HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1977-07-01 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
JULY 1 , 1975
• The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met on Tuesday , July 1 , 1975 ,
at 7 : 30 p . m . in the Town of Ithaca Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street ,
thaca , New York ,
PRESENT : Chairwoman Barbara Holcomb , Robert Scannell , Daniel
Laker , Maurice Harris , Robert Christianson , Liese Bronfenbrenner ,
Lawrence Fabbroni ( Planning Engineer/Building Inspector ) , Reynolds
Metz (Assistant Building Inspector ) , Susan Blumenthal ( Planning Studd, . _ ;
John McQueen ( Law Student ) .
ALSO PRESENT : D . H . Wallace , 790 N . Triphammer Rd . ; Letty Reeder ,
709 Mitchell St . ; Lois Richards , 45 Main St . , Spencer ; Alfred Eddy ,
Re D . # 5 ; Bob Wright , R . D . # 4 , Cortland .
The Meeting was opened by the Chairwoman at 7 : 35 p . m .
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
Mr . Metz reported that there were 11 building permits issued in
the month of June , 1975 . Five of the permits were for single family
units which is keeping up with the previous year . The Town of Ithaca
is not in as bad a slump as the nation as far as construction goes .
Mr . Metz reported that the sign inventory is still going on and that
he is making a list of all signs that are up and those that appear to
be violations of the Sign Ordinance . Mrs . Holcomb commented that all
. signs that were allowed by variance cannot be revoked .
REPORT OF PLANNING ENGINEER
Mr . Fabbroni reported that the improvement of Williams Glen Road
on West Hill will be underway in a month . With reference to the five
sewer. extensions . Mr . Fabbroni reported that the Town is now reviewing
and working on final plans with Lozier Consulting Engineers in hopes of
August submittal to City and D . E . C . Mr , Fabbroni stated that we hope
to let bids in the beginning of September ,
Mr . Fabbroni reported that there have been some drainage problemis
in. the Eastern Heights and Northeast sections of the Town because of
the rains that we have been having . He further noted that preliminary
action has been undertaken against a developer on South Hill who is in
violation . He reported that the Bolton Point transmission line has
been laid almost entirely through Forest Home Drive ,
PUBLIC HEARING : CONSIDERATION OF DAY CAMPGROUND ON CHURCH OF JESUS
:.HRIST OF LATTER- DAY SAINTS PROPERTY AT 272 ENFIELD FALLS ROAD ( PARCEL
NO . 6 - 34 - 1 - 3 ) .
The Chair declared the Public Hearing in the above-named matter
duly opened at 7 : 50 p . m . Mrs . Holcomb presented the Clerk ' s Affidavit
�.) L Posting and Publication of said Public Hearing for the record . Mr .
la ' . lace , Mrs . Reeder and Mrs . Richards were present as representatives
.jr the Church . Mr . Wallace stated that the Camp , which is run under
auspices of the " Mormon " Church , takes girls from Binghamton ,
.:a, ,nalny , Cortland , Syracuse , Hornell and Watertown . There are about E0
vj. r1s ciho attend this camp yearly for a one -week period . It is non-
"of .it with an ail -volunteer labor force . The Camp actually runs for
Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 2 - July 1 , 1975
only five days and 80 is the usual number including the leaders . The
campers stay in tents overnight .
Mrs . Holcomb noted one particular problem - the Camp is located in
an R- 30 residence district and there is no provision in the Zoning
Ordinance for camps . There is provision , however , in the Zoning
Ordinance for public park , playground , public library , public museum ,
nursery school . She stated that it is in a sense a parochial school
Perhaps .
Mr . Christianson stated that what the Board needs to know is . how
to interpret the Camp . Mr . Scannell stated that it was his opinion
that the intent of the Zoning Ordinance is that the Camp would fit inti
this category of public park and playground , public library , public
museum , nursery school , etc . , as noted by Mrs . Holcomb ,
Mr . Harris asked what facilities are available such as water and
sawage ? Mrs . Richards stated that they have a well -- nothing very
fancy . They have not constructed any facilities -- it is a wildernes
camp , off Route 327 and borders Enfield Falls State Park ,
Mrs . Holcomb asked how large the parcel of land is that is owned
by the Church . Mr . Wallace stated that it is about 50 acres . Mr .
