HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1973-02-26T6w1I op ITHACA
ADJOBBNED BOARD MEEJriNO
February 26, 1973
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At an Adjourned Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of.Ithaca,
Tompkins County, New York, held At the Town of Ithaca Offices at
108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 26th day of February,
1973> at 5:00 p.m., there weipe
^ PRESENT: Waiter J. Schwan, Supervisor
Noel'Ceschi Councilman
Robert Ni Powers, Councilman
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ABSENT: Andrew W. McElwee, Councilman
Victor Del Rosso, Councilman
ALSO PRESENT: Mfs. Bartpara Holcomb, Chairman, Planning Board
Barnes v. Buyoucos, Town Attorney
Norbert $chickei, Schickel Environmental
Deveiopment Company
rfbhn W. MacDonald, Attorney
David Smith, Realtor
Robert M. Chase, President, East Ithaca Town
Association
Arthur L. Berkey, 120 Christopher Circle
Radio, TV, and Press
The meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m.
EASTWOOD COMMONS - PROPOSED REZONING ON
HONNESS LANE - SCHICKEL ENVIRONMENTAL DEVEIiOPMENT COMPANY
The Board reviewed, page by page, a prepared resolution with respect
to this proposal. There was particular discussion of the meaning
of a "family" (see page 7^ paragraph 6(a) of the resolution). The
Board wanted to guard against the possibility of the units being
occupied by too many persons since the people in the area are much
concerned about the density of this development.
Mr. Schickel said his position has consistently been that the pro
posed development is essentially a single family home concept, and
would, in general, be occupied on the average by three persons. He
felt it should be treated as a single family home, and the regula
tions should not be more restrictive than for any other single family
home in the Town. He wanted to be able to tell his prospective buy
ers that they would be treated like any other single family home in
the Town of Ithaca.
There was considerable discussion and concern over various occupancy
arrangements which might produce occupancy by more persons than the
average of three estimated by Mr. Schickel — that is, people buying
a unit and renting to many other unrelated persons, people buying a
whole building (4 units) and renting to an unusual number of persons,
people going a Sabbatic and renting to many others. Mr. Schickel
said he is committed to selling to owner occupants and that the
financing is predicated on selling to such owner occupants. He
would not sell a whole building (4 units) to any one person. Council-
man Powers wondered if Mr. Schickel could legally refuse to sell to
( anyone. Mr. Buyoucos said he could.
Councilman Desch was concerned that all the drainage should not be
put in first, that is, that the soil cover for the total site area
might be scalped off. Attorney Buyoucos quoted from page 5^ para
graph D(l) as follows; "A plan for the drainage of the rezoned area
and the Eastwood Commons development, in general, shall be approved
by the Town Board in accordance with regulations to be adopted by
the Town Board or in accordance with any requirements contained in
any resolution approving the final site plan. Drainage plans, in
such detail as may be required by the Town, will be submitted for
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each phase, prior to construction. Such drainage plans shlall in
clude drainage improvements both on the rezoned ; parcel and ou]tside
the boundaries of said parcel and shall include'such dirainage ilri-
provements as may be required to correct drainage problems which
may occur after the construction on the site has either been com
menced or completed. The final site plan shall not be approved and
no approval shall be endorsed upon any subdivision map of this
development unless such drainage plan has been approved as aforesaid,
No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any dwel
ling units unless all required drainage has be^n constructed or
planned to the satisfaction of the Town Boards The applicant, shall,
at his own expense, obtain all easements required fof such drainage
plan," Mr. Buyoucos asked Mr, Desch if he saw any'hole in that
language, Mr. Desch said that wording seemed adequate but that he
would be more comfortable with additional Wording which would indi—
cate that no excavation will be carried bn outside of the approved
limits of construction for the particular phase being submitted for
approval. He wanted to be sure that Mr, Schickel has given hard
thought to protecting the areas not immediately being built upon.
Mr. Buyoucos said it might be difficult to anticipate all the possi
bilities and for that reason the Town Board needed to have close
follow-up on the site. Somebody should be there to watch what is
going on^ Supervisor Schwan said Mr. Kroohs, Town Engineer-Planner,
could do that and that is one of the reasons why he was hired,
Councilmain Desch said that when it comes time to approve the final
plans these are concerns we should keep in mind, these and other en
gineering considerations, Mr, Buyoucos and Mr. Desch agreed that
in respect to this resolution and other resolutions of this type we
should have engineering in-put in the preparation.
