HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1989-03-13TCWN OF ITHACA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
March 13, 1989
At a Regular Meeting of the TCwn Board of the Town of Ithaca,
Tonpkins County, New York, held at the Town Hall, 126 East Seneca
Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 13th day of March, 1989, there
were:
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Noel Desch, Supervisor
Henry McPe^, Councilman
Shirley Raffensperger, Councilwcanan
Robert Bartholf, Councilman
Patricia Leary, Councilwcman
David Klein, Councilman
John WhitcoTib, Councilman
John Ozolins, Highway Superintendent
John Barney, Town Attorney
Mary Call, Board of Representatives
Fred T. Wilcox 111, Juniper Drive
^^nrtle Whitcarb, 233 Troy Road
Bill Hilker, 277 Bums Road
Herary Aron, 106 Woolf Lane
David Carr, 674 Coddington Road
Ralph lacovelli, 240 Pennsylvania Avenue
Celia Bowers, 1406 Trumansburg Road
Athena Grover, 1486 Trumansburg Road
William Grover, 1486 Trumansburg Road
Margaret Gibson, 1488 Trumansburg Road
J. S. Ainslie, 245 Hayts Road
Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest Drive
A. M. Chambers, Holt Architects
Scott Lucas, East Boothbay, Maine
Jack I^an, 260 Hayts Road
W. S. Joyce, 1416 Trumansburg Road
Rosalind Grippi, 423 East Seneca Street
Kinga Gergely, 106 Juniper Drive
Gene Ball, 1317 Trumansburg Road
G. J. Vignaux, 1470 Trumansburg Road
S. Auble, 250 Troy Road
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance,
REPORT OF TCWN OFFICIALS
Supeirvisor's Report
Draft Consent Order - Oil Spill
Supervisor Desch stated that we have received from DEC a draft
consent order which makes reference to a fine of $30,000 \^ch is
proposed to be suspended pending our clean up of the spill and
construction of a public water supply to the residence. We will be
meeting with DEC to discuss the order and the progress being made.
The suspect tank has been removed, found to be sound but a possible
crack in one of the fuel lines was found. The recovery system will
be installed within the next month. On going Town costs involve
the operation of the recovejry system and the charcoal system on the
Town Board Minutes 2 March 13, 1989
well so we have a significant incentive to move forwsird on the
plans for public water to this area.
Executive Session
Supervisor Desch stated that there was a need to have an executive
session to discuss a matter of on going litigation, namely the
Cornell Quarters sprinkler matter.
Permanent Financing 1987 Water/Sewer
Supervisor Desch noted that all of the transactions have been
caipleted. We will gain about $6,500 additional interest on the
BANS not due until May since they were borrowed at 4.85% and the
earning rate is now above 8%.
Highway Superintendent's Report
John Ozolins, Highway Sr^jerintendent reported on activities for the
month. He stated that they had gotten the Gradall back and the
actual cost was less than estimated. Most of the month was covered
by general repairs, around the garage on the vehicles and then
cutting brush, filling pot holes, cleaning culvert pipe. Street
sweeping is tentatively set for 17th to the 28th of i^ril. He
stated he had one sweeper reserved but hoped to be able to rent a
different one that has a brocm and a vacuum. Paving, depending on
the weather, he hoped to start that on the first of May. Culvert
repairs need to be done, hopefully in last March early i^ril time
frame.
The Highway Superintendent reported that the Parks Department, in
the last month, has been working on snow removal, a little bit of
trinming and removing of brush they cut earlier in the year but did
not have time to pick up.
PESOLUTIOJ NO. 50
Motion by Councilman M::Peak; seconded by Councilwcanan
Raff ensperger,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize John Ozolins and Carolyn Dickens to attend the Dunn &
Bradstreet Lotus Class on May 9, 1989 at the Sheraton Inn, Ithaca,
New York at a cost of $125 each.
(Desch, McPeak, Raff ensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Building Inspector/Zoning Officer's Report
Building Inspector / Zoning Officer Andrew Frost reported that
construction activities ccnpared to Febiniary 1988 is down a bit.
The 31 permits issued are primarily for educational purposes, the
Cornell Quarters project. There were three Certificates of
Corpliance issued in February, three new conplaints were
investigated and have five ccn^laints that are still unresolved
from 1988. We made 62 field visits, 39 code inspections and two
fire safety inspections.
Town Planner's Report
Town Planner Susan Beeners reported that there will be an
introductory public meeting with the Catprehensive Planning
Consultant on March 28th at 7:00 P.M., at National Cash Register.
A box ad will be irun in the Ithaca Journal for two days to notify
the public.
Town JBoard Minutes 3 March 13, 1989
The Town Planner reported that the Planning Board had a
presentation of the City's Master Plan vhich she wanted to show the
Board very quickly so they could at least say they have seen it.
The Master Plan shows proposed types of classifications and open
space reservations. She noted that of interest to the Town was the
collector roads. She noted that she and the Assistant Town Planner
have been attending the meetings.
Si:5>ervisor Desch asked about the status of Route 96?
The Assistant Town Planner replied, they really haven't addressed
it.
Supervisor Desch asked how you could have a Master Plan for West
Hill and not address the Route 96 problem.
Town Planner Beeners replied, she thought they had been mostly
looking at the Hector Street circulation.
Assistant Town Engineer's Report
Erik Whitney, Assistant Town Engineer reported that with Phase III
water and sewer on the East Shore Drive project, right now they
were setting fairly comfortable with the permits obtain from
Conrail, DOT and DEC and expect a permit from the Department of
Health next month. We have roughly 1,300 feet of force main in the
lake shore at the present time. Construction is scheduled to
resume on the 27th of March v^ien the availability of the Conrail
inspector permits. He noted that it was going to be necessary to
add seme air relief valves along the pressinre main at the hi^
points to satisfy the Health Department and to insure that the flow
c^)acity of the line is maintained.
The Assistant Engineer went on to say that as far as Phase II,
Taughannock Boulevard water and sewer survey, the project is
completed except for $2,000 worth of restoration work v^ch the
contractor will complete as soon as the blacktop plants open in
April. Phase I water and sewer vMch was held up because of the
detour on Canpbell Avenue, construction is due to resume on the
17th of April. The project should take a week and a half to
finish.
The Infiltration/Inflow Studies on the Northeast sewers is
continiiing and we are ready to start Phase II of that study. The
legal survey of Dates Drive should be ready for Town Board approval
in i^ril, the survey has been completed. We have also performed
various inspections and sewer pressure tests of mains on the Chase
Farm Subdivision, Poyer Subdivision, Winner's Circle Subdivision
and addressed problems on drainage and lighting.
Report of Board of Representatives
Mary Call reported that she had twD things from the Warren Road
area, between Hanshaw and Uptown Village. One is a request to have
the speed limit lowered between that block on Hanshaw and Uptown.
She asked vhat the procedure would be?
Supervisor Desch replied, the Board would need to adopt a
resolution requesting the State to reduce the speed limit. We will
put this on the i^ril agenda.
Mrs. Call went on to say, the other thing in is this area is the
possibility of a sidewalk down the East side of that section. She
stated that she knew the Town Planner was working on this and asked
vdiat the status of it was?
Town Board Minutes 4 M^ch 13, 1989
Supervisor Desch replied, Jim Cazda was supposed to put a series of
stakes where the edge of the County right-of-way is.
Mrs. Call replied that she had talked to Jim. She asked if this
was the very first thing that had to be done?
Supervisor Desch replied, that is v^at Jim said the next step would
be. The concem was, should it cone within the County right-of-way
and if so that means a certain set of conditions or should it be
outside the right-of-way and if it's outside the right-of-way vhat
does than mean in terms of front yards, trees, etc. Vte went away
frcan the meeting with the assumption that Jim was going to put
stakes every 200 feet so that people would know vhat the inpact
would be.
Mrs. Call went on to say that the County was doing a transportation
survey study vhich incoiporates all the providers of
transportation. This includes the City, the County, the TomTran
system, all of Cornell system. Gadabout and all private providers
and look at vte is using the transit system and \dio is not using
the system and hopefully look at vhat could be done to impact
traffic. We are looking at vtet we have, how could v^ use it
better and vdio is going to pay for it, and vtet needs to be
provided.
Mrs. Call reported that Beverly Livesay and Deborah Dietrich are
both in Albany fighting against the Governor's budget for many
things including the projected cuts in Youth Services.
CONNECTION OF MCMCEY RUN TO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Supervisor Desch remarked that basically the district is a long
narrow district vdiich includes the NYSEG facilities and also runs
from there along Route 13 to include the new armory and the
commercial facilities along Route 13. This is a procedure required
by our Intermunicipal Agreement vhen a service areas is changed, to
have each of the governing bodies approve it.
RESOLUTION NO. 51
Motion by Councilvonan Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf,
WHEREAS, the Tov^ of Dryden has formed the Monkey Run Sewer
District and vd.shes to connect said district to the Ithaca Area
Wastev^ater Treatment Plant, and
WHEREAS, part of the district falls outside of the service area of
the Ithaca Area Wastev/ater Treatment thereby requiring the owners
of the plant to make such connections, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden has purchased sufficient capacity to
serve the Monkey Run District,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Tovm Board of the Tovm of
Ithaca upon the unanimous reccmnendation of the Special Joint
Subccaxmittee hereby approves the connection of the Monkey Run
District to the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS REPORT
Town Board Minutes 5 March 13, 1989
Supervisor Desch stated that the Board had a copy of the material
he was able to gather from the various sessions that he attended.
Councilman Bartholf remarked that he had all of the resolutions
that were adopted.
