HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1975-01-07 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
r
JANUARY 7 , 1975
PRESENTa Chairwoman Barbara Holcomb , Robert Scannell , Sam
Slack , Liese Bronfenbrenner , Robert Christianson , Jack Lowe , Daniel
Baker , Lawrence Fabbroni ( Planning Engineer , Building Inspector ) .
ABSENT and EXCUSED % Maurice Harris , Arnold Albrecht .
ALSO PRESENT : Alan Goodman ( Ithaca Journal ) , Vincent Fra;ne'iamoi:
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
There was no report from the Building Inspector .
rEPORT OF PLANNING ENGINEER
Mr . Fabbroni reported that he had received a letter from Prof .
Joseph Gentili , of the Cornell University Department of Landscape Arclii
tecture requesting the money that had been appropriated by the Planning
Board for the bikeway study . He stated that he had seen a study that t :
students had prepared for Trumansburg on parks and land development anca
that they had done a very good job . The sum of $ 200 . 00 is satisfactory
to Mr . Fabbroni . Mrs . Holcomb said that payment will go through the
voucher system to the Town Board for their meeting on the 13th of
January , 1975 .
Mr . Fabbroni reported that he is presently occupied nearly full
time with the building of the Bolton Point road and the clearing of the
site .
CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF COGGSHALL ACCESS ROAD PROBLEM
The present discussion concerns Town of Ithaca Parcel No . 60 � 1 �
34 . 4 , owned by W . L . Coggshall , Mr . W . L . Coggshall ° s father , Mr . A . L .
Coggshall , owns Parcel No . 60 - 134 . 2 and the old homestead is on that
parcel .
Mrs . Holcomb said that to develop the large parcel ( 60 - 1 - 34 . 2 )
the Planning Board might require a second access to it . Parcel No ,
601 - 34 . 4 is now served by a private road , an extension of Eastwood
Avenue which is a City street . r7rs . Holcomb noted that there is at
present no firm plan for any development . Since the Coggshalls are now
interested in selling the homestead , they must subdivide the large
parcel to create a lot for the house . The Planning Board should act
now to provide for a second access if they feel one will be required
in the future . Mr . Fabbroni felt that if we give a second access on
to Slaterville Road there could be problems much like the intersection
of Honness Lane and Slaterville Road . Mrs . Holcomb felt that the slope
is not as steep as Honness Lane ,
Mrs . Holcomb reported that she had talked to Fire Chief Weaver
today about cul de sacs and their proper length . The question is if
our present 5001 maximum requirement is for fire protection only and is
the only consideration , then 5001 is not a reasonable length to pick .
The Fire Chief said that they can reach more than 5001 . They can reach
Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 2 - January 7 , 1975
a minimum of 1 , 0001 from a hydrant with a hose .
Mr . Scannell said that he has had discussions with several
different fire chiefs and they each say something different . if
Weaver should retire , what would a new fire chief require ?
Mrs . Holcomb asked if the Planning Board wishes to require th:-i.-�
Mr . Coggshall set aside a right of way for access to the 5 - acre parcel.
060 - 1 - 34 . 2 ) .
Mr . Christianson said that he did not see a real prcblem w1th
just one access . There cannot be too many houses put on the 5 acres ,
Mr . Slack noted that the private road goes along Eastwow-%%Y ', o
tgoodcrest Avenue , so there are only two choices - - out to T,1ood : reZ. is or
on to Slaterville Road .
There followed a discussion of a church going in on the *�:; ;11: •e �_ t;r ,
Mr . Scannell wondered if the Planning Board could ask Mr . �Worg -
shall to come in with a sketch plan of what he would like to do ,
Holcomb felt that he really has no plan , except that he wants to sel. i .
the house . Mrs . Holcomb also noted that the Town Board will accept
a 50 ° right of way for the access road .
Mr . Slack MOVED , seconded by Mr . Lowe , that the Planning Board
suggest a 501 right of. way on the Property ( # 60 - 1 - 34 . 2 ) to direct
traffic to Route 79 ( Slaterville Road ) .
Mr . Slack , in response to a question , said his Motion intended
the road to Route 79 as the only access to future development .
Mrs . Holcomb indicated that she would prefer the option of two
access roads .
Mr . Fabbroni suggested that the suggestion be made to the
Coggshalls that in selling the home they should anticipate keeping out
a 59 ° right of way at this time and pending the development of the
land , then we could exercise an option to have a second access to
Eastwood AVenue if necessary .
Mr . Lowe asked if we could table this until Mr . Coggshall comes
in with a plan ?
Mrs . Holcomb felt we could decide the matter of requiring him to
set aside land for a possible future access road at this point .
Mr . Slack withdrew his Motion .
