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Home My WebLink AboutPB Minutes 1957-10-02 M0UTES OF THE TOWN BOARD MEETING October 2 , 1957 Present : Liguori , Phillips , Vasse , Watson , Gordonp Boynton Absent : Hurst Meeting commenced at approximately 8 : 45 p.m. MR . VERNON MARION requested further information on the status of the land along Five Mile Drive which had been proposed for change from residential to light industrial use . He read a state- ment which expressed his opinions of the zoning ordinance and the way it is now functioning . Mr . Marion said he believed that the State would widen Floral Avenue and Five Mile Drive immediately if the assessed valuation were increased . He said that it was a penalty on the Town that ' we were not allowing Ithaca Textiles to take advantage of the site which they wanted to use on Five Mile Drive, MR. PHILLIPS pointed out that the Planning Board must know where the State will put its road before we can do any concrete planning of the area . It was pointed out that Mr . Abbott was in a great hurry when he made his request for rezoning recommendations and would not wait for any other site than the one which was on Five Mile Drive * MR . MARION pointed out that the business men of the area depend on industrial expansion and that his business in particular i' depends on growth of the community . MR . PHILLIPS pointed out that the business and industry locations must be the best ones that can be planned for in the Town and then designate those for future expansion . He asked Mr. Marion to help find these areas and .make concrete suggestions to the Planning Board . Mr , GORDON pointed out that the promised extension of sewers to Ithaca Textiles was never ratified by formal action of the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works . MR. VASSE pointed out the advantage of light industrial development away from the populated area of Glenside and said that coordination with the City of Ithaca was a necessity because the City is planning industrial growth toward the Town of Ithaca . MR . PHILLIPS was asked why the industrial area was placed on the zoning map in its present location . He explained that the industrial area was selected because of the access to railroads . He commented that he believed that the railroads were no longer such an important factor and that trucks were a more valuable means of transportation in this area . MR. GORDON pointed out that the city is insisting on Meadow Street as an arterial but that he felt that the road should run through the center of the flats and that the road could then be used as a flood wall to protect future development of commercial and light industrial useage from the flooding of the inlet . He emphasized the fact that water and sewer must be available l-. Minutes of Town Board Meeting October 2 , 1957 cont . before any development is undertaken . And he pointed out the necessity for establishing a definite policy with the city . He said that the town board would not go along with him on the development of water and sewer at the present time but he believes some action must be taken very quickly. MR . WATSON reviewed the proposal which the Planning Board had sent the Town Board and recommended that the Town Board act on the following matters le The light industrial zone should be established and included in the zoning ordinance . 2 . The. specific area , recommended by the Planning Boardp during its May 1 , 1957 meeting should be acted on by the Town Boards MR . GORDON said that these recommendations would be brought to the attantion of the Town Board at its regular meeting on October 3 , 1957 . DISCUSSION of a possible light industrial zone next to the Burtt Place area . MR PHILLIPS pointed out that this area was designated as a residential zone for the view below Coddington Road , at this point , was a most beautiful ones DISCUSSION During the discussion it was pointed out that this is a natural industrial area because it fits with the present industrial development in the Town . And , also , because stone is so close to the surface and that every builder in theaarea has been approached for development of the area and none of them thought it would make a good residential building site ® DISCUSSION of the multiple housing revisions for the zoning ordinance were discussed but because of lack of time , discussion was ended prior to any conclusions being reached . The subject of medical clinics was brought up and a recommendation was made that the Town Board take action on the rewording of the zoning ordinance to include medical clinics in a residential zone ,upon approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals, —PING ADJOURNED • o �' r' . '�1- -, ,• � f I�S'S"�Ad 4�'+kd°F"s � U , / /1 � �.1 !1 Ari d 1c# !a #f. I �F�6' � ;L f C ., . CO Most of us think of a zoning ordinance as a law designed to protect us in our largest investment , our home . It should pre - vent undesirable business and industry from creeping into once desirable residential areas , and reducing home values by substan- tial amounts . This loss in home value not only affects the owners but the entire community in loss in assessed valuation . A well designed zoning ordinance that provides adequate room for commercial , industrial and business growth would accomplish this , and with a minimum of revision . A poorly designed ordinance resultsspot and lot zoning that completely eliminates any protection that the home owner believed he had when he made his investment . This I believe is the type of zoning law we now have . The confusion created this spring when Ithaca Textiles attempted ® to locate in the present industrial area could not have occurred with a properly designed zoning law . I am concerned mainly with the lack of usable industrial area provided in the present zoning ordinance . At present the only industrial areas are a small section of the Danby Road , the flood area between the Elmira Road and the Inlet , and the helicopter industrial area extending from the city line of Floral Avenue to Burtt Pl . , which is unusable because it is fronted by a residential zone . I don ' t think it is necessary to state the reasons why industrial growth is necessary to the improvement and prosperity of any community . It does seem odd that at a time when all surrounding communities are beckoning to Industry with open arms , we have practically zoned it out of the township . The zoning law is contradictory . The first sentence states that the zoning ordinance is designed for the purpose of promoting the health , safety , morals , or the general welfare of the community . The last sentence under section 45 states that in granting special approval where authorized in this ordinance , the Board of Appeals shall determine that a need for the use in question exists , and that convenience and prosperity of the community will be served and that neighboring persons and property will not be adversely affected . I don ' t think it is possible for a Planning Board , charged with planning for the general welfare of the town of Ithaca , to do their job without some of the people of the area thinking they will • be adversely affected . Unless a well defined industrial area is established in the town of Ithaca , we not only discourage the development of Industry here , but maks it nearly impossible . The bungled zoning law and the indecision of the Planning Board this sparing has already cost the taxpayers of the town , a one million dollar payroll and one hundred - fifty thousand dollars in new assessed valuation . The Ithaca Textile incident will occur again and again , unless the town board takes decisive action , either in making present industrial areas accessible or providing new industrial area . Unlessthis action is taken the development of Ithaca would proceed much more rapidly and serve the public interest more effectively , if we had no zoning law at all .