Councilwcman Raffensperger stated that she had seme information on
SEQR procedures for rezoning. Sie stated that she had seme notes
on it that she would be glad to share, including the fact that we
can set up a separate file and charge off the Attorney's fees to
the developer.
REAPPOINIMEM' OF GLORIA HCWEUi TO BOARD OF FIRE COyiMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 52
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
reappoint Gloria Howell to the Board of Fire Ccmmissioners.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bcirtholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
SELECTIOSr OF ENGINEER FOR 1989 WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS
Supervisor Desch ronarked that virtually all of the proposals were
very well done. He went on to say that his rationale for hiring
the two firms were:
Primary basis for reconmending Steams & Wheler for the Inlet
Valley, South Hill and West Hill iitprovenents:
(1) Proven record of work for City and Town of Ithaca.
(2) Existing Data base available from 1984 Water Master Plan.
(3) Solid working relationship with City and Town engineering
staff and local regulatory agencies.
(4) Low direct cost and lew ccaranitment of Town forces cost.
Primary basis for reccmmending Lozier for West Hill service area
study:
(1) Knowledge of hydraulics of West Hill network (i.e., they did
Cliff Street Puirp Station renovation).
(2) Thorough approach delineated in proposal in relation to Town
perception of task.
(3) Experience with CIP's.
(4) Low direct cost and low ccmmitment of Town forces cost.
Supervisor Desch noted that there was no actual conmitment to do
any detailed engineering, we will have to see v^t the budget looks
like on these irrprovCTients before we decide how much or how fast to
go forward.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked, v^t portion of this are we
authorizing tonight?
Supervisor Desch replied, we are authorizing that for Steams &
Wheler and that for Loziers. Once the engineering report is done,
for instance, on Inlet Valley then we have to decide if we are
going to go ahead and do the project and then we may open it up
again to other engineers or doing it in-house.
RESOLUTION NO. 53
Town Board Minutes 6 March 13, 1989
Motion by Councilwcsnan Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
McPeak,
WIEREAS, the Town has received 8 proposals from Engineering firms
in response to the RFP dated February 16, and
WHEREAS, Town staff and the Town Supervisor met with each of the
firms submitting proposals prior to the suhmittal, and
WHEREAS, the staff and Town Supervisor have evaluated and rated
each proposal,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the firm of Steams & Wheler be
selected to perform the engineering study of the Inlet Valley,
South Hill and West Hill services expected to beccroe the 1989 Water
and Sewer Iirprovement at a fixed price of $5,000, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the firm of Lozier Engineers be selected to
perform the study of the new West Hill Service area at a fixed
price of $12,800.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Town Attorney Barney stated that, in passing out a proposed
Certificate of Corpliance, he still had seme refinements that he
would like to make and proposed it be put on the J^ril agenda for
final consideration.
WATER AND SEWER BENEFIT ASSESSMENT REFUNDS
RESOLUTICaj NO. 54
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WEffiREAS, the Mayers School, as a separate tax parcel in 1989, was
charged for 15 imits on the basis of the population of the entire
building, and
WHEREAS, part of the same building is owned by J. Ciaschi and is a
separate tax parcel that was charged 3 units, the same amount as
the entire parcel was charged when owned by Cornell, and
WHEREAS, the actual Mayers parcel on the basis of population should
have be^ charged 8 units and the Ciaschi parcel on the basis of
population should have been charged 7 \mits,
NOW TEffiREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayers School be credited
for 7 units of water and 7 units of sewer, total refund of $882.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcatib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 55
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwcman Raffensperger,
WHEI^EAS, the property at 1536 Slaterville Road no longer contains
an apartment, as verified 1^ the Assistant Building Inspector, and
WEJEI^EAS, the 1989 Taxes on this property have been paid in full.
Town Board Minutes 7 March 13, 1989
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of 1 unit of water at $64.00 and 1
unit of sewer at $62.00, total refund of $126.00 be made to Wendy
Wallitt, 1536 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, New York. Tax Parcel No.
6-56-3-8.2.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccarib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
Supervisor Desch ranarked that he had a third refund vMch was a
lot on Woolf Lane v^ich was miscalculated. It was a strange shape
lot and the frontage noted on the tax map goes around a curve so it
is actually much longer than the frontage should be calculated.
Calculating it on a straight line instead of the curve you end up
with 215.8 feet instead of 255 feet. So instead of it being 2.25
units water and sewer it should be 2.05 units of water and sewer.
RESOLUTION NO. 56
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Klein,
WHEREAS, Richard Bennett, 104 Woolf Lane was charged 2.25 units of
water and 2.25 units of sewer, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett should have been charged 2.05 units of water
and 2.05 units of sewer, and
WEffiREAS, Mr. Bennett paid his 1989 Town and County Taxes in full on
January 30, 1989,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca herety authorize a refund of $12.40 for water and $12.40 for
sewer, total refund of $25.20 be made to Richard Bennett, 104 Woolf
Lane, Ithaca, New York. Tax Parcel No. 6-23-1-8.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccnib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PERMANENT STATUS OF HIQEWAY DEPARTMENT AEKENISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
RESOLUTION NO. 57
Motion by Councilman Whitccmb; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
WEffiREAS, Carolyn Dickens has been filling the position of
Administrative Assistant in a teiiporary status, and
WEffiREAS, she has been in the position for six months and performed
superbly, and
WEffilffiAS, her efforts have resulted in closer monitoring of work
effort and improved record keeping in the department,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Tbwn Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby appoints Carolyn Dickens as permanent part-time
Administrative Assistant to the Highway Superintendent at her
current wage and hours.
(IDesch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and WEiitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PROMOTION OF HIOEWAY EMPLOYEE FROM LABORER TO MEO
Town Board Minutes 8 March 13, 1989
RESOLUTIOSr NO, 58
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, Ray Manning successfully tested and demonstrated
proficiency on all required equipment, and
WHEREAS, his exemplary initiative and performance have resulted in
the expeditious completion of many tasks,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby approve the promotion of Ray Manning fromi laborer to
MEG, the effective date of the promotion is February 13, 1989 with
a salary of $9.30 per hour. The money is available in the Highway
Budget to meet the increase in salary.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
WATER ACCOUNT REFUNDS
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 59
^totion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
WHEREAS, the customer at 104 Joanne Drive paid the December water
bill twice, once on the regular billing and once on the final
billing,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $57.00 for water, $5.69 water
surcharge, $29.15 sewer, $3.99 sewer surcharge and $9.65 penalty,
total refimd of $105.48 be paid to R. James Vanduren, 16 Town Line
Road, Groton, New York 13073. Account Number S-1123.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 60
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Whitcomib,
WHEREAS, the customier at 21 Fairway Drive paid the Decemiber billing
twice, once on the regular billing and once on the final billing,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $20.52 for water, $2.05 water
surcharge, $.82 sewer, $1.44 sewer surcharge and $2.48 penalty,
total refund of $27.31 be made to Vam Brothers Construction, 471
Midline Road, Freeville, New York 13068. Account Number V-4080.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
STATE LEGISLATURE WITH RESPECT TO STATE AID FOR SEWAGE TI^IMENT
OPERATIONS
Sipervisor Desch noted that the Board members had a draft
resolution with respect to another item in the Governor's budget
having to do with the elimination of sewage treatment plant
operation and maintenance aid. This resolution was the one that
the City Board of Public Vforks adopted.
Town Board Minutes 9 March 13, 1989
RESOLUTION NO. 61
Motion by Councilwcxnan Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman Klein,
WHEREAS, the New York State Conference of Mayors has notified the
Mayor of the City of Ithaca that Governor Cucrao has recotmended the
phase out of sewer O&M Aid over the next two (2) years, and
WEiEREAS, this would result in the City losing approximately
$100,000 per year \diich would have to be made up by the rate
payers, and
WHEREAS, O&M Aid is irtportant to the Town of Ithaca as a joint
owner of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant,
NOW THEREEXDRE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby goes on record as opposing this phase out of aid, and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that our State Senator and Assemblyman be
made aware of this opposition by the Board.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
PROPOSED ROAD, TRAIIWAY AND OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES IN JOHN TILITZ
lO-LOT SUBDIVISION AT 1445 TRUMANSBURG ROAD
Town Planner Susan Beeners stated that the proposal was for
acceptance of the proposed road, proposed water and sewer lines and
a proposed twenty foot wide utility right-of-way and trail vAiich
would be deeded to the Town. The cost of the construction of the
trail plus the twenty foot right-of-way would essentially equal the
10% open space dedication. The Planning Board felt this would be
appropriate.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked, how long is the road and is there
no outlet?
Town Planner Beeners replied, the road is less than 1000 feet.
There is shown a future possible road extension in the North of the
parcel v^ch is the long range could either provide access to the
lands to the North of it or it could possibly connect with the
Westwood Hills road system or the Poyer road system.
RESOLUTION NO. 62
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Supervisor Desch,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the proposed road, water and sewer lines and twenty foot wide
utility and trail as proposed for the John Tilitz ten-lot
subdivision at 1445 Trumansburg Road, Parcel NO. 6-23-1-29.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
REAPPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE TCMPKINS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
CORPORATIOJ
RESOLUTION NO. 63
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwcman Raffensperger,
Tdwn Board Minutes 10 March 13, 1989
WHEREAS, in 1987 the Town of Ithaca aj^inted Judith S. Ogden to a
two year tern as the Town representative on the Tcnpkins Ccmnunity
Hospital Corporation, and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ogden has esqjressed interest in continuing as the
Town's representative,
WM THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby reappoints Judith S. Ogden as a member of the
Tonpkins Corarnunity Hospital Corporation.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
EASTWOOD COMMONS AREA SPEED LIMIT
RESOLUTION NO. 64
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Whitconib,
WfJEREAS, the Eastwood Cannons Association has requested an area
speed limit reduction to 20 MPH,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby request New York State DOT to consider the reduction
in the area speed limit to 20 MPH for the Eastwood Canmons
Development.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitconib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion by Coimcilwotian Raffensperger; seconded by Coimcilman
Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Tcwn of Ithaca hereby approve
the Deceirber 1988 and January 1989 Financial Report, as presented.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Jjeary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
DETERygNATiaN OF NEGATIVE ENVIRCMIENTAL SIGNIFICANCE ON SOUTH HILL
TRAIL
Town Planner Susan Beeners remarked that as the Board might be
aware, there was a public information meeting on March 1st at NCR.
