HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1988-02-08TCWN OF ITHACA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 8, 1988
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At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca,
Tcnipkins County, New York, held at the Town Offices at 126 East
Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 8th day of February, 1988,
there were:
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Noel Desch, Supervisor
Henry McPeak, Councilinan
Shirley Raffensperger, Councilwonan
Robert Bartholf, Coimcilitian
Patricia Leary, Councilvratian
Raymond Bordoni, Councilman
Thcmas Cardman, Councilman
Robert Flumerfelt, Town Engineer
John Barney, Town Attorney
William J. Gray, City of Ithaca Engineer
Richard Fischer, 135 Pine Tree Road
Mary Call, Board of Representatives
David Cornelius, City of Ithaca Fire
Ccsnmissioners
Ed Olmstead, City of Ithaca Fire Chief
Don Ellis, Robert Leathers Architect
Henry Aron, 106 Woolf Lane
Alan E. Euvrard, Tompkins Coimty Hone
Builders Association
Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest Drive
Betsy Darlington, 204 Fairmount Avenue
Stu Lewis, Chamber of Commerce
Herb Brewer, Chamber of Commerce
David Ruether, 1189 East Shore Drive
Girard F. Oberrender, Jr. Chamber of
Conmerce
Paul Glover, 1399 Slaterville Road
Robert Congdon, 118 Troy Road
Barbara Congdon, 118 Troy Road
Ken Jupiter, 202 1/2 E. Tompkins Street
Bettsie Ann Park, 202 1/2 Tompkins Street
Representatives of the Media:
Tom Maskulinski. WTKO/WCNY News
John Camobreco, WVBR
Debbie Munch, WHCU/WYXL
Fred Yahn, Ithaca Journal
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance,
REPORT OF TOWN OFFICIALS
Town Supervisor's Report
Youth Services
Supervisor Desch stated that two sessions have been held with the
City, County, Village and Youth Bureau staff in an attempt to seek
Town Board 2 Febrxiary 8, 1988
a matually acceptable solution to the delivery of the desired level
of service at a cost acceptable to everyone. There seems to be a
mutual desire to participate in a master planning effort but the
time involved will be far in excess of the Cotimon Council mandate,
the so called cotprcmise offer of our paying the $88,000 and having
the fees doubled for Town youth. The alternative already adopted
by Council is to triple the rates to Town youth, absent a contract.
It is not likely that that will change. Our view is that the
current arrangonent should be extended as we did with the Fire
Master Plan with the recognition that seme kind of substantially
increased recovery will occur as part of a long term agreement.
Nancy Zahler is drafting a resolution that will atterrpt to obtain
approval of the Town, City and the County.
Sewer Moratorium
Supervisor Desch went on to say that the Town had participated in a
meeting with the Village of Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing,
Town of Dryden and Town of Lansing to determine what additional
capacity is needed to serve the area for the next twenty years or
more. It appears that the Cayuga Heights plant would need to be
doubled in size frcm 2-4 MGD at least. The Town of Ithaca would
need an additional 90,000 GPD of the additional 2 million GPD and
even that assumes that one of the golf courses would be developed
as housing.
The Town and Village of Lansing are looking at the feasibility of
building their own plant as one of the options. It is also
conceivable that the new City/Town plant could be used for a fixed
period of time, i.e., 5 years, vMle a new plant is built but this
will take City and Town approval.
A review of our contract with the Village reveals no limit on
capacity to be made available to the Town of Ithaca, so the limit
of 15 units is not appropriate particularly since six of the units
were well under construction v^en the moratorixm was announced.
There is also seme question as to the number of units to be
assigned to the child care center on Warren Road. He stated that
he felt that its sewer permit must be the top priority but that
load is already connected so v^y not shift those units frcm Cayuga
Heights to the Town of Ithaca. Wis have a draft letter to be sent
to the Village which needs Board approval.
Montessori School
Supervisor Desch noted that it was a pleasure for him to have
participated in the dedication of the beautiful new school on King
Road. All who participated in bringing about the construction in a
five month timeframe have reason to be very proud. The school will
add a great deal to the sense of community to South Hill.
Town Engineer's Report
Water and Sewer ImpTOvements
Town Engineer Robert Flumerfelt reported that the 1987 Water and
Sewer Improvement Project vMch is now in three phases instead of
two principally because of the Conrail requirement for permanent
steel sheet piling along the railroad bed. On the Phase I portion,
vdiich is under contract now, Vacri Construction has laid off work
for a few weeks in this severe winter weather, frcm January 20th to
February 15th. They plan to return with three crews and start on
both sewer and water. Up mtil now they have been blasting for
vdiat little rock there is between Indian Creek Road and the new
intersection v^ere Woolf Lane will ccme down and meet the DuBois
Road. That's the back lot portion of the sewer on DuBois Road.
Town Board 3 February 8, 1988
The bonds and insurance on Phase II are being reviewed for the
proposed contract with F. Rizzo Construction Corpany and we expect
to sign that contract within a week. We are negotiating for
preparation of easement maps for the necessary water and sewer main
connections at the State parks lands and a small piece of City land
noridi of the Hanger Theater.
Hospital Access Road
The Town Engineer went on to say that Hill Construction Caipany has
almost ccmpleted the excavation and grading of the Hospital Access
Road, almost ready to put on the crusher run base course. They are
about 75% corplete and expect to be finished in about three weeks.
The County will be doing a little work at the north end of that
road to make a better alignment with existing roadway. They will
cut the bank back slightly by the "k" house.
Highway Garage
Town Engineer Fluraerfelt reported that the contract work on the
Highway Garage heating has been ccnpleted. They had seme problems
with seme of the rigid connections to seme of the heating units so
they put in flexible connections and made seme other repairs to the
equipment. Their second and final pay request is before the Board
tonight for approval.
Town Hall Heating
The Town Engineer noted that the heating and air conditioning units
for this portion building are expected to be shipped from the
factory this Friday and should be in the contractors hands next
week. They will be installed as soon as they arrive.
Town Engineer Flumerfelt went on to say that he had sent out
requests for proposals from engineers for conducting an
infiltration/inflow study in the sanitory sewers in the Northeast
section of the Town. We have received word of interest from two
engineers and expect to hear from more. Notices were sent to six
engineering firms.
Building Inspector/Zoning Officer's Report
Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Andrew Frost reported that seven
building permits have been issued so far this year. Brocme
Developmental Services was one of these permits, vhich is now
located in the former Odd Fellows Infirmary. Under multiple
residence is the former Odd Fellows Carriage house vhich is being
converted to seven apartment units. Rogan's Comers has a permit
to construct a building that will house a laundromat and a fast
food pizza type business. He noted that he was now including
mobile home units under miscellaneous construction and he had
issued one permit. We have received one new complaint this month.
No sign permits were issued. The three fire inspections were
coampleted at Summerhill Apartments. We had four cases for the
Zoning Board of Appeal s, one was denied, one withdrawn and one was
approved and the four was returned to the Planning Board.
Town Planner's Report
Town Planner Susan Beeners reported that the Kyong proposal for
West Hill has been revised since the Board last saw it as a Special
Land Use District proposal. What they are now proposing and has
been scheduled for the March 15th Planning Board meeting is a
ccnmercial area of about 15 acres with renovation of the existing
house and bcim and the addition of four ccitinercial buildings as the
first phase of development and then sixty multiple residence imits
in ten buildings on about 12 acres.
Town Board 4 February 8, 1988
Supervisor Desch rannarked, the subject of iitpact that we talked
about, we are hoping next week on our visit to New York to leam
some more about that. There is a case in litigation between the
Town of Gilderland and the Home Builders Association v^ere a local
law was passed creating a traffic assessment district on the basis
of Home Rule.
The Town Planner stated that she had also attended a local census
review workshop a couple week ago describing the process and the
inprovements that have supposedly been made since the 1980 census
and discribing the amount of time that will be necessary for review
_ in this office. Our next workshop is scheduled for next year at
about this time. By then, and for sure before the 1990 census is
actually taken in i^ril of 1990 she expected to have the County
assessment rolls on our catputer system and modified so that we
track our building permits and certificates of occupancy as they
are issued.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked the Town Planner about the
Klondike Manor Proposal, noting that she had received a telephone
call this afternoon about the project. She then asked if she was
right that that's going to the Board of Zoning T^peals?
Town Planner Beeners replied, yes.
Councilwcxtian Raffensperger asked if it had been scheduled?
Town Planner Beeners replied, it's scheduled for the March 9th
meeting.
COUNTY BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES
County Representative Mary Call reported that the child care
facility has moved out of Cayuga Heights School. She stated that
she did not know if that made any difference in the Villages
— corputation of nimiber of units.
County Representative Call went on to say that one thing she wanted
to tell the Town, although not all of it will be involved in it, as
part of the Phase II report of the Solid Waste Management Plan we
are looking at recycling and that is the next step. The Village of
Cayuga Heights and possibly the eastern part of the Town of Ithaca
have been targeted for possible pilot projects. The Village is
most likely because it has a system in place. We are moving into
discussions with the Village officials to see if they are
interested and then have one educational type meeting. The
landfill permitting process is also going on, we keep reading about
that and the problons of it and etc., but along with that we are
also working on recycling and bailing transfer stations.
Mrs. Call went on to say, the other thing you mentioned was a
traffic assessment district. Bob Flumerfelt was at the meeting we
had at the beginning of January about traffic, mostly in the east
corridor and in the northeast, i.e., the Village of Lansing and
through Cornell and even over to the east side of Town. We are
trying to collect information on traffic assessment districts. The
County Planning Department is looking into the possibility of
sanething like that being created on the northern side of the Town
and the Village of Lansing.
^ Supervisor Desch asked, if Cayuga Heights goes to recycling will
they deal with private contractors as well?
Mrs. Call replied, none of the details have been worked out yet.
Town Board 5 February 8, 1988
BUDGET FOR TWO NEW FIRE STATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
Supervisor Desch noted that Bill Gray, City Engineer v^o he stated
has been project manager in moving this v^ole process forward is
here with us this evening. Also, Fire Chief Ed Olmstead and Fire
Ccmnissioner Dave Cornelius.
Supervisor Desch noting the resolution, stated that it pretty much
recites the City's status of action, the status of the Fire Station
Design Ccmmittee and really the only thing that the Committee has
not addressed, at this point, primarily because they are awaiting
our approval is the detailed schedule of \dien the design will be
corpleted and the project put out to bid. He went on to say that
he put early summer of 1988 but that they really have not pinned
the architect down at this point.
William Gray replied, the architect had told him today that he
wcnild be willing to discuss this tcmorrow at 4:00 P.M.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked, we anticipate this will be bonded
and it will be a ten year period, is this correct?
Supervisor Desch replied, primarily twenty years, it could be
nineteen but there is a question about Station No. 7 idiich from a
structural classification may not qualify as to the useful life as
long as the rest of the project could be bonded, so there is a
chance that that one may be ten yesurs.
RESOLUTION NO. 24
Motion by Councilman Bairtholf; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
WHEREAS, the Joint Town/City Fire Station Design Ccmmittee has
successfully developed a program and project scope for the two new
fire stations and the renovation of existing Stations #7, #9 and
Central acceptable to the Ccmmittee, the Fire Ccmmission, the Fire
Department staff and fire fighters, and
WHEREAS, the Fire Station Coitinittee reccmmends approval of a
project cost for each station at $900,000/station and a renovation
project budget of $900,000, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has established a capital project for
these improvements and will arrange for financing at the
appropriate time v^en bids are received,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board herel^ accepts
the project budgets as described above and authorize the Fire
Station Ccmmittee to complete design work in the most timely manner
possible to enable construction to begin during the early summer of
1988, sxabject to the receipt of acceptable bids within budget,
AND FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is authorized to
make the balance of the Town share of the 5% down payment required
by the 1986 Tax Reform Act prior to adoption by the City of the
necessary bond resolution (approximately April 1988) in the
following amounts:
^ New Stations
1,800,000 X .05 X .70 == $63,000
already paid 1987 $15,820
balance due $47,180
Renovations
Tcfwn Board 6 Februairy 8, 1988
900,000 X .05 X .27 = $12,150
already paid 1987 4,239
balance due $ 7,911
Total amount due $47,180 + $7,911 = $55,091
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that authorization be given for such aitiount
to be borrowed from the Sewer Fund until 1989 Fire Protection tax
revenues are available.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Supervisor Desch remarked that this would be the first of three
payments.
Councilman Bordoni asked if this was for a specific engine or just
general repairs?
Supearvisor Desch replied, three times this amount is 40% of the
cost of the renovation of one of their engines. Mid year last
year, we agreed with them that they could go forward with the
renovation of one of their engines, they were not sure v^t the
cost would be. At first they wanted reimbursement in one shot but
this would throw the budget out of proportion, so they agreed to
three years.
RESOLUTION ND. 25
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
WHEREAS, the payment to the Village of Cayuga Heights for vehicle
repairs was not included in the 1987 Fire Protection budget,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize and amendment to the 1987 Fire Protection
budget by appropriating fund balance in the amount of $4,595.84 and
transferring to appropriation line iton SF3410.492.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
COPIER
Councilman Bordoni remarked, comparing a 36 month lease at $318.00
a month, did you do an analysis of just borrowing the money from a
bank at just bank interest rates and buying the machine, out right?
