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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-07-24 fipir--I • Town of L 3 Monday , July 24 , 2000 ; 7 : 30 PM PLANNING BOARD 4 PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS 5 ('Denotesplata) 6 * Brad Griffin , Chair * Jacoba Baker 7 Larry Sha.rpsteen Lin Davidson 8 * Viola Miller David Hatfield 9 * Greg Travis IO I * Bud Shattuck, Town Councilman 12 * George Totman, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer 13 GENERAL BUSINESS 14 15 Brad Griffin opened meeting at 7 : 35PM. Brad Griffin stated that he received a notice from the Tompkins County 16 Planning Dept, stating that there will be a training session on SEQR on Monday November 6, 2000. Brad I7 encouraged the board members to think of questions on that and give them to him and he will send them on , Viola 18 Miller read a statement she would like included in the minutes (attached) Viola stated that this was a result of the aTown Board meeting, calls she received, and study of all the regulations and information on planning boards . Gregg Travis asked Viola if she could express some of the things she felt most strongly about. Viola Miller showed 21 a copy of the draft ordinance, and stated that she has marked it as to the changes the Town Board made in their 22 revision or amendment . Viola Miller stated that they changed the commercial district, site plans, and the places 23 where they used Special Condition 802 . 0 . is meaningless without a number by it or without an asterisk for site plan 24 review. Viola Miller stated that they had requested that site plan review be done by the Planning Board, but the 25 Town Board stated that they would rather do it . Viola stated that those are just a few of the things . Brad Griffin i 26 added that the frontage requirements were also of concern . Viola Miller agreed , Viola added that one of the things 27 the Planning Board tried to do during the making of this ordinance was that they tried to not make it less restrictive 28 in the areas of the town that were already zoned . 29 Bud Shattuck stated that at the Town Board meeting they enacted a moratorium . Bud Shattuck stated that what 30 they have talked about is that they need a true idea of what density means . Bud stated that he thinks Steve Farkas 31 has conveyed to Brad that the Town Board would like to look at the original draft ordinance that the Planning 32 Board passed on to the Town Board. 33 Privilege of the Floor 34 Paul Cosentini, l Whispering Pines Drive, stated that his biggest concern is that they need to define what the 35 different densities are. Mr. Cosentini stated that without a clear definition it is not fair to someone buying property 36 or to developers . Brad Griffin agreed . Bud Shattuck stated that they will certainly try to get that defined within the 37 60 days and they will have as many meetings as possible to get that done , 38 Robert Keefe, 4 Dandyview Heights, asked what happens if they do not have a working document by the end of the 39 60 days . Mr . Keefe asked if the Town Board is willing to extend the moratorium.. Bud Shattuck stated that he can not speak for everyone, but that he thinks if the Board and the public are less than happy with what has happened, , then an extension certainly seems like a reasonable thing to do . Mr. Keefe also stated that there needs to be checks 42 and balances . Mr. Keefe stated that he thinks the Planning Board needs to have more power. 43 Doug Firth, 26 Aspen Way, stated that there does not seem to be a process in place, nor an understanding of 44 SEQR . Mr. Firth stated that the 48 unit apartments being proposed on North Triphammer needs to be classified as fl 2 Ton of Lansing Planning Board, July 24, 2000 I an action under SEQR. Mr. Firth stated that from the Town Board meeting it seemed to him that Mr. Totman took 2 it upon himself to decide that that action did not need to be reviewed under SBQR. Mr. Firth stated that he totally • 3 disagreed . 4 Bud Shattuck stated that this is a rural town and has been running a certain way for a long time . Bud stated that 5 there are people who want to keep it that way. Bud stated that. they are working along as quickly as they can . Bud 6 added that they are a new board and are looking at the way it was done before and hoping to make changes that are 7 for the best for the Town . Bud stated that, certainly, with no difference to George 'Totman, who they think has done 8 a wonderful job for this town for a long time . Bud stated that the Town Board is looking at where the Planning 9 Board fits into this . Bud added that they have been doing this since January. 10 Mr. Firth asked if any new changes, when they better define what density means, would apply to the Triphammer 11 Road project. Bud Shattuck stated that is true. Mr. Firth stated that he does riot want that project to bias the 12 thinking while trying to define density. Brad Griffin slatted that the draft ordinance that the Planning Board 13 composed had a site plan review process that perhaps may look more attractive now. 14 Robert Keefe stated that lie was curious about the Bailey Homes apartments that are near his house. Mr . Keefe 15 suited that they are classified as Type l:l . Mr . Keefe stated 'that the Ronsvalle development across the street is said 16 to be 60 beds on 40 acres , but in fact it is being advertised as more than that. Mr . Keefe stated that those were 17 unlisted, but according to the SEQR it should have been classified as either a Type I or Type It 8 Mr . Keefe stated that the apartments were built as 2 bedroom apartments and are being advertised as 3 bedrooms . 