The type of concerns that were expressed by the people who attended
that meeting as well as viiat has been received in writing deals
with the degradation of c\irrent long standing uses of the trail for
trail bikes, snownnobiles also questions about the proximity of the
trail to adjoining homes especially towards the Western end near
Pennsylvania Avenue. As far as those general complaints, it shoxild
be acknowledged and she felt it had been acknowledged, that all of
this was described in the revised EAF that the Board members have.
The trail would prohibit use by trail bikes and snowmobiles, there
would be, as she understood it, be no prohibition against having
people vto own property above and below the railroad right-of-way
from crossing that with their snowmobile or trail bike if they
would want to. With respect to the Pennsylvania Avenue proximity
problem, there is at least 30 to 35' distance between the trail and
the bac^ of the houses. There is at least a 15' elevation
difference between those homes. If you are on the right-of-way.
Town Board Minutes 11 March 13, 1989
the houses on Coddington Road are about 15' higher and the houses
on Pennsylvania Avenue are about 15' lower. It appears, to her,
that the concerns about having IC students short cutting and
throwing trash around these people's yards can be mitigated
putting up fencing where we need to but especially hy planting and
svi^plonenting fairly dense brush plants that are along in that
section.
The Town Planner went on to say that at present there is no
mechanism for enforcement of or taking care of trespassing problons
in that area. If it was a Town trail there would be the ability
for people to call the Sheriff Department or Park Department. She
felt there would also be more monitoring of trail activities by the
regular trail users vtio would be on it. Other concerns included
v^y do we need an 8' trail, vdiy do we need a oil and stone trail in
one section and vdiy do we need a 60' to 66' right-of-way for trail
construction? There seemed to be some objections to having vdiat is
now a very rural type of a path through there widened to something
like Game Farm and Honness Lane at the present time. We do think
that widening will be necessary to have an 8' trail. The Honness
Lane trail now has a distance of between six and twenty feet
between the brush and trees at the closest points. There is an
eight to nine foot oil and stone path within that. We have three
feet of grass margin on each side v^ch we mow. On the Game Farm
Road we have twenty feet, the narrowest point between trees. That
road-like affect that is on both trails, we don't see having to
happen here. We expect that after construction a width of eleven
to twelve feet on the trail would be maintained. That's a big
reduction, a eight foot reduction from what is there now. Staff
reccramends that the trail be eight feet rather than the six feet
that people have suggested to allow for adequate maintenance of the
trail, to allow for life safety vehicles to get in, such as the
light rescue truck the Fire Department recently purchased. That
ability to have seme kind of vehicle access in there vdiich we feel
can be controlled through the proper kinds of barricades will in
the long range give both the users of the trail and she felt the
abutting property owners, vdiether they be City watershed lands or
private a better handle on how to maintain and manage watershed
lands. Six feet would not be an appropriate width to go, mainly
because it would rule out that life safety access v^ich currently
there are now. It is a big chore to get people rescued down in the
reservoir area. There has been some concern that the review take
into full account any implications or any possible other use that
the 66' could have. 66' for a trail would allow the Town to keep a
buffer area, to actually maintain as woodland a full 66' width, it
would allow us to coordinate with private property owners that live
on the trail route as far as putting landscaping and signage
probiting access onto private lands, right along the property lines
instead of having to do it that way within the 66'. Because we are
tying to curve the trail within the 66', pretty much as it is at
the present time, it would not be a siitple matter of being able to
get a, let's say, a twenty foot easement based on the center line.
There would be seme pretty heavy costs of surveying the exact trail
route if we were not able to use v^t is a very hand, at the
mcment, property delination such as the NYSEG right-of-way.
The Town Planner went on to say that vMle it should be
acknowledged that a sewer line could be run within the existing 66'
right-of-way vMch has an established cinder bed, it has
established drainage structures, that and also ideas of possible
roads she did not feel really should ccme into play in the
consideration and review of the trail project because there is not
enough known about those, there are no plans that we know of that
we would be able to access on those itotis and also given the
ongoing ccmraunications, discussions between the City of Ithaca and
Town staff as well as thing that have occurred previously just
Tov/n Board Minutes 12 March 13, 1989
through Town history the past 10 years it would appear that there
was enough of an itrplied policy regarding watershed lands,
conservation, so that any possible future application by a
developer for sewer line extension or roads construction or for any
other land use in that Six Mile Creek corridor would have to go
through pretty strong scrutiny, environmental review. It did not
appear to her to be appropriate to encimiber this trail project with
seme kind of a long range feasibility study for the entire
corridor.
The Town Planner remarked, a point about vdiether the trail surface
should be just cinders or oil and stone as they have proposed. The
section, on the Sincebaugh property, between the lower Therm
switchback and the upper NYSEG right-of-^ay does not have any
cinders at present, there is an old railroad bed that they could
work with as far as materials go. Cinders are extremely hard to
get at the present time. Cornell used to have an unlimited supply
but they don't have them anymore. That portion of the trail would
have to use a stone base in order to do it. Oil and stone was
suggested, that it actually be oiled so that we would have a
provision for possible future snow plowing if ccramiter traffic,
people biking in the winter time or v^tever, to get downtown
became a need. She felt this covered the main point and that this
was an unlisted action, people have been asking her about that.
Unlisted and a long form review was completed, you have received
seme supplements not only within the text here but also example of
materials that were shown at the Public Information meeting, the
proposed amendment to the Bikeway Law to close the trail during
deer hunting season. The City, last March and /^ril. Planning and
Development and the Board of Public Works, Conservation Advisory
Council all had opportunities for review of the project. Planning
and Development actually passed a resolution endorsing the
application by the Town for this project. Recently certain people
have brought up again to her, isn't the City involved in this as an
involved agency under SEQR? She stated that there was nov^ere that
staff here nor initially the City staff can tell \^y they would be
an involved agency imder SEQR. However, because they are an
interested agency because there seoxis to be this legal question she
had forwarded the application to Jon Meigs asking for the City's
concurrence that the Town Board act as lead agency for
environmental review of this project. It was requested that that
infonnation be supplied within the City Environmental Review time
frame. However, she expected they might not hear a response frcm
the City until Ccmnon Council has met on ^ril 5th. With respect
to that, it might be well for the Town Board to defer making any
final determination until a response is received from the City.
Supervisor Desch asked, how wide is the path along Six Mile Creek
frcm Van Natta's Dam East?
Bill Hilker replied, about six feet. Four to six feet varying
depending on how steep the bank is.
Supervisor Desch replied, that's now surfaced in any way is it?
The reply was no.
Councilwcman Raffensperger asked if there would be signs at places
vhere trail bikes and snowmobiles would be permitted to cross? She
stated that she was concerned about the safety of unexpected
motorized vehicles crossing v^at is basically a pedestrian and
bikeway, would we sign that?
Town Planner Beeners replied, there would be signs that pedestrians
have the right of way. She thought that a sign "Caution ^fotorbike
Crossing", would be ajpropirate.
Town Board Minutes 13 March 13, 1989
Councilwcman Raffensperger replied that she wondered if the Town
could restrict the areas v^ere they might cross? We can look into
that down the road.
Assistant Planner George Frantz replied, there are existing trails
that cut across the road bed now vAiere we could put seme sort of
signage there and let the people on the machines know that they are
coming to the trail so that they could slow down.
Bill Hilker, 277 Bums Road remarked that the Town Planner started
talking about hunting then juirped off and he never did hear any
recoaranendations or anything else.
Town Planner Beeners replied, we are reconmending that the Bikeway
Law be amended to include a prohibition, the closure of the trail
during the deer hunting season every year.
Mr. Hilker asked, jtist the gun season not the bow season?
Town Planner Beeners replied right, you would usually be close
enough, hopefully if you were a good hunter.
Mr. Hilker replied, as long as you are not prohibited from bringing
the deer out. Ihat was his question, not the danger in bow
hunting, definitely now, just so there is some provision for
bringing the deer out.
David Carr, 674 Coddington Road remarked, there seems to be a
concern for the deer v^ch he was also concerned about. He asked
if it had occurred to anyone that all of the pedestrians and bikes
could upset the deer also, more than they have been? He went on to
say, if you are going to close it for hunting season let's close it
the 15th of October until the first of January. There is small
game season.
Supervisor Desch replied, v^y would you need to close the trail,
are you concerned about safety or scaring the animals?
Mr. Carr replied that he would not like to see anyone injured.
Town Planner Beeners replied, in speaking with the DEC Officer in
Cortland, he suggested its really the deer shotgun seasons that is
the time v^en there were possibilities of conflict.
Supervisor Desch replied, there used to be quite a few people v^o
would small game hunt, using that right-of-way. He asked if anyone
could see a problem with that continuing?
Mr. Carr replied yes, because one of the restrictions on the trail
is to restrict people, hunters, fran walking on the bikepath. Frcm
point "A" to point "B" even though he crosses 90 degrees to hunt on
the adjacent property on the lov^r side or vice versa sometimes you
might want to walk on the trail.