Is there a benefit to that?
Assistant Budget Office Connie Allen replied, the Town cannot buy
the machine out right because it goes over the bidding amoimt, but
we can lease it.
Supervisor Desch ronarked, the problem we run into \(dien we bought
the machine upstairs, is that most often the low bid is the machine
that you don't want and there isn't any way to draw the
specification to avoid that from happening. So you end up with not
really being in a position of getting a machine that is needed, so
the alternative is leasing. Fortunately, the best leasing rate
comes from the manufacturer of one of the better machines plus they
TCwn Board 7 February 8, 1988
are one of the few willing to place any value on the old Xerox
machine.
RESOLUTION NO. 26
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger; seconded by Coimcilman
Bordoni,
WHEREAS, the new state contracts for copying machines have not been
finalized, and
WHEREAS, the Xerox 4500 currently in use is nine years old, in poor
operating condition and beccming increasingly difficult to
maintain, and
WHEREAS, the cost of the service agreement for the Xerox 4500 is
excessive in ccnparison to the value of the machine (approximately
$220/month),
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that to expedite the replacement of
the current machine, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorizes the Town to enter into a lease agreement with Ascar of
Ithaca, 311 North Fulton Street, Ithaca, New York, to lease a
Toshiba copier, model DB-7720, at a cost of $317.75 per month for
36 months. Costs to include maintenance agreement and trade-in
allowance for the Xerox 4500.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW LOCAL LAW
Supervisor Desch noted that the Town Attorney handed out
information on the amendment last month and that at that time he
announced the Board would dicuss it at the February meeting and set
a date for a public hearing for the March meeting.
Councilwcman Raffensperger stated that she had seme questions, not
really about the changes but about potential changes, as long as we
are doing it. She stated that she wo\ild like to have the Board
discuss Type I thresholds in Section 4, for example, number one.
She stated that she would like seme discussion of v^ether or not 10
acres is not a rather large parcel, it has to be more than 10 acres
in order to be a Type I for industrial or commercial uses within a
residential or agricultural district.
Town Attorney John Barney replied, its probably based upon vdiat the
State requires.
Councilwcman Raffensperger replied, this is our section in v^ch we
may have lower thresholds.
Town Attorney Barney replied, that is correct.
Comcilwoman Raffensperger replied, that she felt this was a good
opportunity to discuss it. As she looked at v^t was required for
residential it basically works out to 10 acres and it occurred to
^ her that residental use at 10 acres and commercial or industrial of
10 acres, it seemed to her there was a big difference in potential
environmental impact between residential and industrial and yet
when you work out the formulas it comes out to be the same, 10
acres. Additionally, in number 7 in that section it also occurred
to her that 2,000 vehicle trips per day, 8 hour period of the day,
was something interesting to think about. If you multiply that out
by a full day you have a lot of vehicle trips. In number 8 it
Town Board 8 February 8, 1988
talks about 10 dual v^eel trucks in 8 hours vMch could mean it
could cause 30 during a day period. She went on to say that these
were just questions that she thought perhaps we might want to think
about and also the mining, she stated that she recalled v^en we put
that in there a long time ago and the tonage, we were so pleased to
beable to restrict mining to any extent at that time and wonders
now v^y we continue to have a tonage limit if we really don't mean
that we want any mining v^atsoever to be other than a Type I
action?
Town Attorney Barney remarked. Type I being those actions for vMch
an environmental inpact statement is mandated.
Councilwcman Raffensperger responded that's right, and v^t she was
talking about is the limits for v^ich we are saying they are not.
Town Attorney Barney replied, again its a Board policy
determination and he felt we track pretty much v^at the State had
in mind or vtot is in our prior law.
Councilwcman Raffensperger added, its in our prior one and they are
low than the State's. She went on to say that she felt it would be
helpful, before a public hearing, to have a copy of the State's
SEQR Law and a copy of the rules and regulations, they are referred
to so often in here that you don't have any kind of frame to work
with.
Supervisor Desch remarked, listening to the specific items he noted
that he was less troubled by Iton 8 having to do with the level of
dxial v^eel truck traffic than he was with the 2,000 and he felt
there was a major difference there. Although that does reference
2,000 vehicle trips in an eight hour period, not per hoxir. He went
on to say that he thought the thousand tons was the same number
that was in the State's requirements.
Town Planner Beeners stated that she would like to point out one
other thing, in the Type I list for activities near or within a
critical environmental area the Town's is more restrictive than the
State's law in that any action, not any unlisted action, is subject
to Type I review. While she liked being more restrictive than the
State in this area, it may turn out to be scmev\^at of an
encumbrance if we have to bring in a building permit application to
put a deck on the back of a house or something and have to subject
that to SEQR. She stated that she could see a lot of nightmares
occuring and perhaps we should think about that. Is it going to be
too much of an encumbrance to have it relate to all actions or
should it perhaps be modified in seme fashion? There may be a way
to actually separate out CEA's and define the process of review for
them.
Supervisor Desch remarked, you could say "any unlisted or Type I
action". He noted it then goes on to say "not in conjunction with
the construction or alteration of two or more such residences and
not in a designated critical environmental area, freshwater
wetland, or other specially protected area". We might be alright
including unlisted, that would simplify it but you would need to
take a careful look. Once you go beyond that it gets pretty
ccnplicated.
Councilwcman Raffensperger remarked as long as we are on page 5,
she stated that she had a question on Type II actions. She stated
that it was her understanding that Type II actions are those which
are in no case considered to have a potential environmental impact,
right? She stated that she had a little trouble with number 5, if
that means all tree triming by the Town of Ithaca Highway
Department, since we had seme very broad permission. We ran into
Town Board 9 February 8, 1988
trouble with this before. She did not know if anybody wanted to
have an environmental inpact statement on the trhmiing of trees but
there have been projects both in the Coimty and the Town vhere
large sections of streets were involved and quite appropriately
should have had scsne environmental assessment.
Supervisor Desch remarked, the problem is with another part of \hat
you are saying here is that it*s not inclusive of the County
Highway Department.
Town Attorney Barney remarked this specifically references the Town
and he felt the reason was to avoid the necessity of every time you
go out to trim a tree, to have to make the determination of it is a
Type I or Type II or unlisted action significance has to be
considered.
Councilwcman Raffensperger remarked, putting it on the Type II list
is to remove it from the unlisted, vhich is a problem.
Town Attorney Barney replied but it reads all tree plantings, so
that adding scmething, landscaping is generally adding scmething or
trimming vhich he believed might leave a little rocm for dispute
but he would certainly say taking down an 8 inch thick tree, at
it's base, is more than just trinming a tree and he felt that would
be removal vdiich would then not ccme within the definition here.
Which are the types of conditions we have been involved with with
the Coimty vdiere there has been a row of fairly substantial trees,
because of County Highway widening problems, have been leveled or
threatened to be leveled.
Councilwcman Raffensperger replied, perhaps we can think about the
potential in that particular section.
RESOLUTION NO. 27
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Tdwn of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 7:00 P.M., on March 7, 1988 to consider
a local law providing for environmental review of actions in the
Town of Ithaca.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Town Attorney Barney remarked, the problem he had was that
Councilwcman Raffensperger raised seme points and that if the Board
set the hearing date today and then ccme to the meeting in March
and decide to make changes it will be necessary to go through the
hearing process again. He suggested that either to Board ccme to
seme conclusion tonight as to how you want him to proceed so he can
draft it and have it in final form or go into March with the
thought in mind that may be that will be discussion time and then
hold a formal public hearing later.
Supervisor Desch replied, the only safe way is to go with vdiat you
provided.
Town Attorney Barney replied, we can get you another version, for
example, if you want to change the 10 acres to 5 acres or 15 acres.
Supervisor Desch stated that he felt it wouldn't make any sense to
do that until the Board held a public hearing.
Town Attorney Barney replied, then you are conterrplating a second
public hearing?
Town Board 10 February 8, 1988
Supervisor Desch replied, that is probable. If there are going to
be changes we should tiry to get all of the changes on the table at
the hearing so we can adjourn it and adopt vhatever everj^xxly
agrees to later.
CDUNTY YOUTH BQAED VACMCY
Supervisor Desch noted the following letter dated January 14, 1988,
\^ch he received frcm Lois D. King, 181 West Haven Road:
"I understand there is a Town of Ithaca vacancy on the Toirpkins
County Youth Board and that Nancy Zahler has spoken with you
regarding iry willingness to serve in that capacity.
I would appreciate your appointing me to that position and
notifying the County Board of Representatives of yoxir appointment
as soon as possible. Since the Board meets on January 19, 1988
(Tuesday), a letter received by that date would enable the Board to
take the appropriate action then, and would enable me to become a
voting member of the Youth Board by their Januajry 25, 1988,
meeting.
Thank you very much. I look forward to becoming an informed and
active representative of the Town of Ithaca to the Tcmpkins County
Youth Board."
Councilman Cardman asked \^t was Ms. King's background and vhy is
the letter on Probation Department stationary?
Supervisor Desch replied that he did not know. It's just a name
that came to me frcm Nancy Zahler and that he had suggested to her
that if the lady was interested she should write the Town a letter.
He went on to say that there has been a vacancy for well over a
year, we have had a lot of troiable getting people interested in
serving on this Board.
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked, since we have had a vacancy
for seme time and there seems to he seme misunderstanding as to
what kind of letter we wanted her to write, usually v^en we say to
semeone write us a letter they usually write and say they would be
terrific on the Youth Bureau Board because I have been involved and
that might be helpful to us.
County Representative Mary Call noted that Lois King works for the
Probation Department, she works with troubled youth in the
Probation Department.
Councilman Cardman stated that he would personnally just like to
know a little bit more about her background and \(diy she wants to
serve, and v^y she feels she is qualified.
Supervisor Desch asked Councilman Cardman to call Ms. King.
1988 OBJECTIVES
1. Complete design and start construction of two new fire
stations in the Town of Ithaca.
2. Establish position on the Route 96 praject to be filed with
the City as part of comment on DEIS.
3. Conplete construction of Phases I, II of the 1987 Water and
Sewer Improvements.
Town Board 11 February 8, 1988
4. Update Town of Ithaca Ccnprehensive Plan including the Highway
Master Plan and Drainage Master Plan.
5. Hire new Highway Superintendent and evaluate department needs.
6. Hire new Assistant Planner, Zoning and Building Inspector
Assistant, etc.
7. Eval\aate Town space needs, (i.e., may need to move Court Rocm
to rented space).
8. Conplete negotiations on future of youth services with
City/County.
9. Ccxrplete work of Codes & Ordinance Cormittee on Zoning
Ordinance amendments.
10. Update SEQR Local Law and establish a schedule of
environmental review fees.
11. Prepare for 1990 Census.
12. Retain consulting engineer to perform I/I Study on Northeast
sewers.
13. Ccaiplete East Ithaca Transportation Study.
14. In conjimction with Coimty, iitplement Septage Treatment
Program at new Sewage Treatment Plant.
15. In conjunction with County, formulate plan for recycling
throughout Town of Ithaca.
16. Develop plan for South Hill bikeway including spur between
Aurora Street and Buttermilk Park and a grant proposal for the
run easterly to Bums Road.
17. Design and ccnplete construction work on Grandview Park.
18. In conjunction with developer and NYSEG, corplete construction
of Park Lane Extension.
19. Develop plan for Bums Road Phase III and Sand Bank Road
visibility inprovements.
Supervisor Desch asked the Board members if they had any questions
as to vhy an item was on the list or if they had an item they
wished to add? He went on to say that in putting these together
they are clearly done as a guideline.
Councilwcman Raffenspeirger noting #4, stated that she would like to
add scmething to it, .. .and examine the need for a new zoning
ordinance to inplement the Ccirprehensive Plan. The acceptance of
that would require that #9 vdiere it says ccnplete work of Codes &
Ordinance Ccmmittee on Zoning Ordinance amendments, the word
"present" be added before the Zoning Ordinance. In #9, because we
now we are talking about looking to see if we need a new one we
should say what the Codes & Ordinance Committee presently is
working on is the present Zoning Ordinance.
She went on to say that she was not sure how to phrase one that she
would like to add as Number 20 but we have heard the staff talk
about it and that is to proceed with developing a records and
information system, a data base. That is a priority for the staff.
Tcfwn Board 12 February 8, 1988
Councilman McPeak questioned #7, the need for Court room rented
space. He asked if that would be downtown?
Supervisor Desch replied that he had no idea but it could be. That
is an operation that could be almost anyvdiere in the City or the
Town. It is not a large quantity of space but the problem is that
this building is just so busy that the need for a little more
office space triggered us to look at other options and this may be
the easiest option.
Town Attorney Barney asked if the enabling legislation v^ch allows
the Town to have its Town Hall in the City permits more than one
Town function or location of Town functions?
Sxjpervisor Desch replied that the permissiveness is in relation to
conducting official business within the City of Ithaca,
irrespective of location. VJhen the original law was passed, we
were renting space, then we went back a few years ago to get tax
exempt status for this building. Now your question may be
pertinent as far as could be get tax exempt status on a building in
a different location, he did not know.
