HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1973-03-08 TMIN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
I f rch 8 , 1973
A regular meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board and a
i Public Hearing by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board was held on Thurs -
day , Marta 8 , 1973 , in the Town Offices at 108 East Green Street ,
Ithaca , New York , at 7030 p . m .
PRESENT : Chairwoman Barbara Holcomb , Robert Scannell , Arnold
Albrecht Sam Slack , Jack Lowe , Peter Francese ( Planning Consultant ) ,
Ken KrooAs ( Planning Engineer ) , David Cowan ( Zoning Officer ) .
ABSENT : Maurice Harris , Daniel Batter , Robert Christianson ,
ALSO PRESENT .* Mark Haag , Philip TArnite , Arthur Prince . , ,
The Chair opened the meeting at 7030 p . m .
THREE LOTS MINED BY ARTHUR PRINCE ON ST . CATHERINE CIRCLE TO BE
COMBINED INTO ONE .
Mrs . Holcomb stated that Mr . Arthur 0 ° Dutch" Prince had been in
to the Town Office in the week preceeding this meeting with a problem
in connection with his subdivision on St . Catherine Circle . She
recalled for the members of the Planning Board that there was a sec -
tion of his subdivision plan on St . Catherine Circle that had not been
approved because he had no water and sewer plans for that section .
It appears now that Mr . Prince has a single purchaser for two lots
one of which gets water from Christopher Circle Ext . The purchaser
iactually wants to buy three lots and combine them and put in one
house . Mr . Prince has received a letter from Mr . Stephen F . Herman ,
Senior Public Health Engineer of the Tompkins County Department of
Health , said letter being attached to the official Minutes of this
meeting and filed in the Official minute Boot: of the Planning Board
of the Town of Ithaca and kept oq file in the Office of the Town
Clerk .
The Planning Board agreed that having received a letter from
Mr . Stephen Herman of the County Health Department approving lots 1 ,
2 , and . 3 in Bloclt 2 of Mr . Prince ' s subdivision as a single . lot for
which water is available and sewer from the Christopher Circle Ext .
and since the Planning Board see , no practical difficulty , the Planning
Board has included these three lots to be combined for the construction
of one house as officially approved lots in the St . Catherine Circle
subdivision .
APPROVAL OF MINUTES .
Upon a MOTION being proposed by Mrs . Holcomb and seconded by
Mr . Robert Scannell , the Minutes of the Planning Board of the Town of
Ithaca of November 28 1972 , December 12 , 1972 , and January 2 , 1973 , .
were approved as submitted . The vote was unanimous . The MOTION
carried .
REPORT OF THE ZONING OFFICER .
There was no report from the Zoning Officer .
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Town of Ithacan Planning Board - 2- March g , 1973
REPORT OF PAI'dd COUNCIL .
Mr . Christianson , the Planning Board representative on the Park
Council , was not present .
REPORT OF COUNTY PLANNING BOARD ,
Mrs . Holcomb reported that the Town Board of the Town of Lansing
is trying to see if they can do something about the intersection of
Route 13 with Triphammer Road . The Department of Transportation is
in the design ,Mage for a new intersection for Route 13 and Triphamm
mer Road . They are proposing a four lane ramp over Route 13 about 21 '
highs There was considerable discussion of possible better plans ,
but the consensus of the Planning Board is that the D . O . T . proposal
is atrocious .
MR * COGGSHALL AND DRAINAGE ON EASTWOOD COMMONS ( SCHICKEL) .
Mrs . Holcomb stated that the Town Board has received another
communication from Mr . Coggshall re drainage from the Schickel
proposal off Honness Lane . This memorandum , dated March 5 , 1973 , is
attached to the official Minutes of this meeting and is on file in the
Town Office ,
Mrs . Holcomb stated that before she responds to this request from
Mr . Coggshall she wishes to know what the members of the Planning
Board think Mr . Schickel agreed to as reported in the Planning Board
Minutes of January 2. , 1973 , and January 16 , 1973 . She stated that
Mr . Schickel had said that he would take care of the drainage in a
reasonable manner - is that what the members of the Board think also ?
Mr . Scannell. stated that it was his understanding that no
additional drainage will go across the Coggshall property , but that
if Mr . Coggshall interpreted that as meaning that no water would
be there then that is ridiculous .