Si:55ervisor Desch replied there are a couple of questions, one is if
it's a compatible use and he was just thinking of it in terms of
\diat he remembered in being there and seeing people walking and
secondly the Town would need to determine fran our insurance
carrier vtet the inplications are. They may not be significant or
they may be.
Town Planner Beeners replied, right now the Bikeway Law does not
permit any passage by hunters.
Mr. Ceooo replied, this trail is not a bikeway yet.
Town Board Minutes 14 March 13, 1989
Supervisor Desch replied if it is done, and the current law governs
then there is a prc±)lQn.
Mr. Hilker remarked, the current law prohibits downhill skies,
skateboards. It prohibits everything except jogging and bicycling.
Supervisor Desch raiarked, at the public information meeting we
discussed what sections mi^t be applicable in terms of closing the
trail during hunting season, we didn't arrive at a decision. There
really shouldn't be much active hunting frcm Northview West anyway.
Different rules may need to be applied to certain sections of the
trail.
Mr. Carr stated that he had two questions and a summary. He
remarked, there will be no vote taken tonight, right?
Si:53ervisor Desch replied that he was going to suggest that Bill
Hilker or David Carx or any others vho have issues that they would
like to discuss to do that individually with the Town Planner
between now and the April meeting v^en a decision would be made so
that the Board could narrow down the areas of differences.
Mr. Carr questioned the appendix attached to the SEQR \^ch was
written on March 9th, there are quite a few places where it was
reworded and rewritten. He asked if this had to be sent to the
State?
Supervisor Desch replied no. The State agency that funded it do
you mean? Correct me if I'm wrong but once it is adopted it will
go with the documents.
Town Planner Beeners replied, the State as far as we can tell, the
Office of Parks and Recreation is really the only involved agency
under SEQR and they have been notified, they received the old
leview and we have sent them the new review.
Si:ipervisor Desch asked, is it your question that the funding agency
or seme other State agency have to approve the SEQR? The answer is
no. They have the right to ccmment but it is a local decision.
Mr. Carr remarked, again there were 66 signature on the petition
and he hcped the Tcwn Board would take into consideration those v^o
are opposed to it, mostly being land owners adjacent to it. The
response, seared to him, that the Board did not consider this as
much of an impact on it. Like the Sprinkler Law, a little bit more
work needs to be done. He went on to say that he talked to Bonnie
McCloud today and she told him there were four stages to get the
easement from NYSEG that are in pi^ocess, the papers were just sent
out the end of last week and it takes approximately five weeks for
NYSEG to make their decision on ^^ther they are going to grant
this easement or not. After speaking with her for a few minutes it
appeared to him that she was quite concerned with the public input
on this and she suggested that he gather up some people and go to
NYSEG and set down with then and talk. He stated that he planned
to contact her on Thursday and annoxmced that if anyone was
interested in going with him he would make arrangements to meet
with her and her superior in Binghamton. He stated that he was
getting the feeling that they (NYSEG) were wondering about the
public opposition more so than the Town. He went on to say, show
me v^re this public hearing was held?
Supervisor Desch replied, public hearing on \^t?
Mr. Carr replied on the bike path, on putting it through. Where is
it in writing, v^en was this public hearing held?
Town Board Minutes 15 March 13, 1989
Supervisor Desch replied that he would ask Mr • Carr to show him
vdiere the requirements were for a public hearing would be.
Mr. Carr replied that he would have to dig through the pile of
paperwork.
Supervisor Desch remarked, you have to ^ow us the requirement
law. You are saying in the SEC2R requirements that there is a
reference to the public hearing having been held? Your basic
question is, you want to know under v^at basis a public hearing was
or was not held on the matter of using this property for a
recreation trail?
Mr. Carr stated that he had received papers but he did not have
time to read through thorn before the meeting. He went on to say,
dated Deconnber 31, 1979
Supervisor Desch, talking to the Town Planner remarked correct him
if he was wrong but he assumed the reference to the public hearing
is the reference that was made to the public hearing to update the
Open Space and Recreation Plan. That was one in 1975 and one 1984.
Bill Hilker replied, there was one 1975.
Supervisor Desch asked, there wasn't one in 1984? Was there no
reference in the '75 plan to the trail?
Mr. Hilker replied, there is reference to the trail to effect that
all people that will be irtpacted or a neighboring to it would be
notified in adequate time by a pi^blic hearing or other means.
Supervisor Desch replied, we will take a look into it.
Mr. Carr remarked, that he was concerned with law enforconent and
you have a different situation with the South Hill proposed path
than you do with Honness Lane. It's directly adjacent to the
Reservoir, it's directly adjacent to Ithaca College and he felt the
Town should address those potential problems and give it seme deep
thought before you decide this thing. He thought that the Board
was going to find a law enforcement problem up there was going to
be much greater if it is open to the pxjblic than if it is left the
way it is. There are many, many people v^o are not even aware it
is there. In surtmary he stated that he was worried about the
public access being accessible from the City of Ithaca and the
public knowledge of it being there. As the Town Planner pointed
out a few minutes ago, there is a problan with rescue of
individuals. First of all, they aren't supposed to be in there
according to the City so v^y do you have to rescue them if they
aren't supposed to be in there? The enforcement issue is one that
is going to be of concern to a lot of people, it's going to be a
real thorn in scmebody's side if it is godLng to happen. He stated
that he had lived up there a long, long time and he hasn't seen as
many problons as people have created in the last few weeks, all the
years he had been there and he could anticipate many, many more by
it being a public pathway versus it being privately owned as it is
now.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW REZCKENG TOWN OF ITHACA TAX
PARCEL NO. 6-24-1-32 AND A PORTION OF TOWN OF IIHACA TAX PARCEL MO.
6-24-1-23 WITH ACCESS CmO TRDMANSBURG ROAD, 69 +/- ACRES TOTAL,
FROM AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TO A SPECIAL lAND USE DISTRICT FOR
THE PROPOSED "INDIAN CREEK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY"
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider a local law rezoning Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.
Town Board Minutes 16 March 13, 1989
6-24-1-32 and a portion of Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 6-24-1-23
with access onto Trumansburg Road, 69 +/- acres total, from an
Agricultural District to a Special Land Use District for the
Proposed "Indian Creek Retirement Ccannraunity" having been presented
by the Town Clerk, the Supervisor opened the pi^blic hearing.
Supervisor Desch asked Mr. Lucas if he would like to make a
presentation?
Mr. Scott Lucas stated that he was the developer of the Indian
Creek Retirement Catmunity. He stated that viiat essentially they
envisioned is a 140 unit retirement ccmraunity vMch would include
both cluster development, an apartment style, and detached single
floor duplex units. These would be units intended for people over
the age of 54, 55. We are doing this in collaboration with
Tcrapkins Conoraunity Hospital is going to provide an array of
services for the project. Those services would include such things
as snow and trash removal, security, maintenance. It would also
include the availability of services for the residents including
things like meals, housekeeping, a number of other life style
related services not direct medical services, he assumed that if
people needed direct medical services they would obtain them from
the Visiting Nurses Association or home health agencies as they
would anyvrfiere else. He stated that they saw this as a significant
ccOTtamity need and they think that there is a donand there. He
went on to say that they had been before the Planning Board a
couple of times now. We are proposing viiat they feel is a
reasonable density for the area, a density that allows the Town to
begin to taper down from the R-15 density along the Trumansburg
Road towards the Ulysses line. This is substantially less than an
R-15 that we are proposing. We have combined the cluster and
detached units to maintain an optimal amoimt of open space on the
property. We think that it is a desirable project from a community
standpoint, it's not a high iitpact project. It's not going to
contribute a great deal of traffic to Trumansburg Road. We are
assinning that we are not looking at a large influx of children into
the school system. We are not looking at people who are going to
be making large demands on itrunicipal services. We are looking at
people v^o are going to be paying significant property taxes as
they reside there. That in general is the project that we see and
that he would be glad to address any questions.
Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest read the following statement;
"I am here as a resident of West Hill to ask that no rezoning be
enacted by you in the Town of Ithaca imtil after the proposed
coiprehensive plan is ccmpleted. It amazes me that you continue to
contQtplate such rezoning after having gone to the troi±>le and
expense of hiring a consultant to help with the task of ccmpiling
and designing a ccnprehensive plan. It seems to me a very poor
business strategy to go to such expense and then to undermine the
proposed venture before it is well underway.
I and many others on West Hill do not think the Lucas request for
rezoning 66 acres from agricultural use to Special Land Use
District for a retirement ccramunity on Trumansburg Road should be
considered until after the ccnprehensive plan is conpleted.
And I hope that the coiprehensive plan vdien finished will embody
seme kind of provision for preserving agricultural land as
agricultural land, provisions such as the land trust provision in
Vermont and elsev^ere.
If holding off on a decision about rezoning the Lucas land
represents an inconvenience for Mr. Lucas it is iregretable, but
Town Board Minutes 17 March 13, 1989
your basic concern should be for your own constituents and for vdiat
is best for our coranunity.
I am sadly aware that a large number of the entrepreneurial
developers who are presently making such onslaughts on our area are
from out of town and interested only in making a quick dollar. We
vdio love Ithaca and live here are left to pay higher taxes for the
loss of open green space and loss of natural beauty while the out
of town entrepreneur retires elsev^ere.
One other brief matter before I finish. I understand that the West
Hill Neighborhood Association has asked you to support Mr. Lucas'
pioposed rezoning of 66 acres. While I would hope you would give
all such requests careful consideration I would not want you to be
under the false irrpression that the Association represents all the
residents of West Hill. It doesn't. There are many many residents
such as myself \(^o are opposed to any rezoning being effected until
after the comprehensive plan is completed."
