HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1973-09-11 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
• SEPTEMBER 11 , 1973
A regular meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board was
held on Tuesday , September 11 , 1973 , in the Town Offices at 108 East
Green Street , Ithaca , New York ,
PRESENTo Chairwoman Barbara Holcomb , Sam Slack , Robert
Scannell , Maurice Harris , Daniel Baker , Jack Lowe , Peter Francese
( Planning Consultant ) , Kenneth Kroohs ( Planning Engineer ) , and David
Cowan ( Zoning Officer ) .
ABSENT : Arnold Albrecht , Robert Christianson ,
ALSO PRESENT * Mr . Charles Firenze , Mr . Anthony Leonardo and
his son , and Mr . Leo Passi .
The meeting was opened at 7030 p . m . by the Chair .
REPORT ON T0WN BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 10 , 1973 .
1 . Mrs . Holcomb reported that the Town Board tabled the
proposed Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that was formulated by
the Planning Board and presented to them at this meeting . The pro-
posed amendment wase
"A two; family dwelling , provided that the second dwelling unit
shall not exceed 50 . of the floor area of the primary dwelling unit .
This sentence will replace Paragraph 2 , Section 4 , Article III ;
Paragraph 2 , Section 11 , Article IV ; and Paragraph 2 , Section 18 ,
Article V .
The decision to table the proposed amendment came after a
lengthy and arduous discussion of 1 ° primary unit" and " total area of" .
The Town Attorney will rework the sentence to make it more specific .
2 . The Leonardo land was rezoned as per the following
Resolution of the Town Board : "RESOLVED , that lands along the Danby
Road in tax parcels 36 - 1 - 20 , 36 - 2- 2 and 36 - 2" 10 be rezoned from R- 30
to R- 15 with the proviso that no building permit shall be issued to
build upon a lot having neither public water nor public sewer avail-
able unless the approval of the Health Department is presented to the
Town Zoning Officer . If neither municipal water service nor municipal
sewer service is available for connection to any lot in the rezoned
area , no building permit will be issued unless the approval of the
Tompkins County Health Department is first presented to the Town
official authorized to issue such permit which shall state or show ,
to the reasonable satisfaction of such official , the location and the
type and specifications of the permitted private water and sewer
facilities . "
e 3 . Mrs . Holcomb briefly referred to Multiple Residence as it
pertains to the new zoning ordinance . Specifically the three or
four units per building and their occupancy . She would like to see
some clarification as to occupancy conditions for cluster as opposed
to Multiple . Mr . Francese said that he will attend to that matter ;
I \
Town of Ithaca Planning Board ^ 2= September 11 , 1973
• ANTHONY LEONARDO RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION ON DANBY ROAD , DISCUSSION OF
FINAL PLANS ,
The Planning Board was presented with a complete set of plans
by Mr . Passi , Contractor . Mr . Scannell noted that he still has not
found anything wrong with this plan for development .
Mrs . Holcomb stated that the Planning Board needs to look at
these plans with a view to considering final approval .
Mr . Passi presented an approval letter from the Tompkins
County Health Department for nine ( 9 ) Lots . Such approval is granted
with the proviso that Lot # 9 shall not be sold until the drainage
stream is relocated .
Mrs . Holcomb noted that Mr . Leonardo had been asking at this
time for approval by the Planning Board of Lots # 1 , # 2 , and # 3 .
She would suggest that approval also be sought for Lot #4 .
Mr . Leonardo stated that Sesame Street has been approved by
Mr . Morey . However , Mrs . Holcomb stated that Mr . Morey felt that Mr .
Leonardo has not quite finished the road preparation and Mr . Morey ' s
acceptance will come at a later date .
Mr . Francese noted that addresses are needed . Mr . Francese
• further stated that before filing with the County Clerk within 30
days after approval , Mr . Leonardo must have the dimensions (metes
and bounds ) of the proposed lots on the plans .
Mr . Leonardo presented a copy of the Sewer Easements that had
been requested to Mr . Kroohs . Mr . Kroohs suggested that they be
passed along to Mr . Buyoucos for approval . The Secretary was
instructed to call Mr . Buyoucos and inform him of the receipt of the
easements .
MOTION by Mr . Robert Scannell , seconded by Mr . Jack Lowe :
RESOLVED , that final approval be given to Lots # 1 , # 2 , # 3 ,
and # 4 of the Anthony J . Leonardo Subdivision on the Danby Road , as
shown on plan dated August 28 , 1973 , Town Map No . 419 , conditional
upon the acceptance of Sesame Street by the Town Board as a Town Road .