Christianson asked if they have ever let this Camp out to other groups ,
1r . Wallace said that they did not . He further stated that Mrs .
Richards has gone there from time to time overnight to train the
leaders . The Camp runs from Tuesday through Saturday .
Mrs . Bronfenbrenner asked how they get there . Mr . Wallace said by
private automobile . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner asked if there is parking for
that many cars . Mr . Wallace said that there was , but they do not have
the cars at the camp site anyway . The nurse has a car there , plus Mrs .
Richards and one other lady . The cars are parked in the parking area
of the camp . hr . Wallace noted also that they have permission from
Robert Treman State Park to go swimming . Mrs . Richards stated that
they have a period of training for the girls over a four year period
such as camping , first aid , safety , etc . It is a learning experience
as well as fun . They serve from 60 to 80 girls . They have religious
classes every day . They have camp fires in the evening with songs and
they also have a Bishop come in overnight . Mrs . Mrs . Richards said
that the camp manual has been given to Mr . Cartee of the Tompkins
County Health Department , Mr . Cartee has asked that they have portable
latrines . She stated that they are not happy with this requirement
because they are so obvious and part of the girls ' training has been to
enable them to take care of themselves in a wilderness situation .
Mrs . Holcomb asked the following questionss
1 . Is there general agreement that this use is within the confines of
the intent of the R- 30 requirements . The Board agreed that it is .
2 . Any building will have to be done under the zoning ordinance .
Agreed .
in Health Department approval must come before this Board can grant
approval . Mr . Christianson commented at this point that he
b :-alieved that this is a private use of a piece of ground -- it is
confined to the group that owns it for a very short time of the
�i'own of Ithaca Planning Board - 3 - July 1 , 1975
year ,
• MOTION by Mrs . Barbara Holcomb , seconded by Mr . Robert Scannell :
RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca give and
hereby does give approval to the use of the property at 272 Enfield
Falls Road ( Parcel No . 6 - 34 - 1 - 3 ) j owned by the Church of Jesus Chris 's
of Latter-Day Saints , for a camp five days in length , conditional L''.T. o -'i
the receipt of Tompkins County Health Department approval for sanitary
facilities . If there are any structures to be built in the futu4�n
a site plan of the property must be presented to the Planning Boarci
approval .
By way of discussion , Mrs . Bronfenbrenner asked how do the neigh
bors feel ? Mr . Metz stated that he has not heard any one of the e.. ., :r:. -
hors comment on the camp one way or another ,
There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vot -:31 ,
Aye - Holcomb , Scannell , Baker , Harris , Christianson , Bronfenbrenner .
Nay - None .
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously .
Mrs . Holcomb asked Mr . Wallace to have Mr . Cartee forward a copy
of the Health Department approval to her .
The Public Hearing was duly closed at 8014 p . m .
PUBLIC HEARING : CONSIDERATION OF SITE PLAN FOR PROPOSED NEW OFFICE
BUILDING FOR MADISON ELECTRIC INC . ON THEIR PROPERTY IN A LIGHT
INDUSTI?IAL DISTRICT OFF FIVE MILE DRIVE ( PARCEL NO . 6 - 31 - 2 - 30 ) .
The Chair delared the Publy. c Hearingin the above-nmed matter dulir
opened at 8 : 15 p . m . Lars . Holcomb presented the Clerk ' s Affidavit of
Posting and Publication of said Public Hearing for the record ,
Mr . Fabbroni stated that this request involves back land which i
{ a.nd locked , and runs along the old Knights Meat Market Road which runs
up to Five Mile Drive . Mr . Fabbroni presented the site plan as it vua.
drawn on the back of the application for building permit . Taere
�. a discussion of the tax map and the property . The flood control.
1, hannel and several easements are involved . Mr . Fabbroni stated that-
Thera is an existing larger building and they want to put in an office
oui3_ding connected to the existing larger building .
Mr . Scannell asked if there are going to be people com �_ng th � e
and going n and out , and how Madison Electric is planning to use the
nee' t, {A el ..}gig . He further commented that he thought as a site plan
t_ Z 4 - ng on the back of the application for building permit is very
I ^ l : + .:Zr• tie said that he would like to see contour lines , drainage ,
Holcomb read from Article a V III , Light Industrial. Dis *- cEict. s ,
paragraphs 1 , 21 3 and 4 , and Section 45 , paragrapihsz 1 , 2 ,
� �' S • Tz3 connection with Section 45 , paragraph 5 , having to do wits
Mr . Fabbroni commented that there is the Glen richt there .
NEXT MEETING : SEPTEMBER 14 , 19779 7 : 30 P . M . , COUNTY PLANNING OFFICE
TOMPKINS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
r = Frank R. Liguori PE Commisssiio fpf l i
SUMMARY 11977
COUNTY PLANNING BOARD MEETING TOWN OF, ITHAC
JUNE 81, 1977 7 : 30 PM
The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Barbara Caldwell . An attendance
record is attached . The minutes of the May 7th meeting were accepted as submitted
to the membership .
Privilege of the Floor
Raymond Hemming said the amended zoning ordinance in the City of Ithaca has been
adopted and the moratorium on multi family units has been lifted . Ray seems to be
quite satisfied with the amended zoning ordinance .
He also reported that the Ithaca Board of Realtors has accepted the concept of
the preservation program as suggested by the County Planning , Department .
Mr . Hemming also reported that the Ithaca Board of Realtors is concerned over an
announcement �by - the Commissioner of Health that certifications of water and sewerage
will be discontinued . The Health Department has provided this program as a service
for over .35 . years and it now appears that it may be dropped . The Commissioner of
Health is making the recommendation because the State laboratory will no longer
accept water samples for private individuals unless there is an illness involved .
Furthermore , the Commissioner of Health has felt that its certification of sewage
systems would be more effective if the purchaser made their own survey and satis-
f ied themselves of the conditions . The Health Department will still provide a
record search and will answer questions . There was considerable discussion as to
the impact that curtailment of this program will have on transfers of property .
After discussion , Leonard Miscall Moved that the Board of Health delay a final
decision until further study has been made of the impact . Motion was carried 7 to 4 .
Ernie Cole said that the Danby Town Board will take final action on local SEQR
regulations very soon .
Ron Anderson said that the Village of Cayuga Heights will have a public hearing
in connection with proposed flood plain regulations in the community .
Shirley Raffensperger said that the Town of Ithaca is participating with the
Ithaca City Scool District , the Village of Cayuga Heights , and the Village of Lansing
in a joint community playground program at DeWitt Junior High .
128 East Buffalo Street , Ithaca , NewYork , 14850 Telephone 607. 273 . 2080 Extension 28 9 29
Carl Cox reported that the Village of Trumansburg is preparing to update
• the local zoning ordinance and asked for help and suggestions from other
communities that have recently undertaken zoning ordinance reviews .
Tony Schultz of the Town of Caroline reported that town justices in second
class towns will no longer be able to serve on the Town Board , effective
sometime this year . He discussed some recent activities in relation to the
alcohol _ programs .
Eleanor Bayley said that the Village of Freeville is also considering
review of the local zoning ordinance and also asked for advice .
Report by Ad Hoc Youth Committee
Beverly Livesay briefly reviewed activities of the Ad Hoc Youth and Recrea-
tion Committee . She pointed out that although recreational activities are
pretty well available throughout the county , services are not uniformly avail-
P Y g
able . The Ad Hoc Youth Committee has recommended that there be established a
basic program at the county level , geared primarily to coordination and better
distribution of services . This will allow the Division of Youth funding to
continue throughout the county .
Beverly ,: also reported on the new guidelines of the Division of Youth
• effective March of this year . $ 2 . 25 /youth is an entitlement for each municipality .
In addition , . $ 2 . 25 / youth will be • available to the county for the county program
or for possible redistribution to other programs . She said that under the
rules _:a. ' simple � structure is now possible although the county must have a full-time
youth director . The county is not required to have a county wide program , but
must pursue a comprehensive plan . The county must also establish a County Youth
Board . It was also reported that Gary Lee has introduced legislation which
would insure that municipalities will not be penalized for their entitlement if
a county does not participate in a county -wide program . It was reported 51
counties in the State either have county programs or are in the process of
establishing them . 22 counties have full operational programs . Tioga , Cortland ,
and Schuyler counties have submitted Letters of Intent , and Seneca and Schuyler
counties have County Youth Boards .