Mr . Christianson MOVED , seconded by Mr . Baker that " Mr . Coggshall
reserve a right of way to Slaterville Road for a possible future access
road . The decision as to whether a second access road would actually
be required will be made by the Planning Board when the proposed use
and actual development Plan are presented . "
There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote
with all members present voting AYE . The Motion was declared to be
Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 3 - January 7 , 1975
carried unanimously ,
There followed a discussion of the filing of this Resolution
w?. th the County Clerk ' s Office so that i;-, becomes a part of the record
on this property should a piece he sold .
DISCUSSION OF REQUEST BY MANCINI TO EXTEND LIGHT INDUSTRZ;U DTS9,1RTC:`.V
ELMIRA ROAD
Mrs . Holcomb read a letter from Tony Egner , dated Noveaib%;�: l i
x. 974 , concerning the boundaries of Mr . Iiancini ° s Light Indust :10.
Zone on Elmira Road . Map P - 1 was attached . Mrs . Holcomb refe:t: rel t: ;
Tax Mali No . 60 - 3 - 3 . 1 ( 2A acres ) , property owned by Tlancii: i , ad j acen
ICO but not presently part of the Light Industrial Zone ,
Mrs , Holcomb led the discussion of whether or not the
of the 2 , 6 acres to the presently existing Light Industrial Di8 }.st- c
should be recommended to the Town Board at the time we adopt the r. ..nri
zoning ordinance .
Mr . Baker felt that there should be a buffer area between Five
Mile Drive and the Light Industrial use .
Mr . Scannell stated that he thought that it should be zoned
Light Industrial absolutely . We could require a 601 buffer area . Ther,:
is already a natural buffer on the North property boundary .
Mr . Baker felt that there should be a buffer on the road .
Mr . Christianson agreed . It does not make any sense to leave
it as a no -man ° s land . He was also in favor of a screen of some sort .
Mr . Baker pointed out that Mancini now has his storage right
up to the road .
Mrs . Holcomb read from the zoning ordinance which indicates that
a front yard must be 1501 . This should provide the necessary set - back
area before storage can occur .
The consensus of the Board is that it will be proposed that this
area will be added to the Light Industrial District as an extension of
the district when the new zoning ordinance is adopted .
LETTER FROM MR . VINCENT FRANCIAMONE
Mrs . Holcomb read a letter received from Mr . Vincent Franciamone
of 108 Ridgecrest Road , dated January 6 , 1975 , as follows :
" The minutes of the Planning Board dated 2 / 26/ 74 has indicated
that if land is served by Water and Sewer , it is merely a matter of
routine business to rezone from R® 30 to R- 15 . Therefore , I am sub-
mitting this letter as a request that the Planning Board hold a Public
Hearing to consider the recommendation to the Town Board to rezone
Lot 45 - 1 - 5 from R- 30 to R- 15 to be on the January agenda , "
Mrs . Holcomb stated that she has gone back through the records
because the Planning Board had a similar request from Mr . Franciamone a
year ago . It was in October of 1973 at which time the Planning Board
w `
Tou*n of l liaca Planning Board January 7 , 1975
requested advice from ciir icax:7n Attor - :ey since there had been previous
Iitigation with Mr . Franciamone ,
:: S , H^ lconb read a letter receVled
from John C . Barney , Attcrney at main• , d4 is d Ivottembi,� r 1 , 1913 , as
follows °
' Re . Request by Vincent Franciamone for Rezonlrig
In accordance with our discussions , this is to confir*Ll to you
i,ur advice concerning the above application . As we understand it , b"1 .
7'ranc3. amone has addressed a letter to you requesting r_ ezonirlig of hir
property on Ridgecrest ' Road from R- 30 to R- 15 . As you know , fir.
F'ranc: iamone has been involved in a fair amount of litigat .1. on w16 i:h �L v=
Town over compliance with various aspects of the zoning ordir_ ancel. and
it may very well be that at present he continues to be in v3d.c, .Lat :!_ 6t. ,
Given the history on Mr . Franciamonees relationship wirLa fi.;l.o
Town , as well as the fact that the Planning Board does not have tr.j-
yPo wer to alter the zoning ordinance , it would be our recommendati •oaN. to
the Planning Board that Mr . Franciamone be advised to direct his irquirY
to the Town Board . "
Mrs . Holcomb then read a letter which Mr . Schwan had written to
Mr . Franciamone dated November 21 , 1973 . ( See Official Minutes of the
Planning Board ) ,
Mrs . Holcomb then asked Mr . Franciamone if anything has changed
since that time .
Mr . Franciamone stated that the Planning Board has in the past
made recommendations to the Town Board to spot zone and he then pointed
out lots in the area that have been rezoned from R- 30 to Re15 . Mr .
