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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 07 18 minutes planning board.pdf1 1 Town of Enfield Planning Board Meeting Minutes - July 18, 2012 Enfield Community Building PRESENT: Virginia Bryant, Mike Carpenter, Ann Chaffee, Stephen Givin, Calvin Rothermich, Marie Vandemark Excused Absence: Dan Walker STAFF: Alan Teeter, Building Code Enforcement Officer Sue Thompson, Planning Board Recording Secretary Vera Howe-Strait, Town Board Representative Debby Teeter, Town Board Member Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m. Virginia Bryant reported that she spoke with Ed Bugliosi, Ithaca Office, NY Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and he is willing to come to one of our meetings regarding the Aquifer Study. Because of the large attendance from the general public, the Board introduced themselves. The “general public” then introduced themselves. They were invited to sign the attendance sheet for the meeting and to leave their contact information including e-mails. Virginia Bryant asked Alan Teeter, Enfield Code Enforcer, to present the application for site Plan Review from Rick Uhl, regarding 371 N. Applegate Road. Rick Uhl would like to add an efficiency apartment to an existing apartment house. Approval has been received from the Health Department for the project. There were questions and discussion on the ap plication. Virginia Bryant made a motion to approve the application. Ann Chaffee seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Virginia Bryant introduced the Comprehensive Plan stating that the 2001 version needs to be brought up to date reflecting what the Enfield community wants. The finishing target date is February 2013. Mike Carpenter explained what the Planning Board had discussed in previous meetings regarding the organization of the Comprehensive Plan. The next approach to rewriting the Comprehensive Plan would be to organize each of the Comprehensive Plan’s categories into different groups. He asked if the attendees would be willing to break up into the following groups to help the committee in discussing each of the categories. Each group will be led by a member of the Planning Board and would meet for approximately 45 minutes. Each group should accomplish the following: First understand the Comprehensive Plan, how does it fit Enfield today, what would we like in it for the future, list ideas and report back to the board. Groups: Virginia Bryant is researching the aquifer study. Sue Thompson - History and Population. 2 2 Virginia Bryant, Steve Given and Alan Teeter – Housing, Public Utilities, Infrastructure and Transportation. Marie VandeMark – Economic Development, Community Facilities and Programs. Ann Chaffee and Calvin Rothermich – Agriculture, and Recreational Assets Mike Carpenter and Dan Walker - Environmental and Natural Resources, Land Use Debby Teeter suggested agriculture should be added to Land Use. She stated that the biggest land use is agriculture. Mike Carpenter responded that the topics were put into groups that can be discussed and can possibility be joined together at a later time. There was discussion regarding:  Representation from the North East Organic Farmers organization as an environmental steward.  Environmental land use - environmental water usage.  Recreational assets  Community facilities  Common community values  Public forum/attending different public meetings to collect ideas for the Comprehensive Plan Debby Teeter reviewed the process of writing the 2001 Comprehensive Plan:  Many meetings with input from the community  Ideas of how to collect data  What the community wants  Looking for assistance regarding the plan  Developing funding plans Mike Carpenter said he has been receiving lots of e -mails from residents offering help with the Comprehensive Plan. Jim McConkey wrote the 2001 Comprehensive Plan from the outline the Planning Board presented to him. Mike said the Planning Board would consider participation from anyone who volunteered to write the final Comprehensive Plan after the outline has been made. A member of the audience asked to hear from members of the Board on th eir ideas/comments for the Plan: Ann Chaffee said she would like to hear what the community members in attendance would like to be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan and how they feel they can help.  Water is most important and wants to help with the aquife r study  Land owner protection and water  Rural community and keeping the area clean and quiet 3 3  Fracking concerns for and against  People/neighbors – quiet. Build a strong community, feedings itself, clean water and land, healthy, new and old community  State environmental review process to preserve lands  Environmental and economic development.  Fracking what effect does it have on the roads and land  Organic farming, no Fracking. Preserve the land for the next generation of families.  Agriculture – preservation, not opposed to Fracking if done safely this could boost the economy in the area.  Agriculture and land use should not be a separate category. Calvin Rothermich said he feels agriculture is very important for the Comprehensive Plan. His family has been farming in Enfield successfully for 170 years and wants to keep the land open for agriculture. He is not against Fracking if it is done safely. Steve Givins stated his interest is in the community facilities and the usage of the facilities. He is also interested in Aquifer Study and keeping water safe for the community. Reports were given from each of the category groups: Sue Thompson - History and Population.  Would like to see a more positive write up of the population area creating a better marketing value of the town.  No restriction on historical homes/buildings  Directing education on historic preservation to historic Ithaca  Encourage preservation of barns in the community Virginia Bryant – Housing, Public Utilities, Infrastructure and Transportation.  Look at goals what has been done – Highway Structure.  Public Transportation – rider experience, bus shelters  Improve town roads, safety, road preservation  Take out Post Office  Public facilities create a clear list of how they will be used  Physical town attributes – Fire, school, government  Multi-use community center  Town Square/Park in Enfield Center.  Rewrite the Comprehensive Plan including the school as a community asset center of activity  Housing to improve the quality of the life of the resident  Recognizing substandard housing  Developing home energy program/assessment upgrade  Senior Housing program – renovation of homes so they are more accessible  How to attract more residents  Infrastructure – internet needed, cell phone service needed 4 4  Senior Housing renovation of homes so they are more accessible – program in the county. Marie VandeMark – Economic Development, Community Facilities and Programs.  Lacks identity for a community center.  Economic development hinges other programs  Spaces – Town property  Encourage economic development – start small business – listing of businesses in the community  Where is the center of the community?  Virtual Center is important where residents come to meet. Economic development, networking communication, Chamber of Commerce meeting on a regular basis.  Connect all the areas – school to the highway facility.  Sidewalks  Small scale rural activity center  Younger generation invite them to become involved. Ann Chaffee and Calvin Rothermich – Agriculture, and Recreational Assets.  Reminder that the Comprehensive Plan is not a law but a guide line for the future of the town.  Agriculture has changed in the last 40 years  Education in timbering of the land  Tax assessment  Address the fact that some of the people farming in the town do not live in the town, how to protect their vested interest  Urban sprawl  Encourage to buy local products  Right to Farm Law – address how the law effects the town  Soil quality  Road quality and traffic laws  What is a farm and what is agriculture  Right to Farm Law should be given to all building permits applicants  Goal to develop a farmers market  Recognize education about agriculture  Encourage the younger population regarding agriculture education  How many farmers have another job? Mike Carpenter Environmental and Natural Resources, Land Use  Express what direction land use goes  Changes land use with hydro-fracking how it would impact the town  Develop a plan what areas industry could develop in  Control land use without zoning is it possible  Beautification should be addressed to all areas not a separate area.  Housing 80% is substandard as of 2001 5 5 Mike Carpenter addressed some of the questions/issues regarding the Comprehensive Plan:  Census 2010 needed for updating  Process of finding information, public on the web – Tompkins County Data bases, mapping  Local land use – extra oil/gas is there a law?  Reminder that the Comprehensive Plan is not a law.  The Planning Board needs to hear from the community on what they would like in the Comprehensive Plan.  How does the Planning Board get to the community to gather information/ideas. Mike Carpenter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Steve Given seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 9:5 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sue Thompson Recording Secretary