HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-10 JOINT,MEETING - BETWEEN - GROTON - PLANNING - BOARD - AND - GROTON TOWN - BOARD,, - AUGUST - 10 ,E - 1993
MANNING BOARD
( *Denotes Members Present )
* Sheldon Clark Monica Carey
* George Totman,I Chairman Cecil Twigg
* George VanSlyke * Verl Rankin
TOWN BOARD
( *Denotes Members Present )
* Theresa Robinsonr
* Ellard Sovocool
* Gordon VanBenSchoten .
* Donald Cummings
Carl Haynes
PUBLIC PRESENT
Joan Jurkowich
G . TOTMAN called meeting to order at 7 : 40 p . m . We are here to discuss the Comprehensive
Plan for the Town of Groton .
G . TOTMAN : We have been working very closely with Joan Jurkowich to -present
a Master Plan for the future plans for the Town of Groton . Now,!
we have finalized a Master Plan and wish to present it to the Town
Board for their consideration . It is normal to have a meeting
like this before taking it to the public . It is by law that we
will hold a public hearing . We will answer any questions you may have .
J . JURKOWICH : Provided an updated land-use map . I ask that the Town Board members
review the recommendations of .-the Comprehensive Plan . The Comprehensive
Plan ' s major recommendation is to divide the Town into high-intensity
and low-intensity areas- what is per�nitted in the various zoning
districts . I ask that you review the maps that were provided for you .
Encourage the Planned-Unit Development, Incentive Zoning ,, and
Commerical Zoning . As far the the lob-intensity areas , we are
encouraging cluster development and flag lots . Other recommendations
include capital improvement program,, ECHO housing ,, and economic
development . As far as the ECHO housing , BOLES is building a model .
As far as the economic development , the ' own and the Village need
to work together as one unit . In the Draft plan that was provided ,,
there is a lot of background information , report on population,,
economics ,, environmental resources since the 1972 plan . On these
issues,, you may consider it an update .
G . TOTMAN : We have been continuously keeping the Town Board informed of our
doings through US mail . Does the Town Board have any questions
on what we have been doing ? Are we wasting our time? Do you wish
to have anything clarified . Now is the time to inquire . This is
a draft . In the ends whatever we come up with ,, the Town Board has
to pass .
JOINT MEETING - BETWEEN - GROTON - PLANNING - BOARD AND GROTON - TOWN - BOARD , AUGUST 10 , 199- Page - 2 •
/D o CUMMINGS : When you are talking about cluster housing , I can ' t think of any place
in the Town outside the Village where we have that now . In other words ,
you would not have to have the 200 feet , right?
G . TOTMAN : Gave an example at length .
D . CUMMINGS : Gave an example off Rt . 222 pass Sears Road . They cannot have an
acre for each house there You would have to make sure public water
and sewer was available .
G . TOTMAN : Sometimes you can have your own water and sewer system . For example ,
the Jehovah Witness facility that is going to hold 1 , 200 people--they
are going to have their own system . It can happen . ( Groton has really
has -.not changed in the past 20 years .
T . ROBINSON : What about water and sewer protection? I forese , in the future that
McLean will have their own sewage system because the saturation of
land will only take so much . What about excess?
G . TOTMAN : I think what Theresa is trying to say is that once it becomes a
public sewage system, then it becomes a Town problem . No, we have
not really got into that area, basically, because you are talking
about an enormous amount of money, but your concern is 100 percent
right .
T . ROBINSON : An area I had in mind was the Town of Dryden .
G . TOTMAN : I realize what you are saying . I don ' t really have an answer for you .
One thing, we don ' t have . the authority .
T . ROBINSON : One reason why you are having a plan is to make plans for the future .
I foresee this as a future problem .
* *Maybeo xpand the comprehensive plan on above . . _ :
G . TOTMAN : _ Anybody else have any ideas? Louie-, , how about you?
E . SOVOCOOL : The only thing I oppose to is the flag lots . Otherwise ,, everything else
is fine .
T . ROBINSON : Expressed concern on how to access these areas . Are roads ( new ones )
going to have to be built?
G . TOTMAN : Tompkins County is one of the more stricter counties as far as
approval . The Town of Groton is the only town that reauires
200 feet in the County . Everyone else is 150 . Maybe change
the zoning ordinance ( ? )
The general consensus was that it was heading in the right direction .
G • TOTMAN : Anybody else? OK . Before presenting this to the public , we wi ]Ll
make the above-mentioned changes and schedule a public hearing .
We will present the results of this meeting .at our next scheduled
monthly Planning Board meeting . Joan will .make the necessary
revisions and contact you with these revisions . If we do not
hear anything from the Town Board,( we will go ahead with a public
hearing . Is this agreeable to everyone ?
T . ROBINSON : Can you anticipate the public ' s reaction . For example ,+ realtors
may consider flag lots a big deal .
JOIN' MEETING BETWEEN GROTON - PLANNING BOARD AND GROTON TOWN BOARD , AUGUST 10 ,E 1993 - - Page - 3
D . CUM MINGS Getting back to these flag lots . We don ' t have these now,, right .
It is ? illegal in the Town of Groton . I ' m really not opposed to that .
Example : Lick Street-Roosevelt property . It seems that a few
people are going that way, and I don ' t see any harm in doing that .
V . RANKIN : Are we coming to a vote?
G . TOTMAN : Discussed at length various examples of flag lots .
Anybody else have any questions? If not ,I the Planning Board will
meet on the 19th and we will tentatively set a date for the public
hearing . Is this fine with everyone? We even had previous
public hearings . What did you think about the public hearings ,I Joan?
J . JURKOWICH : The hearings brought up good discussions and points that we didn ' t
even think of . We received new ideas and tried to follow through
on them .
i
G . TOTMAN : OK . I make the motion to officially close the meeting .
