Sue would work on the goals list and review the comprehensive plan before the next meeting on December 17 , 1997 . • Q14w . 11 Carol W . Scze . ki , Town Clerk