MrS, Holcomb indicated that the Planning Board will make a formal
recommendation with respect to the improvement of Honness Lane,
Mri Arthur L. Berkey wondered if the Planning Board's recommendations
with respect to the improvement of Honness Lane would be a part of
the resolution under consideration. It was the consensus of the
Board that the recommendations for the improvement of Honness Lane
should be in the fom of a separate resolution, since it is contem
plated that this work will be done regardless of whether the Eastwood
Commons development is approved or not.
Mr, Chase, President of the East Ithaca Town Association, said he
wanted to express once again the concern of the East Ithaca Town
Association that the density is in their opinion higher than is
reasonable. He said they estimated there would be some 500 to 600
cars in the area and that many cars are inappropriate for a single
road. He said they hoped the drainage problem would be effectively
dealt with. He quoted, "Those who do not learn from the lessons of
history are doomed to repeat them," He hoped that the Planning Board
and the Town Board had learned from the lessons of history. He said
they still felt the problems of access and density in this subdivision
had not been dealt with and they did not feel that a 4.3^ reduction
in the density under the revised plan was very substantial and he
wanted the Board to consider the concerns of the area in that regard.
Supervisor Schwan thanked Mr. Chase for his statement and commented
that multiplying people by cars is an uncertain business and there
are many variables. Assuming the number of 500 or 600 cars to be
accurate it still remains a fact that all the cars are not moving
at the same time. In a two car family one may be used for trans
portation to work and the other may not move for days at a time.
Supervisor Schwan asked if anyone else wished to be heard. Since
no one else asked to be heard the Board took the following action:
Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilman Powers,
(See resolution on the following pages.)
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The Board was polled as follows:
Coxmcilman Powers • . . • Aye
Councilman Desch . . . , Aye
Supervisor Schwan . . • . Aye
. ^ The resolution was thereupon duly adopted.
Supervisor Schwan Indicated he had Information from Councilman
Del Rosso, that had he been at the meeting he would have voted
"Aye".
IMPROVEtoSlffr OF HOMESS LARE^gLATERVILLE ROAD lOTERSECTION
Mrs. Holcomb suggested that a letter be written to the Department
of Transportation requesting that they do soinethlng to Increase the
sight distance to, the left at the Intersection of Honness Lane and
Slatervllle Road (coming down Honness Lane). The Supervisor said
he would write a letter. Mrs. Holcomb reported that Planning Board
would present formal recommendations regarding the Improvement of
Honness Lane at the regular toeetlng of the BoArd on March 12, 1973-
ABJOUkNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Edward L. Bergen
Town Clerk
RESOLUTION ESTAEDISHING MULTIPLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT AND A CLUSTER
DEVELOPMENT THEI^IN ON PROPERTY OP SCHICKEL ENVIRORMENTAL DEVELOP
MENT COMPANY ON HONNESS LANE, TOWN OP ITHACA, NEW YORK
WHEREAS^ application was made to the Town of Ithaca
Planning Board on November l4, 1972 by Schickel Environmental
Development Company, requesting the establishment of a Multiple
Residence Distridt on a parcel of land comprising about 18.9
acres of land on Honness Lane (hereinafter referred to sometimes
as Eastwood Commons subdivision). Tax Parcel 60-1-25.2, owned by
Enos A. Pyle, which will require a change from an R-15 Residential
Zoning District to a Multiple Residence District, for the purpose
of constructing a cluster development of 176 units, said parcel
being bounded and described in Schedule A, annexed hereto, and
WHEREAS, the Planhing Board of the Town of Ithaca duly
held a public hearing upon such application on the 12th day of
December, 1972, following the due and timely posting and publica
tion of notice thereof in the Ithaca Journal on the 7th day of
December, 1972, and the Planning Board at a meeting duly held on
January 2, 1973 having adopted a resolution recommending to the
Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that the said application be
approved, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, at its
regular meeting held on the 8th day of January, 1973^ ordered
that a Public Hearing be held on the 12th day of February, 19735
at the Town Offices, 108 East Green Street, in the City of Ithaca,
New York, to consider, among other matters, the rezoning of said
18.9 acres from R-15 to Multiple Residence for a certain number
of residential units in clusters in accordance with the provisions
of Section 281 of the Town Law, and the Town Clerk having duly
posted and published in the Ithaca Journal on February 1 and 2,
