HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-2025-Planning Board Minutes
Mary Ann Barr 2021
Planning Board Minutes
Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 7:00PM
The Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
Town of Danby Planning Board
Minutes of Regular Meeting
November 18 2025
PRESENT:
Ed Bergman (arrived at 7:08 pm)
Jacob Colbert
Colleen Cowan
Jody Scriber (arrived 7:17 pm)
Kelly Maher (chair)
ABSENT:
Jamie Vanucchi
Scott Davis
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Town Planner: Greg Hutnik
Recording Secretary: Cindy Katz
Public (in person): Leslie Connors (Town Board Liaison)
Public (virtual): Katharine Hunter (Town Board Member); Joel Gagnon
(Town Supervisor); Ted Crane
(1) CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA REVIEW
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm.
The Planning Board elected to skip reviewing the minutes until other members arrived
and hopefully fulfilled quorum.
(2) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
No one spoke
(3) TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT (VERBAL)
Lesie Connors gave the following update:
- The proposed changes to the Hamlet zoning have been passed for review to the
Town Board.
- Positions for boards and committees are available for 2026. Please see the
newsletter for details if interested.
Planning Board members elected to telephone other members to see if they were
coming to the meeting. Ed Bergman arrived.
(4) MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Approve Planning Board minutes from October 2025
Moved by Maher, seconded by Colbert
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Colbert, Cowan, Maher
(5) DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
SUB 2025-04 129 Hornbrook Road Parcel: 10.-1-82.2 Applicant: Petricola-Bartholf
Partnership II Zone: Rural 1 & Commercial C SEQR: Unlisted Proposal:
Subdivide the 110.59-acre parcel into two lots: one measuring 3.03 acres and the
other measuring 107.56 acres Anticipated Board Action the Month : SEQR
Determination; Public Hearing; Consider Approval
They reviewed the plat, noting that it meets the minimum dimensions for a
commercially zoned district. They discussed the narrow sliver of commercial area that
will remain in the other parcel. There are a few options for that, but such does not
impact this subdivision.
Any new owner of that land will require site plan review unless it will be used as
residential.
They pulled up the SEAF Part 1 on the large screen. Planner Hutnik pointed out the
various locations on the form where he added, edited, or clarified (questions
3,4,5,9,10,11,13,14 &16).
Planner Hutnik pointed out that this property has the unique feature of being the first
one that sits on the watershed divide, and Connors noted that it is in the aquifer overlay
district. In the event of site plan review, the Planning Board would want to look into
such, as there are some limitations on what is permitted there.
Planner Hutnik noted that his recommendation stated no adverse environmental
impacts would occur as a result of this subdivision. Jody Scriber arrived at 7:17pm.
MOTION: To Pass Planning Board Resolution No. 22 of 2025: Negative Determination
of environmental significance, minor subdivision, 129 Hornbrook Road, Tax Parcel #10.-
1-82.2
Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the
Town of Danby Planning Board for a Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax
Parcel No. 10.-1-82.2, by Joseph Petricola, Owner; and
Whereas the Applicant proposes to subdivide the existing 110.59-acre property
into two parcels: “Parcel B” measuring 107.56 acres and “Parcel C” measuring
3.03 acres; and
Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area
minimum of 10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet, and also in the Commercial C
Zoning District, requiring a minimum lot area of 2 acres; and
Whereas the 3.03-acre lot will be entirely within the Commercial C Zoning
District and the 107.56-acre lot will be mostly in the Rural 1 Zoning District with
a small (~2-acre) portion in the Commercial C Zoning District, both lots meeting
the dimensional requirements for new lots;
Whereas this is considered a Minor Subdivision in accordance with the Town of
Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 B.1. Minor
Subdivision, Option #2; and
Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act and is subject to environmental review; and
Whereas the Town of Danby Planning Board, having sole responsibility for
approving Minor Subdivisions, declared itself Lead Agency on October 21, 2025;
and
Whereas this Board, acting as Lead Agency in environmental review accepts as
adequate: a Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF), Part 1, submitted by
the Owner, and Part 2, prepared by the Planning Administrator; a subdivision
plat entitled “Subdivision Map Showing Lands of Petricola-Bartholf Partnership
Located on Hornbrook Road, Town of Danby, Tompkins County, New York”
prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., and dated 9/27/2024; and other application
materials;
Now Therefore, be it
Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board, based on careful
consideration of the application materials, determines the proposed Minor
Subdivision will result in no significant impact on the environment and that a
Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the Environmental
Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the
State Environmental Quality Review Act.