Jaok I^an, 260 Hayts Road stated that he bought the vtole left side
of that land he has up there that boarders his property. He moved
there about three years old to raise wild life until they are old
enough to go out on their own. With his moving in next door there
will be no way he can do it without relocating his home and
bxisiness. He hoped the Board would take seme consideration and not
put profit in front of wild life.
Supervisor Desch asked Mr. I^an how far was his house from the back
lot?
Mr. Ryan replied, 50 feet from the property line. He went on to
say that he tried to buy scrae of the land from Babcock and he
refused to sell it to him.
Supervisor Desch asked Mr. I^an how many acres did he have?
Mr. Ryan replied, 16.98 plus or minus. He stated that he tried to
buy 10 acres and that he was totally against it imtil we can ccame
up with something better than we have here all ready.
Celia Bowers, 1609 Truraansburg Road stated that she would like to
have the following letter that she wrote to John Whitcorb dated
March 10, 1989 included in the record:
"The manbers of the Executive Cannittee of the West Hill
Neighborhood Association were startled to discover in part of the
SEQR report that was complied ty Ms. Beeners on the Indian Creek
Retirement Community on the Trumansburg Road that approving this
development would increase the need for "neighborhood commercial
space" on West Hill by 2,320 square feet.
We would like to know:
(a) vAiether increased commercial needs (in square footage or
in general) have ever been mentioned for any other
sizable town development within the last five years;
(b) vdiether the Town Planner's SEQR report mentioned
commercial space for the Deer Run development or the
development at the comer of King Road and Coddington
Road on South Hill. Both of these developments, we
believe, are as large, or larger than, the Indian Creek
Retirement Community and are much farther from existing
services.
(c) v^y the Town Planner thinks that the home-owners in this
Town Board Minutes 18 March 13, 1989
retirement catinunity cannot use the existing services,
e.g., Jacksonville Village Market, The Cut-up, Pete's,
Tops and Wegmans, v^ich current residents of the area
find satisfactoiy for their needs.
We very much regret having to inconvenience you with this
burdenscme request, but as you eire aware this matter is ccming
before the Town Board very soon and clarification of this issue is
essential.
Finally, to end on a more pleasant note, we would all like to
extend to your our heartiest congratulations on your recent
appointment to the Town Board. We fully supported you candidacy
and we are sure that we will continue to do so in the year ahead."
Mrs. Bowers stated that the West Hill Neighborhood Association
feels the SEQR will have to be thrown out. We asked for
information on three questions. We have supported Mr. Lucas and
the numbers that he will be placing on this property are under the
numbers allowed in R-30 zoning or even R-15 zoning. It does also
seem to be an attenpt at affordable housing vdiich they support.
However, we do not like the association of this project with
ccnmercial development.
Rosalind Grippi, 423 East Seneca Street stated that she would just
like to make a corroent but she was not sure it was valid. She
stated that she was a little disconcerted about the stretch of
buildings fron one end to the other that ^e thought might be very
prcminent from the main road, however, she could not judge the
slope or v^ether it slopes up or not. She wondered if seme other
design could be applied to that so that there wouldn't be the
possibility of an unfortunate resemblance to, for example, a motel
on that road. That it might be softened. She stated that she
realized they all had views towards the Trumansburg Road but she
wondered if that shouldn't be given more thought.
Mr. Lucas stated that the design issues are difficult issues to
deal with. We had a couple of goals and one of our goals was that
in the apartment sl^le imits and ccramunity space that the two ends
are anchored on that people would be able to have access internally
especially in inclement weather. That obviously forces you into
seme kind of a continuous structure. We are proposing that the
buildings be place about a thousand feet back frcm the road. So we
are not talking about something that will be sitting right up on
the edge of the road vAiere it will be particularly noticeable to
passerbys.
Town Supervisor Desch asked the Town Planner to address the
question on commercial.
Town Planner Susan Beeners replied that she compared her putting in
a statement about canmercial to her also mentioning under plants
and animals that there is about 200 acres of wetland and forest to
the West and North of this site. She would like to ask Mr. I^an a
question and that is has he checked into buying some of the wooded
wetland that is to the West \^ch will probably never be suitable
for any development.
Mr. replied, that he had no idea if it was for sale. He knew
seme other people had tried to buy property up there and it wasn't
for sale.
The Town Planner continued, in the ccnmercial aspect the intention
here was to point out that the additional residents would generate
a need for about 2,300 square feet of ccnmercial space. There was
no djitention to iitply that the local services, vhich are mentioned
Town Board Minutes 19 March 13, 1989
in this letter, would not be suitable or that they would be
suitable. The reason it is mentioned here in this project is
because this is a substantial sized West Hill project. There is no
available ccstimercial land at the present time on West Hill. Any
other future large projects on West Hill or in any other areas
where there is no ccramercially zoned land would most likely also
have an assessment based on \^at is asked for in the SEQR Part II
check list v^ere they do ask if the project will create a donand
for any other services or facilities. Why it was not mentioned in
the Deer Run project or the Coddington Road/King Road project that
is iroitioned here, there is about 50 acres of ccmnercially zoned
land on South Hill vdiich is already available for developnnent.
Saneone in attendance asked if Mr. I^an could explain exactly vtot
it is that he does?
Mr. Ryan replied that he was licensed by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation to raise wild life.
Mostly he does raccoons, but also skunks, rabbits and squirrels
small animals so he needed that type of habitat v^ere he was do
that. He stated that it took him five years to decide to buy the
place, it's a half mile off the road and totally ideal for v^at he
does.
Supervisor Desch asked Mr. if he didn't have a fenced in area?
Mr. I^an replied, you can't fence in raccoons.
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked that at the last Planning Board
meeting several house locations were moved in order to acccramodate
some sort of such facility. She asked if this was the same one?
Town Planner Beeners replied that she thought it was in response to
Mr. Ryan's concern. There were three buildings shown in the
Northwest comer v^ich were moved down to the Southeast part of the
site necir the ccmnunity open space. She remarked that the Board
should have both plans.
Councilwanan Raffensperger remarked, so they were moved from this
area?
Town Planner Beeners replied, yes.
As no one else present wished to speak, the Supervisor closed the
public hearing.
Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she would like to e3q)ress
her concern about the sentence that has aroused concerns and she
thought it was because of recent history on West Hill. She went on
to say, on the preceeding page under transportation there is also a
statonent viiich rather balances that statement vdiich say "because
most services for West Hill residents are and are expected to
continue to be located in Ithaca itself most of the traffic we site
is ejqjected to be oriented towards the City". So it seemed to her
that in sane way that balances the concern about the opinion really
that is expressed about the need for ccaranercial convenient service.
And that is not specifically stated as being needed in that stretch
of the Trumansburg Road. She asked the Town Planner if she was
right?
Town Planner Beeners replied, perhaps she had been trying to search
for vAiat the more appropriate words would be. There will be based
on that population an increase need for ccmmercial space but it is
not meant to inply that there is a current deficiency. However, it
is not meant to inply that there a current deficiency of 2,300
square feet that has to ccme up scmev^ere if this project gets
Town Board Minutes 20 March 13, 1989
approved. You introduce that many people and that is the size of
convenience space that would be needed to acccmmodate their routine
needs.
Councilvonan Raffensperger asked if it would be a reasonable thing
to do within vAiat you just said your intent was, to say to serve
the proposed additional project population in various ways? Can we
add scmething there to indicate that this is not meant to apply to
a specific piece of property or a particular three mile stretch of
the Trumansburg Road?
Town Planner Beeners replied, the proposed additional project
population would need 2,300 square feet of neighborhood caxinercial
space.
Councilwonan Raffensperger remarked, that need vdiich may be met in
a variety of locations. Does that somehow or other clarify it?
Mr. Lucas asked if he could make an observation out the project?
He stated that he understood the issue of commercial development on
West Hill is touchy and he would prefer to avoid it, and not get
drawn into that debate because there clearly are other issues. But
it was not their e3q)ectation that they were going to be attracting
people v^o are going to be captive to West Hill. We are providing
garages and parkings areas and one of the services that will be
available will be transportation services specifically aimed at
enabling people to get to town to do shopping, to have doctors
appointments in the inclement weather if they don't want to drive.
He stated that he had no intentions of doing ccmmercial development
in the West Hill and he shared the neighbors concerns about
cotmercial development there and he would hope that the Board would
mderstand as it deliberates that we have tried to take that into
account in our planning for the project to minimize that in fact by
providing easy access hopefully to existings services for people
\dio live here.
Councilman Whitcoiib remarked that he thought given the proximity of
the project to the City and to other services on West Hill that
2,300 square feet of ccmmercial services really doesn't need to be
mentioned in the SEQR, one way or the other.
Supervisor Desch remarked, it really doesn't matter vAiether it's in
or not. When you look at planning doctrine \dien you increase the
population by one person you increase the need for ccmmercial space
by a fraction of a point per square foot. He thought that was all
the Town Planner was pointing out. Supervisor Desch stated that he
would suggest the words, "but there will be an estimated need for
2,300 square feet of neighborhood ccnmercial space to service the
proposed addition project population", take out the word "increased
and remained" because they are scmevhat contradictory anyway.
Councilman Whitccmb stated that in general he supports the concept
of the project but he was concerned, as were the residents, about
the rezoning question as to vhen it should be done. He noted that
the Town has invested seme money into a ccnprehensive planning
process and it may very well turn out that at the end of the
process that he would reccmmend scmething of this nature be there.
He felt the timing was wrong.
Supervisor Desch remarked, that is a zoning question not a SEQR
question.
Councilman Whitccmb went on to say the impact on agricultural land
resources, we talked about the net removal of 29.9 acres of
agricultural land from production and then at the bottcm of the
page is goes on saying "considering the proposed site development
Town Board Minutes 21 March 13, 1989
housing program no significant adverse inpact is expected on
agricultural land resources". He wondered how close those two
statements were corpatible? He stated that he would argue that it
does have an inpact on agricultural land resources.
