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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1971-10-06 L .. TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD October 6 , 1971 A special meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board was held on Wednesday , October 6 , 1971 at 7 : 30 p . m . in the Town of Ithaca Offices , 108 E . Green Street , Ithaca , New York . PRESENT : Chairman Barbara Holcomb , Dan Baker , Maurice Harris , Jack Lowe , Robert Scannell , and Peter Francese ( Planning Consultant ) . Peter Francese reported that Mr . George Ideman has decided to construct one apartment unit on the second story of his proposed laundramat at Judd Falls Road . The remainder of the second floor will be used for office space . PUBLIC HEARING - MONKEMEYER PROPOSAL : A public hearing was held at 8 : 05 p . m . to consider the proposal of Mr . Evan 'Monkemeyer . Mr . Monkemeyer is requesting that the his property on . King Road be rezoned from R - 30 to Multiple Residence for the purpose of con - structing 111 units on 15 .15 acres of land . The density ofIthe development will be approximately 7 . 5 units per acre. All vehicular traffic will be kept to the outside and parking will be provided initially for 149 cars ( 1 . 4 cars per unit ) with a potential for enlarging the parking area . Trash enclosures are located to the outside of the parking lots of each unit . Small courtyards are provided for recreational areas . The interior drives will be . maintained by the developer . Area property owners in attendance at the public hearing were James Beatty - 1110 N . Aurora Street ; Sharon Staz - 1117 E . King Rd . ; Anthony Leonardo - Danby Rd . Discussion was held and it was recommended to the architects that a map be drawn up showing the surface drainage and topography and specific plans for water and sewer drainage . The public hearing was closed at 8 : 35 p . m . A motion was made by Jack Lowe and seconded by ` M; aurice Harris that the Planning Board recommend to the Town Board the rezoning from R - 30 to multiple residence of the Herbert Monkemeyer property on King Rd . for the purpose of construction of III units on a parcel of land 15 . 15) acres . The reasons that we recommend this proposal are the following : ( 1 ) The site is near to a . large commercial zone in the Town of I -thaca ; ( 2 ) It is sited on the . 'King Rd . East which can be considered a primary road so there appears to be no traffic problems ; ( 3 ) It is in accordance with the general plan of the surrounding commercial development with high density residential as a buffer .zone between commercial and single family dwellings ; .. - 2 - ( 4 ) Its proximity to a major state highway further decreases the likelihood of any traffic problems ; and ( 5 ) Its proximity to major sites of employment minimizes travel distance between home and work . The motion was unanimously approved . RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC HAZARDS ON TOWN ROADS : Discussion was held concerning the safety of various town roads and possible recommendations for improvements in the traffic hazards . Mrs . Holcomb pointed out that the new driveway from Ithaca College onto Coddington Road has created a new traffic hazard on Coddington Road since there are no road entrance markings and the present speed limit its 55 m . p . h . Mrs . Holcomb recommended that the Planning Board make a recommendation to the Town Board that the Town construct a street light at that intersection of Ithaca College and Coddington Road . The recommendation was seconded by Robert Scannell and unanimously passed . Mrs . Holcomb also recommended that a traffic light be put in at the intersection of Spruce Way and Coddington Road . There are presently overhead lights at Juniper , Northview Rd . , and Troy Rd . It was further recommended that the 40 m . p . h . speed limit be extended beyond the intersection of Troy Rd . • Discussion was held concerning traffic problems in the Synder Hill area . Jack Lowe stated that with the Eastern Heights Subdivision , there is now five times as much traffic on the Synder Hill Road . There are two new roads that enter from Eastern Heights and third one in the process of development , in addition to Sugar Bush Lane which enters from the north side and new units in the vet college complex . The present speed limit is 55 m . p . h . There is also a blind spot by the O ' Brien property at about 130 Snyder Hill (toad . Although there is much pedestrian and bicycle traffic along this road , there are no shoulders . Mr . Lowe recommended that the speed limit be reduced to 35 m . p . h . on Synder Hill Road to the Town Line . Discussion was held concerning the traffic hazards created by the Judd f= alls and Ellis Hollow Road intersection . It was suggested that a stop sign be erected at the intersection of Judd Falls Road and Ellis Hollow Road facing west to control the east bound traffic . On West Hill , Dan Baker pointed out the potential trouble spot created by the speed limit on Sheffield Road . Robert Scannell recommended that action be taken by the Town to remove scubbery on town roads that blocks the view at inter - sections ; in particular , on Warren and Hanshaw Rds . and on Muriel ® Street and Hanshaw Road . - 3 - KENNILWORTH SIGNS : Mr . Reynolds Metz , Assistant Zoning Officer , reported to the Board that Kennilworth Associates has submitted applications to the Zoning Officer for the construction of two signs for their commercial development . The signs are larger than what i s normally p e r m i t e d in a c o mm e.,.rc!a_1-. QILe -. Discussion was held and Barbara Holcomb made a motion that the Planning Board recommends that the applications for the two signs presented to the Zoning Officer by Kennilworth Associates be denied because ( 1 ) both signs exceed the height limits of two storys for a structure and ( 2 ) we feel that the intent of the Zoning Ordinance was not to allow signs larger than 50 sq . ft . each . The motion was seconded by Robert Scannell and unanimously approved . ADJOURNMENT : The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 15 p . m . Respectfully submitted , Charlene Lawson , Secretary