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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-05-18 TOWN OF GROTON Planning Board Meeting Tuesday ,, May 18 ,, 1993 ,, 7 : 30 p . m . PLANNING BOARD * Denotes Members Present ) * Monica Carey , * Verl Rankin * George Totman ,, Chairman * Cecil Twigg George VanSlyke Sheldon Clark PUBLIC PRESENT Joan Jurkowich Jeannie Barrett George Totman called the meeting to order at 7 : 51 p . m . Joan Jurkowich and Jeannie Barrett appeared before the Planning Board to report on their progress . Jeannie opened the meeting with three items of discussion : economic development ; farming in the Town of Groton ; and land development patterns . All three items were supplied with write - ups given at meeting . Economic Development This write - up discusses manufacturing firms , reducing scales of opera - tion ,, downsizing ,, competition increasing ,, and the expectations of growth of small to medium sized manufacturing operations . Encouraging and supporting local entrepeneurs in existing businesses was mentioned . Recommendations were also given . For example ,, the township develop a mission statement of strengths and weaknesses in the community and compare them to the needs of local businesses . . It , was . also strongly suggested that inLLOstrial parks ,, buildings , or incubators be avail - able with identifying a key contact person Cecil wanted to know the definition of an incubator . George gave the industrial park located off Warren Road as an example where small businesses use a large building to " get started " with less financial difficulties . One company that was given as an example was Ithaca Peripherals . Once the company " outgrows " - - becomes bigger , it will usually relocate to a bigger and better business environment . Sometimes the administra - tive staff would be shared with more than one company . Therefore ,, the administrative costs of secretaries ,, copiers ,, telephones ,, etc . ,, is a cost - effective measure . It was also discussed that economic development involve the Village . Reasons for a joint economic development program include a higher intensity development from Village along with water and sewer services . The Village is ; considering a community center . Cecil suggested Town is not large enough for a big project . Village is part of it having municipal services along with being the main drag . Town of Groton Planning Board Page 2 Tuesday , May 18 ,E 1993 Monica asked if citizen group is looking at Smith - Corona . Jeannie said yes . Jeannie invited any further comments on the subject . Majority agreed that it was sensible . George commented that the Groton Town Board and Village Board get together and agree with concept of it and arrive at a conclusion . To provide recommendations and common goals and form a committee to carry this out . Currently the group consists of the mayor ,, town supervisor ,, and town planning boards . George stated that the Town Planning Board had never heard of this . Therefore , concern was expressed as' far as who is really in group . Jeannie said she will double check on who is actually in the group . Monika Crispin ' s Farming in the Town of Groton This write - up summarizes the fact that Groton has more - farms than any other town in the County . Agriculture is the major land use and contributes to the economic activity in the Town and County as a whole . Dairy farming is the predominant enterprise . There are no horticultural farms ( vegetables ,, fruit ,, nursery or greenhouse ) in Groton . Jeannie welcomed any comments from the Board . No comments were spoken . Land Development Patterns ( A write - up was distributed at meeting . ) Joan opened the discussion with anyone wanting to contribute general comments and / or go over each item at length . Cecil commented that the life blood 'of the Town and Village are the farmers . George suggested to Joan that the Town Board be brought up - to - date and be given the opportunity to comment . In summation , areas were identi - fied as best suited for higher intensity development . These areas include Village of Groton ,, along Route 38 north and south of the Village ,I in and around McLean , and along Fall Creek . Monica wanted to know where exactly in the all Creek area . Is the area in question in Dryden ,( Freeville ,, or Groton ? It was decided by Board that the Fall Creek area is in the Town of Groton . This was for clarification purposes . Following were options available for encouraging higher intensity development . Discussed were commerical and industrial zoning ,, incentive zoning ,I planned unit developments ,, and capital improve - ment program . Planned Unit Development ( PUD ) A PUD is usually a mixed use development located on a large parcel of land . The location of residential ,, commerical "I and community buildings is determined based on the physical characteristics of the land and the relationship of these uses to each