HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-2018 APPROVED PB MINUTES APPROVED
Town of Lansing
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 12, 2018 6:30 PM
PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS
(*Denotes present)
Tom Ellis, Chairperson
Jerry Caward, Vice-Chairperson
Sandra Dennis Conlon
Norman (Lin) Davidson
Al Fiorille
Larry Sharpsteen
Deborah Trumbull
Dean Shea, Alternate
Thomas Butler, Second Alternate
Other Staff
Edward LaVigne, Supervisor Doug Dake, Council Person Katrina Binkewicz, Council Person
Joseph Wetmore, Council Person Mike Long, AICP Andra Benson, Council Person
Guy Krogh, Town Attorney Debbie Munson, Town Clerk Hurf Sheldon, ZBA Chair
Peter Larson III, ZBA Alternate Lynn Day, Zoning Officer Linda Hirvonen, ZBA Member
Joseph Sheppard, CGW
Public Present (7)that signed in
Rebecca Lovenheim Steven Smith Kelly VanRiper Christine Eisenhut
Karen Edelstein Connie Wilcox Melanie Malone
Vice Chairperson Jerry Caward called the Planning Board Meeting to order at 6:33 PM.
Vice Chairperson Jerry Caward enacted both Dean Shea and Thomas Butler due to two
members absent today.
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APPROVED
MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
FOR JANUARY 22, 2018 MEETING
Sandra Dennis Conlon made a motion to APPROVE THE JANUARY 22, 2018 minutes. Dean
Shea seconded the motion with page two amended first paragraph under the Public Hearing
heading: from"John Andersson East Shore Circle's engineer' to "The Engineer for East Shore
Circle,John Andersson,"
All in Favor - 7 All Opposed - 0
JOINT MEETING WITH LANSING TOWN BOARD, LANSING
PLANNING BOARD AND LANSING ZONING BOARD OF
APPEALS TO REVIEW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
This meeting is to answer Town Board questions and questions regarding the changes that
were made by the Planning Board. Between the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the
Planning Board, we have already held several Public Hearings. The Planning Board has
made its recommendation and presented it to the Town Board and would like to again
emphasize that the Comprehensive Plan is a guide.
It was the Planning Board's hope to have the Comprehensive Plan completed so we could
start the review and update of the Land Use Ordinance process in March but it is beginning
to look like that will need to be postponed unless we can get this passed soon.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION
• In Reference to moving forward towards the zoning goals,the area that is important,is the
Land Use Map:
o The Land Use Map is only a guideline for the Planning Board while working on the
Land Use Ordinance. They are not held to the Comp Plan,it is NOT a Law,it is a
guideline to assist in reminding them of the direction the Town would like to go.
Land Use will be discussed in greater detail when the Planning Board is working
on the Land Use Ordinance. That is the time to work through the specific uses. The
Planning Board cannot move forward on the Land Use Ordinance until the
Comprehensive Plan is passed.
o The way the Comp Plan is written right now does not stop the Town Board or the
Planning Board from making any changes or adjustments that the Towns
regulations or needs may require.
• Bell Station:
o The Planning Board made the decision to leave Bell Station as it was,rather than
declaring it recreation. Currently the majority of the land is under cultivation. It is
agricultural and we do not want to take that away.
o The Town Board made a resolution in 2013 that if the DEC bought the
NYSEG/Ibadrolla land and if the DEC was willing to pay for the equivalent
amount of tax loss that the Town and the School would incur, along with other ifs.
If the proper criteria were met,the Town would go along with the DEC ownership.
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APPROVED
o This topic has been addressed several times,including the resolution in 2013 from
the Town Board and the Comprehensive Plan speaks about preserving that land.
o The L1 zone would protect it from abuse. The steep banks would reduce any big
development.
o The Town does not own Bell Station property-NYSEG/Ibadrolla does and it is
currently"not for sale'.
o The Town cannot take the property without compensating the Land Owner.
o If the Town changes the zoning for Bell Station to Recreation which would severely
limit the ability of the land owner to do things with the property,it would in turn
reduce the property value and possibly make the Town liable for court action to
reimburse the owner for the extreme loss in value of the property.
o The Town Attorney stated it would depend on the facts but if the Town was to
change,the land use for what was once a lawful purpose to what is viewed as a
local public interest. "That is a taking".
o Leaving the Lakeshore as L1 allows "Recreational Use" and the upper portion of
the Property as RA,which allows the cultivation to continue. The Planning Board is
not ignoring the desire to change it over to Recreation but we need to find a way to
look at all of the interests of the Town and also protect the vulnerability of the
Town.
o The Planning Board currently has everything in place to achieve the recreation goal
without jeopardizing the whole Town.
o The ideal situation would be Market Rate Taxable State Forest Land. Would require
500 acres.
o The Town Supervisor will call the Land Owner to see where they are with this
property,contact state senator,Tompkins Land Trust and Andy Zepp.
• Triphammer Triangles and Hillcrest Area:
o The Town Supervisor, Ed LaVigne would like to encourage people in the Town of
Lansing to please bring your questions and concerns to him or Town Employees.
He was able to help residents in the Hillcrest area, after it was brought to his
attention,with the concerns on the future use of the triangle off Triphammer Road.
Ed contacted the landowner and they were fine leaving the zoning as it currently is.
Problem solved.
o The Town Supervisor and The Highway Superintendent are working on ways to
widen the road on Hillcrest. The Town can change the road but we cannot change
the traffic.
• Trails-Trail Reserves -Master Trail Plan:
o The Trail needs to start somewhere. Even if it is a loop.
o The Planning Board always ask the developers to incorporate a trail in the project.
■ The trails do not always interconnect but might in the future.
o The Town Board has established a Reserve Fund specifically for Trails.
o There is a way to protect the entity of the trails but not the specific dimensions.
■ Currently no trails are legally protected.
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APPROVED
■ Goal is to get them legally protected.
o The Planning Board addresses trail development during Site Plan Review.
o What type of Trails Advisory committee should be established?
■ Goal is to work on a Town wide Master Trail Plan.
Why the removal of establishing a Conservation Advisory Council from the text:
o This would add another level of bureaucracy that would further complicate the
process, even for people that are doing one or two lots.
o We have ample representation on the Town Board and the Planning Board. It is not
the time to add another level to a small town like ours.
o There is an interest in finding organizations that can assist with resource
information.
o The Planning Board addresses this during Site Plan Review.
o It was mentioned to create our own Lansing Conservation Advisory Committee
and be able to write the grants.
• Why was the references to Heavy Industry removed:
o The Planning Board removed the specific language that said must do this,must do
that from the Comp Plan.
o Things that were perceived as not being our purview,like inspecting the Ash piles,
or Salt piles. Cargill Salt Mine is currently inspected by the DEC and if we did this,
it would require the Town to increase staff.
o We are not in a position in Lansing financially to turn away the right Industry like
electronic assembly that would bring jobs.
o Definitions on how to measure Heavy or Light Industry should be reviewed.
o If the State is already doing the work why should we pay someone else to re-
inspect.
o Water in Lansing is very important.
■ There is always potential threats;it could be natural or manmade.
■ Water is governed/protected by the DEC for input and large withdrawals.
■ Planning Board did not want to create another level of inspections or
additional staff for something already covered.
■ The Planning Board addresses some of this during Site Plan Review.
What is the reasoning for adding Lake Shore 2 (L2):
o Some of L1 was split to L2 in order to create a low-density area and a high-density
area. This will maintain the density in the proper areas due to septic tank issues.
o The Planning Board used the Contour Line Elevations as to when to incorporate
the small or larger lots.
o There was also an area by Myers that was switched to Residential Low Density to
manage density-similar scale and density of single-family homes.
• Low Impact Mixed Use: (Triangles on North Triphammer)
o Intent is to allow low impact commercial size businesses like medical, dental,
insurance company and like that are open 5 days a week.
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APPROVED
o To encourage Reverse Frontage which would also reduce the number of entrances
every 150' to the main road and enhance the curb appeal from the main road.
• Rural Agricultural section split into Rural Agricultural and Agricultural:
o Came from the 8-year study of the Agricultural Plan Grant.
o The Agricultural area will have more restrictive uses.
o The (RA) is left where current houses and businesses exist and/or water
infrastructure is available so you would have flexible use in this area.
• Commercial (B2) section was split into Commercial Mixed Use and Residential Mixed
Use/Moderate Density:
o B1 is considered Walkable zone.
o B2 is more of a strip mall situation and some residential.
o The change will assist the Planning Board in managing the strip mall situation.
o Once the Town Board gives the proper tools to the Planning Board,they can
enforce the reverse entrance,which will reduce curb cuts and enhance the visual
from the road frontage. (i.e. Dollar General access point).
• Residential was decreased from three zones to two zones:
o There is still discussion that we may still want the R3 zone as a buffer.
Some of the duplication in the Comprehensive Plan was left to assist in the Grant application
process. Must be related to several spots in the document to show town needs.
The Planning Board used broad enough wording to encompass the changes in the future and
to let the Town evolve without jeopardizing the whole dynamics of the area.
Can there be more detail in population and changes. The percentages does not give enough
data to understand it. It needs the whole numbers next to the percentages. This can be added
at the Town Board level.
Sprawl can be managed better with the proposed Land Use Ordinance that is on hold until
the Comprehensive Plan is approved.
Vice Chairperson Jerry Caward noted that the Planning Board would appreciate it if the
Town Board would approve this Comp Plan as soon as possible so they can start to work on
the next step. The Land Use Ordinance Update.
FLOOR OPEN FOR COMMENTS/CONCERNS OTHER THAN
WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA
The Comprehensive Plan Committee Chair Connie Wilcox commended the Planning Board
on the hard work that everyone has put into this.
Dean Shea made a motion to adjourn at 8:33 PM. Sandra Dennis Conlon seconded the
motion.
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