Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1972-02-28TOWN OF ITHACA ADJOURNED BOARD MEETING February 28, 1972 meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca 108 Ea^t Ithaca Offices at1972, at 7:30 p-m.^there wer4 February, PRESENT; Walter J. Schwan, Supervisor Noel Desch, Councilman Robert N. Powers, Councilman ABSENT: Andrew W. McElwee, Councilman Victor Del Rosso, Councilman ALSO PRESENT: James V. Buyoucos, Town Attorney David W. Cowan, Zoning Officer Robert M. Burns, Park Displays, Inc. Hugh (Sam) MacNeil, County Representative Edward W. King^ Attorney Mrs. Barbara Holcomb, Chairman, Planning Board Peter K. Francese, Planning Consultant Meanders of Radio, TV, and Press I Supervisor Schwan CAlled the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. REVISED PAY SCALE - PLANNING BOARD RpJnTVFn^ Schwanj seconded by Councilman Desch, ? the Planning Board, beginning in March,on actual attendancl.''^ ^ ° meeting, per member, based Unanimously carried. RESOLUTION fF THE GREATER ITHACA COMMITTEE ON^ WATER RESOURCES The Board discussed briefly a resolution arising out of a meetinc of ?L°i?hfcViofrd'Sf°PuS!L' RpqnTTOn^ Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch,RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca sunnorts the unanimous resolution of the Greater Ithaca Committee on Water municipalities involved take steps j formatxon of a Water District to include the munici-palities and urging the formation of a Committee consisting of two Ind furthe?^th«t municipality to secure this end,the guidelines suggested to the Committee include istahli^h"nnT'?pr governing body for the district torates; (b) use of engineering advice todecide on the appropriate source or sources of water, (c) employment operate the plant or plinis of th^ tion thflt S meeting within 30 days, with the addi-i feeling of the Ithaca Town Board that inasmuchno concrete evidences of cooperation available at this abolitfnn of Ithaca and by cooperation the Board means theu??" 2 existing moratorium on water taps for the Town, and romi?t+PB pn"S supports the resolution of the Greater Ithaca o? Resources and is willing to implement it, the Town=fKT= + < 1 f®?? "® proceeding with as much haste as pos- p? Implement the design of an independent water system for theTowns of Ithaca, Lansing and Dryden, and the Village of Cayuga Heights. Unanimously carried. 'h. February 28, 1972 WATER AND. SEWER SURGHARCffi ' . 1 .1 . The matter of how to collect the water and sewer surcharge was tabled until the regular meeting of the Board ,on March 13, 1972*, Town Attorney -Buyoucos felt tbat it would; require an ordinance to collect the surcharge. : . n PART TIME DEPUTY TOWN CLERK Councilman Desch; seconded by Supervisor Schwan, RESOLVED, that Mrs, Nancy Puller, 316 Turner Place, Ithaca, New York ^ ning^April^l deputy Town Clerk, at $2.50 per hour, begin- Unanimously carried. BONDS OR BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES The Board discussed whether the Town should renew its bond anticipa tion notes at the very favorable rate of 2,8^ or actually bond the districts immediately at an estimated 4-7/8^ to 5.1^. The Board felt i anticipation notes due to the favorable rate,but that the Supervisor should check on the bond market every month. It, appears that the bond anticipation notes can be cut off and the districts can be bonded whenever the Town is ready to do s.o. The Supervisor will look into the matter of getting estimates of what it may cost to prepare brochures, etc. for bonding. The Town Attorney saggested that he be consulted before any inquiries are made in this regard. KENKILWORTH EAST HILL PLAZA SIGN AGREEMENT BETWEEN KENNILWORTH AMD TOWN ! i Town Attorney Buyoucos distributed to the Board menibers a proposed ! i agreement between the Town of Ithaca and Kennilworth Associates with respect to two proposed pylon signs. After some discussion, the following resolution was adopted: Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Powers, REISOLVED, that the Town Supervisor be authorized to execute on beshalf of the Town of Ithaca an agreement with Kennilworth Associates for the erection of two pylon signs not to exceed 100 square feet and no»t to exceed 24 feet in height. Unanimously carried. Thie said agreement is on file in the Town Offices. SrGN ORDINANCE (PROPOSED^ Mr. Robert M. Burns appeared on behalf of Park Displays," Inc. Ha stated that during the past year, local businessmen have "made substan-. tial investments in advertising through billboards and' that the elim- ination of billboards would limit' off premises advertising to other more expensive media, such as^radio and newspapers.. He said the company employs some 70 people and many of them live In Ithaca and people the company attracts to the area have meetings here and spend money in the community. He noted also that the company has contribu- j : ted free billboard space', to