Cormcilvonan Leary asked, how about scsnething like a study
possibility of regulating taxi cab rates?
Supervisor Desch replied, franchise? He stated that he did not
know if this cones under franchises or not.
Town Attorney Barney responded, Councilwcsnan Leary asked me about
this av^ile ago but he had not have time to look into it.
Supervisor Desch remarked, stxidy feasibility of regulating taxi cab
fares in the Town of Ithaca.
Councilwonan Leary asked vtot was the etc., at the end of item 6?
Supervisor Desch replied, at one point there was a third position
v^ch was a half time additional clerical position in Engineering
and Zoning, now that's been coupled together with the Zoning
person, so that can be removed.
Councilwonan Leary went on to say that she realized these were
reminders and, therefore, how about reevaluate salary ranges of
staff.
Supervisor Desch replied, how about ccmplete the 1988 review of
salary ranges?
ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS BESOLUTIONS
Supervisor Desch remvarked that normally we get a little more
information. The Board then considered the following resolution,
proposed by the Association of Towns:
SOLID WASTE - The management of solid waste has beccme the most
important fiscal, environmental and health problem facing town
governments throughout New York State. It is a crisis situation.
Landfills are being forced to close everywhere. The State has
responsibility to support local efforts to address this enormous
problem. Those efforts must include:
1) providing real financial help for the closure of
landfills and for the construction of other disposal
alternatives;
2) providing a regulatory framework under vhich town
government can properly plan and ccmimit to a strategy
Town Board 13 Februairy 8, 1988
v^ch will resolve the "vdiat do we do with our garbage"
question, now and for the future; and
3) by providing technical assistance and advice, including
specific recoratiendations on what towns should and can do.
As a means to achieve the goals as stated above, the Association of
Towns supports the New York State Report entitled "Solid Waste: A
State Responsibility" and the reccanmendations contained therein.
We also support Governor Cucmo's initiative to convert the
unclaimed bottle bill deposits into a fund vhich would provide up
to 50% of the costs of a local government landfill closure.
SAT.Rq TAX - The Association of Towns supports legislation vMch
would require counties to share 50% or more of the proceeds of a
county sales tax.
The towns of New York State provide essential services such as
sewer, water, police, and garbage collection to the very businesses
that generate the sales tax. Fairness dictates that we be entitled
to share in sales tax revenues.
REVENUE SHARING - The Association of Towns urges the Governor and
both Houses of the legislatiure to develop a permanent State Revenue
Sharing Plan v^ch distributes monies equitably among all general
purpose local governments, with a formula distribution vdiich would
reflect - as it should - the population growth and increasing
services provided by towns throughtout New York State.
FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION IN FUEL PURCHASES - The Association of Towns
urges the defeat of Federal legislation vdiich would eliminate the
existing federal tax exemption on gasoline and diesel fuel
purchases by local municipalities. Local government is a partner
with the State and Federal governments in the provision of
essential services for our citizens.
STATE SEWER OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AID - The Association of
Towns strongly reccanomends that the State reaffirm its ccnmitment to
local government and establish a permanent assistance level of 33%
for the reimbursement of sewer operation and maintenance costs.
When the State of New York initiated its Pure Waters Program, towns
and other local goveamments responded in good faith and cooperated
in the construction of sewer systems and water treatment
facilities. To encourage local government participation, state aid
of up to 33 1/3% was provided for operating costs. However, the
actual amount of appropriated aid has never approached vhat is
authorized.
USE OF STATE OWNED LANDS - Town have long provided essential
services such as fire, police, water and sewer to the many State
owned lands and facilities located in towns throughout our State.
In fairness and equity, that effort should be recognized, and the
land use plans and regulations of the local government given full
faith and authority v^en the State acts to divert itself of such
holdings, either outright sale or long term lease.
The Board agreed that all of the above resolutions should receive a
favorable vote.
PA SYSTEM
Supervisor Desch remarked that this was discussed at the last
meeting and provides for five microphones with stands that will be
placed in front of the tables so that we do not have to use table
space for microphones. There would also be one for the public. He
r
Town Board 14 February 8, 1988
suggested the proposed resolution be changed from $1,800 to $2,000.
He went on to say that the problem with the present system is that
you cannot pick up soft voices and general noises cause problems.
The heaters also drown out the voices.
Councilman McPeak asked, vAiat is an AKG?
Supervisor Desch replied that he did not know. He suggested that
Councilman McPeak contact Michael Ocello since he had written the
specification.
Councilwoman Leary asked, if we get the heating system fixed and it
wasn't so noisy, do we really need this? It's a small roan.
Henry Aron, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals stated that he
spoke on this matter at the last Board meeting and outline why it
was needed.
Supervisor Desch remarked vdiat happens, particularly at the
Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings, they have a lot more
public hearings so you get more background noise and that is the
problem. He stated that even though he had held back the proposal
for several months, Mr. Aron continues to keep the message clear
that a new system is needed.
Councilman McPeak questioned the item cassette decks, is that a
recorder?
Supervisor Desch replied that he did not know.
Councilman McPeak renarked, we have a recorder already.
Supervisor Desch stated that he would propose voting on the
resolution the way it is, pending your review with Mr. Ocello and
if Councilman McPeak is ccmfortable with it the Board will go with
the vdiole unit and if you are not, then we will bring the proposal
back to the Board.
RESOLUTION NO. 28
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger,
MIEREAS, to enchance the public address/recording system in the
Town Hall boardroom, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca herd:^
authorize the expenditure of $2,000 for the necessary equipment,
and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the resolution is approved subject to
further review and authorization from Councilman McPeak.
Townwide AIOIO.2 Town Board Equipment $876.00
Parttown B8010.2 Zoning Equipment 246.00
B8020.2 Planning Equipment 246.00
B1670.2 Shared Services Equipment 432.00
To appropriate funds for this e3^)enditure the following budget
amendment is approved; General Fund Townwide transfer $776 from
A1990.4 Contingency to AlOlO.2 Town Board Equipment.
I (Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
BENEFIT ASSESSMENT REFUNDS
RESOLUTION NO. 29
Town Board 15 February 8, 1988
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
WHEREAS, Lisa Freeditian, 104 Birchwood Drive, Parcel No. 70-10-1.15
was charged 2 \inits of water and 2 units of sewer on her 1988 Town
and County Taxes, and
WHEREAS, Ms. Freedman should have been charged for 1.10 units of
water and 1.10 units of sewer, and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 1988, Ms. Freedman paid her 1988 taxes in
full,
NCW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca herein authorizes a refund of $59.40 for water and $68.20
for sewer, total refund of $127.60 be paid to Ms. Lisa Freedman,
104 Birchwood Drive, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Councilman Cardman asked about the determination of units.
Supervisor Desch remarked it a fairly ccnplicated formula, it
combines frontage, acreage. If it has an apartment in the house it
is charged as if it were a two family, therefore, 2 its units. If
the frontage is over the basic unit size of 100 feet of frontage
then you apply a fraction to that footage that is over 100 feet.
That's vdiy is an odd number. Similarly the one on 7 Pheasant Lane
was presumed to have an apartitoit but it has been shown not to have
an apartment. That's a 100 foot lot so its 1.0 units.
RESOLUTION 30
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwcman Raffensperger,
WHEREAS, Alan D. Personius, 7 Pheasant Lane, Parcel No. 61-1-8.21
was charged 2 units of water and 2 units of sewer on his 1988 Town
and County Taxes, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Personius should have been charged for 1 unit of water
and 1 unit of sewer, and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 1988, Mr. Personius paid his 1988 taxes in
full,
NCW TflEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorizes a refund of $54.00 for water and $62.00
for sewer, total refund of $116.00 be paid to Alan D. Personius, 7
Pheasant Lane, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 31
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
McPeak,
^ WHEREAS, Ning Shih Chiu, 104 Eastern Heights Drive, Parcel No.
57-1-8.15 was charged 2 units of water and 2 units of sewer on his
1988 Town and County Taxes, and
WHEREAS, in 1987 the Building Inspector inspected the property and
verified that the basement apartment is no longer used as an
apartment, and
Town Board 16 February 8, 1988
WEffiREAS, on January 6, 1988, the Building Inspector revisited the
property and found it to still be a single family hone, and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 1988, Mr. Chiu paid his 1988 taxes in full,
NCW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of 1 unit of water at $54.00 and 1
unit of sewer at $62.00, total refund of $116.00 be paid to Ning
Shih Chiu, 104 Eastern Heights Drive, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 32
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
WHEREAS, Carl E. Sgrecci, 1130 Trumansburg Road, Parcel No.
27-1-11.1 was chained 3.10 units of sewer on his 1988 Town and
County Taxes, and
WHEREAS, the existing sewer line will not allow this property to be
connected to the sewer, and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 1988, Mr. Sgrecci paid his 1988 taxes in
full,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $192.20 be paid to Carl E.
Sgrecci, 1130 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
^ voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 33
MDtion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WEffiREAS, Lawrence P. and Elizabeth H. Fabbroni were charged for 1
unit of water and 1 unit of sewer on Parcel Numbers 66-3-3.521,
66-3-3.522, 66-3-3.523 and 66-3-3.524, and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 1985, Lawrence P. and Elizabeth H.
Fabbroni purchased frcm John P. and Martha W. Hertel the property
now known as Forest Hone Highlands, and
WHEREAS, Item 12 of the Tdwn of Ithaca Benefit Formula, adopted
September 8, 1981, states that "in an approved subdivision vhere a
developer has constructed an approved water distribution main
and/or a sanitary sewer collector serving part or all of the
subdivision, the benefit on that portion of the subdivision served
shall be determined by the standard provisions herein as if the
utility improvements did not exist for a period of five (5) years
after construction of same has been approved by the appropriate
/^\ Town authorities, except that the sale, land contract or least of
any lot in any manner or the issuance of a permit to build on a lot
I—to anyone will make such lot(s) subject to the standard provisions
herein and all the remaining land will be subject to the standard
provisions herein at the end of five (5) years", and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Fabbroni, as of this date, own the parcels in
question and have nt applied for permits to build, and
Town Board 17 February 8, 1988
WHEREAS, the Town Engineer after reviewing the assessments, finds
that Mr. and Mrs. Fabbroni were erroneously charged benefit units
on the above parcels, and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Fabbroni paid their 1988
taxes on the above parcels in full,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorizes a refund of $216.00 for water and $248.00
for sewer, total refund of $464.00 be paid to Lawrence P. and
Elizabeth H. Fabbroni, 127 Warren Road, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Town Engineer Flumerfelt noted that Tcm Richard, 144 Coy Glen Road
had requested a refund of water and sewer benefit units, also. He
went on to say that the parcel of land located on the south side of
Coy Glen Road, 44 1/2 acres, was orginially assessed for 5.5 units
each of water and sewer. Water is available at the extreme lower
end of the property on Five Mile Drive but the available pressure
to that steeply sloping piece of land would only serve a few of the
lower acres of land. The sewer is available but on the other side
of Coy Glen Road, again only for a portion of the property. He
stated that he took a drive by there today to take a look at the
topography of the site, it's a former mining site, gravel operation
and its all cut up with old mounds of gravel v^ch have brush and
trees growing out of them. There is a gully through there, also.
To construct a sewer through a large portion of that land would be
nearly iirpossible. Looking at just the acreage that could be
served by water at a pressure above 20 PSI, he aanrived at 1.7 units
benefit for the water and he reconmend the same figure for the
pw, sewer although you might on a strictly acreage calculation,
calculate more for the sewer because of the slopes and difficulty
sewering that area he would still recommend 1.7 units for sewer
also.
RESOLUTIC^ NO. 34
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, Tcm Richard, 144 Coy Glen Road, Parcel No. 31-1-3.1 was
charged 5.5 units of water and 5.5 imits of sewer on his 1988 Town
and County taxes, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Richard should have been charged 1.7 units of water
and 1.7 units of sewer, and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of 3.8 mits of water at $205.20
and 3.8 units of sewer at $235.60, total refund of $440.80 be paid
to Tom Richard, 144 Coy Glen Road, Ithaca, New York.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PERSOSIS TO BE HEARD
Alan Euvrard, President of Quail Builders, stated that he was here
as a representative of his own business and as a representative of
the Toantpkins Cortland Home Builders Association. Mr. Euvrard
stated that he comes before the Board tonight confident that you
are fully aware of the great hardship deal to us by the sewer
moratorium by Cayuga Heights. He stated that he would \irge the
Town Board 18 February 8, 1988
Board to negotiate with Cayuga Heights to resolve this problem at
its earliest possible point in time. He stated that he would like
to point out that size of the scope is horrendous the number of
lots involved directly in the Town of Ithaca is not terribly large,
you should look at the overall industry. In the past two years, we
residential builders in the area effected by the moratorium had
added in excess of ten million dollars to the evaluation of that
area. We paid directly more than one-half million dollars in sales
tax, we have more than one hundred direct enployees and at least an
1^ equal number of sub-contractors that are on our payroll. This
results in at least six million dollars in the past two years of
payroll. These employees are for the most part local residents,
they spend their money at the local business, pay local real estate
taxes and pay local sales tax. A secondary, but equally important
side effect of the moratoriim is the long term uncertainty. It
becomes difficult, if not iiipossible, for developers to invest in
land and infrastructure, so as to continue to provide a supply of
lots as demand continues. For many this will be a hardship because
land has already been bought, money has been spent planning and in
seme cases money has already been spet on infrastructure. All of
this has costs and the carrying costs will continue to mount and,
therefore, ultimately increase the cost of developed lots. We ask
your continued cooperation for a long term solution to the problem
and offer vhatever resources we have as an organization to help
work towards a solution to the problem.
