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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-17® Town of Dryden Public Hearing February 17, 2005 Agenda: (1) Opening (2) Public comment Mem. Present: Barbara Caldwell, Tom Hatfield, David Weinstein, Jim Crawford, Russell Beck Also Present: Stephen Bell, Henry Slater, Debbie Gross, George Frantz (1) Opening 7.23 Barbara Caldwell opened the public hearing by reading the public notice that was sent out to the public. G� B. Caldwell Announced that the professional planner George Frantz would be putting on a presentation then there would be time for public comments and questions. G. Frantz Took over and encouraged people to read the Comprehensive Plan if they had not already. Then went on to explain that it is a 20 -year plan that will encourage Dryden to follow certain criteria so that it will be prosperous for generations. The general goals of the plan are: 1. To protect the quality of life 2. To protect the many natural assets of the town 3. To make optimal use of public infrastructure 4. Minimize the cost of Government 50 Encourage inter municipal cooperation in land use. 6. Encourage inter municipal cooperation in the provisions of public services Continued talking about facts about Dryden, like: 1. In 2000 the population of Dryden was 13530 2. 14% of people in Tompkins county live in Dryden 3. 45% of land cover in Dryden in wood land 4. 22% of land in agriculture 5. 6% of land wetlands 6. About 85 %, of land is either agriculture, wood land, or brush 7. Residential development covers 7% of Dryden 8. Commercial 3/1 Oths of one percent ' 9. Industry and utilities are about I % of the land 10. 3% in the other category Conti areas: 1. 2, 3, 4. 5, 6. 71 hued talking about issues related to the town and surrounding Population growth Transportation Protection of agricultural lands Ecologically sensitive resources Recreational opportunities Public safety Cost of public infrastructure Went on to discuss the assumptions that the board had been working under including: 1. There is a strong desire to preserve the existing character of the community 2. The town's population will still grow 3. New development must be balanced with polices that will still protect the character of the community 4. Insure that new development takes place near existing inf-astructure (hamlets and villages) to protect the agricultural area and to maximize the use of already built roads and sewers 5. The towns agricultural sector is important to maintaining a rich character and a prosperous town ® Pulled it all together with suggestions that the community will need to make it a prosperous place such as: 1. Encourage higher density residential development close in with the existing centers of population (Town and Hamlets) 2. Encourage a wide variety of housing types within neighborhoods 3. Direct future commercial development into existing hamlets and villages or in the existing nodes in which they already exists 4. Channel new development away from important agricultural lands and envirorurentally sensitive lands Started to describe the land use map to the audience and what kind of district they live in. Described the use of the map and how different colors represent different areas like light industrial, to residential. Talked about agricultural areas of the town and that in these areas agriculture will be looked at as number one and that (business that will be prosperous to fanning) will be allowed in these areas. Also talked about the purchase of development rights and how the town will be willing to pay owners of farmland not do develop it but rather keep it ® as a agricultural area. D. Fanner Then stated that he has a blue berry farm and he doesn't want to be zoned out. G.Frantz Told him that agriculture will still be pennitted in the area and that agriculture will be allowed in every area. D. Farmer Then asked about the status of the golf course. B. Caldwell Stated that she was unsure of anything about the golf course. Then asked for the next person with questions S. Stelick Asked why school fields aren't included in the recreational area. G. Frantz Said that the reason that they are not included are because they can be scheduled for school activities and not allowed to the public. Then asked who was next with a question. D. Hibert Asked how the developer putting in the water and sewer would work. G. Frantz Said that the town would have to put in the main piping and trunk lines but the developer would have to build access from the houses to those lines. D. Weinstein Plan outlines where water and sewer could go if development comes. Town will never push this. D. Hibert Then asked if there was any type of time line for this. G. Frantz Answered by saying that it was a 20-+- -year plan and that when the development comes that's when the new parks and walkways and sewer /water pipes would cone. D. Weinstein Then stated that the land use map was more for someone who is looking to buy land and not for the people who already live there. B. Caldwell Then asked for the new person with questions. Millie Norton Stated the area around the lake is "one of the most beautiful places on earth" and that even though