Mr . Francese noted that Mr . Coggshall has a huge culvert on his
land and should that get clogged up , the water would run down , possi -
bly dam up behind it and wash out his road .
Mr . Kroohs reported that Mr . Schickel met with him and with his
engineers and his contractor re drainage for Eastwood Commons . Mr .
Kroohs stated that there have been improvements in re the water that
comes down Honness Lane then goes down Slaterville Road . Mr . Schickel
also brought in a tentative water and sewer plan with staging . Mr .
Schickel is building the centre road first . He is building the
eastmost entrance on Honness Lane as the main entrance . There will
be a dirt road at: the second entrance . Mr . Schickel is aiming for
September 1973 occupancy . ML . Schickel is concerned with meeting
additional requirements in order to get a building permit . Mr .
Kroohs stated th ..: t Mr . Schwan had stated that Mr . Schickel could get
approval for roads and start them without a building permit . Mr .
Schickel is hoping for 10 units to be completed by September 1973 .
Mr . Slack asked if the water all goes into the ditch . Mr . Kroohs
said it goes into a ditch , and existing drainage areas . Mr . Slack
noted that the residents present at the Public Hearing presented some
' Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 3 - March 8 , 1973
very real concerns with using the ditch and existing drainage . Mrs .
Holcomb noted that what the Planning Board has proposed is that two-
thirds of the water be directed into the ravine and the remainder into
the existing ditch . This is the proposal that has been made to the
Town Board and they have accepted it . They suggested making the
present ditch an underground pipe drain to solve overflow problems .
Mr . Slack asked if this would do the ,fob . Mrs . Holcomb stated that
she and Mr . Kroohs have an appointment with Mr . Calhoun of the Soil
Conservation Department on Monday , March 12. , 1973 , to find out . Mr .
Slack stated further that he is not concerned so much with the Schickel
Development but with the County and State making adequate provisions
for water on Slaterville Road . Mrs . Holcomb said that the water is
being channelled into the box culvert and it should be able to take
care of it . Mr . Kroohs stated that the Planning Board could tell the
State that we are putting in the underground drainage on Honness Lane
and ask them to do the same on Slaterville Load , Mr . Kroohs agreed
with Mrs . Holcomb that this present plan will lessen the water that is
going dorm Honness Lane .
Mr . Kroohs has made some calculations pertaining to Mr . Montgomery
May ' s property and water flow . Mr . Kroohs stated that he emphasized
to Mr . Schict,el ' s engineers that they are working with clay .
Mr . Kroohs ealso indicated that Mr . Schickel is planning to install
ornamental lighting in his development for which he will pay the
difference in price between that and standard lighting along the
dedicated road .
• PROPOSAL FOR NEW ZONING OF.DiNIUCE ,
Mrs . I-1olcomb wanted it to be noted that when it comes to writing
the new zoning ordinance it night be a good idea to add that all
proposed phasing and site plans prior to their submission to the
Town Board must have been cleared through the Town Planner Engineer ,
Ken I�roohs . This would help control drainage problems during the
construction period .
PUBLIC HEARING - HAAG AND WHITE APARTMENT PROPOSAL on FIVE MILE DRIVE .
At 8020 p . m . Mrs . Holcomb called to order the Public Hearing being
held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca for the purpose of
considering the application of Messrs . Mark Haag and Philip White for
the rezoning of approximately 7 . 5 acres of land off Five Mile Drive
and Fidler P� oad Eton R- 9 and P�- 30 Residential to Multiple Residence
District . Mrs . Holcomb stated that this proposal involves revisions
to and extension of a presently existing multiple residence district .
Mrs . Holcomb noted that the Notice of Public Hearing has been duly
published and posted , that a Notice of Public Hearing was duly
mailed to all neighbors and the County Planner by Messrs . Haag and
White , and that she is in receipt of a legal description of the land
showing that there be 3 . 371 acres in said land . All of the foregoing
are hereby attached to the official copy of the Minutes of this
• meeting and said Minutes are duly filed in the Office of the Town
Clerk of ' the Town of Ithaca .
Messrs . Haag and White presented plans and elevations of their
proposal for the construction of 30 apartment units in two buildings.
The buildings will be two story .
I
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Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 4 - March 8 , 1973
• Mrs . Holcomb stated that 30 units on this many acres is really
single family density but because the structures are more than four
units per building , it is necessary to go to multiple residence .
Mrs . Holcomb sked if the developers knew at this point which will
be one and which will be three bedroom units ? Mr . Haag said that they
did not really know that at this moment but if it is essential to know
this they can try to figure it out . Mr . Francese asked if there might
be a chance that all the units will be three bedroom units . Mr . Haag
said that there was no chance of that at all . Mrs . Holcomb asked if
the road will be a private road and was told yes . Mrs , Holcomb
briefly reviewed the matter and asked for questions . Mr . Francese
wondered if there would be a drainage plan forthcoming . Mr . Haag
and Mr . White said that there would be one submitted to the Planning
Board . It was coisked what happened to the rest of the land and the
answer was that it will remain as presently zoned .
Mr .. Francese: stated that the number of units per acre is not
critical and he suggested straightening up the property line . Both
Mr , Haag and Mr . White wished to leave the plan as it is , being of
the opinion that it is not necessary to look to the future that much .
Mr . Scannell reminded Messrs . Haag and White that they will be
tied to this plan should the rezoning take place . Both gentlemen
understand this fact .
• Mrs . Holcomb asked if there were any questions from the floor .
Mr . Prince stated that the proposal was OK by him .
Mrs . Holcomb asked if there were any objections or conditions to
be heard . There were none . Mrs . Holcomb noted that the developer has
tentative word from the County Health Department that the land will
take this development .
MOTION by Mr . Robert Scannell that the Planning Board of the Town
of Ithaca does hereby recommend to the Town Board that they hold a
Public Hearing for the purpose of considering the rezoning of land
now or formerly of Arthur Prince on Five Mile Drive with is 525 '
North of the intersection of the centers of Fidler Road and Five Mile
Drive from R- 9 and R- 30 to multiple residence district for construc-
tion of 30 dwelling units by Mark Haag and Philip White . This
recommendation is contingent upon final approval by the Tompkins
County Health Department for wells and septic systems and further
contingent upon presentation of and approval of a satisfactory drainage
plan . 1-li , s v!s yo l
f
The MOTION was seconded by Mr . Sao Slack . There was no further .
discussion and a vote was taken . All members present voted aye . The
MOTION was carried .
The Public Hearing was closed at 86c43 p . m .
AMENDMENT OF TOWN " NO PARKING ORDINANCE " TO INCLUDE SECTIONS OF
S NYDER HILL ROAD A]VD ` PLEASANT GROVE ROAD AND OTHERS ,
Mrs . Holcomb stated that the Town Board has called a Public
Hearing for next Monday , March 12 , 1973 , for the purpose of amending
Totem of Ithaca Planning Board -S - March 3 , 1973
the No Parking Ordinance . S��e noted that the Planning Board has
• specifically reconuendec that this amendment include no parking on
Pleasant Grove Road and Snyder Hill Road . Mrs . Holcomb asked if there
were any other problem areas that the Planning Board would like to
add to their recommendation at this time . Mrs . Holcomb read from the
1961 Ordinance adopted by the Town Board re parking and noted that by
merely referring to that ordinance and adding specific streets item
by item it can be amended to include other areas .
The following roads will be named by the Planning Board as those
recommended to be added to the existing no parking ordinance .
1 . Pleasant Grove Road from the Village aof Cayuga Heights line ,
on both sides of the road to Forest Home Drive , Mr . Scannell noted
that this ordinance only covers paved surfaces . Mrs . Holcomb was not
sure if it is legal to prohibit parking completely .
2 , Both sides of Judd Falls Road from Route 366 south to the
Railroad underpass . Suggested by Mr . Scannell .
3 . Both sides of Pine Tree Road to the Dryden Town line .
Suggested by Mr . Slack and Mr, Lowe .
It was also suggested by Mr . Slack that Route 366 near the Polo
Grounds of Cornell and the Cyclatron be included . Mr . Kroohs
suggested Honness Lane . Mrs . Holcomb suggested all of Snyder Hill
• Road . It was decided to submit the first three roads above mentioned
to the Town Board .