Supervisor Desch thanked Mr. Euvrard. He then asked the Board
members if they had any opposition to the letter he was proposing
to sent to the Mayor of Cayuga Heights? All were in favor of the
letter.
APPOINTMENT OF HIGHWAy SUPEKENTENDENT
Supervisor Desch noted that John Ozolins was present this evening.
Councilman Bordoni noted that the resolution says nothing about the
fact that the Highway Superintendent would need to move to the Town
of Ithaca, however, he assumed that was all taken care of.
Supervisor Desch replied that Mr. Ozolins was negotiating for a
house in the Town of Ithaca, right at this time.
Councilwcman Raffensperger remarked that he xanderstands this is a
requirement in order to be appointed Highway Superintendent.
RESOLUTION NO. 35
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
McPeak,
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca advertised for the
vacancy in the position of Town Highway Superintendent, and
WHEREAS, the Search Comnittee interviewed three applicants for the
position and recommends to the Tdwn Board the name of Mr. Janis G.
Ozolins to be appointed to fill the vacancy,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby appoints Mr, Janis G. Ozolins as Deputy Highway
Superintendent at a starting salary of $27,000 effective February
9, 1988, and
BE rr FURTHER RESOLVED, that Mr. Janis G. Ozolins automatically
become the Highway Superintendent upon establishment of his status
as an elector in the Town of Ithaca, his duties during the interim
Town Board 19 February 8, 1988
being the same as those identified in the job description for the
Highway Superintendent position. Mr. Ozolins will serve the
standard six months probationary period and receive a performance
evaluation at the end of three months of service. At the end of
the probationary period consideration will be given to a further
salary adjustment.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AEX)PTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
RESTATING ORDINANCE REGULATING TRAFFIC AND PARKING IN THE TCWN OF
ITHACA, INCLUDING ROAT STREET
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider an ordinance amending and restating ordinance regulating
traffic and parking in the Town of Ithaca, including Roat Street
having been presented by the Town Clerk, the Supervisor opened the
public hearing.
Supervisor Desch asked the Town Engineer if there was anything in
this draft orddLnance that was not in the original request?
Town Engineer Flximerfelt replied, no.
As there was no one present wishing to speak for or against the
proposed ordinance, the Sr5)ervisor closed the public hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING TO COSrSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
RESTATING ORDINANCE REGULATING TRAFFIC AND PARKING IN THE TOWN OF
ITHACA
Proof of posting and piablication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider an ordinance amending and restating ordinance regulating
traffic and parking in the Town of Ithaca having been presented by
the Town Clerk, the Supeirvisor opened the public hearing.
Supervisor Desch stated that this ordinance is without Roat Street,
item "L" is not included.
Town Attorney Barney remarked, otherwise the stop signs and yield
signs are the same.
As no one present wished to speak for or against the proposed
ordinance, the Supervisor closed the public hearing.
Councilman Bordoni asked, if there is a question of vhether or not
these people were notified, what's next?
Supervisor Desch replied, as a group, the neighborhood wrote us a
letter specifically requesting vhat's in here, so unless they have
changed their minds it is pretty safe to assume this is \^t they
want. Quite often that happens, people send letters and then
that's it.
Supervisor Desch asked the Town Attorney if we would not adopt the
one with Roat Street in it to be the most ccnplete?
Town Attorney Barney replied, if you want to be roost ccaiplete and
incl\:ide Roat Street.
Councilman Cardman asked if the Board adopts the ordinance with
Roat Street included, we won't need to adopt the second ordinance?
Town Board 20 February 8, 1988
Supervisor Desch replied, that is correct.
PESOLUTION NO. 36
Itotion by Councilman Cardraan; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
OPDINMSICE AMENDING AND RESTATING
ORDINANCE REGULATING TRAFFIC AND
PARKING IN THE TCWN OF ITHACA
WITH ROAT STREET ADDED
Pursuant to Section 130 of the Town Law of the State of New York,
and Section 1660 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New
York, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tcxipkins County, New
York, does ordain and enact as follows:
Section 1. Territory Affected. This ordinance shall be applicable
to all territory within the Town of Ithaca outside of the
incorporated Village of Cayuga Heights.
Section 2. Superseding and Amending of Prior Ordinances. This
ordinance amends and restates the traffic ordinance of the Town of
Ithaca adopted September 7, 1961 effective September 26, 1961 and
all amendments thereto and to the extent the provisions of said
earlier ordinances conflict with the ordinance as set forth herein,
this ordinance shall govern.
Section 3. Parking Vehicles. The parking of motor vehicles or any
part thereof on the paved portion of Town highways, or upon the
shoulder or upon or in any ditch adjoining said highways, is
prohibited in all of the following locations:
(a) On both sides of Mclntyre Place.
(b) On both sides of Judd Falls Road from its intersection
with Tower Road to its intersection with Forest Hcme
Drive.
(c) On both sides of Pleasant Grove Road frcm the Village of
Cayuga Heights line to the intersection with Forest Hcme
Drive (Route 392).
(d) On both sides of Snyder Hill Road frcm the Town of Dryden
line to the intersection with Pine Tree Road.
(e) On both sides of Judd Falls Road frcm Route 366 southerly
to the railroad overpass.
(f) On both sides of Coddington Road frcm the City line to
the centerline of the intersection with Rich Road
extended. On the East side of Coddington Road the width
of the shoulder is three feet.
(g) On the south side of Mitchell Street frcm the Town of
Ithaca line easterly to Pine Tree Road.
(h) On the north side of Mitchell Street frcm the Town of
Ithaca line easterly to Judd Falls Road.
(i) On both sides of Judd Falls Road frcm its intersection
with Tower Road to its intersection with New York State
Route 366.
(j) On both sides of Sharlene Drive fron Snyder Hill Road to
Eastern Heights Drive during the hours of 1:00 A.M. to
6:00 A.M. daily.
(k) On both sides of Eastern Heights Drive frcm Sharlene
Drive to the now or future town road running southerly
frcm Eastern Heights Drive shewn as futnre Nancy Streeton
the Town of Ithaca tax maps, during the hours of 1:00
A.M. to 6:00 P.M. daily.
(1) On the south side of Roat Street running westerly frcm
Blackstone Avenue to the terminus of Road Street, during
Town Board 21 February 8, 1988
the hours of 1:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M. daily.
Section 4. Stopping of Motor V^icles. The stopping of motor
vechicles, other than in accordance with erected traffic control
devices, or as may be required by traffic conditions, is prohibited
in the following locations:
(a) ButtenrdUc Falls Road West in its entirety.
(b) Buttermilk Falls Road East in its entirety.
Section 5. Stop Signs. The intersections enumerated on Schedule A
aimexted hereto are designated as stop intersections and stop signs
are ordered installed at the entrance to such intersections as set
forth on Schedule A.
Section 6. Yield Signs. The intersections set forth on the
annexed Schedule B are designated as yield intersections and yield
signs are ordered installed at entrances to such intersections as
set forth on Schedule B.
Section 7. Penalties.
(a) Any violations of Sections 3 and 4 shall constitute a
traffic infraction and any persons violating the same
shall be deemed guilty of a traffic infraction and shall
be punishable by a fine of not more thatn $50.00 or by
inprisonment for not more than 15 days or by both such
fine and inprisonment.
(b) Failure to observe the signs erected in accordance with
Sections 5 or 6 shall be treated as a traffic infraction
and shall be punished as set forth in the Vehicle and
Traffic Law of the State of New York.
Section 8. This ordinance shall be effective 10 days after
publication and posting in accordance with Section 133 of the Town
Law.
SCHEDULE A - STOP SIQUS
On Birchwood Drive at Salem Drive
On Birchwood Drive North at Salem Drive
On Blackstone Avenue at Roat Street, eastbound approach
On Blackstone Avenue at Roat Street, westbound approach
On Blackstone Avenue at Christopher Lane
On Brandywine Drive at Christopher Lane
On Canpbell Avenue at Brookfield Road
On Christopher Circle (east end) at Christopher Lane
On Christopher Circle (west end) at Christopher Lane
On Concord Place at Burleigh Drive
On Coy Glen Road at Elm Street Extension
On Deerfield Place at Salem Drive
On Deerfield Place at Winston Drive
On Dove Drive at its easterly intersection with Snyder Hill Road
On Dove Drive at its westerly intersection with Snyder Hill Road
On Drew Road at Woodgate Lane
pmm On Forest Hone Drive at Caldwell Road
On Forest Hone Drive at Judd Falls Road, eastbomd approach
On Forest Hone Drive at Judd Falls Road, westbound approach
On Forest Hcme Drive at Pleasant Grove Road, westbound approach
On Forest Hcme Drive at Warren Road, eastbound approach
On Forest Hcme Drive at Warren Road, westbound approach
On Glenside Road at Coy Glen Road
On Haller Boxilevard at Elm Street Extension
Town Board 22 February 8, 1988
On Harwick Road at Wildflower Drive
On Judd Falls Road at Tower Road, northbound approach
On Judd Falls Road at Tower Road, southbound approach
On Judd Falls Road at Arboretum Road
On Lexington Drive East at Burleigh Drive
On Lexington Drive West at Burleigh Drive
On Lisa Place at Lisa Lane
On Longview Drive at Poole Road
On Maplewood Drive at Salem Drive
On Mclntyre Place at Judd Falls Road
On Mclntyre Place at Forest Hcme Drive
On Penny Lane at Abbey Road, eastbound approach
On Regency Lane at Snyder Hill Road
On Renv/ick Place at its northerly intersection with NYS Route 34B
On Renwick Place at its southerly intersection with NYS Route 34B
On Rosehill Road at Muriel Street
On Rosehill Road at Winston Drive
On St. Catherine Circle at Siena Drive
On Simsbury Drive at Brandywine Drive
On Stravtoerry Hill Road at Wildflower Drive
On Sugarbush Lane at Snyder Hill Road
On Sycamore Drive at Salem Drive
On Tareyton Drive at Rosehill Road, northbound approach
On Tareyton Drive at Rosehill Road, southbound approach
On Terraceview Drive at Honness Lane
On The Byway at its easterly intersection with Forest Hone Drive
On The Byway at its westerly intersection with Forest Hone Drive
On Townline Road at Sandbank Road
On Valley View Road at Elm Street Extension
On Vera Circle at its northerly intersection with Woodgate Lane
On Vera Circle at its southerly intersection with Wbodgate Lane
On West Haven Road at Elm Street Extension
On Wildflower Drive at Honness Lane
On Winston Court at Winston Drive
On Winston Court vhere the southerly portion of Winston Court
nmning east and west intersects the westerly portion of
— Winston Court running north and south
On Winston Court at the southerly end of the middle portion of
Winston Court vhich runs north and south
On Winston Court at the northerly end of the middle portion of
Winston Court vdiich runs north and south
On Winston Court vdiere the easterly end of the southerly portion of
Winston Court running east and west intersects the easterly
portion of Winston Court running north and south
On Winston Drive at Salem Drive
On Woodgate Lane at Poole Road
On wydkoff Road at Renwick Heights Road
SCHEDULE B - YIELD SIGNS
On Blackstone Avenue at Siena Drive
On Brandywine Drive at Winthrop Drive
On Dove Drive, southbound approach, at the east end of Pheasant
Lane
On Eastern Heights Drive at Joanne Drive
On Eastern Heights Drive at Sharlene Drive, westbound approach
On Eastern Heights Drive at Sharlene Drive, eastbound approach
On Elm Street Extension at Culver and Poole Roads
On Grove Place at Grove Road
On Grove Road at Woolf Lane
On Hickory Place at Juniper Drive
On Hickory Place at Pineview Terrace
On Landmark Drive at Eastern Heights Drive
On Landmark Drive at Park Lane
On Lisa Lane at Texas Lane
Town Board 23 February 8, 1988
On Maplewood Drive at Pinewood Drive
On Orchard Street at Roat Street
On Kendall Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue
On Penny Lane at Abbey Road, westbound approach
On Pheasant Lane at Dove Drive, westbound approach
On Pineview Terrace at Juniper Drive
On Pinewood Place at Birchwood Drive North
On Renwick Drive at Renwick Heights Road
On St. Catherine Circle at Blackstone Avenue
On Sandra Place at Winthrop Drive
On Sharlene Road at Snyder Hill Road
On Sharlene Road at Tudor Road
On Sky-Vue Road at Snyder Hill Road
On Snyder Hill Road at Pine Tree Road
On Stone Quarry Road at King Road West
On Sycamore Drive at Pinewood Drive
On Tudor Road at Park Lane
On Winston Court at Salem Drive
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Bordoni Voting Aye
Coimcilman Cardraan Voting Aye
Coimcilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwcman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
n
n
The Resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR ASSISTANT PLANNER AND ASSISTANT BUILDING
INSPECTOR
Supervisor Desch noted that the job descriptions for Assistant
Planner and Assistant Building Inspector were reviewed by the
Personnel Conmittee.