1973 the said Notice of Public Hearing, and it appearing that
said Notice of said hearing has either been served on all persons
or parties requiring notice or a waiver of such notice by any
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such person or party has been filed with the Town Clerk, and the
public hearing having been held as aforesaid and the Town Board
having heard and considered all arguments made with respect to such
requested changes^ and the Public Hearing having been closed, and
the meeting having been adjoUrhed to the 22nd day of February,
1973^ at 5:00 p#mi at the Town Offices for further consideration
of said application, ind the applicant and owners of land in the
vicinity having appeared befbre the Town Board at said adjourned
meeting^ and the application having been further considered, and
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the matter having been adjourned to a meeting of the Town Board
to be held on the 26th day ot February^ 1973> at 5:00 p.m., at
the Town Hall, and the Town Board having fiirther deliberated on
the application,
NOtf, in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLES VI and
IX of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance and in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 264, 265^ and 28l of the
Town Law, it is RESOLVED as follows:
1. The Town Board, in concurrence with the recommenda
tions of the Planning Board, determines that the existing and
probable future character of the nei^borhood in which the rezoned
parcel is located will not be adversely affected; that specific
conditions hereafter set forth have been imposed to provide for
an adequate drainage system and with respect to other matters
concerning the proposed development; that the change from R-15 to
Multiple Residence is in accordance with a comprehensive plan of
development of the Town of Ithaca; and that the proposed change
is in accordance with the purposes for which the existing Zoning
Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca was adopted.
2. The zoning classification of the parcel of about 18.9
acres, owned by Enos A. Pyle on Honness Lane in the Town of Ithaca,
New York, Tax Parcel 60-1-25.2, and described in Schedule A,
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annexed hereto, is changed from a Residence District R-15 to a
Multiple Residence District. The boundaries of said Multiple
Residence District shall be as described in Schedule A of this
Resolution.
3. The change in zoning classification of the above
parcel has been made Subject to compliance by theowner of the
said parcel^ or any portion thel^Oof, with the conditions, require
ments, and the provisions hereinafter set forth. The final site
plan of the owner-applicant shall not be approved ahd, in suiy
event, no building pemit for the construction of any building,
or other structure on said palpcel, shall be issued at any time,
unless and until the owner-applicant has complied with all of the
said conditions, requirements, and provisions or unless and until
satisfactory assurances, under such conditions as the Town Board
may reasonably determine.
4. The applicants shall also comply with such other
requirements suid conditions which the Town Planning Board and
the Town Board of Ithaca may reasonably and lawfully require in
the exercise of their power to approve subdivision plats and the
development thereof. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed
to limit the authority of the Town Board and the Planning Board
to impose such additional requirements and conditions as may be
reasonably and lawfully required in the approval of the final site
plan and the development of the rezoned parcel pursuant to such
plan.
A. (1) The permitted use in this multiple residence
district is limited to 176 dwelling units which shall be construc
ted in clusters in accordance with the provisions of Section 201
of the Town Law, substantially as shown on the site plan entitled
"Eastwood Commons," dated February 21, 1973> a copy of which was
filed with the Town Board on February 21, 1973^ being a revision
of the site plan which was dated December 18, 1972, and filed
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with the Town Planning Boe,rd on February 19> 1973 > and it is
directed that a copy thereof be filed in the Tdwn file of Site
Plans.
B. (1) The looji road shown on the site plan will be
conveyed to the Town of Ithaca as and for a public road, 50 feet
in width. The two entrance roads shoWn on the preliminary site
plan shall have such curbing afe may be feasbnably required by the
Town.
(2) The developer, at his own expense, shall
construct a sidewalk and bicycle path from the rezoned area to
Woodcrest Avenue in accordance with specifications of the Town
Board and such walk and path shall be maintained by the Homeowners
Association in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph
"(3)" immediately following.
