HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-03-09i
March 9, 1976
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Frank R. Liguori PE Commissioner of Planning
TOe Mayor, City of Itraca* Village Mayors* Town Supervisors*
County Board of Representatives and Others
FROM: Frank R. Liguori, Commissioner of Planning
REe Guidelines for Development Under the Selective Communit
Settlement Goal Concept
As you know,.the County Planning Department is actively pro-
moting the concept of the SELECTIVE CO'Ut . _TY PLAN for the
future development of the county. The basic concept has been
described in recent publications of the Planning Department
and.several public presentations were ;jade before municipal
groups, civic organizations and others. The response to the
proposal has been generally quite favorable and there are
indications that a consensus for the plan is emerging. I hope
to seek a formal public expression from the County Board of
Representatives in a fear weeks. If that response is favorable,
I will then seek public expressions from each municipality,
other agencies and groups in the county,
The Selective Comolinity Settle�ent Plan is designed to function
within the existing frame;eork of land use controls with local
goveriments retaining their full authority. The plan does not
advocate county zoning. Holdev? r, i ' the concept is to succeed,
It will require a comLmitment on tie r art of local government to
pursue the concept as part of their nor-rnal land use activities,
Although it is not essential that every municipality make a'
formal commitment to the concept, its degree of success in
accomplishing the objectives will depend upon the degree of
commitment by each municipality and the people of the county,
The.County Health Department and the State Department of
Environmental Conservation also play a leading role, particularly
in relation to approval of septic systems and water wells on
individual lots, subdivisions and other developments.
After considerable discussion with several municipalities, the
Health Department, the Department of '.Pnvironzmental Conservation,
and others, I submit for your consideration and comment the
following criteria which, if acceptable, will help to provide
the guidelines necessary to accomplish the plan objectives. I
offer them in the interest of further discussion and in the
interest of promoting uniformity in the use of criteria for
development of land,
128 East Buffalo Street, Ithaca, kfew York , 14850 . �rr Telephone 607.273.2080 Extension 28 , 29
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Selective Communities
At the present time the following communities seem to have the
attributes necessary to assimilate moderate new growth without
significantly changing the character of the communities and
without creating serious problems for the futureo These
attributes include the availability or the potential for
public services, sewers, water, public schools, fire protec-
tion, police protection, etco The actual boundaries of the
Selective Communities are currently being clearly defined on
maps, and will be submitted to you for comment at a later dates
- The Ithaca Urban Area, including the City of Ithaca, the
Village o Cauga y Heights, a major portion of the Town,of
Ithaca, a major portion of the Village of Lansing, and a
westerly portion of the Town of Dryden,
- The Village of Trumansbur and the immediate surrounding
area it
whin the Town of U ysses,
- The Village of Groton and the immediate surrounding area
within the Town o Groton,
- The Village of D Lgen and the immediate surrounding area
within th Town of Dryden,
- The
Village
of
Freeville
and the immediate surrounding
area
within
the
Town of
Dryden,
• - The Community of Newfield, generally within the existing
water district and possible extensions,
Generally speaking, development activities within the above
Selective Communities would be encouraged, utilizing the
existing framework for land use controls. Each municipality
will have the option of establishing their own intensity of
activity and designation of land use categories (residential,
commercial, industrial, etc,) as they wish. A mixing of
housing types should be encouraged as well as the use of
planned unit development, and carefully laid out subdivisions,
Lot sizes will be at the option of the municipality depending
upon the density or intensity of activity.desired by the
municipality. Where development activity is permitted to
extend beyond the reach of public services, the municipality
must consider commitments for extension of these _facilities
on a phased time basis,
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Areas of The County Outside of The Selective Communities
Except for special self contained developments, it is clear
that the areas of the county outside of the designated
. Selective Communities can not be provided (economically)
with the community services necessary to insure order and meet
the needs for developments. This statement is supported by.
several functional area studies including the Comprehensive
1,1ater and Sewer Studies, It therefore behooves us to do those
things which will control the intensiveness of development
activities in these areas. Failure to recognize this will
mean that we will be faced with future problems which may
have no economic solutions. Furthermore, we will continue to
promote undesirable sprawl, loss of farm land,open space, leap
frogging developments, and an erosion of the pleasant rural
character of the county.
One way to begin controlling the intensity of developments in
the areas outside of the designated Selective Communities
(generally called the rural areas) is by requiring generous
lot sizes which will better insure that homes and other
developments will have sufficient space to properly develop
individual water and sewer facilities and to achieve sufficient
open space to insure a low density or intensity of activities.
After discussing this matter with several municipal officials
and others, the following guidelines for lot sizes and
clustering of activities seem to be acceptable and appropriate.
Some municipalities are already considering changes in their
land use controls using these criteria,
- Minimum lot size for single family homes (includes the
possibility of one sub - ordinate apartment) and comparable
other developments should be (about) 1 1/2 acres with a lot
frontage of 2501 and a depth of 2601. The actual square
footage is 659000, Single lots of deed record less than the
above could be given special consideration user an appeal.
Allowance. could be made for a variation_ of up to 10% in any one
lot dimension if it is made up by a commensurate increase in
the other lot dimension to maintain the minimum 65,000 square
feet,
d
-- Subdivisions could be limited to 25 lots. If public water
supply is available (but not public sewers) the limit could
be increased to 50,
- Each municipality would continue to control the land use
classifications (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.)
within the area as they see fit, Hourever, high intensity
activities that do not have.self contained services should
be avoided, particularly multifamily units.
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a The County Health Department and State DEC will continue to
play a leading role with their regulations dealing with
subdivisions and individual septic systems and water supplies.
In the interest of the overriding community goal and in the
interest of uniformity, it is hoped that their lot size
requirements and policies will be commensurate with the above,
I am convinced that the above criteria (as amended by your
continued input) are the necessary minimum steps to make a
beginning in achieving the concepts of the Selective Community
Plan and all of the advantages that will follow. I will
gladly discuss the plan in more detail at your request, The
County Planning Department has already assisted several munici�
palities and is available to assist your municipality in
incorporating these criteria in your land use control ordinances
at your requesto Please let me hear from you, your reactions
are necessary to determine whether or not the general concept is
acceptable.
FRLays
cco Dr. K. Gaffney, Tompkins County Health Department
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board
Dept, of State, Division of Community Development
County Planning Board
County Environmental Management Council
Sierra Club
Others
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