Councilman Cardman remarked that he assumed that as long as we are
going to advertise the positions, the money is already in this
years budget?
Supervisor Desch replied, yes.
Councilwcman Raffensperger questioned, this are full time
positions?
Supervisor Desch replied, right.
Councilman Cardman asked if there had been any consideration as to
vhere to put the people?
Supervisor Desch replied, we can work this out pretty well but
that's the end. The shortage will be in staging space and layout
space for looking at large sized plans, that's the problem.
Obviously there are uses for the Court Room during the day because
there is seldom much activity in the Court Room so we use it for a
variety of meetings and there is a table in there v^iere you can lay
things out. The only problem with it is you have to pick up
everything v^en you are through and put it away.
Councilman Cardman remarked, just because he wasn't here during the
discussions vAien these position were proposed, he asked if there
Town Board 24 February 8, 1988
was a coriplete study done on the need for the positions and backlog
as these are considerable on going ccnmitted expenses and budgeted
in the out years, you don't usxially hire at the minimum so we are
looking at a lot of money.
Supervisor Desch replied, we have probably been at it a year or
more, evaluating things like where we are with ccarprehensive plans,
intregrated review of projects. So far we have been able to stay
above water but with the level of activity it probably won * t
continue to happen, probably during 1988 unless we have more help.
' There are sane things that we just cannot continue to postpone.
Supervisor Desch asked if there was a preference on salary ranges?
Councilman Bartholf suggested $16,000 to $23,000 for the Assistant
Planner position and $8.00 to $10.00 per hour for the Assistant to
the Zoning Officer/Building Inspector position.
Councilman Cardman asked if this salary range was catiparable with
people already on staff?
Supervisor Desch replied, yes.
RESOLUTION MD. 37
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Coxmcilwcroan
Raff ensperger,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca her^y approve
the job descriptions for the Assistant Town Planner and the
Assistant to the Zoning Officer/Building Inspector, and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the salary range for the Assistant
Planner be set at $16,000 to $23,000 and for the Assistant to the
~ Zoning Officer/Building Inspector at $8.00 to $10.00 per hour.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffenspgerger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and
Cardman voting Aye. Nays - none) .
ADVERTISEMENT FOR ASSISTANT TOWN PLANNER AND ASSISTANT TO THE
ZONING OFFICER/BUIIOING INSPECTOR
RESOLUTION NO. 38
Motion by Coimcilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the advertisement for the positions of Assistant Town
Planner and Assistant to the Zoning Officer/Building Inspector.
(Desch, McPeak, Raff ensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
Supervisor Desch remarked that Councilman Bordoni and Councilman
Cardman might wish to abstain from voting on the December 31, 1987
minutes as they were not on the Board at that time.
RESOLUTION NO. 39
Motion by Councilwcman Raff ensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf,
Town Board 25 February 8, 1988
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the December 31, 1987 Town Board minutes as presented by the Town
Clerk.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays
- none. Abstaining - Bordoni and Cardman)
RESOLUTION NO. 40
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the January 11, 1988 and January 19, 1988 Town Board minutes as
presented by the Town Clerk.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
ELECTION CUSTODIANS
Town Clerk Jean Swartwood remarked that there were a few problems
in the last election and as there is a primary coming up in i^ril
she felt it would be a good idea to send the election custodians to
school again. The Town Clerk went on to say that Sequoia
(Automatic Voting Machine) will be hold a school here in Ithaca at
the Holiday Inn on March 12, 1988. Most of the Towns in Toanopkins
Coimty plan on sending their custodians along with perhaps some
from Binghamton and Syracuse joining them. This school, being held
in Ithaca, will be a lot cheaper than sending the custodians to
Jamestown.
RESOLUTIC^ NO. 41
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bordoni,
WHEREAS, there is a need for additional training of the two voting
machine custodians employed by the Town of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, Sequoia Pacific will provide such training at Ithaca, New
York, on Satiurday, March 12, 1988,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the TOwn Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize Claude Colleyacme and Michael Jfoseley to
attend the on-site training for voting Machine custodians to be
held at the Holiday Inn at a cost of $150 each, and $10.60 per
person for lunch and coffee breaks plus a cost for the Conference
Room at the Holiday Inn which should not exceed $3.00 to $4.00,
depending on how many Towns participate. Account to be charged -
General Fund - Towwide Elections A1450.402.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
^ ELECTION DISTRICT
The Town Clerk went on to say that District #7 v^ich is the Cayuga
Heights Community Center will become the Cayuga Heights School
again after renovations. We cannot use this facility this year as
asbestos has been foimd in the school and must be removed. There
is no other location available in District #7 but we can use First
Congregational Church on Highland Road. The City uses the Church
for a polling place even though it is in the Town. The Church is
willing to let us use the Chxirch if it is okay with the City. She
Town Board 26 February 8, 1988
went on to say that she had checked with the City and it was fine
with them as there is plenty of room. It is handicapped assessable
and will only be for this year, in fact it may not be necessary for
the vdiole year depending on the asbestos removal.
County Representative Call, noting that this was her district,
asked if the Cayuga Heights Fire Station had been considered.
The Town Clerk responded that the Fire Station was too small to
acccnmodate two districts. We considered the Fire Station and also
Boynton Jimior High School.
Supervisor Desch remarked, they would like us to even move \(tot we
have out of the Fire Station.
RESOLUTION NO. 42
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
RESOLVED, that the TCwn Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the moving of Election District #7 from the Cayuga
Heights School to the First Congregation Church on Highland Road as
a temporary measure for the year 1988 until the Cayuga Heights
School is available for use again as an election district.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE AND SETTING FORTH CERTAIN FEES AND PENALTIES RELATING TO
THE ZCaJING ORDINANCE AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIOTS
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance and setting
forth certain fees and penalties relating to the Zoning Ordinance
and Subdivision Regulations having been presented the Town
Clerk, the Supervisor opened the public hearing.
As no one present wished to speak for or against the proposal, the
Supervisor closed the public hearing.
RESOLUTION NO. 43
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE
AND SEITING FORTH CERTAIN FEES AND
PENALTIES RELATING TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE
AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIOJIS OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA
Pursuant to Section 130 of the Town Law of the State of New York
and Section 268 of the Town Law of the State of New York, the Town
Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, does ordain
and enact as follows;
Section 1. Territory Covered by Ordinance. This ordinance shall
be applicable to all territory within the Town of Ithaca outside
the incorporated Village of Cayuga Heights.
Section 2. Amending of Prior Ordinance. This ordinance amends the
Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance as re-adopted, amended and revised
effective February 26, 1968 and as subsequently amended as follows:
(a) Said Zoning Ordinance is amended by adding a new section
Town Board 27 February 8, 1988
84 entitled "Fees" reading as follows:
"Section 84. Fees.
1. The fees for a building permit shall be as set forth
in Section 75 of this Ordinance,
2. Whenever an appeal or an application is filed with
the Board of Appeals for v^ich a public hearing is
required, there shall be paid a fee of $40.00 to defer
the costs of publishing the notice of public hearing, the
mailing of notices to appropriate parties, and the taking
of minutes of the proceedings relating to the appeal or
application. Such fee shall be paid to the Town Building
Inspector, Town Planner, or Deputy Town Clerk associated
with the Building and Planning Department of the Town.
Such fee shall be paid simultaneously, with the filing of
any application or appeal requiring such public hearing.
3. The fees set forth below also included in the
si:ibdivision regulations of the Town of Ithaca, shall be
payable with respect to applications before the Planning
Board:
A. In general the following fees shall be paid on
the filing of any application and prior to the
processing thereof:
1. Sketch plan or plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision $10.00
(b) More than two lots 50.00
2. Preliminary plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision 25.00
(b) More than two lots 20.00+
$5.00 per lot or
dwelling unit,
whichever is
larger
3. Final Plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision 10.00
(b) More than two lots 10.00+
$1.00 per lot or
dwelling unit,
\diichever is
larger
4. Plats and Replats whose sole
pinrpose is to dedicate land
to the public No fee
B. The Planning Board, in its discretion, may waive
the fee for a final plat in those circumstances
vdiere final plat approval is given simultaneously
rrnm, with preliminary plat approval.
C. In addition to the fees set forth above, an
applicant shall pay $40.00 for each application on
vdiich a public hearing is being held, said
additional fee to offset the costs of publishing and
mailing the notice and application to various
persons and the costs of transcribing the
Town Board 28 February 8, 1988
proceedings at the public hearing. Such fee shall
be paid each tirne a new public hearing is held. In
the discretion of the Planning Board or the person
designated to collect the fee below, such fee may be
waived with respect to any adjourned public
hearings, particularly if the adjournment was
necessitated by actions of the Town officials and
not by the applicant.
D. The Building Inspector, Town Planner, or Deputy
i Town Clerk associated with the Planning and Building
Department, will calculate the fee for each
application. Each fee shall be paid to one of such
individuals v^o shall issue a receipt stating the
purpose of the payment. This receipt must be filed
with the application as evidence of payment.
4. The fees for review or preparation of an
environmental impact statement involving an applicant for
approval of funddLng of an action requiring preparation or
filing of a draft environmental impact statement shall be
determined by the lead ageancy for each such application.
The fees shall be based on the actual cost to the Tcwn
for reviewing or preparing the draft and final
environmental iirpact statement, including the cost of
hiring consultants, the salary time of Town oiployees and
actual disbursements incurred as a result of the review
and preparation of such impact statement, but in no event
shall the fees be greater than that established in 6
N.Y.C.R. 61/.7. The Town Superintendent, Building
Inspector, Town Planner or Town Engineer may require,
prior to the ccmmencement of the review or preparation of
an environmental inpact statement, a deposit to be made
with the Town in an amount reaonsably estimated to cover
the fees set foirth in this section."
(b) Subdivision 4 of Section 77 of said ordinance is amended
by deleting the last sentence thereof reading "The
applicant shall pay $10.00 for the publication of notices
of the hearing required by law."
(c) Section 79 of said Ordinance is amended to read as
follows:
"Section 79. Violations and Penalties. Pursuant to
Section 268 of the Town Law any person, firm, corporation
or other entity violating any provision of this Ordinance
or any provision of the subdivision regxilations of the
Town of Ithaca shall be deemed guilty of an offense and
upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine or to
inprisonment as provided in Section 268. Each week's
continued violation shall constitute a separate offense."
"Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Ordinance
or the subdivision regulations of the Town of Ithaca, the
Planning Board may refuse preliminary or final
subdivision approval to a subdivision as long as the
subdivider, or any person or entity under the control of
^ or controlled by the subdivider, is in default in the
1 performance of any actions required of them pursuant to
' law or pursuant to conditions imposed in connection with
a previously approved subdivision in the Town of Ithaca.
Section 3. Effective Date. This Ordinance amending the Zoning
Ordinance shall be effective ten days after publication and posting
in accordance with Section 133 of the Town Law.
Town Board 29 February 8, 1988
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Bordoni Voting Aye
Councilman Cardman Voting Aye
Councilwcman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwcmian Raffensperger Voting Aye
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
The Resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
RESOLUTIOJ AMENDING THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF
ITHACA
RESOLUTION NO. 44
Motion by Councilwcstian Raffensperger; seconded by Coimcilman
Bordoni,
WHEREAS, the subdivision regulations of the Town of Ithaca were
adopted by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board on March 24, 1956 and
approved by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca on March 24, 1956;
and
WHEREAS, said subdivision regulations have been thereafter amended
frcm time to time; and
WHEREAS, it is deemed desirable and appropriate to further amend
such sulDdivision regulations in the manner hereinafter set forth,
NCW THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED, that the subdivision regulations of
the Town of Ithaca be amended as follows;
1. Article I, Section 8, Subparagrajh 1, is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"1. In general, the following fees shall be paid on the
filing of any application and prior to the processing thereof;
1. Sketch plan or plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision $10.00
(b) More than two lots 50.00
2. Preliminary plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision 25.00
(b) More than two lots 20.00+
$5.00 per lot or
dwelling unit,
vhichever is
larger
3. Final plat.
(a) Two-lot subdivision 10.00
(b) More than two lots 10.00+
$1.00 per lot or
dwelling imit,
whichever is
larger
4. Plats and Replats v^ose sole
Town Board 30 Febiniary 8, 1988
purpose is to dedicate land
to the public No fee
2. Article I, Section 8, Subparagraph 2 is amended by renunibering
said subparagraph 4 and inserting two new siA>paragraphs, to be
subparagraph 2 and 3, reading as follows;
"2. The Planning Board, in its descretion, may waiver the fee
for a final plat in those circumstances vdiere final plat
approval is given simultaneously with preliminary plat
approval."
"3. In addition to the fees set forth above, an applicant
shall pay $40.00 for each application on vMch a public
hearing is being held, said additional fee to offset the costs
of publishing and mailing the notice and application to
various persons and the costs of transcribing the proceedings
at the public hearing. Such fee shall be paid each time a new
public hearing is held. In the discretion of the Planning
Board or the person designated to collect the fee below, such
fee may be waived with respect to any adjourned public
hearings, particularly if the adjournment was necessitated by
actions to the Town officials and not by the applicant."