The Chair asked if there were any further discussion,
Mrs . Holcomb instructed Mr . Leonardo that he has to get a
legal description from his attorney for Sesame Street to the Town
Attorney .
There was no further discussion and a vote was called for by
the Chair . All members present voted aye . Carried unanimously .
REPORT ON MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 10TH , 1973 , WITH STEVE HERMAN OF THE
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ,
1 . Mrs . Holcomb reported on the above meeting , stating that
the Health Department had sent out a letter to all the municipalities
outlining the Health Department procedures . She asked what is a good
procedure for the Planning Board to follow in complying with Health
Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 3 - September 11 , 1973
ODepartment requirements . The Health Department should receive a
proposed plan with preliminary approval shown on it . Mrs . Holcomb
suggested that the Planning Board should have a new stamp block made
which would be large enough to hold the following :
1 . Preliminary Approval
2 . Health Department Approval
3 . Conditional Final Approval
4 . Final Approval
The suggestion was agreeable to the members of the Planning Board .
2 . Mrs . Holcomb now referred to an official request to the
Planning Board from the Town Board to give the Town Board their
thinking in re a problem with road connections in the Northeast . When
Mr . Schoenfeld was given approval to build Burleigh Drive , he was
encouraged to buy land to build a road along the North Town boundary
connecting Warren Road and North Triphammer Road. This he did . The
section from Burleigh to Warren is completed but the Village of
Cayuga Heights will not allow the other section connecting with North
Triphammer to be built . All traffic from the Lansing Apartment
complex is now channelled down Burleigh .
It was suggested that Burleigh Drive be cut and made a cul- de-
sac . However , it was felt that this procedure would create a very
long section which may exceed the limi
® ts of a cul� de- sac .
Mr . Francese and Mr . Kroohs suggested taking a traffic count
of the area . There followed a lengthy discussion of alternates . The
general consensus was that the Planning Board does not have enough
facts . A traffic count would help and an origin and destination
count also .
REPORT OF ZONING OFFICER - DAVID COWAN .
1 . Beacon Hills Sign . Mr . Cowan stated that the Planning
Board had approved in principal at their last meeting the proposed
sign for Beacon Hills . At that time approval was not finally given
because it was unclear what the wording on the sign would be . Mr .
Cowan stated that he has received a letter from Beacon Hills outlining
the wording of the sign . He stated that the sign falls within the
requirements of the Town of Ithaca Sign Ordinance .
MOTION by Mr . Sam Slack , seconded by Mr . Robert Scannell ,
RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca give
approval to the Beacon Hills Sign .
There was no further discussion and a vote was called for . All
members present voted aye . The Motion was carried unanimously .
• 2 . McGuire Gardens . Mr . Metz reported to Mr . Cowan that he
had seen a building going up which seems to be a plastic extension of
McGuire Gardens existing stand near the greenhouse . Mr . Cowan
reported that the construction meets with his approval . Mrs . Holcomb
stated that the Planning Board has to approve it and then it goes to
the Town Board for their consideration.
Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 4� September 11 , 1973
MOTION by Mr . Sam Slack , seconded by Mr . Robert Scannell :
RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca
recommend to the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that the plastic
structure being constructed on the property of McGuire Gardens be
approved .
There was no further discussion and the Chair called for a
vote . All members present voted aye . The Motion carried unanimously .
3 . Odd Fellows Home Sign and Beacon . Mr . Cowan stated that
the large sign and t1ashing beacon at the Odd Fellows Home on the
Trumansubrg Road is an illegal sign under the Town of Ithaca Sign
Ordinance . However , it is a difficult situation since the sign and
beacon constitute a gift and memorial respectively . Mr . Cowan
reported that the had been directed by the Town Board to take action
and have these signs removed .
Mr . Cowan presented a letter from Attorney Armand L . Adams
dated January 11 , 1973 , regarding this matter . He stated that the
present zoning ordinance does not permit these signs at all . The
Sign Ordinance says that non® conforming signs have to come down
within three years .
Mr . Scannell suggested that Mr . Cowan point out to the
attorney that according to the present zoning ordinance they had no
legal right to erect these signs at all . It was Mr . Scannell ' s
opinion that since we have informed the Odd Fellows that they have as
non- conforming sign and beacon we should go by the new §.10
ordinance and give them the three years to take it down .
Mr . Cowan will continue pursuing the matter .
FURTHER DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE .
At this point the Planning Board turned to further discussion
of the proposed zoning ordinance .
ADJOURNMENT ,
The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 25 p . m . by the Chair .
Respectfully submitted ,
Nancy M. Fuller
Secretary .