(3) It is determined that in accordance with
the purposes and values for which the Town of Ithaca Zoning
Ordinance was adopted the open area, other than the road, shall
be maintained as an open area, with proper landscaping and plant
ing of shrubbery, trees, and grass, and as otherwise herein set
forth, in accordance with reasonable regulations as may be
established from time to time by the Town Board. If such open
spaces are not maintained adequately in accordance with such
regulations, they may be maintained by the Town and the expense
thereof shall be collected by the Town either as on a contract or
by any lawful assessment, levy, or tax, levied upon the property
in the zoned area pursuant to such regulations or by-laws as may
be adopted by such association or other organization or pursuant
to any law or ordinance which may be hereinafter adopted by the
Town Board.
(a) All other open space shown on the site
plan will be owned, maintained, and the use thereof controlled by
an owners (residents) association, incorporated as a not-for-profit
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corporation, or other legal entity, capable of holding title to
the land. The by-laws or sudh associatiori shall contain a pro-
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vision that no by-laws, of iany rules or regulations, shall be
deemed to be effective unless the "jfown Board approves the same,
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but the Town Board may^ from time to tiae> waive the requirement
of approval* The membership Of Such association shall consist
of all the owners of thO Eastviood Commons subdivision. The
Certificate of Incorporation shall hot be deemed to be effective
and shall not be filed with the Stete of New York, unless approved
by the Town Board.
(4) ApJ)f6val of the final site plS,n shall con
tain requrements for landscaping ajid iJlantings as may be reason
ably required by the Town Board or the Planftihg Board.
Ci (1) Prior to submitting a final site plan,
approval shall be obtained from the Tompkins County Highway
Department and the New York State Department of Transportation,
approving curb cuts, drainage of surface and sub-surface waters
from the site.
(2) The Water and Sewer Plan shall be approved
by the County Health Department and the Ithaca Town Board.
D. (1) A plan for the drainage of the rezoned area
and the Eastwood Commons development, in general, shall be approved
by the Town Board or in accordance with regulations to be adopted
by the Town Board of in accordance with any requirements contained
in any resolution approving the final site plan. Drainage plans,
in such detail as may be required by the Town, will be submitted
for each phase, prior to construction. Such drainage plans shall
include drainage improvements both on the rezoned parcel and out
side the boundaries of said parcel and shall include such drainage
improvements as may be required to correct drainage problems which
may occur after the construction on the site has either been
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commenced or completed. ^?he final site plan shall h6t be approved
and no approval shall be endorfeed upon any aubdivisibn map o:^ this
development unless such dlfainage plan h&s fceeh approved as al^ore-
said. No building permit shall be issued fbf th6 construction of
any dwelling units tihless all required drairiiige has been construc
ted or planned to the satisfaction of the 'tbwn Board* The appli
cant shall, at his own expense, obtain all basements required
for such drainage plan.
(2) Any regiilations adopted by the lown Board
shall contain such additional provisions as may be reasonably
required to effectuate the forbgOihg.,
E. (1) Adequate> finished parking Spaces shall be
provided at the ratio of 1.5 parking space fbr each dwelling unit.
No such parking space shall be constructed or located within the
boundaries of any public street or highway.
P. (1) The final site plan presented for approval
will include suitable provisions for active recreational space
for children.
5. (1) No final site plan shall be approved unless the
developer has granted to the Town of Ithaca an easement, 20 feet
in width, for puiTposes of constructing, maintaining, and replac
ing a water transmission line, which easement will commence at
the southeast corner of the lands described in Schedule A, and
as shown on the site plan, and rim westerly along or near the
southerly boundary of said lands to Harwick Road as shovin on said
site plan. Such easement shall provide that the Town shall have
a temporary easement in excess of 20 feet, as required, as a
working easement during the period of any work or construction
being done on the easement area.
(2) Similarly no final site plan approval will be
given unless the developer has granted to the Town an easement
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25 feet in width for the construction, maintenance, and replace
ment of utility lines, including, but not limited to, gas, electric,
telephone, TV cable, water and sewer mains, which easement will
run from the easterly boimdary of the subject lands in a general
westerly direction to connect to the loop road which is to be
deeied to the Towni
6. It is determined that the number of dwelling units
permitted ih this multiple residence zone shall not exceed 176
in number, and shall be subject further to the following require
ments *
(a) Each such dwelling unit shall be used and
occupied only as a single family dwelling; the provisions of the
Zoning Ordinance relating to occupancy of any one single family
dwelling unit Shall apply to each dwelling unit in this develop
ment, except that, in addition to each family, not more than one
roomer, boarder, lodger or other occupant shall be permitted to
occupy each such dwelling unit.
