HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 2013-04-22 PH Comp Plan Ithaca Town Board
April 22, 2013
Public Hearing regarding the draft Comprehensive Plan
Board Members Present—Bill Goodman, acting Chair; Pat Leary, Rich DePaolo, Eric Levine,
Tee-Ann Hunter, and Rod Howe
*Note/disclaimer—The audio recording was very bad due to a fault in the connection that did not
register on the system doing the recording. The indicators were showing it was fine,but that was
not the case. These minutes were done from notes taken at the meeting and limited parts of the
recording that were audible.
Mr. Goodman opened the public hearing at 6:42 p.m. and explained that this is the second public
hearing on the Comprehensive Plan (Plan) and is just the second in many opportunities for both
oral and written comments as the Plan goes through the various processes and reviews.
Margo from West Hill, City of Ithaca— She feels like the problems we are facing in this
generation call for a plan that isn't slightly mitigating the usual sprawl which everyone is
accepting. We need much more creative thinking about how to design our cities and our areas
around the city. The current plan has made efforts to reduce mistakes from the past which has
been unmitigated sprawl but it isn't tackling problems in a way that is actually going to pull us in
the right direction. She felt the Plan will slow us down in going in the wrong direction but not
put us in the right direction and the Town doesn't have to reinvent the wheel because there are
cities out there that have done this and found ways to reduce traffic and increase density as
opposed to lowering the sprawl and these other municipalities or companies could help us. She
felt we could come up with a plan that genuinely creates an environment that nurtures children
and reduces traffic and provides an example for other cities to how a city can grow without
further damaging the environment.
She went on to say that she was wondering if the board is considering the minority report line by
line in the same fashion they are reviewing the Plan because there were some very good points
that were made in it and the two could be integrated to get the most benefit.
Claire Forrest—Ms. Forrest was upset that the W King Rd area was being proposed as a
neighborhood center noting that she has been fighting development in that area for years and
allowing the apartments and the hotel was a big mistake and this would further that mistake. She
felt that any farmers should be grandfathered in to the existing zoning.
Pat Dutt—(Attachment#1) Ms. Dutt read from her written statement. She is in favor of the
Minority Report and would like a meeting with the Town Board that would allow back and forth
dialogue with residents rather than the public hearing format and she also thinks that it doesn't
make any sense to plan without input from the City of Ithaca.
Tom Holm (Attachment#2) Mr. Hohn read from a prepared statement. He feels that the Town
is going against its own recommendations and has not communicated with West Hill enough. He
Adopted as Final 6-10-2013
feels that the proposed development is not staying in character with the neighborhood and the
Minority Report has been ignored as well as the traffic issues any development will exacerbate.
Mike Parker, South Hill resident—Mr. Hill was curious about the proposed high density on
Troy Rd.
Yvonne Fogarty noted that she is a Town of Ithaca Planning Board member but is here tonight
as a resident - Ms. Fogarty noted that she has recently read the Route 96 Corridor Report, the
Comprehensive Plan and the Minority Report and felt that the discrepancy between the 3 is
amazing because they say there will never be enough density but yet the nodes are continually
talked about and the Biggs land proposal can't be a node because you can't have mixed uses
with federal backing; they only subsidize low-income. She also felt that the traffic issue is not
clear in that everyone says it is ok but the residents' experience is certainly not that it is ok. She
stated that turning onto Bundy Rd is very dangerous and she stated that she can't stress enough
the traffic problem and since we do not have any control for the road because it is owned by the
state we can't continue to build and ignore the traffic.
Ms. Fogarty went on to say that the Biggs property could be used for a school, museum, wind
farm or something outside the box. She felt that the draft Plan is not bold in its land
development scenarios and we have a chance to do something bold.