Moved by Bergman, seconded by Cowan
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Colbert, Cowan, Scriber, Maher
Public Comment
The public hearing was opened at 7:19 pm.
Ted Crane commented that he doesn’t see how this would impact [Dotson] park. He
wouldn’t object to the land being donated to the park also.
Public Hearing Closed at 7:20 pm.
Board Discussion
MOTION: To Pass Planning Board Resolution No. 23 of 2025 Granting Preliminary and
Final Approval of Minor Subdivision, 129 Hornbrook Road, Tax Parcel #10.-1-82.2
Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the
Town of Danby Planning Board for a Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax
Parcel No. 10.-1-82.2, by Joseph Petricola, Owner; and
Whereas the Applicant proposes to subdivide the existing 110.59-acre property
into two parcels: “Parcel B” measuring 107.56 acres and “Parcel C” measuring
3.03 acres; and
Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area
minimum of 10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet, and also in the Commercial C
Zoning District, requiring a minimum lot area of 2 acres; and
Whereas the 3.03-acre lot will be entirely within the Commercial C Zoning
District and the 107.56-acre lot will be mostly in the Rural 1 Zoning District with
a small (~2-acre) portion in the Commercial C Zoning District, both lots meeting
the dimensional requirements for new lots;
Whereas this is considered a Minor Subdivision in accordance with the Town of
Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 B.1. Minor
Subdivision, Option #2 - A small-lot land division is permitted, where the
division results in a lot or lots of less than 8 acres, provided that the following
criteria are met:
a. No other division(s) or subdivision(s) involving the parcel being
divided except for Land Annexation have taken place within the previous
three (3) consecutive years;
b. The division results in no more than two lots, including the parcel being
divided;
c. All lots resulting from the land division have frontage on a public road
maintained year-round;
d. All lots resulting from the land division meet all other pertinent zoning
requirements; and
e. No extension or improvement of an existing, or creation of a new public
road, public utility, or public facility or area is involved.
f. Compliance with the Stormwater Local Law, if applicable, has been
demonstrated, including, but not limited to, the preparation and approval
of SWPPPs, the obtaining of Stormwater Permits, and the design,
planning, installation, construction, maintenance, and improvement of
temporary and permanent Stormwater Management Practices, as each
and all of such capitalized terms are used within such Stormwater Local
Law.; and
Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act and is subject to environmental review; and
Whereas the Planning Board, acting as Lead Agency, did on November 18, 2025
make a Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance for the project; and
Whereas legal notice was published and adjacent property owners within 500
feet notified in accordance with the Town of Danby Subdivision and Land
Division Regulations, Article VI, § 601 II.H. Hearing and Notices; and
Whereas the Planning Board held the required Public Hearing November 18,
2025; and
Now Therefore, be it
Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board does hereby grant Preliminary
and Final Subdivision Approval to the proposed Minor Subdivision of Town of
Danby Tax Parcel No. 10.-1-82.2, by Joseph Petricola, Owner, subject to filing
with the Tompkins County Clerk within 62 days.
Moved by Cowan, seconded by Colbert
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Cowan, Colbert, Scriber, Maher
The Planner reminded the applicant to file with the county clerk. The applicant left.
[6] PLANNER REPORT
Planner Hutnik updated the Planning Board about a land use training he recently
attended at Greek Peak. Many topics were covered including the state’s goals for
renewable energy, data centers, and large scale solar, wind, and battery arrays. Planner
Hutnik expressed that while Danby is set-up for large scale solar and battery storage, he
was not sure if stand alone battery systems would be permissible. They briefly
discussed locations in Danby for solar farms.
Planner Hutnik added that currently data centers are not considered public utilities and
therefore do not get a “lower bar” to clear in terms of site plan review and other
approvals. However, this may change and they may end up with a lower bar to clear
and lighter scrutiny.
Crane asked about if they went into detail about wind and particular locations in
Danby. Planner Hutnik said no.
Planner Hutnik also attended David West’s seminars, often related to housing and
community.
Planner Hutnik also gave an update on the Hamlet sewer project. The group working
on it is still in the information gathering phase of the project, with meetings with Hunt
Engineers, the DEC, and financial advisors.
The Planning Board members discussed ways to get training hours, including some
“self study”videos that folks can watch independently. Planner Hutnik will put
together a document with resources.
[7] ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
------------------------------------------------------------------Cindy Katz, Recording Secretary