^ (b) Such units shall be built in clusters not
exceeding four such units in each cluster.
(c) No building in this zone shall exceed two stories
in height above ground level.
(d) Each such cluster shall be located as shown
on the final site plan, as finally approved.
7. It is understood that the Eastwood Commons develop
ment shall be constructed in accordance with the following phases-
(a) Phase 1 shall include not more than 4o units.
(b) Subsequent phases shall be planned in relation
to sales,
^ (c) Prior to the application to the Town Board for
final site plan approval for each phase, the applicant shall
submit his plans to the Town Engineer who shall review the same
and make recommendations to the Town Board.
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8. Any detemination which is to made by the Town
Board hereunder, may be delega1>ed to the^ Town Planning Board,
insofar as such delegation is lawfully permitted.
9. The Zoning Map of th$ Towil of Ithaca shall be changed
to show the boundary lines of the Multiple Residence District
established by this Resolution! ,
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10, The lands which ard the subject of this resolution
are now reputedly owned by Enbs Pyle. William Schickel and
Norbert Schickel, d/b/a Schickel Environmental Development
Company, a general partnership, 100 Paii^View Square, Ithaca,
New York, have represented to the Town Board that they have
exercised their optibn to purchase the said parcel. This
resolution is being adopted on the representation of the appli
cants that they have exercised their option to purchase the said
parcel and to develop it in accordance with the prelininary site
plan filed with the Town Board, and said resolution has also been
adopted on the general representations made by the applicant to
^ the Planning Board and the Town Board.
11. If title to the rezoned lands is not conveyed within
one year from the date hereof by Enos Pyle to said William
Schickel and Norbert Schickel as such general partners or to a
corporation or other legal entity owned or controlled by said
William Schickel and Norbert Schickel, the Town Board, upon
application of any resident of the Town, including any member of
the Town Board, shall initiate and complete procedures to
amend the Zoning Ordinance to change the classification of the
said lands to the classification in effect prior to the adoption
of this resolution.
M 12. The Town Clerk is directed to publish this Resolution
in the Ithaca Journal and the foregoing Resolution shall consti
tute an ordinance amending the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance
and shall take effect 10 days after the publication thereof pur
suant to Section 2S4 of the Town Law.
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SClkoiXLE A
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OP LAITO situated in the Town of
Ithaca, Coimty of Tompkins and State of New Yorkj being located on
Honness Lane, being bounded and described as follows: Beginning
at a point in the northerly right of way of Honness Lane, said
point being the southeast corner of lands of Roberts as recorded
in the Tompkins County Clerk's office in Liber 315 at p€ige 273;I • j
thence running N-06®-l8'-04"-E along said Roberts, a distance of
325.37' to a point; thence running N-^83^-^;ilf-2i"-W, a distance of
35^.21' to a pointi thence running N-07^-^5'-30"^E> a distance of
966.12' to a point in the center line of a creek; thence running
easterly along the center line of said creek having a chord bear
ing of S-8i^-45'-22"-E for a distance of 248;30' to a point in
said center line of the creek; thence running S-07^-25'-30"-W,
a distance of 342.82' to a point; thence running S-18°-00'-06"-E,
a distance of 130.0' to a point; thence running N-71^-59'-54"-E,
a distance of 150.OO' to a point on the former right of way of
E.C. & N. railroad; thence running S-18^-00'06"-E along said
right of way, a distance of 666.12' to a point; thence running
S-68°-18'-25"-W, a distance of 120.40' to a point; thence running
S-67^-09'-45"-W, a distance of 345.20' to a point; thence running
S-60^-00'-58"-W, a distance of 122.33' to a point; thence running
N-84°-00'-29"-W, a distance of 150.00' to a point; thence running
3-06*^-18'-04"-W, a distance of 264.00' to a point in the above
mentioned right of way of Honness Lane; thence running N-84^-19'-
02"-W along said right of way of Honness Lane, a distance of 50.0'
to the place of beginning and containing 18.9 acres of land more
or less.
The above described premises are more particularly shown on
a survey map entitled "Map Showing a Portion of Lands of Enos
Pyle" made by P. Donald McKee, Land Surveyoi#32422, dated June
20, 1972, revised July 26, 1972, a copy of which has been filed
with the Town Clerk.