Supervisor Desch asked if it was true that there was 29 acres in
production?
Town Planner Beeners replied, not recently.
James Ainslie, 245 Hayts Road ronarked, David Thcrapson on Iradell
Road rented that land, had it into com two years ago but not last
year.
Supervisor Desch remarked, for all practical purposes your concerns
are not moot.
Town Planner Beeners stated that there were open space components
within the project as well, such as community gardens. There is
beneficial type of housing that is being provided which she hoped
would mitigate that loss of about 2% of the Town's Ag District land
on West Hill.
Supervisor Desch asked, is it true that none of the land is in the
County Ag District, none of the 29 acres?
Town Planner Beeners replied, the land that is being considered,
the larger parcel to the North of Indian Creek is within the County
Ag District. The portion v^ich has been most recently fanned v^ch
is is the subdivision to the South vdiich was withdrawn at the last
Planning Board meeting that is not in the Tompkins County Ag
District.
Mr. Ainslie replied that he owned that land once and it was all in
the County Ag District.
Town Planner Beeners replied her maps did not show this but that
she would confirm it.
Councilman Whitccmb went on to say that if the benefits of having a
retirement canmunity outweigh the loss of the agricultural land
then he would rather say that in those words than say there is no
significant impact on agricultural land resources.
Tcwn Attorney Barney replied, the problem with that is then you
throw that into a legal mess because by saying there is any
significant environmental impact you ccnpel the creation of an
environmental inpact statement by stopping it cold and that's a
very time consuming and costly exercise. If the Board makes any
finding of environmental significance then the next step is the
preparing of a draft environmental impact statement.
Councilwoman Raffensperger ronarked that she wondered if the
question in there to sane extent is not that in one portion we are
talking about 69.7 acres and talking about vtot happens there and
then we are talking about the entire agricultural lands on West
Hill and making an evaluation that this proposal in the number of
acres of ag land that it subtracts does not have a significant
adverse impact in the agricultural land resources on West Hill as
opposed to on this small site. She felt this was the kind of
contradiction that you see in these two paragraphs.
Councilman Whitccmb remarked that there has been a lot of
discussion at the Planning Board on building heights in the last
few months and he would like to have the developer speak to v^y
these building are higher.
Town Board Minutes 22 March 13, 1989
Mr. Lucas replied, we are talking about two story buildings and the
again you measure building heights here differently than vdiat he
was used to. As you measure building heights, it seemed to him,
either you b\iild single story houses or everything is out of
cotpliance or you don't build basements. In approaching this, we
felt that it was inportant that we have basements in the clustered
portion for storage for people, the assunption being that the
people living there by and large would be moving out of single
family houses and would need additional storage that the basonent
would provide. You can make that a concern, the only way you could
ccnply with building heights on two story buildings is to have flat
roofs. He stated that he had no intention of building flat roof
buildings. That just doesn't make sense. We want traditional
lines and the only way you can do that is with two stories,
basements and roof lines. He thought to remove the basements in
order to ccnply with the building height restrictions then throws
them back into the problem of v^at do we do for storage for people
and then you end up building out buildings v^ch cause problems.
While he understood v^at he was doing did not technically ccnply to
the existing height restrictions he felt it was over all, the best
ccnprcmise in terms of something that would be pleasing on a
livable scale and would meet the needs of the people living there.
Councilman Whitccnib replied that he understood that but that the
underlining concern from the ccmmunity on building height is not
building height itself but the increase in density that could
acccnpany increased building height. He stated that he assumed
that was adequately addressed in this project.
Si:pervisor Desch asked if there was a motion on the environmental
impact statement with the corrections. (Councilwoman
Raffensperger's change being at the end add "on West Hill", no
significant adverse inpact is expected to agricultural land
resources in the West Hill area. That relates it in scale better.
RESOLUTION NO. 65
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Supervisor Desch,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby declare
a negative declaration of environmental significance with the two
corrections, one under impact on agricultural land resources,
adding the statement "on West Hill" and deleting the statement on
impact on growth and character of the ccninunity or neighborhood,
the paragraph beginning "the project will increase..... and ending
with project population".
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Coimcilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman Whitccmb Voting Nay
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
The resolution was duly adopted.
Supervisor Desch asked if there were any questions or comments on
the proposed local law? He stated that he had a Certificate of
Necessity \toch the Town Attorney has provided because of the ten
day requirement.
Town Board Minutes 23 M^ch 13, 1989
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked that she would like to know
about the parks. On page three, a four acre park is discussed and
a six acre park. Speaking to the Town Planner she stated that
really all she wanted was an assurance that the Town was not taking
over responsibility for the retention pond as a part of the parks.
Town Planner Beeners replied, no. That pond will remain under
private ownership and that it would be fenced, if needed, to beef
up the buffer area that they are showing to preclude public access
to the pond area.
Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she was going to move the
adoption of the local law and make a ccnment about the ccnroents
that were made about rezonings. She stated that she did understand
v^at people are saying about being very cautions about proceeding
with rezonings vdien we are involved in an improvetient of the
carprehensive planning process. She stated that she did think
though that you could say that you are going to wait to do all
rezoning or all anything until the ccnprehensive planning process
is over because she personally hoped it was a process that is not
going to be over. She stated that she could understand the desire
to wait until Phase I is over, and we have a report from the
consultant. In this case she thought really very hard about it
because in general she thought that was a good principle, she
thought that there was no doubt though that this retirement
community was going to be built on the Trumansburg Road, vdiether in
the Town of Ithaca or the Town of Ulysses, was really tiie question
as she saw it and she saw a resolution to amend the Zoning
Ordinance with a great deal of control about occupancy and
ownership and density and parks and buffers, etc., that we could
not have asked the Town of Ulysses to have done and yet the Town of
Ithaca would have had the inpacts of the developnrent and no control
over it. So on that basis she felt ccmfortable with this
particular proposal for rezoning at this time.
lOCAL LAW NO. 2 - 1989
Jfotion by Councilwcraan Raffensperger; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf,
LOCAL LAW NO. 2 - 1989
A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL LAND
USE DISTRICT (LIMITED MIXED USE) FOR THE INDIAN CREEK RETIREMENT
COt^lUNITY ON TRUMANSBURG ROAD OWNED BY CMH ASSOCIATES
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted, amended,
effective February 26, 1968, and subsequently amended, be further
amended as follows:
1. Article 2, Section 1 of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance be
and herel:^ is amended by adding to the permissible districts
itemized in said section a district designated as "Special Land Use
District No. 6".
2. The uses permitted in this Special Land Use District No. 6 are:
(a) Detached one-family dwellings. One family dwellings may
be occupied by no more than
( i) and individual, or
( ii) a family, or
Town Board Minutes 24 March 13, 1989
(ill) a family plus one additional boarder, roomer,
lodger or other occi;5>ant, or
( iv) two individuals, boarders, irocmers, lodgers or
other occupants.
(b) Detached two-family dwellings. Each dwelling unit in the
two-family dwellings may be occupied by not more than
( i) an individual, or
( ii) a family, or
(iii) a family plus one additional boarder, roomer,
lodger or other occupant, or
( iv) two individuals, boarders, roomers, lodgers or
other occupants.
(c) Attached single-family units aggregated together in one
or more buildings of up to 80 dwelling units. Each
one-family unit in said attached units may be occupied ty
( i) an individual, or
( ii) a family, or
(iii) two individuals, boarders, roomers, lodgers or
other occupants.
(d) The attached single-family dwelling units may be
condominium units or other ownership of less than the
minimum lot size normally required in an R-15 zone as may
be approved by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board.
(e) A community facility v4iich may be attached to the
attached single-family units or may be free-standing, not
in excess of 7,000 square feet, to be used for central
dining facilities (with serving kitchen), activity areas,
and other related conmunity service space to be made
available principally for the use of the residents of the
retirement community.
(f) Permitted accessory uses shall include the following;
( i) off-street garage or parking spaces for the
residents of and the employees working at the
Indian Creek Retirement Community.
(ii) acoessory buildings such as storage sheds,
pavilions, gazebos, and other similar small
buildings provided that no single building exceeds
more than 200 square feet in size and provided
further that the size and location of each such
building is approved by the Planning Board.
(g) Common recreational areas including walkways, parks,
coanmrunity gardens, and other similar outdoor recreational
facilities.
(h) Any municipal or public utility purpose necessary to the
maintenance of utility services for the Indian Creek
Retirement Community.
(i) Signs, as regulated by the Town of Ithaca Sign Law.
Town Board Minutes 25 March 13, 1989
3. Any use in this district shall be governed ty all of the
requironents, including side yards, setbacks, building coverage,
accessory uses, and similar requirements, of a residence district
R-15, except as the same may be specifically modified by the terms
of this local law.
4. In addition to the requirements and restrictions imposed by the
Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance, the area being rezoned to Special
Land Use District No. 6 shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) The exterior design, specifications, and plans for the
buildings and other iirprovements to be constructed on the
premises and the development of the groimds and
construction of all outside facilities including lighting
and signs shall have been shown on a final site plan
approved by the Planning Board, and any construction
thereafter shall be in accordance with said site plan as
finally approved. In determining vdiether or not to
approve the site plan, the Planning Board may ertploy the
same considerations it would employ in approving a site
plan pjursuant to Sections 46 and 78 of the Town of Ithaca
Zoning Ordinance.
(b) B\iilding permits shall be required for any construction,
including construction of signs and outdoor lighting
facilities. Such permits shall not be issued until the
Planning Board has approved the design and specifications
for such propesed construction.