19 Mr . Keefe stated that is a violation of the Department of Health and also a violation of the Town Building Code . 20 Mr. Keefe stated that they are taking something that has been accepted and are changing it unlawfully . Mr. Keefe 21 passed out copies of the letter he gave to Mr . Totman . 22 Mr. Osika stated that he spoke with someone on the Planning Board in the Town of Danby , Mr_ Osaka said they 23 were having a lot of problems with Bailey Homes in Danby too . Mr. Osika stated that. if they communicate with • 24 other towns in the county, they would find the same people doing the same things over and over . Mr. Osika stated 25 that their licenses should be taken away and they should be barred from doing business and he is requesting that. the 26 board investigate that . Bud Shattuck stated that he went to an inter-municipal resources meeting . Bud stated that 27 they discussed how to get the minutes of the different meetings into a central place so that when people want to 28 know what is going on in other areas they can have a place to find it. 29 Mr. Osika stated that lie would rather not be there tonight, but because of the failure of the previous Town Board to 30 take the recommendations of the Planning Board and because of the gross incompetence of the Code Enforcement 31 Officer this situation has arisen. Mr. Osika stated that. the Code Enforcement Officer does not. even have a written 32 job description. Mr. Osika stated that Mr. Totman told him that he has not had an employee performance report . 33 Mr . Osika asked what kind of management that is . Mr Osika stated that it is a multi -million dollar business 34 running this town . Brad Griffin stated that the fact he does not have a job description may be as much the 35 Enforcement Officer' s problem as the Town ' s . Brad stated that it is up to someone else to create that sort of thing. 36 Paul Cosentini asked if the minutes are transcribed into written form. Brad Griffin stated that when they have 37 official meetings, they have a secretary there and minutes are taken . Mr. Cosentini asked about having them put on 38 the web . Bud Shattuck stated that they are hoping to get that done although he can not say exactly when that will 39 be done, but hopefully some time this year. 40 Dennis Osaka stated that he has no confidence in the system or the people running it . Mr. Osika stated that 41 someone needs to go , someone needs to be fired, and he wants to know what the board is going to do about it. Bud 42 Shaltuck replied that he is only one member of the Town Board and is a liaison to the Planning Board, but that this 43 is a Planning Board meeting, not a Town Board Meeting . Bud Shattuck stated that they understand that things 44 have happened in the past. Bud stated that he is working as hard as he can to change it without making it hard on 45 anyone. Mr. Osika stated that is the problem . Bud Shattuck stated that they are doing the best they can, and 46 explained that there is a process for everything . Mr. Osaka stated that he is not blaming Mr . Shattuck, that he • 47 understands what he is trying to do, but he has lost confidence in the Town to do what they arc paid to do and 48 represent the citizens of the community . Mr Keefe stated that if Bud is really serious about trying to make things W 3 Thwn of Lansing Planning Board, July 24, 2000 1 right that have been done in the past, he pleaded with then to revoke the building permits of thene*t 3 Bailey I 00 Homes apartments - Bud Shattuck stated that he does not make decisions by himself 3 Greg Nichols , 88 Triphammer Terrace, stated that his lot is on the backside of the proposed development on North 4 Triphammer. Mr . Nichols stated that it will affect his property value . Mr. Nichols also stated that expressions of 5 the Town Board at the meeting when the number of apartments was disclosed was a look of total blindsidedness , 6 Mr. Nichols stated that that should not happen in a town , Mr . Nichols stated that his concern was on the checks 7 and balances, where- someone should have to report to somebody about a project like this being proposed . Mr. 8 Nichols stated that he does not want these apartments to go up in any way, shape or form . 9 Dennis Osika stated that the speed limit on 34B where these developments arc located is 55 miles per hour. Mr. I 10 Osika stated that the normal procedure for a multiple unit dwelling would be to have a parallel service road so that 11 traffic would be entering and exiting on a lower speed road . Mr. Osika stated he wants the Planning Board to find 12 out why the New York State D . O .T . approved it, analyze it and get back to them with an answer. 