HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1976-03-02 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
MARCH 2 , 1976
The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on Tues =
day , March 2 , 1976 , in the Town Offices , 126 East Seneca Street ( second
floor ) , Ithaca , New York , at 7 : 30 p . m .
PRESENT : Chairman Barbara Holcomb , Sam Slack , David Martin , Liese
Bronfenbrenner , Robert Christianson , Maurice Harris , Lawrence P .
Fabbroni ( Planning Engineer/Building Inspector ) .
ABSENT and EXCUSED : Daniel Baker , Richard Black ,
ALSO PRESENT : Mrs . Shirley Raffensperger , Mrs , Cathy Valentino ,
( Town Board Members ) , James V . Buyoucos , Esq . , Robert W . Bonnell
(Assistant to the Engineer ) , Dennis Colliton ( Student in Landscape
Architecture ) ,
Chairman Holcomb opened the Meeting at 7 : 35 p . m .
REPORT OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
Mr . Fabbroni reported that one building permit was issued in the
month of February .
Mr . Fabbroni reported that he and Mr . Bonnell are working on the
notification of businesses and premises in the Town of Ithaca that are
in violation of the Town of Ithaca Sign Ordinance , Town of Ithaca Local
Law # 1 - 1972 .
REPORT OF THE PLANNING ENGINEER
Mr . Fabbroni reported that he is working on the proposed renovation
to the Town Highway Barn . He stated that there might be a possibility
of an alternative site . He noted that more heated building space is
needed . A shed ( lean - to - type ) is needed for the storage of sand . An
enclosed space is needed also for the big machinery not utilized on a
regular basis during winter months .
Mr . Fabbroni reported that he had a meeting with the Forest Home
Improvement Association on February 25 , 1976 , to discuss the sewer pro-
ject ( 5 sewer extensions - $ 970 , 000 . 00 ) which , as he described at the
last Planning Board meeting , has run into problems as to funding and
has several options and ways to go . He stated that the Town is still
active in that project but that he tried at that meeting to point out
the realities of the funding at the present time .
Mr . Fabbroni stated that he is also working on a traffic survey
questionnaire with the data collection effort largely being accomplished
through the Northeast Civic Association and Forest Home Improvement
Association . Mr . Fabbroni described the survey he is conducting
( attached hereto ) . On this questionnaire there is an opportunity for
people to express in their own way how much in terms of tax dollars
they would be willing to spend in any particular area of Town government
Mr . Fabbroni reported on the Forest Home one -way Y road system
alternative as part of the Ad Hoc Crosstown Road Committee ' s attempt to
further discover what the Forest Home Community would accept as traffic
solutions . It appears that they do not want to jump right into the one-
way road system . He commented that at this point the idea is in limbo
Town of Ithaca PlanningBoard 2
- March 2 , 1976
until Cornell is contacted about alternative schemes of keeping traffic
out of Forest Home ,
PRESENTATION ON COY GLEN - DENNIS COLLITON '
Mrs . Holcomb was excused from the meeting to attend an urgent
meeting of the Health Planning Council , Mr . Christianson assumed the
Chair .
Mr . Fabbroni announced that Mr . Colliton is a student in Landscape
Architecture at Cornell University and is working on his Master ' s
Thesis . The thesis is being written on Coy Glen ( see attachment
entitled " project outline " ) . PZr . Colliton will be presenting his
design study , site analysis , and plan implementation at various stages
for the interest and comment of the Planning Board . The following
questions about Coy Glen will also be presented to the Board for their
consideration?
1 . Is there any specific use that you see Coy Glen could be used for
other than the conventional recreational uses found throughout
Tompkins County and the region , ( i . e . , Buttermilk , Treman , or
Taughannock Falls Parks ) ?
2 . Would Coy Glen be viewed as a neighborhood park , a Town Park , or a
regional park ?
3 . Is the gravel operation a threat to Coy Glen , or will it be allowed
• to expand in the future ?