There was a short discussion of just what NO PARKING means . Does
it just mean on the pavement or does it mean on the right of way also .
The Planning Board will consult the State Traffic Law for clarifica-
tion .
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED TO TOWN BOARD BY MARCH 12 , 1973 ,
FOR ROADSIDE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON HONNESS LANE ,
Mr . Kroohs reported as follows *
The worst condition exists from the first entrance of Mr .
Schickel ' s development down Honness Lane in a ditch to Slaterville
Road . The best solution is to allow the existing flow to remain and
pick it up before it gets to Mr . Schickel ' s road . Mrs . Holcomb stated
that filling the ditch will tend to reduce the crown of the road
(Honness Lane ) .
The following RECOMMENDATION was presented by Mr . Kroohs for
presentation to the Town Board on March 12 , 1973 *
THAT the underground drainage be on the North side of Honness
Lane and begin just East of Mr . Schickel ' s West entramce road
extend down Honness Lane to Slaterville Road and further ,
THAT the Town of Ithaca work with the State of New York in an
attempt to get underground drainage on Slaterville Road .
Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 6 - March 8 , 1973
DISCUSSION OF INTENT SECTION OF PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE .
• Mrs . Holcomb stated that the copy of the Intent being presented
to the members of the Planning Board at this meeting is a revised
copy of the first time through . Mrs . Holcomb noted that both she and
Mr . Kroohs have been working on the revision .
Discussion was held on the proposed Intent page by page and changes
were made .
ADJOURNMENT .
Mrs . Holcomb adjourned the meeting at 11030 p . m . The next meeting
was set for March 20 , 1973 , at which time the Zoning Ordinance will be
discussed and perhaps the Schickel proposal (Eastwood Commons ) .
Respectfully submitted ,
Nancy M. Fuller , Secretary .
•
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I
TOMPI INS COUNTV DEPARTMENT . OF HEALTH
ROBERT H . BROAD, M.D . 1287 Trumansburg Road
Commissioner of Health ltha:a, New York
Phone 273-7272
February 9 , 1973
Mr . Arthur A . Prince
� 734 Five Mile Drive
Ithaca , New York 14850
Dear Mr , Prince :
r
This department agrees that the lot approved on 7 / 12 / 73
:• as Block Two No . 1 on the plot plan of your subdivision
includes those lots numbered Block Two No . 1 , No . 2 , and
No . 3 . These three lots are considered one parcel for
which approval has been received .
A copy of this letter shall be made part of the subdiv -
ision drawing .
Very truly yours ,
G
Aephen F . Herman
Sr . Public Health Engineer
S _ H : sIc
n
f g
March 5 , 1973
• Memorandum
To : The Ithaca Town Board ll
From : W. L . and A . L . Coggshall lV 9i �J e
Subject : Schickel Site - Drainage Diversion
Some month 's ago members of the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca were
invited and did come and view the Coggshall land in relation to the Schickel
( Pyle ) tract .
Now that the Schickel property development has been approved the Coggshalls
are most vitally concerned about the expressed intent to divert surface water .
Mr . Schickel stated in a public hearing that no surface water would be
permitted to drain on Coggshall property . This statement must certainly ap -
• pear in the minutes of that public hearing . At a later Town Board meeting he
said , in answer to a question , that two of the proposed streets would have
about a 1% grade: toward the ravine . It was also brought out at this meeting
that storm sewers would also be directed to the ravine and that a considerable
percentage of the tract would be drained in that direction . This would all
drain across Coggshall property .
The northern end of the Schickel tract is high ground and the adjacent
land south of this ridge has not drained to the north in the past century .
On the property of A. L . Coggshall , and now extending into adjacent pro -
perties , is a privately owned double steel and concrete reinforced culvert
42" in diameter and 118 feet in length . Through this culvert must flow all
water entering 'the ravine upstream from it by natural drainage .
This culvert was intended to provide for the runoff from land now drain-
ing naturally to it . It was not designed to provide for water diverted to it
Memorandum to The Ithaca Town Board
Page 2
from other sources . The Schickel development presently proposes such a diver -
sion and later there could be others such as Cornell University or developers
of its property directly to the east , or even land on the east side of Pine
Tree Road .