13 Paul Cosentini asked if they can be assured that no building permit would be issued for Ronsvalle ' s development 14 until the issues of density have been resolved . Bud Shattuck stated that they have issued a moratorium so nothing 15 will be issued for the 60 days , during which time the Town Board and Planning Board will discuss what density , 16 means and come up with something they are comfortable with. Bud Shattuck stated that it is difficult for Mr. 17 'Gofman because he has to go by the ordinance, which he looks up and sees that something is allowed, so he has to 18 allow it . Bud stated that they need to get a better definition of density for Mr. Totman to use as well . 19 Mr. Osika stated that lie is optimistic that the Planning Board will make an applicable and wise recommendation to 20 the Town Board as they have obviously done in the past, but beyond that he is not certain of' the outcome . Brad 21 Griffin stated that they are all driven by statute, and if Mr. Osika feels that there is a matter that has evaded or 22 broken the law then it is his right and obligation as a citizen to seek remedy . ipBrad Griffin read the Comprehensive Plan on Low Density. Bud Shattuck again explained his thoughts about defining density. 25 Robert Keefe asked for the names of the people on the Zoning Board of Appeals . George Totman started to give 26 the names . Mr. Osika asked if he could get a written list after the meeting . Bud Shattuck stated that he thought it 27 could be found on Town ' s web site . 28 29 . Barden Homes Subdivision , Phases 11 and III 30 Brad Griffin gave a summary of the previous subdivision . Tim Buhl explained Phase ll and Phase III of the 31 subdivision . Mr. Buhl explained that the subdivision has not changed since the first time. Mr. Buhl explained that 32 what was previously called Phase 11 and Phase 1.11 will now be called Phase H as they want to do it all at the same 33 time. Viola Miller asked if the drainage and such had been dealt with in Phase 1 . Mr . Buhl stated that it had . Mr. 34 Buhl explained the new roads that would have to be built. George Totman stated that Pete Larson and Dave 35 Herrick both have copies of this proposal . The Board discussed the subdivision . Viola Miller moved to hold the 36 public hearing on August 14 , 2000, at 7 : 45 PM . Jackie Baker seconded . VOTE : ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION 37 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 38 39 John Hicks Subdivision Request Tax Man # 42 .- 1 - 1 . 12 40 George Totman passed out copies of John Hick ' s extension of 4 more lots to his subdivision on Murfield Drive, 41 George Totman stated that the subdivision will be on the agenda for the meeting on August 14 , 2000 . The board 42 discussed the location of the subdivision . 44 Bud Shattuck explained that he and Steve Farkas both had calls into the Tompkins County Planning Department 45 and they have discussed having their Circuit Rider come out . Bud stated that it would give them another planner to 46 bounce their ideas off of. Bud stated that the person will not be making any calls, but will be at their meetings , 4 Town of Lansin ► Plannin&Bocucl, July 24, 2000 I Viola Miller stated that they will have to pay for it. Bud Shattuck replied that they will not have to pay for it, that 2 they will use her as much as they can for free. • 3 Discussion on Map and Paper Roads 4 The board got out the maps to work on proposed roads . Brad Griffin stated that. although Larry Sharpsteen was 5 not able to make this meeting, he did drop off some overlays that he had done. G 7 Steve Farkas stated that he had to leave so he asked if anyone had any questions for him before he left . Steve stated 8 that he wanted to say, on behalf of George, that there have been a lot of people running a lot of rumors around 9 town , but he just wanted to say that, they are there to work with what they have and with the people they have . to Steve added that. they ' ill work through this thing. Steve stated that they have a moratorium so they have time to 11 work on it, and if it takes extending that moratorium they will do that . Viola Miller stated that they need to have 12 the best legal advice they can have because it is coming from all sides and there are tremendous errors in the 13 ordinance . Steve Farkas stated that they will go in and correct those things, but he does not want to throw the baby 14 out with the bath water. 15 Brad Griffin stated that the Planning Board had passed along proposed changes to the zoning ordinance to the 16 Town Board . Brad asked if they had those changes . Bud Shattuck stated that he did not have them with him, but 17 thought they had received them . Steve Farkas asked that they put those things, along with the letter to which Viola 18 had referred, together and they can do it all at once then hold a public hearing for all the changes at once. 19 The Board discussed the maps _ 20 Bud Shattuck stated that the Town Board was looking for the Planning Board to give them direction in area of 21 density . 22 Brad Griffin asked each of the members to look at the zoning ordinance, riot solely on the density, but at the RI , • 23 R2 , and R3 zones with reference to the Comprehensive Plan because it will only make sense if those definitions 24 make sense to each other. Viola Miller stated that she would like them to look at the business district to see it they 25 like the way it was in the draft better or if they like the way it is in the ordinance . 26 The meeting adjourned at 9 : 50 PM . I