(c) The primary access roadway from Trumansburg Road leading
westward shall be a double road with a median island for
at least the first 1,300 feet of its length and such
roadway shall be constructed in accordance with Town of
Ithaca highway specifications, dedicated and deeded to
the Town and accep>ted by the Town before any certificates
of occupancy are issued.
(d) Such additional pertions of the roads in the project
shall be constructed in accordance with Town of Ithaca
highway specifications, dedicated and deeded to the Town,
and accepted by the Town as the Planning Board may, in
approving the final site plan, determine.
(e) The Declaration of Condominium, the Certificate of
Incorporation of any homeowners association or similar
group, and the bylaws of any such organization, shall be
submitted to the Planning Board for recommendation and
shall be approved by the Town of Ithaca before the same
are filed and adopted.
(f) There shall be a maximum of 140 dwelling units within the
Special Land Use District of vMch no more than 80
dwelling units shall be contained in attached
configuration of more than two dwelling units pier
building, and no more than 60 dwelling units shall be
contained in detached one and two-family dwelling unit
configuration.
(g) There shall be dedicated to the Tcwn of Ithaca as p>ark
sp>ace a four acre piark site in the easterly portion of
the project as shown as the general plan with the precise
metes and bounds to be determined by the final site plan
approval by the Planning Board, such dedication to occur
prior to the issuance of any certificates of occipancy
Town Board Minutes 26 March 13, 1989
for any of the units on the property.
(h) There shall be dedicated and conveyed to the Town of
Ithaca a 20 foot strip of land in fee sinple
substantially along the southerly line of the Special
Land Use District as shown on the general plan, the
precise metes and bounds description to be as finally
determined on the final site plan, said strip of land to
be conveyed for trail and other municipal purposes.
(i) The developer shall reserve and dedicate for open space
approximately six acres of land adjoining the westerly
portion of the southerly line of the Special District
boundary, the center line of the six acre strip of land
being the center line of Indian Cre^, all as more
particularly shown on the schematic site plan dated
Novotiber 22, 1988 submitted in support of the application
for rezoning. Said area shall be deeded to the Town of
Ithaca for open space area and municipal purposes before
the issuance of any certificates of occupancy for any
dwelling unit within the Special Land Use District.
(j) All of the dwelling units shall be owner-occupied subject
to the following:
( i) A unit may be occupied by other than the owner as
long as the occupant is related by blood (e.g.,
father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, etc.) to
the owner.
( ii) A unit may be rented by an owner for no more than
a cumulative period of twelve months within any
continuous thirty-six month period. Pemission to
rent and/or siablet for a longer period of time
shall be obtained in writing from the Board of
Directors or other governing body of any
homeowners association established in connection
with the conitiunity. In no case, however, may a
unit be rented by an owner or owners for more than
24 months cumulatively in any five-year period.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the developer shall
be allowed to rent on or more units for a period
not to exceed two years in each case from the date
of issuance of the original certificate of
occupancy for the unit being rented, provided that
at no time may the developer have more than
sixteen units rented under this provision at any
one time.
(k) The dwelling units shall be occupied by persons over the
age of 54 pursuant to rules and regulations contained in
bylaws, declarations, or other regulations approved
the Town Board. Such regulations may permit tenporary
occupancy visitors under the age of 55 years.
(1) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Town of Ithaca
Zoning Ordinance to the contrary, in Special Land Use
District No. 6, no building shall be erected, altered, or
extended to exceed 42 feet 6 inches in height from the
lowest interior grade or 40 feet 6 inches in height frcm
the lowest exterior grade, vdiichever is lower. No
structure other than a building shall be erected,
altered, or extended to exceed 30 feet in height.
(m) Except as specifically provided for herein any
Town Board Minutes 27 March 13, 1989
construction for vdiich a permit is granted shall comply
with all applicable laws, codes, ordinances, rules and
regulations.
(n) The execution of an agreement mutually acceptable to the
developer and the Town of Ithaca relating to the terms
under v^ch
( i) the developer will provide its own water service
or facility for the Indian Creek Retirement
Ccramunity; and/or
( ii) the developer will construct any sewer and/or
water mains that may be required to provide water
and/or sewer service to the Indian Creek
Retirement Ccramunity; and/or
(iii) the developer may make contributions to the Town
of Ithaca in amounts to be mutually agreed upon to
permit the Town to construct or upgrade water
supply and/or sewage disposal facilities
necessitated by the construction of the Indian
Creek Retirement Ccairaunity.
Such agreement to be executed, unless waived by the Town of Ithaca,
prior to the issuance of any building permits for any construction
in the Indian Creek Retirenent Catraunity.
5. Any significant revisions to the schematic site plan of
Novonber 22, 1988 s\±mitted to the Town Board shall be sufcraitted to
and be approved hy the Town Board before issuance of any building
permits. In accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance
a final site plan shall be suhsnitted to and approved by the Town of
Ithaca Planning Board before issuance of any building permits.
6. The area encompassed and rezoned in accordance with this local
law to Special Land Use District No. 6 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.
7. Any violations of the terms of this local law shall constitute
a violation of the TOwn of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance and shall be
punishable as set forth in said ordinance and in Section 268 of the
Town Law of the State of New York. Each week's continued violation
shall constitute a separate offense. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Tcwn reserves for itself, its agencies and all other
persons having an interest, all remedies and rights to enforce the
provisions of this law, including without limitation, actions for
any injunction or other equitable remedy, or action and damages, in
the event the owner of the parcels covered by this law fails to
cotply with any of the provisions hereof.
8. In the event that any portion of this law is declared invalid
by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining
portions shall not be affected by such declaration of invalidity.
9. This law shall take effect 10 days after its publication in the
Ithaca Journal.
Town Board Minutes 28 March 13, 1989
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwonan Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwcman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcanb Voting Nay
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
Local Law No. 2 - 1989 was thereupon declared duly adopted.
PERSONS TO BE HEARD
Bill Hilker, 277 Bums Road stated that he knew quite a few of the
Board members were at the public meeting on the South Hill Trail
but he would like to reiterate seme of the problems that he thinks
still exist in the SEQR documents. At the informational meeting
that we had we addressed seme of the issues vdiich he did not feel
all had been corrected in the document that has been revised. Mr.
Hilker went on to say that the main one was on parking, the revised
SEQR states only that the parking may be addressed later along with
the Coddington Road development as if there is no problem at the
present time and there is a problem at the present time. On Bums
Road we have masses of people that park along that road on a curve,
vbich is a blind curve, at this time without having a trail vtoch
is designated and telling the people to ccme use it. There is no
place for thon to park now, they park out into the road, they park
in a very dangerous situation. He felt there was definitely an
impact there v^ich needs to be addressed.
Councilman Klein asked, vdiere is it they park now?
Mr. Hilker replied, there is only rocm for about three cars on the
edge of Bums Road at the entrance of the proposed trail and that
is on a blind curve and they park on the road. He stated that he
has seen as many as fifteen cars packed up there on private
property, into the road, vtetever and that's at present that's not
with an improved trail in there so he thought the SEQR document is
defective in not addressing this in a more forthright manner. He
went on to say it also stated there is no reduction in use and he
would like to take issue with that also. It says "no major
recreation or open space reduction or adverse iitpact is expected",
the proposed uses of this trail are not for the people that are
there. We have almost everybody, with the exception of a few
people, vho have signed a request not to have the trail there
because it does impact upon the use of the people within South
Hill. In this document here is says there is no reduction in use.
He stated that he considered that a very substantial reduction.
This use has been historic for the children of the area, they have
used it and the uses they have put it to will no longer be in
effect if it becomes the trail as so designed.
Coimcilvonan Raffensperger commented, if it becomes a Town facility
they will no longer be able to use it, she went on to say that Mr.
Hilker had lost her somev^ere.
Mr. Hilker replied, the youth of the area as well as most of the
adults do not use it as a jogging or bicycle trail, they use it as
moped trail, a place to run their mini bikes, snowmobiles, that
type of thing. That is vhat they do out there, they don't jog and
they don't bicycle.
Town Board Minutes 29 M^ch 13, 1989
Councilwonian Raffensperger replied, there is cross county skiing on
there isn't there?
Mr. Hilker replied, there is very limited cross county skiing. The
portion of the railroad track that is his driveway he welccntes
anyone to use it. There is seme cross county skiing, there is much
more snowmobiling than cross county skiing, probably ten times the
amount and that is local people using it for snowmobiling. It's
people out of the area using it for cross county skiing. There
were two families that he knew of that that basically use it for
cross county skiing that are of local nature. Mr. Hilker went on
to say it is used continually for snowmobiling by a very large
number of local residents. It is continually used by bicyclers out
there and they have no problem with snowmobilers. He stated that
he knew of no problems, to date, for those that use it for skiing
along with snowmobiling. They use it in different types of
weather. What we are talking about is restricting it from the use
it is being put to by the local residents. Those were the two
mains issues he took issue with in the SEQR and he felt they were
totally defective in those two areas.
Mr. Hilker continued saying, we were told that at the meeting up at
NCR that there were adequate public hearings set for this. He
stated that he could find no public hearing except for the original
1975 public hearing on any of this, trails, bikeways, open space or
any other designation you might want to put to it.
Councilwcman Raffensperger remarked, we did have a public hearing
at the time of the revision of the Park and Open Space Plan. She
stated that she did not remember v^t year that was.
Mr. Hilker replied that there, if he could read it says,
"Coiancilwanan Raffensperger added we will need to hold a public
hearing at the Town level" but Mr. Hilker stated that he could
never find it.
S\:5)ervisor Desch asked vAiat was the date of that meeting?
Mr. Hilker replied. May 9, 1983.