No diversion should be permitted , and the time to prevent it is prior to
its occurrence . We are currently exploring the legal aspects of such a diver -
sion upstream from a culvert .
If the Town Board concurs with the developer that the diversion poses no
threat to the downstream culvert , then the Town should purchase and maintain
the culvert or require Mr . Schickel to do so . The more logical solution with -
out legal implications is to require that the property drain in the direction
it now drains - to the south .
• For some 2. 2 years we have policed the stream and removed the debris that
unknown persons have thrown into it from the north bank and upstream as far as
the 24" diameter culvert under the old railroad bed . Some years ago a heavy
metal wading pool lodged midway through our culvert , nearly blocked the flow
and resulted in tons and tons of stones piling up nearly to the top of the
steel pipe . At: our own expense we had to remove the metal pool , using an acet -
ylene cutting torch , and the tons of stones ; the job required several days . No
one upstream would acknowledge ownership of the wading pool .
The incident mentioned above is only one of many incidents . How people
of middle or upper class means can throw their lawn clippings , discarded auto -
mobile wheels , tires , baby carriages , concrete , mattresses , boat anchors and
other trash into this stream is quite unbelievable but it occurs frequently .
• A heavy gauge wire fence we installed high above the north bank has been
cut , the posts broken and the fence trampled to the ground . All no trespassing
Memorandum to The Ithaca Town Board
Page 3
•
signs have been torn down .
One way to help prevent culvert stoppage is to require installation of a
6" x 6" heavy steel mesh fence across the stream between Schickel and Coggshall
properties . If someone throws trash into the stream there . is no problem ex-
cept for the owners who can pay for its removal .
Below are some interesting figures for consideration by the Town Board
as it ponders the drainage aspects of the Schickel development . We have not
had time to obtain runoff rate data from paved surfaces or grass cover over
clay soils .
1 . Less than one acre ( . 85A) of the 19 acres of the Schickel parcel
presently drains to the ravine to the north , upstream from the privately -
owned Coggshall culvert . The remainder of the parcel drains south - south -
• west .
2 . Rough calculations indicate that the developer ' s proposal to di -
vert a portion of the runoff to the ravine to the north would result in the
following changes :
a . If drainage from any elevation higher than the contour 122
on the site plan was diverted , then 15 of the 19 acres would
drain to the ravine upstream from the culvert .
b . If drainage from any elevation higher than the contour 116
on the site plan was diverted , then 16 of the 19 acres would
drain to the ravine upstream from the culvert
3 . Rough calculations from the site plan indicate that approximately
one - third of the developed 19 acres will be street surfaces , parking areas
. and buildings . This means about 62 acres of instant runoff plus that
which runs to the streets and storm sewers from the —aid].acent green areas
Memorandum to The Ithaca Town Board
• Page 4
built on impervious clay soils .
4 . On the remaining Pyle parcel five lots on Hanford Place are
higher than contour 122 on the site plan and could easily drain to the
Schickel storm sewers , as could all that portion of the Hanford Place
street itself . The 5 lots and street could add 2 . 7 additional acres
draining to the ravine .
•
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
TOWN CLERK ' S OFFICE
ITHACA , N . Y .
I � Edward L . Bergen , being duly ,
sworn , say that I am the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins
County , New York , that the following notice has been duly posted on
the sign board of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca and that the
notice has been duly published in the local newspaper : ( The Ithaca.
Journal ) Notice of Public Hearing before the Planning Board of the
Town of Ithaca on the 8th day of March , 1973 af d : 00 p . m . , to consider
the application of Messrs . Mark Haag and- - Phi-lip White for the rezoning
of approximately 7 . 5 acres of land off Five Mile Drive and Fidler ToFa
from R-9 and R - ; 0 Residential o Multiple Residence District ,
Location of sign board used for posting : Entrance to Town Offices
located at 108 E . Green Street ( third floor ) , Ithaca , N . Y .
Date of Posting : March 2 and 3 , 1973
Date of Publication ; March 2 and 3 , 1973
Edward . Bergen
Town Clerk
Town of Ithaca
State of New York
County of Tompkins SS .
Town of Ithaca
Sworn to before me this 25th day of April 19 73 .