Franciamone stated that the past record is not in effect since all he
is asking for is a rezoning to R- 15 .
Mrs . Holcomb asked again if anything has changed .
Mr . Franciamone indicated that the " final Court decision " had
settled everything .
Mrs . Holcomb stated that all the Planning Board wants is an okay
from the Attorney to proceed on a request for rezoning .
Mr . Franciamone stated that he is entitled to request a rezoning
and to have public hearings . Mr . Franciamone said that he will make
a photo copy and send the Planning Board a copy of the final decision .
Mrs . Holcomb stated that as soon as the Attorney says that there
is no problem with that property the Planning Board will proceed with
the request just as they would with any other property .
DISCUSSION OF PRIORITIES FOR 1975
Mrs . Holcomb stated that the list of things that are pending is
long and involved . She pointed out that if one looks at the past year
it can be seen that a very small part of the Planning Board ' s time has
been spent on the subdivisions . She noted that the list to follow is
not in any order of importance .
ToUm of Itbaca Planning Board ® 5 -- January 7 , 1973
1 . Zoning Ordinance
2 . Zoning Ord :'L. r.iance Map
3 . Zoning Ordi nanr. Sched:: le
4 . Official Hiighwaeyr Ma-0
5 � Sepa. zJ:+�a/te set of Tax Maps which shows actual boundaries of eE.,r: i
District
6 . Subdivision Regulations amendments
7 , Park Policy
€i . Extraction Ordinance ( Environmental Protection Ordinance )
9 . Fill Ordinance
10 . Amendments to Sign Ordinance
11 . Home Occupation
12 . By the 1st of July , 1975 , take action so that the Town of Ithaca
qualifies for Flood Plain Insurance . we may have to designate
® areas .
13 . Residual problems that were raised in the long discussions on the
proposed loop road .
a . Alternative access to South Hill .
b . East side from Route 79 to Route 13 .
c . Northeast Committee work ( resulted from Burleigh Drive problems ) .
Committee consists of Cornell , Town of Ithaca , Lansing , Village
of Cayuga Heights , etc . This Committee is continuing to sit
and look at the proposed loop road . ( There was a lengthy dis-
cussion of the proposed circumferential road . )
14 . Meetings with Civic Associations and the Planning Board . A series
of meetings on the same night that the Planning Board meets to have
each Civic Association come in and discuss their problems and what
they see as solutions . All agreed that this is a very good idea .
15 . Traffic study in the Northeast area before July 1 , 1975 .
16 . Bikeway study should be completed in March or April .
17 . Continuing problem of what is happening to Beacon Hills ,
18 . Eastern Heights Park problem will probably come in in February
(William Stein )
19 . Elderly Housing on Ellis Hollow Road . About public transportation ,
if it were not provided by public transportation , then they shall
provide it .
. Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 6 - January 7 , 1975
20 . Elderly housing people are having trouble walking along Ellis
Hollow Road , It is very danglar. r1s . A walkway should be looked
into . There is a gully that w.i ? 1 have to be bridged by a culvert ,
21 . Octopus and Route 95 and Pcute 13 .
Mrs . Holcomb asked - ® now , how do you wish to proceed ?
Mr . Christianson stated emphatically that the Zoning Ordinanci-y
should be top p.-- i_ority . Also one meeting a month should be s . t asio. �l
-for% problems in neighborhood areas . Then perhaps the Park Policy ai%34
t 1ne F-abdivis i. on Regulatiolis ,
Mr . Slack felt that the Board should set a few high pziuri. cie3
a �nld get them done ,
Mr . Lowe suggested that on the new zoning ordinance a sub"a
comini - tee should be set up to get it to the Town Attorney as soon Fis
possible .
It was agreed that the Sign Ordinance and the Park Policy should
be looked at first off .
ADJOURNMENT
Upon Motion , the Chair adjourned the Meeting at 10000 p . m .
Respectfully submitted ,
Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary .
January 6 , 1975
Town of Ithaca
Chairman , Town Planning Board
108 E . Green Street
Ithaca , NY 14850
Dear Chairman :
The minutes of the Planning- Board dated
2 /26 /74 has indicated that if land is served by
Water and Sewer , it is merely a matter of routine
business to rezone from R - 30 to R -15 . Therefore ,
I am submitting this letter as a request that the
Planning Board hold a Public Hearing to consider
the recommendation to the Town Board to rezone
Lot 45- 1 - 5 from R - 30 to R -15 to be on the January
agenda .
Sincerely yours ,
Vincent R . Franciamone
108 Ridgecrest Road
Ithaca , NY 14850
cc : Town Clerk
Larry Fabbroni