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Home My WebLink About1996-07-22 TOWN OF LANSING iiiPlanning Board Monday , July 22 , 1996 ; 7 : 30pm PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS (* Denotes present) Larry Sharpsteen, Chair Jackie Baker * Viola Miller * Brad Griffin * Lin Davidson * Al White Robert Todd * Cheryl Nickel TOWN BOARD MEMBERS * Jeannine Kirby, Town Supervisor * Larry Tvaroha, Town Councilman * Jeff Cleveland, Town Councilman * Paul Butler, Town Councilman Herb Beckwith, Town Councilman * George Totman, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer ipPUBLIC PRESENT James Hanson Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning Peter Trowbridge Project Consultant Steve Colt Lansing Recreation Director Larry Tvaroha opened the joint meeting between the Planning Board and the Lansing Town Board at 7 : 32pm . James Hanson, Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning, and Peter Trowbridge, Waterfront Project Consultant, were asked to attend tonight' s meeting to explain the County Waterfront Development Study, their roll in the planning and how it relates to the Town of Lansing. Jim Hanson explained their interest was in all of Tompkins County not just the Town and City of Ithaca as was portrayed in today ' s Ithaca Journal . The focus was not only the South end of Cayuga Lake but to include the Town of Ulysses and the Town of Lansing in this planning process . Mr. Hanson stated the Oversight Committee is nothing more than a group of people who got together initially and thought there should be something done about the waterfront plan or study. In the last 20 years, more than 100 different studies had been conducted and one of the Oversight Committee' s tasks is to compile all this data. The Committee was also responsible for researching the availability of funding for this project. They were able to get a NYS Council of the Arts Planning Grant which is a challenge grant where a certain amount of money is matched by local money. The County took the position that if they were going to pursue this, they needed to approach other jurisdictions to see if they had an interest in coming up with some of the other finances . Jim Hanson added that while they were working on the study he had the opportunity to talk with Jeannine Kirby about the Town of Lansing ' s interest in the project and also sent correspondence ti - ' asking the Town to consider assigning someone as liaison to the Oversight Committee. Town of Lansing Planning Board Monday, July 22, 1996; 7: 30pm Page 2 Peter Trowbridge presented a map of the Tompkins County Waterfront Study Preliminary Master plan . Mr. Trowbridge explained the sketch plan was not a permanent record but a gathering of all the available studies done in the County in the last 20 years . At the first public workshop, any ideas and information that were mappable was accumulated and used as the basis for the planning study to be presented at future workshops . George Totman asked if this was like a comprehensive plan? Jim Hansen explained that it was not a comprehensive plan but just a sketch plan , a plan of ideas they canie out of discussions . Jim Hansen added it would tie pedestrian walkways and trail ways together and waterfront areas fixed but not in a sense of a land use plan . Peter Trowbridge continued with explaining there was various funding available to improve scenic highways and byways along Cayuga Lake . Jim Hansen stated the State Transportation Department puts special money into projects to enhance the highways that provide exposure to scenic areas along the lake. The Chamber of Commerce has an interest in this project to connect all points of interest such as Bed & Breakfast ' s , Wineries and Restaurants to end up with a loop system within the County. Jim Hansen stated the DOT looks at it as an economic enhancement and attraction for tourism. Peter Trowbridge explained there was another program called LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Program) to provide 50/50 matching funds for waterfront access improvement projects like the Town of Lansing Park or Boat Launching. Peter stressed the importance of everyone idea ' s becoming a matter of record so as this plan becomes official and grant money is applied for, everyone ' s requests can be included and be a part of future projects. Larry Tvaroha asked what impact would this have on individual proert owners along the lake? Jim Hansen responded that his assumption would be that where there is access provided for a trail way that would be a concern. Peter Trowbridge added that the Green way Coalition 's plan right now is to put a trail in the railroad right of way. Jim Hansen stated in the past, Conrail has not approved the right of way to be used . Brad Griffin added that since there has been a Forest, Fish and Game Commission in New York State, the Attorney General has never approved public access on an active railroad right of way . Jim Hansen pointed out different areas of interest along Cayuga Lake in the Town of Lansing. Topics discussed at the workshop were the Portland Point Marina, Town of Lansing Park at Myers Point, a handicap assessable fishing area, a possible Ferry Boat Landing, scenic highways and byways . Viola Miller reminded Jim Hansen that all these plans had to tie in with the Town ' s Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Hansen agreed and reminded these were just ideas and would encourage a member of the Planning Board to sit on the Committee. Cheryl Nickel asked in relation to the slowdown caused by Cornell and Ithaca College and there impact on the economy, do you see this approach to increase the economic growth in tourism? Jim Hansen stated this was one way of boosting the economy and gave examples of other Towns that linked their colleges and towns with transportation to promote tourism. One idea is to develop the area of the Farmers Market and Steamboat Landing to attract more people. Brad Griffin asked if there were any boundaries drawn? It seemed for a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, the considerations and comments were far removed from the shorelines or waterfront per say. Jim Hansen stated their interest is in the shoreline but because of the money available for the highways and byways they needed to include areas farther away for connecting everything together. • 1 r Town of Lansing Planning Board IMonday, July 22, 1996; 7: 30pm Page 3 • Larry Tvaroha responded that it was important to have a representative at these public meetings, but where does it go from there? Who is involved and does it go to the Board of Representatives next? Jim Hansen stated that ideas are brought to the Oversight Committee and it is up to each municipality and organization involved to follow through on. George Totman asked if after the Oversight Committee gathers this information do they vote on it? Jim Hansen explained it was not a matter that is voted on, it ' s just a concept and a sketch, you either take it and do something about it or you don ' t. Jeannine Kirby asked if the grant money is just for a plan ? Jim Hansen answered that it was just for a plan and a concept, not for bricks and mortar. Cheryl Nickel stated that the Planning Board has done a Comprehensive Plan for the town and thought it would be a good idea to also take a comprehensive look at the lake. If there is an economic impact on the entire area and on certain roads that lead down to the lake or how they get to the lake, it will effect how many people are attracted to the lake and what it looks like. Cheryl admitted she was all for development and feels the whole Comprehensive Plan is about what kind of development they have carefully looked at, and to look at the Comprehensive Plan to include the lake is a good idea. Viola Miller stated that the Planning Board was there to primarily study planning and to look at the future. Viola felt they have become bogged down in trying to provide an ordinance for this town and most of their time has been spent on that and doesn't think they should forget the planning part of what they are there for and this is something that is down the road 20 years from now. 9 Larry Tvaroha asked when does the Committee meet? Jim Hansen stated weekdays, usually Tuesdays at noon. Jeff Cleveland felt it was very important to have a representative from the Town attend these meetings. Larry Tvaroha asked Brad Griffin if he would attend the meetings. Brad agreed to be the Town' s representative. Viola Miller agreed to be an alternative if Brad was .not able to attend. This joint meeting closed at 9 : 18pm . Submitted by Sue Davenport The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 12, 1996, at 7: 30pm. S