NOTARY
MARY Ev BENSON No, 55••5270900
Notary PUM State d New York
Qualified in Tampkkm Counter
• flu Commission Wit"' Mora 3% V 7
•
�i
r
TOWN OF ITHACA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLANNING BOARD -
- By direction oftheChairman of the Planning
Board, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a
Public Hearing will be held by the Planning
Board of the Town of Ithaca on Thursdav, the 8th
day of March. 1973. at 8 :00 $.m., in the Town
Office, 108 East Green Street. Ithaca. New York,
for the purpose of considering the application of
Messrs. Mark Haag and Philip White for the re-
• zoning of approximately 7.5 acres of land off Five-
Mile Drive and Fidler Road from R-9 and R-30
Residential to Multiple Residence District.
Edward L. Bergen
- - - - -- - - - —Town-Clerk ,
Town of Ithaca
March O and 3. 1973
•
Commencing at the point in the center of Five Mile Drive which is
525north of the intersection of the centers of Fidler Road and Five
R4 tet,.) ikz) k Z-d' We- '
Mile Drive ,ekwL= ing thence northerly approximately 177 feet to the
southerly line of property formerly of C . S . Colegrove at a point which
is 310 feet westerly from the center line of Five Mile Drive ; running
thence westerly along said southerly line approximately 491 feet to the
east line of Military Lot No . 81 ; thence southerly along said lot a line
a distance of approximately 620 feet to the northwesterly corner of
Fidler Road ; thence easterly along the northside of Fidler Road 17812
• then 501 southerly along an east side of Fidler Road , then 56 ' easterly
to the corner of property now or formerly of Arthur Prince ; then northerly
along the west Line of said Prince property a distance of 1501 to a
corner ; thence easterly to the center of Five Mile Drive approximately
4921 ; then a distance of 345 ' northerly along the center of Five Male
Drive to the point or place of beginning .
The above - property contains 8 . 371 acres .
• STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF TOMPKINS ss .
Mark Waldo Haag , - being duly sworn , deposes and says
that: on the 5th day of March , 1973 , he mailed a copy of
the attached notice to the names on the attached list ,
by depositing it in an envelope addressed to each of them ,
prepaid postage , in the United States Post Office at
Ithaca , New York , at the address indicated on the list .
I , .
i
Sworn to before me on the
5th day of March , 1973 .
HENTRY c. KEYSER
Notimf Public, State of New York
No. 55.2105925
Qualified in Tompkins County
Tenn Expires March 30, 19_0 ?
•
• NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing has been set by the Planning Board of
the Town of Ithaca for 8 : 00 p . m . on Thursday , March 8 ,
1973 , at the Town Offices , 108 East Green Street , Ithaca ,
N . 5' .
The purpose of the hearing is to consider the application
of Mark Waldo Haag and Philip M . White , Jr . for the ex -
pansion of an existing multiple residence zone into an
R - 9 and R - 30 zone on the former Prince tract on Five Mile
Drive .
•
V
On March 5 , 1973 the Mark Waldo Haag 6 Philip M . White , Jr .
sent notices of the public hearing of the Planning Board of
the Town of Ithaca , to be held March 8 , 1973 , to the following
people .
Mr . Lee Bostwick
109 E . Clinton St .
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
MARION ELECTRIC
809 Five Mile Drive
R . D . # 5
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
Mr . Robert Adams
658 Five Mile Drive
R . D . # 5
Ithaca , PJ . Y . 14850
Mr . Loren Marion
723 Five Mile Drive
R . D . # 5
Ithaca , 11 . Y . 14850
Mr . 6 Mr :33 . Alfred Cook
Coy Glen Road
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
Erland 6 Robert Mancini
222 Renwick Heights Road
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
Mr . Frank Liguori
County Planner
Court House
Mr . Philip Allen
Five Mile Drive
R . D . # 5
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
Mr . Epuraim Tomlinson
224 Bostwick Road
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
Elizabeth Laughlin
720 Five Mile Drive
R . D . # 5
Ithaca , N . Y . 14850
7
PREFACE
• y
This preface is meant to be a guide to acquaint the reader
with the purpose and intent of this ordinance . Each major
section of -the ordinance will be discussed with the objective
of clarifying the intent of the official text .