many charities, for example, the United 1^' Fund, Heart Fund, Muscular^Dystrophy, Red Cross, Suicide Prevention, etc. He contended that none of the billboards are in heavily residen tial areas. He said he did hot beiievo their billboards bothered any one or marred the countryside and that they are not visually detri mental. He appeared to the Board to allow the company to continue as a responsible business in the Town of Ithaca. . Mr. Burns submitted the following recommendations, for the Board's consideration: "it is the recommendation of Park Displays,: Ithaca, New York, that section 5f be eliminated and that piaragraph (e) be added'under section 6, . rv L- - i 3 - February 28, 1972 e. Billboards, providing that the spacing, ligh,tigg ^d ,, size requirements set .forth below "^ply; - AlL 1. Location .' , . i a. Signs may not be located-^ih such manner .,as to obscure, or otherwise physically interfe'fe with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, or device, obstruct or physically interfere with the driver^s view of approaching, merging^ or intersecting traffic. b. In the town of Ithaca, no structure may be located within 5Q0 ft. of an interchange, b. intersection at grade, or pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main traveled way. c. If an area becomes residentially developed,., or ; subdivided into housing lots that will result V in substantial residential visibility of the sign, the sign or signs will be ren\p.yed, 2* Lighting: billboards will.-not contain or. include n illumination by any flashing, intermittent, or - 'moving light or lights. Billboard lighting will :be effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays -of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle. No -sign shall , be so illuminated that it; interferes wi.l^h the effec tiveness or obscures an official traffic sign, device^ or signal. 3. Size; the maximum area for any one sign shall be 325 sq, ft. with a maximum height of 24 ft. above the road grade level and maximum length of 30 ft., inclusive of any border and trim. " n The Board said they would consider the recommendations as presented and thanked Mr. Burns for the information provided. Buyoucos ! advised Mr. Burns that the Town Board did not intend t6 hurt anyone economically'and that the'Board Is aware .'of thfe public spirited acti vities of Park Displays. He said, however, that the ordinance which the Town of Ithaca will eventually adopt has to be enacted in the context of current needs and current imperatives of the foreseeable future. One of the purposes stated in the proposed sign board law is that the Town recognizes its obligation to prevent .environmental deterioration and that this is going to loom very large- in the actions of the Town Board, whatever they may be. They will take into account the economic factors involved and the economic factors, of the people who need advertising in the community and the economic^ factors of the companies which are in the business of conducting and .constructing and maintaining signs, but it is all going to be done in the light of current needs and the needs of the future. He emphasized that th'e current ordinance will not be quite the same as ordinances in the past. M Attorney Edward W. King appeared on behalf of Kennilworth Associates. He stressed the considerable .investment Kennilworth has made in the Town of Ithaca. He said ^der the proposed ordinance dll the present Kennilworth signs would be illegal. He felt the proposed sign ordi nance was too restrictive as to maximum height and square footage of signs. He also objected to the requirement that signs should not be King pleaded also for a longer "grand father clause. He ui^ed^jthe Town to keep an open mind and obtain at least a year's experience with a less restrictive ordinance before binding yourselves in a straight-Jacket," He did not feel the Town ought to establish "maximum" limitations with respect to signs, Mr, King exhibited pictures pf various signs in the Town during his pre sentation. If the Town felt it had to have a maximum height limit, i-; S: P^bruary.28. 1972 .. .. •' Mr. King suggested 30 feet. The Town Board felt that^sqme standard limit at l^sn"'-With respect to height and square footage was* required since we-are now at the beginnihg of a new look at the whole sign and billboard picture. It was notfe.,d. that billboards are not presently allowed in the Town of Ithaca, so that the. fourteen billboards'Bwned by Park Displays are non-conforming uses. The Board indicated it would give-consideration to Mr. Kingis recommen dations, particularly, with reference to"'a longer "grandfather" clause. The Board appeared to lean toward making provision for directories on signs. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch, - RESOLVED," that the meeting^ be adjourned. • Unanimously carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk . -4