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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1976-05-18 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD MAY 18 , 1976 The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in special session on Tues - day , May 18 , 1976 , in Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street , ( second floor ) , Ithaca , N . Y . , at 7 : 30 p , m . PRESENT : Chairman Barbara Holcomb , Liese Bronfenbrenner , Daniel Baker , Richard Black , Sam Slack , Lawrence Fabbroni ( Planning Engineer/ Building Inspector ) . ABSENT : Maurice Harris , Robert Christianson . ALSO PRESENT : Shirley Raffensperger ( Town Co-ancilwoman ) , Harry Missirian ( County Planning Office ) , Dr . Frank B 1dtri: , Mrs . Eva Hoffmann Alan Goodman ( Ithaca Journal ) , Jeff Scheidecker ( [ TKO ) , Chairman Holcomb opened the meeting at 7 : 46 p . Ta REPLACEMENT PERSON FOR DAVID MARTIN AS PLANNING BOARD MEMBER Mrs . Holcomb reported that she has tried to get in contact with Mr . Henry McPeak as a possible replacement to fill the unexpired term of Mr . David Martin , but has so far been unable to . She asked that the Planning Board members continue to search for a person from the North east area . There was a discussion of a person to replace Mr . Christianson who has been hospitalized because of a bad accident . The Board would like to consider a person on an interim basis until Mr . Christianson can return if this is possible . The Secretary will research this matter and report to Mrs . Holcomb , Mrs . Holcomb left the meeting at this point because of illness . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner announced that she will not be able to attend the June 1 , 1976 , Planning Board meeting . DISCUSSION OF PARK PROPOSALS , SCHEDULING PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS , AND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION TO INCLUDE : 1 . Site Plan Proposals for Northeast Ithaca 2 . Site Plan Alternatives and Recommendations for Coy Glen 3 . Northview Road West Park 4 . East Ithaca Bikeways ? . South Hill Bikeways Mr . Fabbroni reviewed the various park proposals that have come before this Board up to this point . 1 . Northeast Ithaca a . Tareyton Drive site which involves Cornell land and negotia - .: ions . b . Salem Drive site . Northview Road gest Mr . Fabbroni commented that the Town Park Policy as it now exists Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 2v May 18 , 1976 allows for the Planning Board to receive requests for parks from civic . associations or to receive requests from him ( Fabbroni ) . Mr . Fabbroni stated that the deed is in process through Mr . Hilker ' s attorney for the Northview Road West park . This park is about 1/ 2 acre in size . Mr . Albert Hoefer has been the spokesman for the neighborhood . The Town will be gaining the title to the park and will recognize it as a park . There will be a walkway entrance to the park . Mr . Fabbroni asked if the Town will help minimally as it did with the Tudor Road park in Eastern Heights in terms of tree gleaning and equ .i.p - ment to get rid of tree stumps . The Town may install picnic tables , barbeque pit , but only after request of same from residents . 3 . East Ithaca Bikeways a . Maple Avenue to Honness Lane is also part of the Circle Greene way but has Committee ' s informal endorsement for dual usage . b . Honness Lane to Eastern Heights , This is an area that goes around Dr . Baldwin ' s land . Cornell owns all of the Railroad land in the first section , except for a small piece at the Honness Lane end . c . Final stage from Eastern Heights area out to Besemer Road along old Railroad right of way . Mrs . Eva Hoffmann asked if any of the bikeway runs in the road . Mr . Fabbroni stated that just a little piece about a block long does on Honness Lane . Mrs . Hoffmann asked how the connection is made from Hon- ness Lane to Maple Avenue ? Mr . Fabbroni stated that it crosses Mitchell Street at a grade crossing . Mrs . Hoffmann asked if it is possible to have bikeways on roads ? Mr . Fabbroni said that it is possible but it is very expensive . Putting bikeways over culverts would run about $ 5 , 000 a mile . 4 . Coy Glen Mr . Fabbroni stated that the final hard -bound copy of the study of Coy Glen has been presented to the Town by Dennis Colliton , Mr . Fab- broni commented that those items discussed at the Planning Board meeting on April 21 , 1976 , are shown in much more detail in the final copy of the study . 5 . South Hill Bikeway Pair . Evan Monkemeyer has proposed the development of a bikeway on jouth Hill south of Ithaca College and north of East King Road , Mr . Yabbroni presented a map of the proposed bikeway on land owned by Mr . Monkemeyer , Mr . Fabbroni commented that this is a kind of a futuristic thing for a bikeway and footpath that could be used for cross country , Mr . Monkemeyer is proposing a 20 ' right of way . Mr . Black wondered what Mr . Monkemeyer is asking the Town to do . Mr . Fabbroni said that he is asking that the Town develop the proposed 20 ' right of way in stages . Mr . Fabbroni said that Mr . Monkemeyer is planning to develop th e areas along the path as recreation areas for his South Hill '. � velopment . Mr . Monkemeyer has already cleared this entire path but r: needs a certain amount of fill . There are some wet spots . The fill !;;t"U. ld be available from another area of Monkemeyer ' s land . Mr . Fab® L.41 . D .