Background and . General Intent
The first zoning ordinance of the Town of Ithaca was enacted
4-k .e. Tv wut 04
in 1954 and revised in 1960 and 1968 . As ov=a's amended , t4lazs-
r� a c. a. 2oyl 1' 1
ordinance is based on the Ithaca Urban Area General Plan completed
in 1959 . There have been significant changes in highway location
and buildin ;; design since 1959 which have necessitated a4ap4migrg
the General Plan to present conditions .
• Large areas of the Town of Ithaca are still undeveloped ,
It is the purpose of this revised ordinance to be flexible enough
to permit imaginatively designed development while at the same time
restrictive em{ dough to prevent ego-itattmevn of land .
Neighborhood Concept
Because of :its unique topography , the Town of Ithaca can be
thought of as a group of six separate neighborhoods . Each of
these areas is defined on the map which is a part of this ordinance .
The purpose in defining neighborhoods is to be able to plan for
public facilities and apply this zoning ordinance with some regard
- for the different conditions which exist in each of these areas .
Itis intended that the residents of each neighborhood shall
• have access to adequate shopping facilities without having com -
mercial areas conflicting with the residential enviornment .
- � 2 -
The six Town of Ithaca neighborhoods are as follows .
• 1 : Renwick Heights
2 : Northeast Ithaca
3 : East Ithaca
4 : South Hill
5 : Elmira Road Area
6 : West Hill
i
Residence
It is the intent of the r-�e�ce provisions in this ordinance
to p.xo*rde--fo a mix of residential uses in each neighborhood ,
C,, r �_ - V
including single family , multi - family , cluster housing and mobile
home parks . However , it is the intent of this ordinance to permit
high density residential development (multi - family dwelling and
mobile home parks ) only in reasonable proportion to the low
density residential ( one or two family and clustered dwelling
units . ) It is intended that when the number of high density vv
residential units either built or Win any neighborhood
approaches 35 % of the number of low density residential units
either built or AA a yte-d that no additional high density units will
v 4A/U r y ),A� � kh...-Ag cu, G �6
be permitted in that neighborhood . An up to date listing of the
It cEe" S
number of dwelling units by type in each neighborhood either built `),,.,X,t„„
or approved is available in the Town offices . In this context ,
College and University dormitories are not considered dwelling units .
In an R - 1 r-_ - Z.o.n each house which is on a lot of
15 , 000 square feet or more may have an apartment attached to the
main dwelling unit . I that the apartment be a maximum
of one - half the size of the main dwelling unit • ana that the owner
• of the property reside in the main dwelling unit . It is intended
that units which are to be used exclusively for rental purposes
}
should be built in either,' luster or multiple residence districts .
Land zoned t2 - 1 is intended for residential use and not for
• agricultural purposes . Certain agricultural uses , such as the
growing of crops , is compatible with residential uses , but other
uses such as the keeping of livestock herds clearly is not com
patible . It is intended that if at - some time in the future there
is a conflict between agricultural and residential uses in R - 1 ,
the residential will be considered the primary used i*o._ -ern e
agri-c-u--1_tu.n.a.L—d s-fir re t- th e�awg=cu-l-ttx`r e w i l l be considered7t h e
�prim.ar- u•s•e• „
Cluster Res i-denees
When an application is made for a cluster subdivision , then the one
or two family dwelling unit on separate lots concept is not relevant .
The important consideration is overall density . ( no more
than 3 . 5 dwelling units per acre ) and the provisions for maintenance
of the open space . Home ownership versus renter becomes less relevant
in a cluster subdivision wherehome owners ' as -
sociations rtray be operative .
Ltis h r— .Lte _o.f� his ordinance �x -t a maximum of four
dwelling units in each structure and that structures /Y`be at least 25
feet apart . Any cluster housing plan must make provisions for the
permanent maintenance of the open space .