V . RANKIN : Seconded motion .
a
TOWN OF GROTON
Planning Board Meeting
Thursday ,, July 29 ,E 1993 ,E 7 : 30 p . m .
PLANNING BOARD
( * Denotes Members Present )
* George Totman ,I Chairman * Monica Carey
* Cecil Twigg George VanSlyke
* Verl Rankin Sheldon Clark
PUBLIC PRESENT
Joan Jurkowich
George Totman called the meeting to order at 8 : 01 p . m .
MASTER PLAN SUMMARY
Members were asked , from Joan ,( if there were any comments or questions on the
Master Plan Summary draft that was sent to each individual in the mail for
his / her review . Topics of discussion included any changes in Plant coordinating
a meeting with Groton Town Board ( GTB ) in addition to notifying - the public .
What means of communication are going to be used to inform the public ?
G . TOTMAN :
Had a question about the color - coded map that was included in Plan . Areas
of concern were the vacant and agricultural locations . It seems most of
the vacant land is agricultural .
J . JURKOWICH
Let me explain how we did the map . We went by what the Tompkins County
Assessment Department ' s records showed .
G . TOTMAN :
What is open space ?
C . TWIGG '
What is this red spot in McLean ? Commercial ?
G . TOTMAN :
One spot that shows vacant land is the Haynes ' Farm .
G . TOTMAN :
The outdoor recreation area . The Groton Rod and Gun - Club . ( ? )
J . JURKOWICH :
I thought that was the Groton Rod and Gun . Clu+be
C . TWIGG :
The Groton Rod and Gun Club is located on the other side of the road .
Town - of - Groton - Planning - Board - Meeting . - _ . . . . . - - . . . . - - - . Page 2
'It seems that a few of the " vacant " spots on map seem to be farms .
J . JURKOWICH :
A lot of the yellow is rural and residential . Again ,( we went by the Tax
Department ' s records .
Groton Planning Board ( GPB ) reviewed map .
J . JURKOWICH :
There is no problem in making any changes . We will make it into one .
ategory : 1 ) Rural and residential ; 2 ) Open space ; 3 ) Vacant ; and
4 ) Agricultural = Rural areas .
G . TOTMAN :
I have read the rest of the Plan and feel that it is a good plan . I do not
feel there is anything wrong with it . ,
Other GPB members were in agreement . ,,
G . TOTMAN :
I assume ,, Joan ,, that previous revisions made in th_e. past _ are being . implemented?
J . JURKOWICH :
That is correct .
G . TOTMAN :
Does anybody have any questions - , or. - wish to • make a motion ?
G . TOTMAN :
The map is colorful but not useful .
M . CAREY :
Made the motion to accept the Plan with the appropriate changes and provide
a more useful map .
C . TWIGG :
Seconded the motion .
VOTE : ALL IN FAVOR : MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
G . TOTMAN :
So what ' s the next step we are going to take ?
V . RANKIN :
We would meet with the GTB .
G . TOTMAN :
What dates ?
Town - of - Groton - Planning - Board - Meeting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page 3
'GPB Members discussed various dates .
G . TOTMAN :
It looks like either August 2nd or August 5th .
GPB Members § eem to be in ' agreemen,t .
G . TOTMAN :
OK . I will coordinate with Colleen Pierson and get back with you . Please
be thoroughly prepared to answer any questions that may be asked from
the GTB . We are suppose to have a public hearing after the meeting with
the GTB . We are going to tell the public why we are having the meeting
and to lei them feel that they are part of the process . This is a Master
Plan meeting and not an ordinance meeting .
Co TWIGG :
What are the steps we have left ?
G . TOTMAN :
( Provided a very general agenda . ) First ,. meet with GTB on Master Plan .
Second , schedule a public hearing . Third� ,� schedule another public hearing
on ordinance . Fourth and final ,, meet with GTB on ordinance .
C . TWIGG :
How big is the Master Plan going to be when it gets done ?
G . TOTMAN :
There will not be any final changes made until we meet with the GTB . Right ?
( Question . meant for Joan . )
J . JURKOWICH :
Yes .
G . TOTMAN :
Again reiterated and re - emphasized the importance of being prepared before
the meeting with GTB by reading the Plan .
C . TWIGG :
Raised concern on housing development being built on less suitable land . Is
this less suitable land for housing development ?
J . JURKOWICH :
It may not . be your first choice of picking . It is just that you have to
be careful and / or cautious . Example ,, placing of septic .
G . TOTMAN :
Any other questions ?
V . RANKIN :
We will read this over -and lets get in contact with GTB .
Town - of - Groton Planning Board Meeting - Page 4
G . TOTMAN :
Is there an interpretation of the Soil Distribution Map ?
C . TWIGG :
We do a SEQRA on subdivision .
G . TOTMAN :
You have to do a SEQRA on every action you take .
C . TWIGG :
Expressed wildlife concerns . We should try to find out what the guy is
going to do with the land .
C . TWIGG :
Expressed concerns about building in swamp areas or swamp land .
G . TOTMAN :
If lots are only one - for ' two - acre lots ,, Cecil ,t and it is a wetland ,, they
cannot do any activity within '. 100 feet of that wetland . If you cannot do
it ,, there should be something in the ordinance stating so .
C . TWIGG :
When someone comes in with a subdivision situation ,, we ,, the GPB ,, should
really look into it .
M . CAREY :
We already do that ,I Cecil .
G . TOTMAN :
I see what you meant Cecil .
Well . We will schedule either the first Monday or Thursday in August to
meet with GTB .
G . TOTMAN :
Adjourned meeting at 9 : 00 p . m .
Submitted by Penny Bogardus