Mr . Colliton presented slide photographs of Coy Glen which were
taken by him and Mr . Bonnell . Mr . Colliton discussed each picture in
detail .
After the slide presentation , Mr . Christianson asked Mr . Colliton
if he had any ideas about what he would do with the Coy Glen area if he
were responsible for it . Mr . Colliton stated that he was in favor of a
regional park with a limit placed upon the gravel operation existing
there .
Mrs . Raffensperger asked if there were any time limit placed upon
the gravel pit operation . Mr . Colliton was under the impression that
it was a 99-year lease but this was not verified . The year 1987 was
also mentioned .
Mr . Fabbroni commented that the State of New York has finally desi -
gnated someone to handle the reclammation plans of such operations . Mr .
Fabbroni cited the outstanding court case involving the Town of Ithaca
and Rumsey- Ithaca . Mr . Fabbroni spoke of a lease between Rumsey- Ithaca
and the Treman Estate which runs to 1987 and noted also that the land
in the area of the gravel operation to the north of the Glen is just
about exhausted .
• Mr . Christianson wondered if the Glen as it now exists gets any
significant use by the citizenry . Mr . Colliton commented that it really
does not . He pointed out that Cornell University uses it for field
classes as a unique vegetation area ,
Mr . Fabbroni stated that without a clearly defined hiking trail it
is a difficult task to walk through the area .
Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 3e March 2 , 1976
Mr . Colliton commented that Rumsey- Ithaca must have a reclamation
plan submitted to the State by April 15 , 1976 , and that the law states
that adjacent landowners must be notified of the filing of a reclamma�
tion plan .
Mr . Christianson thanked Mr . Colliton on behalf of the Board for
his excellent work and in-depth presentation .
DISCUSSION OF REVISED PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE
The Planning Board and the Town Board having previously been given
a copy of a proposed revision in the proposed zoning ordinance , Mr .
Fabbroni proceeded to outline the changes he was presenting for dism
cussion . Mr . Buyoucos joined in the discussion .
There followed a discussion of the proposed realignment of the
proposed zoning ordinance . There was a discussion of the merits of the
" intent " or " preface " being a separate entity or embodied in the pro-
posed ordinance itself . It was discussed that the subdivision regula �
tion . aspect of the proposed zoning ordinance may be changed . Mr .
Fabbroni and the Boards ' members further discussed the major changes of
this draft as compared with the 1974 draft intensely reviewed by the
Boards at that time . In particular , the newly proposed R� 30 , clustered
concept and density , and B- 0 zones were discussed at length . Many
Board members reminisced on how certain aspects of the present draft
had been discussed at one time or other in drafting the new ordinance .
In some ways Board members agreed that the requirements were more
• succinct than the past draft but all generally felt the changes were
major enough to require further discussion and revi
maew before formal
public hearings .
MOTION by Mr . Sam Slack , seconded by Mr . Maurice Harris .
RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca meet on
Tuesday , March 9 , 1976 , at 7 . 00 p . m . to further discuss the proposed
zoning ordinance prior to its presentation at a public informational
meeting set by the Town Board for March 15 , 1976 .
There being no further discussion , the Vice -Chairman called for a
vote .
Aye - Slack , Martin , Bronfenbrenner , Christianson , Harris .
Nay - None .
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously .
ADJOURNMENT
Upon Motion , the Vice -Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at
10 . 00 P . M .
• Respectfully submitted ,
Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary .
TRANSPORTATION SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
VRT ® GENERAL IDENTIFICATION
our home address is
2 . Number of persons in your RouseRold
3 . Number of adults ( 17 or older ) in your houseRoId
4 . Number of automobiles available to your household
5 . What is your age range ? 1622 31 - 45 over 60
2330 46 - 60
6 . Are you Male Female
7 ; Are you married now? Yes No
8 . Are you employed ? Yes No
901 . If employed , where ?
Cornell University Ithaca Gun
N . C . R . Ithaco
Ithaca College Therm
Morse Chain Other ( Specify "
Downtown Ithaca peci yi
10 . If you are not employede are you as
person at home student at T �C3
student at Cornee � student at Ithaca Hig
student at Ithaca CU ge retiree unemployed
If you are employed or enrolled in school , please continue and complete all
parts . If not , skip PART II and complete remaining parts .
PART II ROUTINE WORK OR SCHOOL TRIP
� . What time do you normally leave for work/ school on your working/ school
day ? 1. ( a . m . ) ( p . m . )
12 . What was your means of transportation ? ( check one )
drive alone drive and take campus bus
drive and walk walk
given a ride hitch
carpool bicycle
other ( Please Specifyl )
13 . What time do you normally arrive at work/ school ? ( a . m . ) ( p . m . )
14 . Do you go directly to work/ school ? Yes No.
15 . If no , for what reason and where do you norma ly interrupt your trip ?
16 . What time do you normally leave work/ school ' a . m . p . m .
17 . What time do you normally arrive at home ? ( a . m . ) ( p . m . )
18 . � Do you go directly from work/ school - to home . Yes No
19 . If no , for what reason do you normally interrrupt your trip ?
20 . Now many times per week ao you make the above trip i . e . , the same times ,
the same destination , and the same means of travel ) ?
PART III m TRIPS DURING THE DAY AND ON WEEKENDS
21 . What other regularly scheduled trips apart from going to work or school
do you make ? Please state destination , trips per week , time of day ,
• reason for trip , means of transportation . ( e . g . , East Ithaca Plaza ,
2 times , Tues . & Thurs . afternoons , to shop , by car . )
a .
b .
Co
d .
e .
22 . Would you use bus service for any of the above trips ? Yes No
23 . What is the maximum distance you would be willing to walk inn o- rc�er to
catch a bus in your area ? minutes miles
24 . Do you have any comments or suggestions about a potent aT bus service in
your area and/or according to your special needs ?
COY GLEN : an uniqe area of Tompkins County
A
Project Outline :
I . Introduction
A . Study Area Desciption .
Be Project Methodology .
Co Problem Statement
D . Goals and Objectives .
1 . State of New York .
2 . Town of Ithaca .
3 . Individual .
E . Project Overview .
II . Project Orientation .
A . Location Maps
Be Site Access ,
Co Time / Distance Relationships ,
D . Area Recreational Need .
III . Cultural Inventory .
A . Community Services .
Be Schools .
C . Site Land Ownership ,
D . Site Zoning/Land Use .
E . Population Data .
• F . Employment Data .
G . Site Circulation and . Utilities .
H . Area Recreation . ( Existing and Proposed ) .
IV . Site Analysis ( Natural Systems ) .
A _ Landform .
Be Slope Analysis .
C . Hydrology ,
D . Geology .
E . Vegetation .
F . Wildlife .
G . Soils Analysis .
H . Climate .
I . Micro Climate .
( Review Point )
V . Sythesis of Data Collection .
A . Overall Site Summaries
Be Special Consideration
C . Other .
VI . Design and Development .
A . Schematic Design .
Be Preliminary Design ,
C . Review .
• D . Final Design ( s ) .
E . Review .
F . Design Interpretation .
VII . Plan Implementation .
A . Phasing of the Designs .
B . Land Acquistion ,
C . Funding Sources .
D . Models of Implementation .
VIII . Final Drawings ( Optional ) .
IX . Conclusion .
•
l
Questions About Coy Glen .
1 . Is there any specific use that you see Coy Glen could be used
for other than the conventional recreational uses found through -
out Tompkins County and the region , ( i . e . Buttermilk , Treman , or
Taughannock Falls Parks ) ?
2 . Would Coy Glen be viewed as a neighborhood park , a Town Park , or
a regional park ?
3 . Is the gravel operation a threat to Coy Glen , or will it be allowed
to expand in the future ?