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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1971-05-18 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD May 18 , 1971 The regular meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board was held Tuesday , May 18 , 1971 , at 7 : 30 p . m . in the Town of Ithaca Offices ,. 108 E . Green Street , Ithaca , New York . PRESENT :: Chairman Barbara Holcomb , Jack Lowe , Dan Baker , Robert Christianson , Maurice Harris , Peter Francese ( Planning Consultant ) , and David Cowan ( Zoning Officer ) . Also present" Were approximately 15 town residents . `. There was no report from the Park Council . Mr . Cowan reported that an assistant zoning officer had been appointed by the Town Board upon the Planning Board ' s recommendation and would be beginning work on May 20 , 1971 .. Peter Francese reported on the proposal to construct a fleet garage at Cornell University . Mr . Parks , of Cornell ' s Planning Office , had appeared before the Board a few months Ago with preliminary drawings . Upon our suggestion , the new proposal provides for construction back further from the road and corrects previous drainage problems . It was suggested that Mr . Francese write a letter to Mr . Parks ' to show the Board ' s appreciation of their efforts to keep us informed of their plans . Barbara Holcomb reported that there will be a vacancy on the Board created by the resignation of Reginald Collins on July 1 , 1971 . It was reported that there are two former members who are now available and anxious to serve on the Board : Robert Scannell and Sam Slack . CHRISTOPHER LANE : Five property owners from Christopher Lane appeared before the Board to question the construction of a road connecting Christopher Lanewhich had T No. ly been a dead end , with a road around St . Catherine ' s Church . Mr . Robert Marcou-x ( 206 . Christopher Lane ) and Mr . John Kelly . ( 208 Christopher Lane ) , representatives of the area residents , stated that their objection to this road was because of children playing and the disadvantages of having additional traffic . Mrs . Holcomb stated she would go back over the - old records to see what requirements were set on Mr . Prince ' s final approval of this subdivision . She will also check to see about . the paving and surracing of this road since it is a town road . • - 2 - FIDLER ROAD : Mr . Prince would like to deed to the Town his road on Five Mile Drive , Fidler Road , The Board will bring this to the attention of the Town Board . PUBLIC HEARING ON ROLF PROPOSAL : A public hearing was held to review the application of Mr . Fredrick Rolf for the rezoning of a portion of his land on Five Mile Drive ( Floral Avenue ) from R - 9 residential to multiple family residential . Mr . Rolf is proposing to construct 12 apartment units in three buildings . on approximately 3 . 4 - acres . No water and sewer are available . All units require! drainage fields and wells . The soil appears to be acceptable for drainage . Health Department approval of water and sewer drainage is still required . All local residents were informed of Mr . Rolf ' s plans and informed of the public hearing . Mr . Loran Marion , a neighbor of the Rolf property , stated that he has no objections to the rezoning of this property . It was also reported that another neighbor , Mr . Cook , had expressed his approval . It was pointed out that if in the future public water and sewer should become available , final approval would be required to increase the density of this development . It was also sug . gested that the road entrance be onto Fidler Road . Peter Francese pointed out that it does not meet the requirements -For set back from the district lines . Therefore , if Mr . Rolf should wish to sell any of the property located behind the apartments , he would have to made some kind of adjust . ment or could not sell down to the line . Bob Christianson made a motion that the Planning Board recommend to the Town Board the rezoning of this property which- is 500 ' in length along Floral Avenue and 300 ' in depth between what is known as Fidler Rd . and a portion still owned by Mr . Prince , contingent on the road preferably leading onto Fidler Road , and also contingent upon the Health Department ' s approval of water and sewer . This recommendation is limited to the plan shown of three buildings of four units each . If Mr . Rolf should desire in the future to make any further additions , new approval will be required . Maurice Harris seconded the motion , and it was unanimously passed . OTIS DREW SUBDIVISION : Mr . Otis Drew requested Planning Board approval to add one lot to his previously accepted R - 30 subdivision at Poole and Sheffield Roads . Mrs . Holcomb pointed out that there had been no ' objections to Mr . Drew ' s original proposal , and recommended that the Board approve the -addition of Lot 30 to the previously approved Drew Park Subdivision Stage III and to do so Lot 21 will be in - creased from 50 , 720 sq . ft . to 101 , 440 sq . ft . The motion was seconded by Dan Baker , and unanimously passed . TRAFFIC PROBLEMS CREATED BY NEW JR . HIGH SCHOOLS : Mr . Leonard Buyze , Assistant Superintendent of Schools , appeared before the Board to discuss the traffic problems which are being created by the opening of two new Junior High Schools . Mr . Buyze read several letters of correspondence giving the background information concerning the traffic problems . The city school .district has applied to the - Department of Transportation requesting the reduction of the present speed limit on Warren Rd . and on East Shore Drive , 300 ft . in either direction of the building line of the school . They gave as reasons why this area qualifies for a reduced speed limit : ( 1 ) That students below the 10th grade will be attending school here ; ( 2 ) cross walks will be painted on the roadway by the school district ; and ( 3 ) crossing guards will be on duty . The School District is also requesting signal lights be installed at key crossing points . The Department . of Trans - portation will make a study to determine if this is necessary . Two walk ways will be built for the schools ; one along Cayuga Street from the property adjacent to Rosemary Lane , but not coming to Rosemary Lane , to the Jr . High School ; the other walk way will parallel East Shore Drive inside the drainage ditch from Rosemary Lane to the back entrance ( ? ) of the new Jr . High School on the school property . Students coming down Kline Rd . will be encouraged to walk on the sidewalk along the High School property , behind the shops , along the walk on the driveway at the parking lot , along the tennis courts , to Rosemary Lane :, and on to the walkway at Rosemary Lane . Students coming from Fall Creek will walk on the sidewalk by the High School in the roadway of the parking lot . From there , there is some way where there is a gap between the end of the parking . lot and the bE! ginning of the walkway which is separated from Rosemary Lane by the Howe property . A question . was raised as to rather students will be permited to enter the new Jr . High School from the entrance on East Shore Drive , On Warren Rd . there will be a sidewalk built connecting the circular dirve in front of the Jr . High with the -present walkway to the NorthEast School . t . - 4 - The implication was that the crossing guard will be supplied by the Town of Ithaca . The statement was made in one letter that the school district agreed to pay for traffic lights if they were installed , as well as for signs , It was brought to the attention of the Planning Board that there are two right - of - ways atRenwick Heights which come down the hill . The implication is that these right - of - ways are in the Town of Ithaca . We will investigate this . EASTERN HEIGHTS SUBSIVISION : An informal discussion was held concerning the Eastern Heights Subdivision . It was pointed out that the subdivision seems to be violating some of its requirements . Mr . Schwan will write a letter to the developer . Also discussed was the possibility of initiating a lawn height law , such as they have instituted in Auburn . Mr . Francese pointed out that in our new Zoning Ordinance there will be a provision stating that lawns must be mowed twice a year between two specific dates . ADJOURNMENT : The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 20 p . m . Respectfully submitted , Charlene Lawson , Secretary s The next Planning Board meeting is Tuesday , June 15 , 1971 at 7 : 30 in the Town of Ithaca Offices .