other and to surrounding lands . George gave a good example of a PUD being UPS off Warren Road . It was zoned rural residential , but in the one area it was a PUD . Town of Groton Planning Board Page 3 Tuesday ,, May y 18 ,E 1993 Incentive Zoning Allows the Town to negotiate with the developers in exchange for some special amenities such as a day care center ,! parks , affordable housing , and elder care . The main incentive would be to increase density allowing additional units to be built that would not have been able to do so because of the normal and / or current zoning regulations ( frontage ,I height regula - tions , etc . ) '. Cecil commented that they should not be able to buy their way into buying more units . The reason why we have the number of units today could be because of environ - mental safety reasons . Why do we set the numbers like we do ? Something is wrong if we are adding units . Monica commented it isn ' t wrong if it is to help the community . George stated one reason why we have incentive zoning is for a particular area that could be conducive for that area and not for the rest of the Town . George also stated that Town Board is the only group to change zoning ordinance- for a particular project . Cecil commented by saying zoning ordinance will become more flexible . Joan says the ordinance defines what kind - of - trade - offs can be made for what kind of improvements . The list that was provided is listed in the law . For example , Joan listed open space ,f affordable housing ,I parks ,, day care vs opening of a small business . Commerical / Industrial Zoning A way to set up zones for commerical and / or industrial uses . No residential developers in these areas . To date , this has been misinterpreted . George cited the interpretation as being a single family residence can be put under industrial zone : ' by a site plan review approved by the Planning Board . It was mentioned that this should be changed . Capital Improvement Program To adopt a ' policy to limit extension of one or two water and sewer to high intensity areas . This has nothing to do with the zoning board . Joan finished the high intensity area discussion by inviting any further comments or concerns . None were spoken . Low intensity areas should also be addressed in addition to the high intensity areas . Low intensity areas should be developed to maintain the Town ' s rural character . Improve - ments of low intensity areas are cluster development ,, flag lots , and hillside protection . Cluster Development Land would be developed with the same number of units . The definition of a cluster was discussed . Joan . ; provided _ ust .: with " tb _ : allow a parcel of land to be developed so that all the houses are located on only a portion of the property and the rest remains open ( undeveloped ) permanently without increasing the overall number of units allowed " . Cecil expressed cost - effective . sewage concerns . Verl expressed Health Department concerns . Town of Groton Planning . Board Page 4 Tuesday ,, May 18 , 1993 Flag Lots Flag lots are lots which do not meet the frontage requirements of the zoning regulations but meet all other dimensional standards . The term " flag lot " describes the shape of the lots with a relatively narrow strip of land ( pole ) leading back to the main lot ( flag ) . Most appropriate in low intensity ,, rural settings . A good example of flag lots is Sovocool Hill Road . Cecil expressed strong concern that land is not or will not be used correctly . George stated that Scofield and Peruville Roads are. excel,lent sites for building use . What is so popular for building houses in these areas is because of privacy and excellent land usage . Swamp and weeds vs using the land as building lots . Hillside Protection George feels that is no need for it because it is more difficult and expensive to build . Jeannie mentioned the protection . of beauty along hillside of a lake . Could cause a developer to go out of business . Joan mentioned that the steepest slopes in excess of 25 % in the Town of Groton is along Route 38 , George welcomed suggestions on whether or not Jeannie and Joan should have write - ups on echoe units . Board agreed . Joan will be checking into echoe units and will have a write - up avail - able at the next meeting . Also what will be discussed at next meeting is height restrictions and scenic highway ordinance . The package for Town Board will be finalized . More information on flag lots will become available . George wants to look into mobile home dwelling units and their sizes . The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday ,, June 17 ,, 1993 ,, at 8 : 00 p . m . George Totman briefly reviewed the issues that will be before the Planning Board on Thursday ,, May 20 ,E 19930 George Totman made a motion to adjourn the meeting ; Cecil Twigg seconded . The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 04 p . m . Submitted by Penny Bogardus