3. Article I, Section 8, former subdivision 2 (renumbered to
subdivision 4 by this resolution) is amended to read as follows:
"2. The Building Inspector, Town Planner or Deputy Town Clerk
associated with the Planning and Building Department, will
calculate the fee for each application. Each fee shall be
paid to one of such individuals v^o shall issue a receipt
stating the purpose of the payment. This receipt must be
filed with the application as evidence of payment."
4. Article I, Section 9, is amended to read as follows:
"Section 9. Violation and Penalty.
1. A violation of these regulations is an offense, punishable
as set forth in Section 268 of the Town Law.
2. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations,
the Planning Board may refuse preliminary or final siAxiivision
approval to a subdivider, as long as the subdivider, or any
person or entity under or in the control of such subdivider,
is in default in the performance of any actions required of
them pursuant to law or pursuant to conditions imposed in
connection with a previously approved subdivision in the Town
of Ithaca."
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni, and
Cardman voting Aye. Nays - none).
SALARy RANGES
Councilwcroan Leary stated that she just wished to point out that
the Assistant Town Planner is higher level job than the Assistant
mm, to the Zoning Officer and that is why she reccramended that the
starting salary for the Assistant Town Planner be a little bit
higher than the starting salary to the Assistant to the Zoning
Officer. As it stands now, the Assistant to the Zoning Officer
starts at $16,500 and the Assistant Town Planner starts at $16,000,
that's \^y she suggested the Assistant Town Planner salary start at
$17,000.
Town Board 31 February 8, 1988
Supervisor Desch responded that we will know if we don't get
candidates. Chances are we will probably not be hiring at the
irdnimum anyway.
WATER ACCOUNT REFUNDS
RESOLUTION KD. 45
Motion by Councilwanan Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf,
WHEREAS, Dan Cunningham paid his December water bill for 1314
Hanshaw Road, and
WHEREAS, a final bill was sent in the meantime v^ch included the
December bill with arrears vhich Mr. Cunningham paid again,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Itown Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $20.49 for water, $2.05 for
water penalty, $9.01 for sewer and $.90 for sewer penalty, total
refund of $32.45 be made to Dan Cunningham, Route #1, Box 239,
Wharton, Texas 77488. Account Number T-1438.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 46
Motion by Councilman Bordoni; seconded by Coimcilman Bartholf,
WHEREAS, an erroneous penalty was assessed on the Deconber water
bill of Ingrid Thomas,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca herety authorize a refund of $12.00 for water penalty and
$7.10 for sewer penalty, total refund of $19.10 be made to Ingrid
Thomas, 1337 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, New York. Account Number
B-330.
RESOLUTION NO. 47
ffotion by Councilwoman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Cardman,
WHEREAS, the customer made an error in the December meter reading
for 206 Tareyton Drive,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $129.43 for water. $12.94 for
water siarcharge, $83.99 for sewer and $9.06 for sewer surcharge,
total refund of $235.42 be made to Esther Krenzlin, 206 Tareyton
Drive, Ithaca, New York. Account Number T-1547.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 48
Motion by Councilwcman Raffenroerger; seconded by Coimcilman
Bartholf,
WHEREAS, the custcmer at 211 Christopher Lane has been reading the
wrong meter.
Town Board 32 February 8, 1988
NOW TEJEREPORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $153.80 for water, $15.38 for
water surcharge, $17.69 for sewer and $10.77 for sewer surcharge,
total refund of $197.64 be made to Robert J. Clune, 211 Christopher
Lane, Ithaca, New York. Account Number V-2980.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
ELECTIONS
The Town Clerk continued noting that there has been a proposal put
forth suggesting that all voting machines be checked. She went on
to say that roughly this would cost $2,000 plus for servicing the
machines plus overnight lodging, meals and travel time and that she
had not included this amount in her budget.
Councilman McPeak questioned, vtot are they certifying, the count?
The Town Clerk replied no, they would take the machines apart to
make sure they were working good, including the rollers incase of a
write in vote.
Coimcilman McPeak asked if the custodian could not do this?
Supervisor Desch replied, perhaps when they ccme back from the
school.
The Supervisor asked vhat about the other Tbwn Clerks, they they
having their machines serviced?
The Town Clerk replied, the Town of Lansing may have their machines
serviced. If the City Cotroon Council is interested, then the City
Clerk will work with them to increase her budget and perhaps
service two or three machines a year.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked how long had it been since the
machines were serviced?
The Town Clerk replied that she did not know, except in the nine
years she had been here they have never been serviced.
Supervisor Desch remarked this is sanething that would need to be
done on a program basis.
Councilman Cardman ronarked that he felt it was an item that should
be considered in the budget for next year.
FINANCIAL REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 49
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the December 1987 Financial Statement as presented.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
TCWN OF ITHACA WARRANTS
Town Board 33 February 8, 1988
RESOLUTION NO. 50
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves
the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated February 8, 1988, in the
following amoimts;
General Fund - Town Wide $17,143.13
General Fund - Outside Village $37,694.32
Highway Fund $88,305.84
Water & Sewer Fund $19,531.90
Lighting Fund $ 439.35
Capital Projects Fund $ 559.37
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Town Engineer Flumerfelt remarked that he would like to add to the
Warrants the second pay request for James L. Lewis for the Town
Highway facility heating contract in the amount of $4,066.00.
RESOLUTION NO. 51
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize payment of the second request frcm James L. Lewis for the
Town Highway facility hearing contract in the amount of $4,066.00
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
BOLTC^ POINT WARRANTS
RESOLUTION NO. 52
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger,
RESOLVED, that the Bolton Point Warrants dated February 8, 1988, in
the Operating Account are herdDy approved in the amount of
$56,102.71 after review and upon the reccmmendation of the Southern
Cayuga Lake Interraunicipal Water Commission, they are in order for
payment.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bairtholf, Leary, Bordoni and Cardman
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PUBLIC HEARING TO COTSIDER ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE
ZONING ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL LAND USE DISTRICT (LIMITED
MIXED USE) AT 904-906 EAST SHORE DRIVE FOR THE TOMPKINS COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider a local law amending the Zoning Ordinance to provide a
mm Special Land Use District (Limited Mixed Use) at 904-906 East Shore
Drive for the Tcnpkins County Chamber of Ccramerce having been
presented by the Town Clerk, the Supervisor opened the public
hearing.
Supervisor Desch remarked, that by way of review he wished to
indicated that at the last hearing that was held the Board decided
to add additional conditions relating to the revocation of the
Town Board 34 February 8, 1988
certificate of occupancy if an alternative plan relating to the
parking was not provided in the event that the license effecting
the parking in the City was revoked by the City. This has been
inserted in the proposed local law. The other coninent he wished to
make was that the Environmental Review has been corpleted and the
Town Board has made a determination of negative significance.
The Si:^rvisor went on to say that the Board had a letter from
Susan Blumenthal \diich will be entered into the record of the
^ hearing and vdiich is available to each of the Town Board members.
I I Basically the letter indicates that the Planning and Development
Board of the City feels that it is not appropriate to rezone the
parcel that the Board is considering from Residential to this
Special Land Use District. There are basically three reasons. The
Supervisor then asked if there was someone here v^o wished to read
the letter.
Doria Higgins replied that she felt the letter was inportant enough
to be read aloud and agreed to read the letter. Ms. Higgins then
read the following letter from Susan Blumenthal, Chair of the City
of Ithaca Planning & Development Board, dated February 8, 1988
addressed to The Honorable Noel Desch, Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
and The Honorable Meatbers of the Board, Town of Ithaca:
"The Board of Planning and Development of the City of Ithaca, at
its January meeting, authorized and directed me to convey to you
its concern over the proposed Special Land Use District to
accommodate the offices of the Tcanpkins County Chamber of Coiratierce,
Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Tourist Information Center.
The Board feels that it is not appropriate or desirable to rezone
this single small residential parcel of land v^ich adjoins a major
recreation conplex, to permit establishment of a dissimilar
activity. The reasons for this conclusion may be explained as
follows:I i
First, the existing use of this land, vdiich is fully ccnpatible
with a recreational area, would be replaced by business offices,
vdiich have little in common with recreation.
Second, this change in permitted land use may well encourage
further change in the vicinity, v^ch in our estimation is most
likely to be commercial in nature. Such change would not only
bring activity that is incompatible with the recreational and other
nearby uses, but might have other negative environmental impacts.
The proposed rezoning would perhaps provide the nucleus and inpetus
for further change, incompatible with the recreational and
residential uses now dominant, and open the way to undesirable
effects of suburban growth that is subject to only nominal control
and no ordered plan.
Third, there are issues of broader concern related to County-wide
planning. The dispersion of major local institutions, of v^ich the
Chamber is only the latest in recent years, and of other irtportant
activities to locations outside the City should be of serious
concern to the Town and other local governments. Although the
gaining municipality will enjoy certain benefits, it will also
entail certain costs - for infrastructure, services, etc. - that
mm may in the longer run be a net loss to the ccmmunity at large.
1 '
' While we can understand that the Chamber may feel that this
proposed rezoning is the only viable solution to their perceived
needs and problems, we conclude that it would not be in the best
interest of the City to proceed in this fashion.
88
i I
Town Board 35 February 8, 1988
I apologize for the timing of this letter, but we had planned on a
more structured opportunity to discuss the merits of the proposal.
However, there was no format channel for discussion by the City
Planning Board of the land use irtplication of this action. I hope
this letter will not arouse questions and feelings vdiich divert
attention frcan the points being raised. Let me assure you that we
are not antipathetic to the concerns and interest of the Chamber of
Ccitimerce and would be willing to work with them if they so wish.
Thank you for your consideration of these matters."
Town Planner Susan Beeners remarked that she was looking at a few
letters sent to the City and also copies of letters received from
the City indicating that the Board of Planning and Developnent was
one of the several boards and ccanranittees at the City v^o were
notified about this project and have been notified all along.
Supervisor Desch ronarked, that would have started presumably back
at the time of the lead agency question?
Town Planner Beeners replied yes, vhich was roughly in September.
Siapervisor Desch asked if there were other ccraments in favor or
against the proposal to rezone the property?
Betsy Darlington, Chairman of the Conservation Advisory Council
read the following statement:
"First, to say that this zoning change would not be spot zoning
requires taking considerable liberties with the facts.
(a) It does not fit in with an overall planning scheme for
^ the areas,
I
(b) It does not fit in with neighboring uses, and
(c) It does not prcmote the general welfare.
A. Merely saying that there is an overall planning scheme does
not make it so. The closest thing to an overall plan for the area
is the Stewart Park Goals and Guidelines. Having the Chamber of
Catitierce right next to Stewart Park would conflict with this plan
by increasing the pressure on the Park. The Park is already
functiordng about at capacity; in fact, one of the major concerns
considered by the Stewart Park Advisory Group of v^ch I was a
manber was the increase in traffic and parking problems in the
park. These problems are great enought that seme people have
proposed altering the roadway and parking setup, changes vdiich
would significantly change the character of the park in ways many
citizens feel would be undesirable.
B. The main neighboring uses in the area are Steward Park, the
Youth Bureau, private residences, public schools farther to the
south, and seme ccmmercial use farther north. No only would the
Chamber of Ccramerce not fit in with any of these uses except the
ccmmercial, but I believe it would hurt them. The Town Planner has
estimated that 27-81 vehicles per hour would be entering the
mm parking lot adjacent to the Youth Bureau. How is having numerous
I cars and campers pulling in and out of this spot consistent with
the neighboring uses, and how could this do anything but hurt them?
Stewart Park is a city park, and v^ile the city has always been
willing to have outsiders use it without charge, the ccmmunity does
not want to increase such use. The park's presence is used by the
Chamber as an iirportant consideration in choosing this location.
Of
Town Board 36 February 8, 1988
with no consideration of how the local citizens v^o use the park —
an I might add, pay for it — would feel about extra crowding fron
tourists and their caitpers.
C. This move would hurt the general welfare by overloading
Stewart Park, by increasing traffic congestion along busy East
Shore Drive and at its intersection with Gibbs Drive, as well as at
the Route 13 intersection, and by removing tourists frcm downtown
Ithaca. The move would probably promote the Chamber of Catmerce's
welfare and the welfare of commercial interests at and near Pyramid
; Mall, but it would certainly not promote the general welfare.
The city's downtown must wage a constant battle to survive against
competition from Pyramid Mall and other outlying sprawl
developments. Such enterprises, v^ile apparently fulfilling sane
of the needs of consumers, greatly detract from the character of
oior area and cause harm to the downtown businesses in the city.
If the Chamber locates in the proposed location, visitors will not
take the more difficult route to downtown but will take the path of
least resistance — much like water running down hill — to Pyramid
Mall. Pyramid does not need more business; downtown Ithaca does.
1 find it amazing that the Chamber would abandon the county seat
and the county's only urban center. The notion that there are no
other spots for it to locate is sinply a convenient excuse, one
v^ich does not hold water. No only is there no need for the
Chamber to locate here, from the point of view of the general
welfare, there is in fact a need for it not to do so.