it is in a residential area on the map it would be a shame to impede on the natural beauty of the area. G. Frantz Told the people that the area in question is fitting the mold in which the board envisioned and also told the crowd that zoning could not protect the area but there is a number of other ways to do so like government ownership or through the Finger Lake Land Trust. B. Caldwell Then asked for the next person to speak. A. Howard Stated that she lives in Etna because it is rural and loves it but sllc does wish that she could get public sewer and public water but doesn't want to have close neighbors, so she said that it is a very hard balance betiveen what people want and what is possible. B. Caldwell Asked for the next person to step up to speak. J. Osmeloski Suggested that the golf course stays a golf course and that the town should never allow it to become anything but open land. Also suggested grants that the town should look into to pay for it. G. Frantz Stated that could be something of interest and that the town will look into it. B. Caldwell Then introduced Debbie Gross to the crowd to read a -mails that were to be read regarding the plan. D. Gross Stated that she received e -mails from Fernando D'Aragon who works with the Ithaca Tompkins county transportation council which has reviewed the plan to see how well it mixes with surrounding areas. His biggest concern was protection of the Route 13 corridor. B. Caldwell Then read an anonymous letter ft-om a resident of Dryden. The concerns were with the Dryden trails and they were: 1. Trails would come too close to ecologically sensitive areas. 2. There would be an increase in trespassing with ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. 3. Trails that cut across farms would make it difficult for farmers to move livestock or machinery. 4. People living in seclusion would have less safety due to an increase in public knowledge. 5. All affected property owners would lose privacy. 6. Tax dollars could be spent much better. 7. The idea that people would use them rather then a car is ludicrous. Then asked if there was any more public comment. C. Silinski Stated that a trails system would be a very good idea because it would show people new areas that they regularly would never see. Karl Smolenski Also spoke about trail systems in England. D. Gross Told the crowd that the plan does not envision motorized vehicles on the trails yet snowmobiles are not classified as motorized. Simon St. Laurent What is the process From here'? B. Caldwell Stated that after the night was done they would take any more comment from the public up to the next meeting but then if there are no big changes it would be voted on to go to the Town Board. Then the Town Board will be able to do what they want to do with it until they are happy with it. K. Me Isaac If the development does happen in the red zones, will speed limits be reduced? G. Frantz. State controls speed zones unless Etna becomes a village. K Miller Thank Planning Board for allowing Fanners to get together to make comments. Made good headway and not sure they agree quite done, will send comments in writing. B. Caldwell Thanked everyone for attending and for their questions and closed the hearing. 1/�� GSM V. 1 NV -Z . 16am ) t(01\ oe�4 JVb4 g'Jow? rL l S LA 04(:,,ri F�o C, Pj oz lo�D 30 z 42k I is 9 0&1 0 ^1 ti!dA 0 r Commercial development will be kept small scale and neighborhood oriented. Rather then try to compete with Ithaca or Cortland keep commercial development small like the many small shops on Main Street. Also keep channeling it into the existing villages and hamlets. Route 13 should be preserved thus not allowing commercial development in plots all the way down it. lnstead look for institutional land uses that aren't affected by highway noise. Simply control what goes into the Route 13 area. Next the park and transportation map was taken out to illustrate the ideas concerning the two. The ideas concerning this map are: 1. As new neighborhoods come up new parks should be right behind them within a half mile of the homes. 2. Make a better relationship between the town and the Neighborhood Community Association. 3. The constriction of a community park that is about 20 acres with sports fields and open areas for festivals. 4. Along with the park would come walking trails for people so that there is an alternative to the automobile. 5. Footpaths are also of focus in the hill /plateau areas of the town for only walking and nothing else. 6. Minimize the amount of traffic on Route 13 by using other ways like Nest Dryden Road. Finally making the statements that new sewer and water lines will be extending with new development and that it is the developer who should have to pay for new lines and not the tax pay. (2) Public comment S. Caldwell Then told the audience that the public comment section was beginning and to sign in IF there was a question or statement that they wanted to have heard. Dave Farmer Stated that the area around the lake which is currently park land is marked as development. G. Frantz .Reassured him by telling the crowd that the map was very general to the area and that a park would fit in with the category. •