Multiple Residence Districts
It is the intent of this section to permit the construction of
multiple residence units in the r_ecvemm-e•ndled proportions w+tl�
single family residences .oriwwo e=a ..o
ma�jr hJrgh�m o a5'�partwof
p ;Janne.d r_e"den-tisal�devei�opm°en�t. s . Before new multiple residences are
permitted in any neighborhood of the Town it must be shown that :
F
4 -
J
- J
( 1 ) T —� t h a n-+tie—m a-x-i mr�—�1-1-o�ab Vie--lei=g h
d ens-i�t-y—�II&e-Rvt�i-a1+rn tl re'�n��}raad cl t h a t
adding the proposed number of units will not ex -
ceed the ' permitted ratio of high density to low
density residential and
( 2 ) A"�� 11�, 'li proposed deve �popment will not create a danger
to public healthI�li'�2'aLse of severe congestion on
Town ; County , or State roads or because of increased
Q.et�s urf ace water runoff .
i
N-Iobile Home Park Districts
kt_1_s—t4I,e=-LLte&4m%&fw* this section tto- p e r m i t S t h e construction of II
('� , -
i-grre� mobile home parks in the Town of Ithaca . Pt—is''
(A
not
_the intE;nt � t.o p.e-rm�iat= dul mobile homes anywhere in
the Town , ��ePPewPxr'w`p`r'evs�em k) 1i o n o bz�e 1 oe-p a r k d`is-t�r rcng=�i7r
I LI r 0411111,o hc► e e= ,�s.�rch--� districvamay be created by amendment to
the zoning ordinance . rA minimum size for a mobile home park is
ten acres .
Before a mobile home park district is approved , the same conditions
must be met with regard to the high density versus low density
residential and danger to public health mentioned in the section
on multiple residences .
Planned Residential Development
e-s-i- enmtniaa� e1opmenx is—a—p-rep17anned comb gra i-a eaf
iufti . It is the intent of this zoning ordinance to encourage
large scale planned residential development which will minimize
any conflicts that may arise from an unplanned
combination of high and low density residential .
A complete planned community involving residential , commercial or
industrial land use may be considered ''' - * T * sig when t�ke
c rr-o-fi--�k�e'Fowan�B o>a-rd%�VhT ' =ow•n�hva°s�e*xp�euri@e&Rvccelds Is u f f i c i e n t c
growth to support such as large scale development .
Business Districts
Business district A is intended for use as small neighborhood
r..etad.l.s.h-&ph n:g areas . Any use which is not compatible
i
with residential land uses or would create severe traffic congestion
will not be. ekllowed in this district . Business district B , however ,
C/it i
is considerE! d to be for large shopping centers . Since this type of
use may generate large volumes of traffic , these districts will
only be considered along existing or planned u r highways .
There are three large shopping centers within close proximity to
the Northeast area . There is a shopping center in East Ithaca area
and there are large areas of land zoned for two shopping centers on
• South Hill . Also there are several other parcels presently Zoned
commercial in other parts of the Town .
It is the intent of this ordinance that no�*za land be zoned
U,;14r it can be shown that 1 ) the proposed facility
cannot be acc: omodated in an existing c-dj e cial zome and 2 ) there is
a need for additional business of the type proposed .
Industrial
There are two existing light industrial and one existing heavy
industrial district in the Town of Ithaca . It is the intent of
this ordinance that no additional areas be rezoned to industrial
unless it can be clearly demonstrated that a proposed industrial
. plant is too large to fit into an already existing unoccupied
industrially zoned area .
� r
l y
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Agricultural
• It is the intent here to permit farm land to continue being
farmed and to prohibit the uncontrolled development of land
for residential purposes . In the past , lots fronting on the major
streets have been sold for residential use . This has created large
tracts of :land which are largely inaccessible from established
roads . Residential development may take place provided
that a subdivision is approved and the agricultural land is
rezoned . Land zoned , agricultural is intended for agricultural
purposes , riot , residential . If a conflict should arise in an
agricultural zone between the agricultural use and a
residential. use then the agricultural use is considered primary use .
Public Use Districts
Over 250 of the land in the Town of Ithaca is owned by tax exempt
organizations , such as Cornell University , Ithaca College , Finger
Lakes State Park Commission , Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca .
Land in this category is generally not used for residential ( except .
for dormitories ) , commercial or industrial purposes and hence is
designated Public Use . The purpose of planning board review of
building plans in a P - 1 district is to ascertain if there will
be any adverse inpact on adjacent properties . For example , there
may be more traffic . , greater surface runoff or use of water and
sewer than the Town ' s existing facilities can handle . It will be
easier to solve such problems if they are known in advance .