& i noted that there is a pretty good grade for biking . Tbwn of Ithaca Planning Board - 3 - May 18 , 1976 Mr . Black stated that the only thing that bothers him is that there does not seem to be much possibility of this developing for many years . Mr . Fabbroni noted that there is a possible connection for this bikeway to Upper Buttermilk through a power line utility right of way farther South . Mr . Black wondered what the Board needs to do tonight . Northeast Sites Mr . a roni said that we have the two Northeast proposals on the table , and we should think in terms of a first stage recommendation , Mr . Black commented that the Tareyton Road site is the active area site and in terms of priorities it would seem to be the most pressing as far as actual use goes . However , the passive area , Salem Drive , would be the least expensive to develop . Mr . Black thought that the active area needs a fair amount of levelling . Mr , Fabbroni commented that it really does not - he did a topo in one day and it is about a 5 % grade . Mr . Fabbroni noted that the expenses involved would run about as follows , not considering labor costs ,* Tennis Courts ( 2 ) about $ 8 , 000 and would include grading , drains around them , sub- base and asphalt finish ( not including the lip for the use as an ice rink ) . Basketball Court about $ 3 , 500 , Sand play area about $ 2 , 000 . Pavilion has not been estimated yet . Mr . Black noted that the Town does not have any experience in this area . The Town does not know how much it can depend on the neighbors for help . He cited for example that the tennis courts would need nets , • posts , etc . , and the baFmketball court would need for one thing a back - board , and then there would be a need for furniture for the play area . Mrs . Hoffmann wondered about a place for the older children . Mr . Fabbroni stated that in the northeast area the people have determined that the school fields are s;: Lficient for this age group . He noted that there is also the remainder of the land which Mr . Lucente owns . There is still parkland to come out of that land and part of that land could be used for that age group . Coy Glen Mr . Fabbroni stated that there should be a recommendation to the `.:'own Board to review the plan that has been carefully developed by Mr . Colliton and to accept or modify the recommendations and then to active- ly move forward , to actively recommend acquisition of the land involved and pursue the BOR funding for purchase of the parkland . BOR is 50/ 50 matching funds - you :Right increase it to 60/ 40 through use of studies 7. . ke Mr . Colliton ° s and other in kind expenditures . The Board wondered : _ t BOR will pay for equipment as well as land . Mr . Fabbroni said that ,vou can submit a stage plan - i . e . , acquisition followed by develop- mental staged plans . Mr . Fabbroni said that with this study in hand it seems realistic to start to approach the landowners to tell them what the Town has in mind . The most active area of this whole plan is down in the flood plain . when the City of Ithaca decides to develop • ;: heir half of this area it would be sound to combine proposals so as to complement the other municipality ' s plans . Mr . Fabbroni noted that thing that the Town has in its favor with regard to the active areas that the Town has no neighborhood-type parks . Mr . Black asked what :eil University ' s interest is in Coy Glen , Mr . Fabbroni said that : a= 7r main interest is in preserving the floor of the Glen for study Town of Ithaca Planning Board -4 ® May 18 , 1976 purposes . The Board then discussed the gravel pit operation as it affects Coy Glen . It was noted that Treman owns about 90 acres , Babcock owns about 50 acres and the rest is owned by several other landowners . Reclamation of the gravel pit operation was discussed . Mr . Fabbroni said that he would recommend anyway that some kind of recommendation be sent through to the Town Board so that some Committee could be set up to get into some sort of contact with people in the area of Coy Glen . MOTION by Mrs . Liese Bronfenbrenner , seconded by Mr . Daniel Bakero RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca recommends that the Town Board form a Committee to study the Coy Glen proposal and come up with recommendations for developing this 256 acres as Town parkland . By way of discussion , Mr . Baker stated that he has talked to many people about the land back there and what good it is . He commented that it is of no real value . Mr . Fabbroni asked if anybody on this Board would be interested in being on this Committee ? Mr . Black stated that it was his opinion that somebody should be on this Committee from the Planning Board . There being no further discussion , Mr . Black called for a vote . Aye - Bronfenbrenner , Black , Slack , Baker . Nay - None . Mr . Black wondered if a motion were necessary for the Northeast . He also noted that the Town did accept the parkland in the East Ithaca area ( Eastern Heights ) . Mr . Fabbroni noted that there is also the consideration of a site for Forest Home and a vest®pocket park for Burleigh Drive , East Ithaca Bikeways Dr . Frank Baldwin was present and stated that Mr . David Cassel had made a presentation to the Planning Board on this plan for a bikeway system for East Ithaca on April 21 , 1976 . Dr . Baldwin reviewed the three stages of his proposal . He noted that Cornell University has been receptive to that part of the proposed bikeway that runs through 1: '1.e railroad right of way that they own . Dr . Baldwin stated that the part of the bikeway between Mitchell Street and Maple Avenue has been grassed over but is a pretty hard surface . The base and the ties of the railroad right of way are still in there . Mr . Fabbroni referred to the part between Mitchell Street and • Honness Lane and stated that it could be fixed up for about $ 1 , 800 . The other part ( Town part ) between Mitchell Street and Maple Avenue could be .. ixed up for about $ 1 , 400 . The Blatchley land upon which the proposed bikeway would run was :� . ; w•ussed . It was noted that several Circle Greenway people have talked � ..3 .Mr . Blatchley and he has been cooperative with them . Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 5 ® May 18 , 1976 Mr . Fabbroni commented that motorized vehicles will not be recom® mended for this bikeway . • Mr . Black wondered what the City ® s interest is in this whole bike ® way system and asked if there would be any other sources of finances . Mr . Fabbroni said that he did not know . Dr . Baldwin stated that he has not discussed the matter with Mr . H . Mathys VanCort , the City Planner , Mr . Black stated that he felt that the Planning Board should recom- mend going aheard on a couple of these plans in a modest sort of way and see what develops in the other areas as far as input from the Civic Associations , Mr . Fabbroni commented that as far as bikeways go , this East Ithaca one seems to be a good test case to see j =est how these things work . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner stated that the Board has also heard from this Civic Association quite a few times ( East Ithaca Town Assoc . ) . Dr . Baldwin continued and reviewed the future stage 2 of the pro posed bikeway which is from Honness Lane across his own property then across Mr . Marion ' s property into Eastern Heights , Dr . Baldwin noted that Phase 3 extends from Pine Tree Road through a 60 ' right of way out to Burns Road , Dr . Baldwin stated that he has talked with several people out there who are interested in leasing the land or permitting an easement on a temporary basis . Br . Baldwin stated that the part that parallels Slaterville Road has become very important because of the danger of biking along Slaterville Roadd The various aspects of thin overall plan were discussed in detail . Mr . Slack said that if you develop the stretch between Honness Lane and Maple Avenue , you have provided a major part of the route from East Hill into the University campus that people are now taking . Mr . Slack stated that he liked the loop up into Eastern Heights but he did not see that developing very soon . MOTION by Mr . Sam Slack , seconded by Mrs . Liese Bronfenbrenners RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca recommend to the Town Board that the Town Board investigate and proceed to develop that part of the proposed East Ithaca Bikeway that runs from Honness Lane to Maple Avenue . There being no further discussion , Mr . Black called for a vote . Aye - Bronfenbrenner , Black , Slack , Baker . Nay _ None . Northview Road West The Planning Board members agreed that this park proposal should move ahead . Mr . Black recommended that this park should be authorized as a Town park and that the Town should work with the neighborhood to clean up the area and provide access to it . MOTION by Mr . Richard Black , seconded by Mr . Sam Slack : RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca recommend to the Town Board that authorization be given to the Town of Ithaca ijhway Department to work with the neighborhood residents of Northview oad West to clean up the 1 / 2 acre park located on Northview Road West Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 6 ® May 18 , 1976 ( Hilker Subdivision ) and provide access to it , There being no further discussion , Mr . Black called for a vote . Aye - Bronfenbrenner , Black , Slack , Baker . Nay - None . Northeast Ithaca Parks Mr . Slack stated that there should be some effort by the Planning Board to get some input from the Northeast Civic Association and to appear at a Planning Board meeting for same . Or , that the Northeast Civic Association should discuss the matter with Mr . Fabbroni , Town Engineer , either in his office in Town Hall or by his appearing at one of their meetings . South Hill Bikeway Mr . Fabbroni asked if Mr . Monkemeyer ° s proposal should be presented. as a possibility to the Town Board , Mr , Black stated that he thought that the Board should take one thing at a time , He suggested that the Town Board take this proposal for East Ithaca and if it goes pretty well , then they can look at this one as a proposal . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner asked if the South Hill Bikeway plan would be something that the " Cayuga Trails �� might like to work into . Mr . Fabbroni will look into this possibility , ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion by Mr , Slack the meeting was adjourned at 10 ° 40 p . m . Respectfully submitted , Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary , ' RE : Park Development in the Northeast T0 : Robert Julian FROM : Larry Fabbroni . Direct input from the Northeast Civic Association has been requested by the Town Planning Board on preliminary Park Site Plans for an active park site at the north end of Tareyton Road and a passive park site backlot east of Salem Drive . Plans were developed by L . Rogers and P . Schwartz of Cornell and Town Planners in accordance with input of the Northeast Civic Association , site characteristics , existing area facilities , and contemporary planning ideas . The Tareyton Road site is proposed to include two tennis courts convertible to winter skating , a basketball - street hockey court , a toddler pre - school play area , and a future open picnic pavilion in various stages with walkways and final landscaping envisioned as a community project . The Salem Drive site is proposed to have a 60 foot diameter , 4 - 5 foot deep drainage pond with natural type walking trails and sitting areas to keep the development as . much in keeping with nearby bird sanctuary and compatible with adjacent residences . Input on project appropriateness as to neighborhood desires , needs , scale of activity with regard to base proposals and neighborhood willingness to participate in the fringes of each development as an indication of neighborhood commitment and interest will be most necessary in forwarding final proposals to the Town Board for determination of staging and priorities within the park program of the Town .