HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-18 Planning Board Minutes (Final)
PRESENT:
Ed Bergman
Colleen Cowan
Kelly Maher
Jacob Colbert
Jody Scriber (chair)
ABSENT:
Jamie Vanucchi (Planning Board member)
Sco Davis (Planning Board member)
David West (Town Planner)
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Recording Secretary Cindy Katz
Public (in person)Jeremy Knout, Sanford Miller
Public (virtual)Ted Crane, Rhonda Roaring, Katharine Hunter (Town Board
member), Steve Edgar, Joel Gagnon (Town Supervisor)
Leslie Conners (Town Board member)
The mee ng was conducted in person with virtual access on the Zoom pla orm
The mee ng was opened at 7:03 p.m.
1) CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA REVIEW
There were no addi ons or dele ons to the agenda at this me. It was later decided to
add a discussion on the role of the Planning Board (PB) in the Short Term Rental
discussion at the end of the mee ng.
2) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Ted Crane commented that the audio is echo-y. He also wondered if 229 E Miller - to be
discussed tonight - had already gone to the BZA or not, as the staff said both.
Mary Ann Barr 2021
The Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
Planning Board Agenda
Tuesday 18 April 2023 at 7:00PM
Joel Gagnon suggested that the PB might be interested in ge ng involved with the
current discussion on short term rentals that the Board is having. PB member Sco Davis
has previously expressed interest in such. Gagnon suggested a discussion at the end of
the mee ng to explore how the PB might want to be involved. The PB agreed.
3) APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Feb 2023)
MOTION: Approve the February 2023 minutes.
Moved by Maher, seconded by Colbert.
The mo on passed.
In favor: Bergman, Cowan, Colbert, Maher, Scriber
4) TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT (VERBAL)
Leslie Conners, liaison for the Town Board, provided an update:
● Supervisor Gagnon has signed the town up with Triple Ci es Network Solu ons
for IT services so over the next week or month we’ll be ge ng things in order.
● We are receiving lots of feedback from the short term rental surveys which were
mailed and are also available online at the Town's website. We hope people will fill
it out and send it back. The idea is to look at the whole picture and come up with
something that will mi gate any nega ve impacts from STRs.
●The Cannabis Public Hearing drew few comments and the amendment to the
zoning law was passed. It allows for retail and consump on businesses in
commercial zones, Hamlet neighbor zone and Hamlet center zones, if they meet
site plan requirements.
●Last is the dra of the Noise Law that has been posted and will be talked about at
the next day’s TB mee ng. This is also a hot topic with many comments being
provided to the Town.
Scriber wondered if an announcement regarding the Short Term Rental survey can be
put in the cker at the Fire House for folks who did not read their newsle ers or the
website. Conners said that everyone got the survey also suggested the sign at Dotson
park.
5) DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
SUB-2023-01 229 E. Miller Rd Parcel: 7.-1-43.42
Applicant: Jeremy Knout
An cipated Board ac on(s) this month: Public Hearing, SEQR; Review final pla
for approval,
Zone: Rural 2 SEQR Type: Unlisted
Proposal: Applicant would like to subdivide their 82 acre lot into 3 pieces, one of
which is smaller than allowed under current zoning. They have received a variance
from the BZA.
Scriber asked for an update from Applicant Jeremy Knout, who had been in touch
with Planner West. Knout said that the preliminary survey was done but not set
in stone yet. Scriber added that Planner West had informed her today that the
county part was not completed yet and Knout added that he was not aware that
the county needed to approve the subdivision. They confirmed that the BZA had
given a variance already, and that, while final approval could not yet be given, the
Public Hearing and the Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF) could be
done.
Steve Edgar, a neighbor on zoom asked to see the proposed cut. Miller said he
would come over the Edgar's house the next morning, at 9am, to show him.
Public Hearing
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:20 p.m with a Mo on from Maher and a
second from Bergman.
No one spoke.
The public hearing was closed at 7:20p.m.
Board Discussion
Maher wondered if they needed to review a resource map before comple ng
SEQR? The board members did not know. Cowan asked if anything has changed
since they last saw this applica on and the variance was granted - the answer is
no. although there had been a few condi ons (about child lots) that were given.
Knout explained he sent that to the surveyor. Knout then wondered if there is
anything else that needs to be done to move things along? The board was unsure
and thought David could answer that. They agreed to do SEQR without giving the
final approval.
SEQR
Chairperson Scriber read through the Part 2 of the SEAF Impact Assessment form,
and the Board agreed that all the responses were "no."
Scriber wondered if they could sign the document. The Board and recording
secretary tried to remember if they had previously declared lead agency.
[Secretary note: The Board did not previously declare lead agency]
MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 3 of 2023: The proposed ac on will not
result in any significant adverse'/high environmental impacts.
Moved by Maher, seconded by Cowan.
The mo on passed.
In favor: Bergman, Cowan, Colbert, Maher, Scriber
MOTION: Declare the Planning Board Lead Agency
Moved by Bergman, seconded by Colbert.
Mo on passed.
In favor: Bergman, Cowan, Colbert, Maher, Scriber
The Board thought that was all they could do at this me and apologized that they have
to wait un l next month to make it final. Knout asked if they needed to go to the county
mee ng or if there was anything else they could do. Bergman said he did not think so,
but that he should talk to Planner West. Supervisor Gagnon added that the county can
comment but not decide. If they have a recommenda on that the Board disagrees with,
it requires a super majority.
Knout and Miller le .
6) PLANNER REPORT
Planner West was not present and there was no report.
7) SHORT TERM RENTAL (STR) DISCUSSION
The people present tried to adjust the sound for be er quality on Zoom.
Supervisor Gagnon spoke on how Board Member Davis had shown interest in exploring
the role of the PB in the discussion on STR. He then provided a general update on what
is currently allowed and what is not in Danby, explained the reasoning behind the recent
survey to residents sent out by the Town Board, and asked the Planning Board if they
are interested in being involved in this process.
The PB reviewed a few scenarios that may be relevant to them. Supervisor Gagnon
offered a few different routes for the PB to be involved. Chairperson Scriber suggested
they review the survey results and then provide some feedback to the TB.
Cowan brought up the recent presenta on sent out via email by Planner West prepared
by the Board of Realtors and and they discussed the current trends in STR in Tompkins
County. Some thought it was growing "new" trend and others cited sta s cs showing the
supply/demand was cooling.
Supervisor Gagnon pointed out that the TB's role in the data also needs to be considered
and that there had not been a deadline set for the surveys. Cowan and Gagnon
commented on the existence of a more detailed report from the county. Gagnon
commented on the process that happened at Cayuga Heights and the Town of Ithaca,
what was eventually passed, and what considera ons were made. Conners once again
stated these conversa ons are new and happening all over the place and that she hopes
Danby will stay ahead of the ball.
The PB agreed that they want to take a look at survey results and figure out from there
next steps.
8) ADJOURNMENT
The mee ng was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.