HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-05-10 ,
Minutes
LANSING PLANNING BOARD
• May 10 , 1971 : Town Hall
Regular Meeting
Executive Session
PRESENT : Mr . Peter H . Craig ( Chairman) ( 9 : 35 p . m . ) ; Miss Louise Barr , Mrs .
Viola Miller ; Messrs . Paul Barron , Samuel Baughman , Frederick
Edmondson , and Stephen Farkas
Also : Mr . Charles Howell , Supervisor , and Messrs . Edward J . Lavigne and
Lee C . Naegly , members , Lansing Town Board ; Mrs . Jane Bush , Town
Clerk ; Mr . Thomas Niederkorn , Planning Consultant
In the absence of Mr . Craig at the beginning of the meeting , Mrs .
Miller called the meeting to order at 8 : 10 p . m .
Upon motion of Mr . Edmondson , all regular business of the meeting
was dispensed with , and the meeting moved into an executive session ,
so that members of the Town Board might hear a presentation of the
Master Plan by Mr . Niederkorn . Mrs . Miller requested that questions
be withheld until the end of the presentation .
The meeting was then turned over to Mr . Niederkorn .
• Niederkorn Explained to the members of the Town Board that this is not a MASTER PLAN
final presentation , but merely the types of things which still PRESENTATION
require a great deal of refining in order to reflect the wishes
of Lansing residents and of how the Town may appear 25 years
hence - - in other words , what is the most appropriate use of
the land for the future ?
Presented a series of maps and overlays , including a chart
showing a population projection for Lansing to the year 1995 .
This is a composite of the projections made by O ' Brien & Geer for
the Sewer Agency , the one made by the Lansing Planning Board , and
that made by Mr . Niederkorn . This composite chart shows a Lans -
ing population of approximately 13 , 000 by 1995 , which of course
could be affected by the installation of utilities , including
sewers . On the assumption that each family would live on a half -
acre of land , this increase of population would use 550 acres of
land , and all of this increased population could be contained in
an area well within the vacant land still remaining in the south
end of Lansing south of Asbury Road . This estimate of land use
includes all parks , stores , and roads necessary to support the
increase . If this same increase were spread over the entire area
of the Town , it would not make a significant difference in the
Town itself .
It was emphasized that the Master Plan is being evolved on the
• basis that the southern third of the Town is quite different from
the remainder of Lansing .
Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , May 10 , 1971 , Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 2
• A statement of development policy had been distributed to members
of the Town Board . The statement represents the opinions of the
P lanning Board and of the people with whom they had contact . Ex -
plained the evolution of this statement , which puts forward what
the Planning Board feels is in the best interests of Lansing .
The first overlay showed the natural features : the lake shore
area , Salmon Creek Valley , Locke Creek area , and various gorges
and glens ; also points where land and water meet , which are
McKinneys , Myers , Milliken Station , Portland Point , Bolton Point ,
and Estys . Stressed the point that if these areas are once lost
to the public , they are lost forever .
The second overlay showed development intensity , which has to do
with the various kinds of activities which are going on on the
land . (a ) Rural - everything north of Peruville Road . (b ) Medium
intensity - non - farm land , wrapping around an area of higher in -
t ensity ; from Myers to Ludlowville . (c ) High intensity area -
up North Triphammer and up Warren Roads to Peruville Road . ( d )
Urban intensity area - intersection of North Triphammer and Route
13 .
Presented the Master Plan , the first overlay of which showed all
o f the things which are going to begin to affect the south end
of Lansing , such as sewer lines . There are three alternatives as
• to the length of the sewer line extensions . (a ) Districts 1 and
2 only ; (b ) to Twin Glens Road ; (c ) to Gulf Creek Road , with lat -
erals to be extended as needed .
The next overlay showed the proposed road system .
This was followed by an overlay showing the recreation system
for the southern area , and major drainage patterns within that
area .
Mr . Niederkorn emphasized the fact that although one cannot tell
exactly how things will be , nevertheless if the Town Board and
the Planning Board work toward a master plan it will help to
shape the future of Lansing .
The presentation was followed by a question - and - comment period .
Howell Requested a set of the maps of road systems , drainage , sewer pro -
jections , the south end of Lansing , and a base map . Mr . Nieder -
korn will supply these .
Feels that the population growth in Lansing may slow down as a
✓ esult of the forthcoming apportionment of the sales tax , which
he regards as unfair to Lansing .
• The Salmon Creek stream area is being considered by the State
Environmental Control Conservation Department . Asked what sug -
Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , May 10 , 1971 , Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 3
gestions the Planning Board has for acquiring the land on both
1111 sides of Salmon Creek .
Niederkorn Replied that the Town of Lansing should not acquire anything it
does not have to . It would be possible to have some local laws
which would make it difficult to do something contrary to the
nature of the area .
Miller We are planning a meeting with the owners of property bordering
Salmon Creek , to see how they feel about it .
Howell Stated that the south end of Lansing is not the greatest tax
source in Lansing ; Milliken Station actually is .
Pointed out that Milliken owns all the area to Cuddeback Road ,
not just to Stark Road as shown on the map . Feels it would be a
good idea to add that area to the proposed recreation area
shown on the Master Plan overlay .