Greg Perrault City of Ithaca (Attachment#3) Mr. Perrault is concerned about the quality of
the environment and the quality of life in our area. He is concerned about the traffic in the
Cambell Ave area where multiple TCAT busses travel small neighborhood roads and cause
traffic issues along with vehicles trying to avoid the main roads. He stated that he came here
from NJ and wants to see proper planning such as building roads differently and keeping control
of the rights-of-ways to connect properties and buildings and to develop a neighborhood. He felt
that Ithaca does not have enough bypasses. Because of the topography of West Hill, feeder
streets need to be looked at and connect neighborhoods. Route 13a is a bypass that works great
for that area but we still need roads for traffic; he did not necessarily agree the statement in the
Minority Report about"if you build a road, there will be more traffic" and if someone opposes a
road, they should oppose the development. He said he has heard before that development is not
a question of whether development will happen but just how, where and when and he appreciates
the conflict between avoiding sprawl and the need to preserve undeveloped space close to the
city. He stated that he has read most of the Minority Report and is working his way through the
Plan and he commended everyone on their hard work and will remain in contact.
Larry Fabbroni (Attachment#4) Mr. Fabbroni read verbatim from his prepared statement
representing Mr. Lucente. He felt the naming of specific projects or developments is very
inappropriate for a Plan and shows bias. The Lucente land(s) are largely designated as
conservation in the future land use plan and this contradicts what the Town and Mr. Lucente
have been discussing this past year for uses of his remaining land.
Jennifer Goodman West Hill Ms. Goodman was concerned about the health, safety and
character of the West Hill neighborhood noting that there is a lot of high density areas and it is
Adopted as Final 6-10-2013
not safe right now. There is increased crime, the roads are dangerous and there are
environmental impacts forcing wildlife closer and deer are known to attack pets and they carry
diseases.
Andy Yale, Taughannock Blvd. Mr. Yale stated that he has lived on West Hill for over 40
years and way back Mr. Ligori presented plans for nodal development and he doesn't see it
happening. He stated that the current population trends are doubling over a 100 years and he
can't imagine doubling the size of the town without some different transportation options.
Angela? She stated that she has read both the Plan and the Minority Report and discussed them
with a friend who used to live here and the devil is in the details. It is a strategic document so
that makes sense,but two things that should be called out better are intermunicipal
communication and working together. She was amazed that there is a city a town and a county
who all seem to have their own schedule and agendas and who don't communicate or try and
plan together. She also felt that aging in place should be focused on a bit more.
Mr. Perrault again—Mr. Perrault talked about the proposed road that will connect the
neighborhoods.
Mr. Fabbroni again—Water and sewer development and there is not a lot of mention about
services and a lot more study needs to be done regarding services on West Hill because there is a
lot of sharing that can go on and would be a great answer to the minimal system that is at the end
of Cliff St.
Board Comments
Bill Goodman—Talked about the process going forward and wanting to meet with West Hill
residents and talking about ideas.
Rich DePaolo—Mr. DePaolo had a few observations. Observation—there is an inherent
problem with the way the public hearing process works and we need to figure out a way to
engage the public in a more free flowing fashion because this way is stifling and creates an
adversarial environment Observation—there is a misunderstanding by the Ag Committee
regarding the math for the number of allowed houses in Ag zones, so we need to do more
education on that. Observation—there is a City-centric view on how to develop the town. Some
people feel that all development should happen in the City. But people have inherent land use
rights. The Town of Ithaca can't simply be the green space for the City. Planning is often about
mitigation. In government you can often chew around the edges because making broad
sweeping strokes is not always possible or practical.
Pat Leary—Regarding the Minority report; the Comprehensive Planning Committee lived
through the minority report. Joe Wetmore was on the Committee and insisted on discussing each
of his points and everything was discussed and the committee did not ignore the points made in
the minority report.
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Tee-Ann Hunter —Ms. Hunter said the two things she has heard from residents tonight were
requests to work inter-municipally and we should seriously discuss making that happen. We
need to insist on face to face meetings with the City and with TCAT. She also felt the Board
should be able to respond to the questions people bring to us n those two topics.....
Rod Howe—Mr. Howe thought the Board would be open to sitting with neighborhood groups
including other hills and having more of a give and take discussion on the Plan.
Eric Levine —Mr. Levine thanked people for coming, noting that this is what he really enjoys
about service on the Board; hearing what people are thinking and working on those thoughts and
ideas.
Public Hearing was closed at 7:47 p.m.
Adopted as Final 6-10-2013