Town Planner Beeners replied, June 11, 1984 was v^en she thought
there was a public hearing.
Mr. Hilker replied that he would do seme more looking but you have
to realize this is a short time and a lot of pages to cover. He
stated that he would like to go on and point out, that the original
Parks and Open Space provision, or actually the law, stated that
they trails would be used for cross county skiing or mini bikes and
it was originally put to the public for that type of purpose. Seme
place along the line, and he felt without public hearings, things
have changed. He stated that he did not know v^y but the only
public hearing he knew of
Supervisor Desch replied you may be partially right, however, the
local law that was adopted with respect to bikeway rules was in
response to a public hearing so he thought that would cover that
vhole aspect.
Mr. Hilker replied that he would have to do a thorough search. But
he wanted to bring it to the Boards attention so they could be
looking at it also. He went on to say there also was another
statement in the original local law that says that before there is
any change or any use put to bikeway or trails or anything of that
nature, the local residents along there will be notified and
advised of any changes that may be contemplated. He stated that he
has never received any notice of any nature out there.
Town Board Minutes 30 March 13, 1989
Si:?)ervisor Desch replied, that's in the local law governing the
regulation of bikeways?
Mr. Hilker replied, that's in the original local law of Open Spaces
and Parks, \^ch he felt would be appropriate for the bikeways
also. He went on to say that the final portion that he found here
v^ch is the original law v^ich says, outright acquisition can
often be achieved through the eminent domain but this does not seem
to be appropriate in the Towns case. Now we have started with a
law that says adverse possession type of acquisition is not an
appropriate thing and we have come about face on that also and that
is one of the major parts of this trail is to have adverse
possession and take it.
Supervisor Desch reanarked, you lost me there?
Mr. Hilker replied, how much have you set aside for that purpose?
How much money have you set aside for adverse possession on South
Hill trails?
Siapervisor Desch replied, how much have we set aside for
condormation?
Mr. Hilker replied, that is correct.
Supervisor Desch replied, none.
Mr. Hilker replied, now at the meeting you told us that there was
something in the neighborhood of $40,000 set aside for that
purpose, for possible acquisitions.
Supervisor Desch replied, acquisitions meaning easements purchased.
Mr. Hilker remarked and condemnation was said also.
Supeirvisor Desch replied the way it would have to happen is that
the Board would have to decide do we locate it vdiere it is proposed
by condemnation or by location elsev^ere. Those are the options.
There has been no discussion with the Board on condemnation for
South Hill.
Mr. Hilker replied that he remembers that if the Town was unable to
acquire frcm NYSEG the right to use it you would obtain it by
possession.
Town Attorney Barney replied, never by possession, that's
different.
Supervisor Desch remarked you can do it by license, easement or
condemnation.
^tyrtle Whitccmb, 233 Troy Road asked, ^en you say that this going
to be closed during a period of time for hunting season, does that
mean there will be hunting within the trail or just that it is
closed for a safety factor and there would not be hunting within
the trail?
Supervisor Desch replied, presumably there would be hunting within
the trail.
Councilman Whitconnb renarked that notwithstanding the 66 people vdio
signed the petition against the trail he felt there was a great
deal of support for the trail on South Hill with a few conditions.
Seme of the things that they are concerned about the Town Planner
already knows about, but he thought seme of the more irrportant
things are the residents would like seme assurance that this trail
Town Board Minutes 31 March 13, 1989
is not going to lead to further development of the lands,
particularly below the railroad. They want seme assurance that
those natural areas will be protected. There also seems to be a
consensus among those that do tentatively support the trail that
maybe it should be scaled down a bit. Maybe it is not necessary to
pave the western end of it and so on, maybe it should be kept a
more natural area. He stated those were the kinds of things he
would like to have considered between now and the time the Board
looks at it again.
Supervisor Desch encouraged each Board member to talk to the Town
Planner as he felt each has a slightly different priority in
respect to that.
APPOINTMENT OF TOWN ENGINEER
Henry Aron, Qiairraan of the Personnel Committee introduced Sally
Olsen vdio has applied for the position of Town Engineer. He went
on to say that the Personnel CcHtinittee reccnmends the appointment
of Ms. Olsen.
RESOLUTION NO. 66
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Coimcilwcman
Raffensperger,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby appoint
Sally S. Olsen to the position of Town Engineer for the TOwn of
Ithaca at a starting salary of $35,000 annually.
(Desch, McPeak, Raf fensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
TCWN OF ITHACA WARRANTS
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 67
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves
the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated March 13, 1989, in the following
amounts:
General Fund - Town Wide $ 41,167.73
General Fund - Outside Village $ 62,639.88
Highway Fund $ 81,132.43
Water & Sewer Fund $164,012.95
Capital Projects Fund $ 81,492.95
Fire Protection Fund $396,790.50
Lighting Districts Fund $ 445.74
(Desch, McPeak, Raf fensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
BOLTOSf POINT WARRANTS
RESOLUTION NO. 68
Motion Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Klein,
RESOLVED, that the Bolton Point Warrants dated March 13, 1989, in
the Operating Account are hereby approved in the amount of
$195,667.82 after review and upon the reccnraendation of the
Town Board Minutes 32 M^ch 13, 1989
Southern Cayuga Lake Intemunicipal Water Ccmnission, they are in
order for payment.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
EXECUTIVE SESSlOm
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 69
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Cotmcilman Klein
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TOwn of Ithaca hereby moves
into Executive Session to discuss condemnation proceedings with
respect to the East Shore Driver sewer project.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccrob
voting Aye. Nays - none).
OPEN SESSIOSf
RESOLUTION NO. 70
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby moves
back into Open session.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 71
Motion ty Supeirvisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Klein,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet at
12:00 noon on March 27, 1989 to consider the public need for two
parcels of land along East Shore Drive with the discretion that if
we are able to acccramodate a settlement that the public hearing
will be limited to any that we are not able to settle on before
that.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitcatib
voting Aye. Nays - none).
CHAIRMAN OF PLANNING BOARD
Councilwcman Raffensperger stated that she was prepared at anytime
to propose the resolution which she intends to present.
Supervisor Desch remarked that v^t he felt was that, since the
Board was talking about an individual two things would be
appropriate. One, that the individual have the opportunity to
address the Board, probably in Executive Session and twD, that the
Boaid with the potential questions that are likely to ccrae up,
would more appropriately do that in Executive Session.
Councilwcman Raffensperger replied that it was her understanding
today, that the present Chairman of the Planning Board was going to
attend the meeting tonight. She stated that he did not seem to be
here and she was unwilling to postpone the resolution vdiich she has
to propose.
Tcwn Board Minutes 33 March 13, 1989
Councilvonan Raffensperger stated that at this point she did not
understand vdiat is to be accatplished by this adjourning to
Executive Session. She stated that the Board held an Executive
Session in December and she did not know that she thought anything
constructive is going to cone frcati another Executive Session.
Supervisor Desch replied, the history of the matter is that the
Planning Board has chose a Chairman following that meeting. That's
the difference. And he felt the Board should identify their
purpose for doing that. They must have had a reason.
Councilwcman Raffensperger replied, which she would be very glad to
discuss in Executive Session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 72
Nfotion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby moves
into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf and Whitccnib voting Aye.
Nays - Leary and Klein).
OPEN SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 73
Motion by Councilwcman Raffensperger; seconded by Coimcilman Klein,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereto moves
back into Open Session.
(Desch, McPeak, Raffensperger, Bartholf, Leary, Klein and Whitccntb
voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 74
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger; seconded by Councilwcman
Leary,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby appoints
Carolyn Grigorov, currently Vice Chairman of the Planning Board, as
Chairman of the Planning Board effective irnnediately and for the
remainder of the year 1989.
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Nay
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Nay
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman Whitccmb Voting Aye
Si:pervisor Desch Voting Nay
The resolution was duly adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
Town Board Minutes 34 M^ch 13, 1989
The meeting was duly adjourned.
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Clerk
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JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State cf New York
No. 4654410
Qualified in Tompkins County
Commission expires May 31:,9.^/
TOWN OF ITHACA ;■ ' .
NOTICE OF. PUBLIC HEARING,- LEASE TAKE NOTICE, that. ;tbe
■' Town Board of the Town of
Ithoco. will meet and conduct■° o public hearing on March .1.3,
' 1989 at 7:00 P.M., at the Towri
- Hall, 126 East Seneca Street,'
■ Ithaca, New York to considero local law rezoning Town, of
Ithoco Tax Parcel No. 6-24-1-
23 and o portion of Town of;Ithoco Tax Parcel No. 6-24^1-
32 with access onto Trumdns-;burg Rood, 69 plus/minus
acres total, from on Agricultu
ral District to o Special LandUse District, for the proposed
"Indian Creek Retirement
Community", proposed to
consist of 60 units of single ortwo family attached clustereddwellings, on 80 unit retire
ment building complex, and
will ot this time hear oil persons in favor of or opposed tothe adoption of said local low.
Jean H. Swortwood
Town Clerk
March 3, 1989
TOWN OF ITHACA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will
meet and conduct a p\;iblic hearing on March 13, 1989 at 7:00 P.M.,
at the Town Hall, 126 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York, to
consider a local law rezoning Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.
6-24-1-23 and a portion of Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 6-24-1-32
with access onto Trumansburg Road, 69 +/- acres total, frcra an
Agricultural District to a Special Land Use District, for the
proposed "Indian Creek Retirement Caimunity", proposed to consist
of 60 units of single or two family attached clustered dwellings,
an 80 unit retirement building complex, and will at this time hear
all persons in favor of or opposed to the adoption of said local
law.
Jean H. Swartwood
Town Clerk
PUBLISH: March 3, 1989