Howell Discussed the flow oftraffic and the immediate problem on TRAFFIC
North Triphammer Road . Pointed out that the road which Cornell
University is trying to give to the State could very easily
take a great deal of traffic from North Triphammer over to Warren
Road . He would like to see this encouraged by the Town of Lans -
ing by having a letter of approval written . This change in
traffic flow would make necessary the proposed Warren Road im-
• provements and connections . Suggested a road going from Warren
Road to Route 34 on the diagonal . The State would have to take
over Warren Road and the diagonal road . Asked that the Planning
Board look into the matter of a circumferential road .
Howell Suggested that the airport clear zone area could be used as a
park .
Howell The Town Board has the difficult question of sewer regulations SEWER LINES
on its hands now . If sewer lines are put through where the area
is not built up , you create a situation which will benefit pro -
moters . Our duty is to the people who are already living in
the area .
Miller This is one of the questions that the Planning Board has wrestled
with for hours upon end . The answer arrived at is that while we
do not want to develop Lansing and thus lose the open areas , we
are going to lose them anyway ; and it is better to have the growth
come in under a system of controls . The people who want large
lots can go farther out , and the people who want small lots can
live where the sewers have been installed .
Howell We have no business promoting areas where there is no development .
Sewers should be put in only where they are needed .
• Howell Is in favor of the proposed park , and wishes that all of the BOLTON POINT
land could be bought at any price . AREA
Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , May 10 , 1971 , Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 4
LaVigne Asked about the size of the proposed Bolton Point Park .
111/
Craig Fifty acres .
Miller If Mrs . Bolton understood that this land would become Bolton Park
and would never be used for anything except public recreation
purposes , she might be willing to sell or donate it to the Town .
Miller Asked Town Board members how they feel the Master Plan can MASTER PLAN
help them and affect what may happen in Lansing . Emphasized
that the Plan is fluid and can change as circumstances change
within the Town .
Howell The Town Board is not against the Master Plan at all . The Sub -
division Regulations have been held up by all the things more
important than they are .
Niederkorn Stated that he still must make up the Capital Improvements Pro -
gram . Then all of the material will be done in more detail and
will be printed and published and delivered to the Planning
Board . There will then be a couple of public meetings in the
Town and the Planning Board will make its recommendations and
send the material to the Town Board .
Howell Feels that all that is needed is to develop the material further .
But it should be just a simple statement .
1111
Craig The Planning Board has put in a great deal of time on the matter
of the Lansing problems . There cannot be any simple solution
to the problems in the south end of the Town as there can be in
the north end .
Howell Recognizes this . Asked what the recommendations of the Planning SEWER LINES
Board are on the matter of the sewer line .
Niederkorn His own recommendation is to stop the sewer line at Twin Glens .
Craig Build a blanket district so that you do not have tiny improve -
ment districts . The blanket zone should be to Gulf Creek , but
not entirely sewered . Then there would be small districts with -
in the large district .
Howell Asked that the Planning Board submit its recommendation for the
extent of the sewer line extension .
Craig We advocated district -within - district . This makes many things
possible which are not otherwise possible .
Miller Asked for any further comments . MASTER PLAN
LaVigne Felt that the meeting had been very instructive , and that the
11/ presentation had been good . Complimented the Planning Board on
the work it has done .
Minutes , LANSING PLANNING BOARD , May 10 , 1971 , Town Hall , Regular Meeting , page 5
• Miller Implementing the plan has to be done by regulations . It will
not work if it is put into a book and the book placed on a shelf .
LaVigne As a plan it is excellent , but there are some problems which we
cannot answer now .
Howell Believes it would be better to present merely the plan , but not
make any recommendations . He hopes some of the things will work
out . But they are not going to regulate or regiment things .
Miller If you recognize that the plan is good , you should also realize
that it can be changed . It is merely the tool , but a real one
if it is accepted as such .
LaVigne Feels there is a great deal of merit in it .
Howell Asked what will be the final recommendations of the Planning Board ;
whether the Planning Board recommends that the whole area be zoned ,
or only part of it .
Niederkorn Will provide material for use at the time it is appropriate .
Howell If zoning has to come about , it will come about one step at a time .
But if you say the whole area should come under regulations , you
could lose .
Miller We recommend no zoning at all for the northern two - thirds of the
Town
Niederkorn Explained that the Town can be zoned in the way shown on the Master
Plan .
Howell Objected on the ground that if you have a non - zoned area , then
that area is nevertheless zoned .
Craig This handling of the matter is accepted by the State .
Howell Denied that this is legal , in spite of assurance by members of
the Planning Board that it is completely legal .
Howell Feels that the Planning, Board should make the presentation without
mentioning zoning .
Niederkorn Assured Mr . Howell that there will be two distinct documents - - the
Master Plan and the Zoning Ordinance .
Naegly Wishes to have several of the maps for the use of Fire Station No .
5 , but on a larger scale and of a larger area . Also a map of the
drainage system . Feels that the presentation was good , and very
beneficial , but questioned the course of one of the streams as
• shown on the map . (Note : It was later found that the map is es -
sentially correct . )
The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 10 p . m .