1 almost get the feeling that the Chamber maintains that vtot's
good for the Chamber is good for the general welfare. 1 would
suggest that v^at is bad for the city is bad for the Chamber and
for the county and for the general welfare.
Second, 1 only recently learned that the city's BPW did a short EAF
for the granting of this license. It was done on May 28, 1987.
Common Council voted to approve the licensing the first Wednesday
in June, and did not even consider the EAF. The Conservation
Advisory Council never even received a copy of the EAF, yet we are
supposed to review these and make recoimiendations to Council on
them. 1 saw it for the first time only a couple of weeks ago, and
it was not properly filled out. Every question was answered "no"
as though the preparer had not even read the questions. Many
should have been answered yes.
If the Chamber has been following the licensing process for the
Farmers' Market, it should know v^at a big chance it would be
taking in depending on the annual renewal of a license fron the
city for the driveway and parking lot. Automatic renewals are a
thing of the past. Future reviews will be most thorough, and if
any of the inpacts ^ occur vMch many expect, it's hard to imagine
Ccnrnon Council renewing the license. Common Council is taking
environmental reviews seriously.
1 feel that the rezoning would be illegal and the choice of sites
is ill-advised."
^ Doria Higgins for Citizens to Save Stewart Park read the following
' letter:
I
"In a January 20, 1988 memorandum to the City of Ithaca Planning
and Development Ccxtmitte, City Attorney Ralph Nash defined the
legal limitations of "conditional rezoning" which is the type of
rezoning proposed for the Bowman lot, although you are calling it a
Special District.
7,H
Town Board 37 February 8, 1988
In this inemorandum he spelled out the "limits on the ability" of a
legislative body to undertake "conditional rezoning," and he wrote,
"the zoning change must be in conformance with a cotiprehensive
zoning schone for the ccmmunity and must pronote the general public
welfare of the ccmmunity," We don't think that rezoning a tiny
residential lot, to ccmraercial usage to serve the welfare of a
private organization, the Chamber of Cortinerce, prcmotes the
"general public welfare." We are not saying that the Chamber of
Ccmmerce is not a worthy organization. We think it is. We think
Tonpkins County Hospital is worthy. We think the Department of
Social Services and the Salvation Army are worthy. But we do think
that they should move onto residential lots that are too small for
their needs and then be given public park lands to make their
ventures work. Such inefficient planning and such public giveaways
are not for the public good no matter how you define it.
It is not for the general welfare of the conmunity to significantly
increase traffic flow to a public park v^ich is, according to the
Master Plan for Stewart Park, already seriously overcrowded. Page
7 of that plan says, "overcrowding is increasing in seriousness and
frequency," and page 10 says that there is "already a higher
density than is desirable in the park." How then can you
reasonably or rationally argue that increasing the traffic flow
into the park to get to the Chamber's new building will promote the
welfare of the ccmmunity?
On the January 20 memo Mr. Nash also states that to justify a
"conditional rezoning" a rational ccnprehensive planning process
must have taken place vdiich "logically led to the need for the
rezoning."
We have not yet seen any need to rezone the Bowman lot \^ch serves
the public welfare. The only need involved is the need of the
^ Chamber of Conmerce. In other words the only person to benefit is
the single property owner and by definition this means that such
rezoning is spot zoning and that's illegal.
The Full Environmental Assessment Form filled out by the Town
Planning Department argues that there is a ccmmunity need for
rezoning because of "the desirability and benefits of encouraging
public access to lands near Cayuga Lake adjoining Stewart Park in
the East Shore neighborhood." What possible public benefit is
involved by encouraging public access to lands near Cayuga Lake?
Especially when the tiny lot involved is directly next to a public
park which is directly on the lake. With all due respect, that EAF
statement just doesn't make sense.
The Town Planning EAF gives as further reason for a need to rezone
the lot "the benefits of complimenting adjacent public land uses
with the quasi-piablic land uses proposed." How in heaven's name is
Stewart Park going to be "catplimented" by having a business
organization set up next to it viiich is going to markedly increase
the traffic entering the park? Stewart Park is not going to be
helped by this rezoning, it is going to be hurt. The vegetative
growth v^ich now protects the park from Route 34 is going to be cut
down. The Chamber sees this as an inprovement! The fact that they
see removing a green vegetative barrier v^ich screens the noise and
traffic on Route 34 as an improvonent worries us about all their
mtn other reassurances about their proposed building.
The Youth Bureau will not be helped by placing directly next to it
the parking lot and access road to the Chamber buildings. In fact
seme of us think it is irresponsible planning to direct such a
large increase in traffic (up to 81 vehicles per hour) so near to a
building and grounds to v^ich the children in the ccmmunity are
invited to congregate. Rezoning v^ch is conditional on bringing
fH
Town Board 38 February 8, 1988
such an increase in hazards to the children of the ccaiiiiunity is not
in our opinion "for the general public welfare of the camtunity."
This rezoning is against the welfare of Stewart Park. It is
against the welfare of the Youth Bureau and the children who go
th^e. And it is against the welfare of the iinmediate residential
neighbors. For the sake of the general welfare this rezoning
should be denied by you.
rr And finally, we think it iirportant to remind you again that the
conditions of this rezoning are out of your control and out of your
municipality. If the City decides not to grant a license or not to
renew a license, you will be stuck with this rezoning. The wording
of yaor ordinance seems to promise the Chamber that you will make
it workable for them no matter vtot. You know that there is no
other convenient parking available. Or at least we have been led
to believe that is true. You know the Bowman lot is too small for
the parking and access needs of the Chamber. But your ordinance
reads that both of these apparent impossibilities will be
considered by you if the City doesn't license the park land to the
Chamber. We don't think the public can be blamed for wondering
what is going on here."
Ms. Higgins went on to say that finally, it seems to her that there
are four separate items \(^ich added together make up a very
significant total to weigh on the side of rejecting this proposed
rezoning. Those items are the statement made by Jon Meigs, City
Planner of the October Town Planning meeting at which he said he
was not aware of any Comprehensive Plan for the Stewart Park area
and at vdiich he said the proposed rezoning would change the
character of the area and that it would not be a change for the
better. The second item is the statement of the Ithaca City
Planning and Development Board read to you tonight viiich clearly
says that they think this rezoning would be undesirable and would
' bring changes incompatable with the recreational uses near by.
Three, the January 20th memorandimi from the City Attorney to the
City Planning and Development Committee, from v^ich she has quoted,
vdiich makes clear to us that your proposed rezoning does not
fulfill the necessary requirement of being for the public welfare.
And four, the fact that irtportant conditions attached to your
ordinance are outside of your control and outside of you
municipality.
Stuart Lewis stated that he was a downtown retailer working on the
Ccmmons also working very actively on this ChairiDer project for the
new building. He stated that he was very troubled emotionally over
this project in the last week and he stated that he would tell the
Board why. He stated that he had been watching very very
interestingly the Wegman project on Meadow Street. Wegman's,
v^oever they are, they are retailers, are a hugh conglomerate that
comes into our conmunity with power. Power is a big store, big
advertising, tremendous promotions, etc., it will be great for the
consumer v^o wants to buy a couple of quarts of milk and a head of
lettace but it won't be so good for the smaller retailer who is
down the road or up on the hill v^o will get squeezed a little bit.
And yet we don't seem, in this community, to be too concerned about
that kind of growth, v^at we seem to be concerned about right now
is this project which if anything isn't going to hurt anybody at
all. And that's vhat flustrates him. Why do we seem some how to
put our priorities in such funny areas?
Mr. Lewis went on to say that he wanted to pick up a couple of
things Ms. Darlington said, "I'm a retailer downtown and why would
I want to have that project there v^en I'm a downtowner"? You
don't draw people away with this project, in fact you draw people
to our community. This project is based upon quality tourism.
98
Town Board 39 February 8, 1988
There is vdiat we call poor tourism, like you have in Las Vegas or
Atlantic City. Here we have quality tourism, the kind of people
that cone here are confused right now, they don't know how to get
off the highway, don't know v^ere they are, viien they get here they
don't v^ere to go. They are basically confused. That's basically
the reason we want to locate our building from Court Street to that
area. We must be adjacent to a main highway. We are not bringing
people into the park, as you keep reminding us, you keep hairaiering
that point through, we are not dragging people into the park. Very
siitply put he said, here is what he visualized was going to happen
at this building. This is the reality of it as it happens. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith pull in, may be they are with a child or not, they
pull into this area and go into the building. As the article in
the Grapevine had it this weekend v^ch he felt was very poorly
written, they refer to a section there called "the chamber will
have an auditorium", we are not having an auditorium in that
building. We have a small part of a room that is going to show a
quality video presentation of our ccmmunity. He went on to say,
Mr. and Mrs. Smith get out of their car. They walk into there and
say excuse me we are lost. We are here to see Ithaca College or
Cornell or we are here to see the Finger Lakes. Somebody gives
them the brochures, they direct them to a hotel, so the people will
stay here. We don't want people driving into Coming, v^at they
are doing now and then day tripping back here. We are really
putting people in this area v^ch is really replacing this run down
building v^ich is down there now and next door Leo Wells has two
very bad run down properties, we are not taking anything beautiful
away and putting sanething there that's ugly. We are not doing
anything wrong at all. He went on to say that it brothers him to
think that people are attacking this project that is doing
something very caring for the ccmmunity. We are not driving people
into the park in mass. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have gotten out of their
car, they are there for sane infonnation and the little youngster
tugs at his mother's arm and say, Mem I'm hungry and she responds
! we are going to eat in a few minutes. May be an attendant might
say, excuse me but if you are hungry vhy don't you take your lunch
and go over in the park and sit on a park bench and watch the lake.
There is nothing wrong with that, that's is exactly vdiat this
cotmunity is all about. He stated that he wanted to share that
with other people who come in here. He was not worried about the
kind of people v^o ccme in here and throw their papers down and
ruin our corraunity and ruin our vegetation and ruin this and ruin
that. What he was concerned about on the other side of the fence
was the fact that in this ccmmunity alone, we are very lucky with
vdiat we have here with the two large universities that
unfortunately they don't pick up their share of the taxes is that
we are at a $50.00 per thousand tax level in this community. We
need seme help with getting seme sales tax dollars, we need it
badly because if we don't you are going to have a lot of problems
in the next forthcoming years. You are going to find hugh taxpayer
groups getting up and attacking these jurisdictions for what they
are doing tax wise. They can't help it they are strapped. We are
at a crossroads here with this situation, it's time we really
looked at the futxire of our community. He stated that he did not
particularly want a large, hugh conglomerate coming here anymore
than you do. We are all pretty much alike. He went on to say that
v^at he did want to see was to do something and if you do, do it
appropriately, bring in quality type of tourism. We have some
beautiful things to show the people, there is nothing wrong with
sharing them as long as people know vbo is to take care of them and
protect them and that is vbat our project is all about. We will
direct people to the right hotel, we will direct them how to get to
the universities, we direct them properly how to go down and see
the Commons and if they want, we will direct them to Pyramid Mall.
We will direct than properly, they will spend some quality time
here and leave something quality behind, that's what this is all
88
Town Board 40 February 8, 1988
about, its not to ruin this ccmmunity. He then thanked the Board
for listening,
David Ruether, 1189 East Shore Drive stated that one of the
conments he had was about traffic. Right now you have a situation
where Route 13 cones in and joins Route 34 v^ich is a very busy
pair of roads and they join with a very avkward little curved thing
with an intersection at each end. We are proposing here to add
traffic to the middle of that little curve. As it is now, viien he
* leaves Stewart Park or get off Route 13 to go up East Shore Drive
he has a terrible time making a left hand turn onto East Shore
Drive, it blind coning down the hill around the curve and its
difficult coning the other end because of so many trying to make
left hand turns onto the road and then to keep track of all of the
left turners as you are looking around the curve and down the hill.
Adding traffic at this point is not a good idea. He stated that he
believed there should be a good tourist stand there to pass out the
information to show v^t we have but may be that is what we ought
to have is a developed tourist stand there that people can find
easily off these main routes but still keep the Chamber of Ccmnerce
elsevdiere.
As no one else present wished to speak, Supearvisor Desch declared
the public hearing closed,
Councilwonan Raffensperger stated that she had a telephone call
this afternoon frcsn Dooley Kiefer v^o is ill and is not able to
attend, Ms, Kiefer asked Coimcilwcman Raffensperger to raise seme
questions which she stated she had talked to the Town Planner about
because she was not sure that she understood the complexity of
these questions, Ms, Kiefer stated that she had talked to Jack
Naska at DEC today, vdio says that he told her that we cannot
particularly in our SEQR determinations condition what we do on
action by any other board, not by a board from another municipality
but even including not a board of our own. For example, the
Planning Board or the ZBA, She stated that she had passed this
information on to Susan Beeners as soon as she got it with the name
of the person who had said this and the telephone number. She went
on to say that she was not only concerned with this type of an
interpretation for this project but that she looks back and think
about others, so she felt we desperately need to clarify these
regulations and she hoped that either Susan Beeners or John Barney
can give the Board seme guidance,
Ttown Attorney John Barney replied, we attenpted to reach Mr, Naska
and he had left for the day.
Supervisor Desch asked if he was the attorney or is he a staff
member?
Town Attorney Barney replied that he did not know \ftot he was.
It's interesting, he felt, because he felt that anybody v^o reads
these regulations, if five people read them you get five different
opinions. He may be in a position to know or at least be in a
position v^ere he is dealing with these on a more day to day basis
than we are. He went on to say that he looked through to see what
a conditional negative declaration may or may not say. The
regulations are very, very loose. They spell out that the process
^ for doing the conditioned negative declaration but they don't
really define vhat it may contain and vhat it may not contain and
indeed vhen they did a generic impact statement on these
regulations themselves, they were scmevhat all over the lot. One
of the suggestions made was that there would be a list provided of
vhat could be in a conditioned negative declaration. That was
rejected by the Department of Environmental Conservation vhen they
put the regulations in. He went on to say that he was not going to
06
Town Board 41 February 8, 1988
sit here and tell you that he can define precisely vtet can and
what cannot be in here, and he did not feel anybody could today.
He felt it was going to wait an on going process of perhaps
litigation and a court decision \^ch will interpret both the
underlining statue and the regulations. He then asked, what is the
thrust of the vdiole environmental process here about? Why are we
doing it? The main reason is to bring to the fore front, \^en you
are considering seme action, and to bring it to you at the earliest
stage possible v^at could be possible environmental effects of the
^ proposed actions. So on the one hand we are asked as a Board to
review the environmental materials very early on in a process
vdiich, as is this, sonetimes is a two or three step process. It
comes to the Town Board for action, then goes back to the Planning
Board for action, and sometimes with recommendations from the
Planning Board to the Board of Zoning Appeals. But you are asked
by the law and by the regulations to make a determination on the
environmental aspects of the matter very early on and before, in
some instances, the other Board has acted and indeed has had an
opportunity to act. Again in this case, normally we would refer
the actual detailed site plan review process back to the Planning
Board as this is what they are established for and to v^iom we
delegate these kinds of things. In getting back to Mr. Naska's
comment, he may be right, he may be wrong, there is no court that
says he is right there is no court that says he is wrong. But he
felt that in the way the environmental system is set up, this Board
has viewed this particular project up one side, down the other side
and across. He felt that if there has not been literal and
absolute conpliance with the environmental requirements here there
has certainly been conpliance completely in terms of the spirit of
the process of \idiat is going on. Any action that you take is
always subject to possible appeal to the courts. There are issues
with this particular project which we have talked about over the
months here that could generate court proceedings. He stated that
in terms of the conditional negative declaration he did not think
^ there was a clear cut rule that says you cannot irtpose a condition
what requires an affiliated Board to do its job and that's
basically vhat was done here, the Town Board is saying its
conditional on the Planning Board's approval of the site plan.
Supervisor Desch remarked, but in effect the local law is vhat has
the teeth in it to make the conditions happen anyway. The
environmental review process cannot be expected to be the
enforcement mechanism that makes it happen. That's another way of
answering that question, he could very well have said that no you
cannot count on the declaration vhether it be negative or positive
to provide the legislation that you must have to make the
conditions enforceable, that's vhere the local law ccmes in.
Councilworoan Raffensperger stated that she would like to make just
one other ccmment, because she felt scmev^t responsible for
scmething that has happened with this vdiole project that is being
severely critized and that is the spot zoning Icind of thing. She
went on to say that v^en this proposal first came to us, the
proposal was for a much wider rezoning to allow an area that would
be ccramercial and she stated that she was very much concerned about
the environmental impact of that in that area and that the Board
had worked rather haird to make sure that this wider area would not
be rezoned with uncertain uses but that we only rezoned the small
parcel that we were very confident we knew v^iat was going to happ^
on. She went on to say that because she was very much involved in
I this she felt obligated to say that she did not think this was spot
zoning in the negative sense one that one usually discusses it.
Town Attorney Barney remarking about the letter from Ralph Nash
noted that Mr. Nash is rendering his opinion to his group and that
he was rendering his opinion to his client, but he did notice in
)' <1
Town Board 42 February 8, 1988
Mr. Nash's letter that with reference to the spot zoning issue, Mr.
Nash specifically says the courts have held that the zoning is not
invalid for saying mearly because a single parcel is involved. He
vmt on to say that it is important that the conraents that Ms.
Higgins alluded to in this letter be taken in context of the entire
letter.
Supervisor Desch remarked, the other interesting point is that v^en
the Youth Facility was being planned, as you know it was part of
r*) the Town of Ithaca, and the City at that time convinced not only
: I this Board but the Planning Board that the Youth Facility was
consistent with the Ccnprehensive Plan of the Town of Ithaca so
it's a little bit ironic that the City would, on the other hand,
^0^ with this project now that that's in the City say that this is
inccnpatable with the Youth Facility.
Councilman Cardman remarked that he could not understand the
significance of this letter fron Susan Blumenthal is, dated today.
If we would have gotten this letter three months ago it would seem
to him to then have significance impact. They are telling us they
don't support it. He then asked if someone could explain to him
v^y? Granted he had not been part of this v^ole process, were we
led to believe that the City supported this, this move, this idea?
Councilman Bordoni asked if he could conment on this? Coiincilman
Bordoni went on to say that he thought that in fact. Common Comcil
the law making body of the City of Ithaca does support it. The
Planning and Development Board is a lay board and they are not
elected officials but they are the ones viio are against it, or so
the letter would led you to believe.
Town Planner Susan Beener remarked, in June of 1987, Cotimon Council
endorsed the licensing subject to the review of the final site plan
by the Department of Public Works. Then in around September, all
n of the boards and committees including the Planning and Development
i j Board were asked to comment on lead agency status. Since that time
all of those boards have been apprised of every public hearing
through the contact person, Jon Meigs and also the notifications
that are given to the City Clerk. She went on to say that it was
her opinion that there has been the opportunity all along for input
from the City.
Comcilwoman Leary replied that she thought, it was her impression,
that the letter was sent imder the same assumption that a public
hearing was held and that was that we hadn't voted on it until we
voted on it and just because it comes at the last minute that
doesn't make it less important or any less of an expression of the
position of the Planning Board.
Councilwcman Raffensperger stated that it occurred to her that the
proper place for the Planning and Development Board in the City to
have influenced this process was in the City before Common Council
voted, before the Board of Public Works did this and we were
notified of all of this action. She went on to say that she
thought the Town Board had the right to assume that that kind of
process had taken place. Evidently, now tonight we find out it did
not.
Councilwcman Leary remarked that the only other ccnment she would
make is that she is glad that the Board has Stu Lewis' personal
assurance that the tourists that will be coming in because of this
will be quality tourist and not sleazy tourists. She went on to
say that she did not know how he could guarantee this but she is
reassurred.
n
Tcfwn Boaird 43 February 8, 1988
LCCAL LAW NO 2 - 1988
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman Bordoni,
LOCAL LAW NO. 2 - 1988
A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL LAND
USE DISTRICT (LIMITED MIXED USE) AT 904-906 EAST SHORE DRIVE FOR
THE TOMPKINS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted, amended,
and revised effective February 26, 1968, and thereafter further
amended, be further amended as follows:
1. Article II, Section 2 of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance
be and hereby is amended by adding to the permissible districts
itonized in said section a district designated as "Special Land Use
District No. 5."
2. The uses permitted in Special Land Use District No. 5 are:
(a) Any use permitted in a R-15 residence district;
(b) Professional offices for occupancy by non-profit
entities (subject to the further provisions stated
herein); and
(c) Visitors information center or tourism center for the
area, in either instance operated by a not-for-profit or
municipal entity.
3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no uses shall be permitted if
not pursuant to and consistent with a unified plan for the Special
Land Use District (Limited Mixed Use) as such is initially approved
" by the Planning Board and subsequently amended with the approval of
i I the Planning Board.
4. Any use in this district shall be governed by all of the
requirenents, including parking, sideyards, setbacks, building
coverage, accessory uses, and similar requirements (except for
permitted occupancies vhich shall be only as set forth above)
relating to an R-15 residence district.
5. In addition to the requirements and restrictions iitposed above
there shall be no new construction in this Special Land Use
District unless and until all of the requirements of this ordinance
have been complied with and, in addition, the following
requirements to the extent not required by other provision of this
ordinance:
(a) The exterior design, specifications, and plans for the
buildings and other improvements to be constructed on the
premises and the development of the grounds and
construction of all outside facilities including
lighting, drainage plans, landscaping, signage, and
traffic circulation approved by the New York State
Department of Transportation shall have been shown on a
final site plan approved by the Planning Board. Anyn construction thereafter shall be in accordance with said
' site plan as finally approved. In determining vhether or
I not to approve the site plan, in addition to the
requirements set forth specifically relating to this
Special Land Use District No.5, the Planning Board may
enploy the same considerations it would employ in
approving a site plan pursuant to Sections 46 and 78 of
this ordinance.
r
Town Board 44 February 8, 1988
(b) Building permits shall be required for any construction,
including construction of signs, walls, and outdoor
lighting facilities. Such permits shall not be issued
until the Planning Board has approved the design and
specifications for any items for v^ich a building permit
is sought.
(c) Any construction for vdiich a permit is granted shall
ccirply with all applicable laws, codes, ordinances, rules
and regulations.
6. In addition to the requirements and restrictions set forth
above occupanby and use of the permises shall be further limited as
follows:
(a) No building permit shall be issued unless and until the
City of Ithaca has granted a license to the owner of the
property in the Special Land Use District authorizing the
use of City lands for access and parking shown on the
preliminary site plan sutinitted to the Town Board or, in
the event such a license is not granted or if granted not
renewed, no building permit shall be issued (or, if a
building permit or certificate of occupancy has been
issued it shall be revoked) until a revised plan shall be
sutanrLtted to the Planning Board for their reccramendation
to the Town Board and approved by the Town Board, such
revised plan to show provisions for adequate parking at
another location adjacent to the Special Land Use
District or a modification of the proposed use of the
Special Land Use District so that parking and access
adequacy can be maintained within the district itself.
(b) Once constructed, any building on the premises shall have
no more than ten persons eiiployed in the building at any
i one time.
(c) No activities will be conducted in the Special Land Use
District between the hours of 10:30 P.M., and 7:00 A.M.
(d) No activities will be conducted in said Special Land Use
District vrfiich will cause disturbing noise, odors, or
glare to any adjacent landowners.
7. The area encorpassed and rezoned in accordance with this local
law to Special Land Use District No. 5 is described on Schedule A
to this local law. The official zoning map of the Town of Ithaca
is hereby amended by adding such district at the location
described.
8. In the event that any portion of this law is declared invalid
by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the romining
portions shall not be affected by such declaration of invalidity.
9. This law shall take effect 20 days after its adoption or the
date it is filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the
State of New York, v^ichever is later.
r
SCHEDULE A
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND, situate in the Town of Ithaca,
County of Tornpkins and State of New York, bounded and described as
follows:
Town Board 45 February 8, 1988
COiyiMElNCING at a point in the west line of East Shore Drive, State
Route 34, at the northeast comer of preniises of the City of Ithaca
(see Liber 204 Deeds, page 274); running thence northerly and along
the westerly line of said East Shore Drive 60 feet to the southeast
comer of lands of Leo M. Wells (379/410); thence westerly and
along the southerly line of said Wells premises 264 feet to the
southwest comer thereof; thence southerly and parallel with the
west line of East Shore Drive 60 feet to the north lands of the
City of Ithaca afor said; thence easterly and along the north line
of said City of Ithaca lands to the point or place of beginning.
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Coiancilman Bordoni Voting Aye
Councilman Cardman Voting Aye
Councilwcman Leary Voting Nay
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwcman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
Local Law No. 2 - 1988 was thereupon declared duly adopted.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE
ZONING ORDINfiNCE OF THE TCWN OF ITHACA REGARDING RESTORATIC»t OF
DAMAGED BUILDINGS
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider a local law amending the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of
Ithaca regarding restoration of damaged buildings having been
^ presented by the Town Clerk, the Supervisor opened the public
hearing.
i I
As no one present wished to speak for or against the proposed
amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, the Supervisor closed the public
hearing.
LOCAL LAW NO. 3 - 1988
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
McPeak,
A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA
REGARDING RESTORATION OF DAMAGED BUILDINGS
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted, amended
and revised effective February 26, 1968, be further amended as
follows;
1. Section 56 of said Ordinance is amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 56. Restoration. Nothing herein shall prevent the
continued use and substantial restoration of a building
damaged by fire, flood, earthquake, act of God, act of the
« public enemy or catastrophe beyond the control of the Owner
provided such restoration is ccnpleted within one year of the
' ' loss of the building and provided that the use of the building
in the manner in which it was used prior to the loss is
recaxmenced within one year. The time limit may be extended
by the Board of ^^jpeals in cases of practical difficulty or
unnecessary hardship."
Town Board 46 February 8, 1988
2. This Local Law shall take effect twenty (20) days after its
adoption or on the date it is filed with the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of New York, v^chever is later.
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Bordoni Voting Aye
I j Councilman Cardman Voting Aye
Councilwotian Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
Local Law No. 3 - 1988 was thereupon declared duly adopted.
ADJGUENMEINT
The meeting was duly adjourned.