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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1973-02-22TOWN OP iraACA ADJOURNED BOARD MEETING February 22, 1973 At an Adjourned Meeting of the Town Board Of the Town of Ithaea, Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at lOo East Green Street, jthaca. New York^ oh the 22nd day of Pebru- ary, 1973> at 5:00 p^in;3 there were ^ PRESENT: Walter J* Schwan] Supervisor Noel DCsch. Councilman / Victior Del Rosso> Cpuiicilman Robert N. ^bwersi^ cbunciiman ABSENT: Andrew W. McElwee, Couhciiman ALSO PRESENT: JamCs Vi Buyoucofe, Town Attorney John ^rney. Attorney Peter K. Prancese. Planning Consultant Mrsi Barbara Holcomb, Chairman^ Planning Board Kenneth Kroohs, Town Plahner-Engineer Norbert and William Schickel, Schickel Environmental Development Company John Wi MacDonald, Attorney Robert M. Chase, Presidenti East Ithaca Town Association David Smith, Realtor Richard Fischer, 135 Pine Tree Road Mr. and Mrs. Richard Archibald, ll4 Honness Lane Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bradt, 1342 Slaterville Road Richard K. Blatchley, 131 Honness Lane Radio, TV, and Press The meeting was called to order at 5:20 p.m. EASTWOOD COMMONS - SCHICKEL ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - PROPOSED REZONING Norbert Schickel and William Schickel (architect) presented revised site plans to the Town Board for the Eastwood Commons development. The revisions included a reduction in the density from l84 units to 17o units, increased center green area which was described as almost as large as a "football field", removal of parking from the right-of- way. The revised plan has a parking ratio of 1.5 spaces per unit, completely off-street. The plan now encompasses 9*3 dwelling units per acre. Mr. Schickel indicated that there would be considerable green area available for children to play, but it is not specifically designated as a recreation area. All utilities and drainage will be underground. The right of way will be 50 feet. Clarence Bradt, 1342 Slaterville Road, was concerned about two entrances on Honness Lane and wondered if Mr. Schickel had given any consideration to getting an exit and entrance over toward Mitchell Street. He felt with two entrances on Honness Lane a lot of traffic will be concentrated down Honness Lane to Slaterville Road. Mr. Bradt said he had lived on Slaterville Road for 30 years and has over the years noted the increased number of trucks, cars, and buses. He said the intersection of Honness Lane and Slaterville Road is a bad corner with many school children congregating there. He was concerned about putting all the traffic on Honness Lane and down Slaterville Road into the City. Mr. Schickel commented that a goodly amount of the traffic will go up and not down and, further, that the type of development proposed does not generate as much traffic as is generally supposed. Mr. Schickel was questioned very closely about drainage. Council man Powers wondered if the art of designing a drainage system is precise to the point that we can predict what will work and what will happen before it is done. Planning Consultant Francese said - 2 - February 22, 1973 people make a living doing Just that. Mr. Powers said other people make a living shoveling mud out of basements. Mr. Blatchley said this development will generate three times the present water flow in this area. There was some disagreement with Mr. Blatchley on this point. It was indicated that the flow might be more rapid but not necessarily in greater amount. It was noted that there is con« siderable green area to absorb water flow. Mr. Blatchley insisted there would be three times the amount ;of water as a result of this development and said the Town, within five years, would have a lot of water problems as a result of this development. Mr. Schickel said the whole plan has been designed with a lot of thought given to drainage. He said there are two natural draws on the land, indicating on the map particularly the ravine (at Town-City line) toward which water will be collected, channeled and diverted. Mr. Schickel insisted that an effective drainage system can certainly be properly engineered* Town ^ttorney Buyoucos asked what guarantee the Town had that an effectjive drainage system could be properly en gineered. Mr. Schickel pointed out that this area and this site is not uniquely different than any other. He cited that the whole of the Cornell University campu$ has been successfully engineered. He said this particular site has two natural draws where water can be channeled. William Schidkel, architect, said that considering the grade and the arrangement of the roads, the water would be taken off at a moderate rate. Councilman Del Rosso said the Board is concerned more with where the Water goes after it leaves the proposed develop ment. Mr. Schickel said the water would go doWn two natural draws and felt his development would improve conditions in the Honness Lane- Slaterville Road area. Mr. Schickel emphasized again that the devel opers had to furnish a drainage plan satisfactory to the Town Board, one which the Town Board would approve, before the development or the rezoning would be approved. Town Attorney Buyoucos asked Mr. Chase, President, East Ithaca Town Association, whether they would have any objection to this proposal now, assuming that the drainage were properly taken care of. Mr. Chase said the Association was concerned with more than Just the drainage. Mr. Chase said they still felt that a development as dense as this should go on the perimeter of the Town. He said they are con cerned about vehicular traffic and a 55^ reduction in units does not seem to the Association a very significant decrease in the vehicular load. He said the Association hoped that an effective drainage plan could be engineered. The meeting was adjourned until 5 o'clock Monday night, February 26, 1973 to consider a prepared resolution with respect to the Schickel proposal, Mr. Schickel asked if the concept could be approved sub ject to a formal resolution. The Board felt they would rather wait until the prepared resolution is available on Monday, February 26, 1973.. Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk