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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-10-14 1 }. Minutes • LANSING PLANNING BOARD October 14 , 1968 : Town Hall Regular Meeting PRESENT : Mr . James Showacre , Chairman ; Mrs . Viola Miller ; Messrs . Paul Barron , Alex Cima , H. B . Ruzicka Also : Professor Roger F . Sandsted and Mr . Raymond P . Kulakosky (real estate developer ) ABSENT : Messrs . Frederick Edmondson , James Wood The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 8 : 10 p . m . The Executive Secretary read the minutes of the meeting of September 9 , 1968 , which were approved as read . Showacre Read a letter from Raymond C . Buckley , District Principal , COMMUNICATIONS concerning the need for additional school building space , and asking for helpful information from this Board . The Chairman will contact the chairman of the Planning Council committee which will have this information , and ascertain if he has any objection to having a letter written to Mr . • Buckley enclosing a copy of the survey and stating that if there is any further material the Committee might have which is not in the written survey , perhaps Professor Bent could assist him . The second letter was from Raymond N . Brown , Jr . , of the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the con- servation of natural resources by the use of resource plan- ning . The information in this letter will be made available to the members of the Planning Council . Miller Reported that the Planning Council has requested the fourth PLANNING Monday beginning October 28th be made available for their COUNCIL regular monthly meetings , which will be publicized and open t o the public . Special meetings of chairmen will be on the t hird Monday . Studies requested by the Planning Board will be finished by December . Planning Board members should at - tend the regular meetings of the Council . Special Planning B oard meetings will be held either before the Council meet - ings or at the same time as is necessary . Coordinators for the Council are Mr . James Preston and Professor Peter Craig , both of whom have met and are working with Mr . Niederkorn . Showacre Has not heard anything further on the matter of 701 Funds 701 FUNDS 1111 from either the Office of Planning Coordination or from Washington . Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , October 14 , 1968 ; Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 2 • Showacre Following the last meeting of this Board the Chairman pre - SUBDIVISION sented the resolution and a copy of the Subdivision Regula - REGULATIONS tions to the Town Board , which then elected to consider them in executive session , and nothing further has been heard about the matter . Showacre The Planing Board has received no applications for sub - SUBDIVISION divisions other than the one from Mr . Catherwood , which is APPLICATIONS nearly complete . Ruzicka Mentioned that a site for a fire station is being sought EIRE STATION to serve the southern end of Lansing , but that as yet nothing suitable has been found . When a site is selected , one bay will be put on it , which can be extended for future expan- sion . Cornell University has agreed to donate land in In- dustrial Park , but this would not be a logical site from the point of view of its not being centrally located , and manpower would not be available during the evenings and at night . Showacre Presented two petitions for zoning in the south end of ZONING Lansing , and two others were presented by Mr . Kulakosky and Professor Sandsted . The heading on these petitions reads as follows : • To the Town Planning Board , Town of Lansing , Tompkins County , N . Y . , October 12 , 1968 Whereas the south end of the Town of Lansing is rapidly being commercialized with businesses of various kinds invading established residentialareas , we , the undersigned , request the Lansing Town Planning Board to immediately work out a plan for zoning pro- tection in the area south of South Lansing and the Peruville Road . We request that such a plan be pre - sented to the Town Board of the Town of Lansing for prompt action . Sandsted A total of some 187 signatures was appended , from the Peru- ville Road south , west of the Church and Asbury Road . Re - ported that he had been amazed at the cordial reception ac - corded him when he had asked for signatures on the petition . About 97 percent were very eager to sign ; a few were on the fence . Miller MOTION that the remainder of the meeting be devoted to the discussion of a resolution , as the petitions requested . Sandsted Remarked that quite a few people stated they are Ui .t inter - ested in zoning out business as such , but in the restriction of the location of commercial enterprises . 0 Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , October 14 , 1968 ; Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 3 Kulakoski Encountered this same feeling . The people want business , but • only in certain areas , and not mixed in with residential areas , so that their property valuation will not be lowered . They were also asking whether if zoning came in it would have any control of the dump smoke area . Sandsted Many were deciding just from frustration . Miller Some of the feeling that has been voiced is that residents were there before Route 13 came in , and Lansing was very happy t o have them ; and that with the advent of Route 13 and no zoning , commercialism has come in wherever it wished . Al - though there was no zoning at the time these people moved here , it was expected that the immediate area would remain residen- t ial . Kulakoski Emphasized that the cordial reception he had received was astonishing to him . People stated they hoped the Town Board would protect their interests . Showacre Now the residents want the Planning Board to protect their interests . Miller They are looking to the Planning Board to present this matter t o the Town Board . • Sandsted There were questions as to whether the Planning Board had come up with plans ; people asked whether an ordinance had been drawn up . Miller They were disappointed that this had not been done ? Sandsted They were surprised that nothing much had been done by the Plan- ping Board . Kulakosky We have very strict deed restrictions , so nothing can happen on our own land , but people are concerned about what goes in across the street . Miller It came to the attention of the Planning Board that this was about to happen , because these men had asked to see this Board and make these petitions and meet with the Board and present their feelings . Mrs . Miller and Mr . Showacre agreed to meet with them Saturday night . Messrs . Barron , Cima , . and Ruzicka were invited to the informal meeting , but could not come . As a result of that meeting , the two Board members who were present knew that the Planning Board would have to act on these petitions , and Mrs . Miller felt that the Board would like t o know how the men who are developing this area feel about the matter . She discussed the possibility of zoning with Messrs . William Myers , Karl Butler , Dr . Lyman Fisher , Messrs . . M . P . Catherwood , G . R . Talandis . Mr . Myers and Mr . Cather - Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , October 14 , 1968 ; Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 4 • wood felt that zoning for Lansing is long overdue and very necessary to the best interests of all Lansing . Mr . Talandis , although not personally concerned , felt it necessary for the protection of all interests , but especially residential areas . Mr . Butler has been expecting it to come eventually but wished that it need not , and Dr . Fisher :; favored planning but mis - trusted zoning , but would not fight it . Many other residents have called , expressing a need and an urgency for zoning . Barron There is not much agriculture left in the south end of the Town of Lansing . Has talked with two people in the north end and they are as concerned about this as anyone else , be - cause they had thought the area would remain residential . There has been legislation in Albany for the past three years to provide a special tax on agricultural land for agricultural purposes . The law may go through in another year . Feels any action on zoning by the Planning Board should be delayed until the Town Board makes some decision on the Subdivision Regula - tions . Cima Many people who were against zoning and planning have changed their opinions . Miller We have before us petitions which we are expected to act upon • as a responsible body . This has not been done without the full knowledge of the Supervisor , Harris Dates . Has gone to him and told him exactly what was happening and how things stand . At this point he says he is willing to have the Plan - ning Board become a Zoning Commission and to look at the plans that evolve from this . He expects this Board to have something ready to present at the Town Board meeting tomorrow night . People in the south end want action and are looking to this Board to get the action . The people have a right to the protection which the Town Board can provide . As a re - sponsible Board we must listen to the people who want this , and take a stand . If public : ihearings show that the people do not want this , it can be dropped . MOTION , that in answer to the petitions submitted to the Plan - ning Board , it now consider the matter of zoning and find out how its members stand on a resolution for the Town Board meet - ing Tuesday night , October 15 , 1968 . Seconded by Mr . Cima . Showacre The only thing the Planning Board can do is to pass along to the Town Board information on what can legally be done , say - ing that we have been strongly urged by petitioners to do something we are not legally empowered to do . We can make a resolution to the Town Board that they appoint the members of the Planning Board as a Zoning Commission and that said Zoning • Commission be empowered to hold hearings throughout the Town for the purpose of creating a zoning map which will be satis - Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , October 14 , 1968 ; Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 5 factory to all land owners , and to develop a Zoning Ordinance • to go with the zoning map that will be as restrictive or as lenient as the citizens of the Town would like to have it . They will then present this information to the Town Board , knowing that the Law requires the Town Board to then hold their own public hearings on zoning , and then if they are satisfied with the maps and the ordinance , or if they wish to change the map and the zoning regulations , that they may do so . Ultimately it is the decision of the Town Board to vote the ordinance . This is the only fair way to the people . It should not be left to a few men who are not at all concerned because of where they live , who probably have no concern about the protection of the residents of a town with the exception of a few people and their friends who live near them . Does not know what the Planning Board can do other than , as a favor to the people who have petitioned this Board , to stick our necks out and say , "We will , if appointed , do the work required , and be as fair to all of the residents of the Town as is humanly possible . " Neither the Planning Board nor the Zoning Com- mission can make laws . Only the Town Board can vote laws . The time element depends on the makeup of the Board . The Town Board does not have to appoint the Planning Board members as a Zoning Commission . They could appoint people who are against zoning , and this would make the action indefinite . Or they could appoint people who are very interested in zoning and know something about the background of the Town and the studies that • have been made , and then action would be rapid . This Board ' s recommendation could be that they appoint those who are most familiar with the problem , namely , those who have been working on the studies . Ruzicka The only unfortunate aspect is that just one sector has come in , and then another . If only one group comes in tomorrow night it will be for zoning . It should be planned so that all groups will come in . There should be a moderator who is not the Town Supervisor . Miller Withdrew her former motion , with the consent of the seconder . The following resolution was then formulated : WHEREAS , The Lansing Planning Board has been petitioned by many residents of the Town to proceed with zoning for at least the southern end of the Town , and WHEREAS , The Planning Board is not legally empowered to draft a zoning ordinance , now therefore be it RESOLVED , That the Planning Board recommend that the Town Board of Lansing , in the County of Tompkins State of New York , appoint the members of the Planning Board and / or others , as a Zoning Commission ; that the • said Zoning Commission be empowered to prepare a zoning map , draft the zoning regulation , and hold hearings throughout the Town ; said procedure to be conducted Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , October 14 , 1968 ; Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 6 according to the Town Zoning Laws of the State of • New York ; and be it further RESOLVED , That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Town Board for their approval . The roll -call vote on the resolution. was as follows : Showacre Yes Ruzicka Yes Miller Yes Cima Yes Barron Yes This will be presented to the Town Board at their regular meet - ing on October 15 . A copy will be given to the Town Supervisor ahead of time , and to all the members of the Town Board . The members of the Planning Board could be on hand to answer ques - tions . The meeting was adjourned by the Chairman at 10 : 55 p . m . • • .........