HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-12-19Minutes
Town of Danby Planning Board
December 19, 1984
Members Presents Nancy Weitzel, Donald Graham, Walt Sczepanski, Joel
Gagnon
Others Presents William Pierce, Robert Schwarting
The meeting was called to order at 7s35 P.M.
Minutes of the Novwmber 28th meeting were approved.
-Prv1_lege of the floor: Walt said he. had gotten t�,ree calls on the Junk
Law from people concerned that he had stated at the public hearing
that he did not .completely support the proposed law. They all supported
the law and felt the Planning Board should be. behind it. We talked about
this a bit. At the hearing, no one (other than those involved in the
law's preparation) spoke in favor of the law. A great many spoke against
It. Don said he expected that, that that is the way it goes in Danby.
Joel opi='ned that'-the fact that those who support it did not show up
Indicated that they did not support the provisions of the law without
reservations. He urged the Board to reconsider the provisions of the law
before puttin it to referendum. It was agreed that we would take another
look at it la er.
The matter of attendance at Planning Board meetings by the
was brought up. It was our understanding at ,the time that
was appointed that he would be attending our meetings. In
conversation with Walt and Joel he indicated that that
standing. Wo. agreed, upon further discussion, that his
be- valuable to us as a board, and. Don agreed to talk to
about it..
Zoning Officer
Judd Leonard
a recent
not his under -
presence would
the Town Board
Regular Agendas William Pierce, of the Ithaca Theater Lighting company,
located in the old Danby School on Gunderman road, was present to support
his application for a Planned Development District for the building and
Its - -surroun4ing-property (20 acres). Use of the. property -would re limited
to current uses, or expansion thereof (but still within the existing
building). Currently, ITL and the School of the Finger Lakes share the
facility, with the Ithaca School District using part of it also for -storage,
Walt asked about chemical wastes, and waste disposal in general. He was
told that no solvents are dumped into the leachfield. The little solvent
they use is being recycled. The. Health Department says the leachfield,
which is a sand filter, is adequate for their forseeable uses.
Joel asked about public use of the grounds and gym. These are currently
made available. to the public (by prior reservation) thanks to the
generosity of ITL. ITL is insured for this occasional use.. -The company
regards the gym as an asset for its employees as well, and plans to keep
it as it is. On discussion it became clear to the Board that it could in
no way incorporate a requirement for public access as one of the conditions
for the Planned Development, Such a stipulation would be contractual in
nature and illegal. Robert Schwarting pointed out that such access could
be. ensured-by way of a covenant in the deed- i.granted to ITL by the School
District, but the Board did not feel it appropriate for it to pursue that.
Our consideration of the Planned Development application thus was based
`�1
E
on an understanding that ITL intends to continue to provide public access,
but with no legal guarantees to that effect.
We unanimously approved a motion to send on to the Town Board our recommend-
ation that a Planned Development District be established for ITL for
the current uses of the land and building as stated in the application,
or expansion of those uses within the existing building.
Secretary's Notes This approval was withdrawn at the Town Board meeting
74% December when it came to light that ITL does not have a legal interest
In the property (a signed purchase agreement), a necessary prerequisite
for the application.]
Don reported that the Town Board had reappointed him Chair of the Planning
Board for another t4mvpoe yeare. He gets to be our representative to the
County Planning Board as a consequence.
Don also reported that he and Walt had been asked to be part of a committee,
along with members of the Town Board and the Town Attorney, to come up
with the legal framework needed to implement the State Fire and Building
Code. This work was to end r1th a draft local law. A hearing on that
law was 'scheduled for the 27 ' of December.
Don received, via the Town Supervisor, a letter from the Federal Emergen.
cy Management Agency indicating that Danby is to be converted to the
regular phase of the National Flood Insurance Program effective May 15,
19$.5 -The-Flood Hazard - Boundary Maps would be exchanged for Flood Rate
Maps. It is still necessary to have a.local law, as Don understands it,
to-regulate building in flood -prone areas in order for Danby residents
to qualify for low -cost national flood insurance. It also seems that
current regulations, incorporated into the zoning ordinance,,are inadequate
for this. We may as a consequence take this matter up again the future.
Meeting adjourned at 11s30 P.M.
Submitted by Joel Gagnon