The question came up as to what is the timetable for action ? It was pointed
out that the present contracts involving Division for Youth special funding will
expire at the end of this year and that new contracts will not be funded unless
the county has submitted a Letter of Intent to pursue a comprehensive plan and
41 has established a County Youth Board . There is also a requirement that these
conditions must be in force three months before the execution of the contracts .
2
Robert Cutia , City of Ithaca Youth Director , said that he is concerned over
• what will happen to some very good programs if there is no county agency . A
report was distributed on the impact of not establishing a County Youth Bureau
on on-going programs . He pledged the support of the City Youth Bureau to full
cooperation with a County agency .
Charles Herndon , Executive Director of Economic Opportunity Corp . , said that
programs .such .aB- Big Brother / Big Sister will have to fold . Over 300 kids and
their families and the community as a whole have benefited from that program .
It was pointed out that over 50 % of the budget of the Learning Web is contingent
upon receipt of Division of Youth funds and this loss would be a tremendous blow
to the Learning Web .
Lynne Irwin of Brooktondale said that . he is pleased with the small program in
Brooktondale and that loss of Division of Youth funding would be strongly felt .
He said he is in favor of the County Youth Bureau proposal .
Dave Polan of Main-line Growth Center said that about 1 / 2 of his budget is
contingent upon Division for Youth money and loss of this source of funds will
have a very strong impact .
Jim .Johnston of the Family and Children ' s Service said that the impact on
their activities will be great and although it will not result in the program ' s
folding , it will have a strong impact . He feels that a County Youth organization j
will be a good investment in our youth .
Mike Costello of the Probation Department said that some 280 youths are
referred to the Probation Department and of these 120 go to court . The 160 who
do not end up in court are referred to other agencies , including those that are
threatened by loss of funding . He feels that the impact on loss of funding would
i
be very significant .
Tony Schultz was concerned that those who hold a minority opinion were not
i
advised of the meeting and were not here to be heard . He feels that the County
Youth Bureau concept is one more bureaucracy which is being forced upon localities
by the State and which will result in increased cost to tax payers .
Leonard Miscall is also concerned over the growing state and county bureaucracy .
Eleanor Bayley is also concerned that the State is forcing programs onto
localities and wondered why we couldn ' t accomplish our objectives without being
forced to follow State criteria .
Carl Cox wondered if those who are opposed to a County Youth Agency were not
overlooking the dire need stated by previous speakers . He said that there
certainly is a need for a strong youth program and wondered why it could not be
accomplished with more volunteers .
3
LeGrace Benson said that most taxpayers could not afford to provide these
services for themselves and that it is only by citizens pooling their resources
that youth services can be provided . LeGrace Benson Moved that the Planning
Board recommend that the Board of Representatives establish a County Youth k
f
Agency , Motion was seconded by Ben Richards .
Ray Hemming questioned whether or not the Board of Representatives is actually E
asking the Planning Board for a statement . He felt that the Planning Board may
e
have been bypassed previously . Beverly Livesay said it was not a question of
bypassing the Planning Board but that a hearing had been scheduled before the
Board of Representatives and that it was not possible to call off the hearing .
She said that the Board of Representatives has tabled action and is waiting for
the Planning Board to react .
Several members said that they were not prepared to vote on the issue as they
were not advised so that they might poll local consensus .
A point of order was raised . Some members felt that the previous resolution
was tabled indefinitely . After review of the November 10th meeting of the Board ,
the Chairwoman ruled that the resolution was tabled for 2 months and that the
issue could be raised from the table .
' Considerable additional discussion followed and a vote on the Motion was
• called . On the first ballot , 5 voted for the Motion , 3 were opposed , and 6
abstained . Question came up as to what an abstention meant ? It was ruled by
the Chair that an abstention carries no weight under Robert ' s Rules of Order
and that a majority of those voting is required to pass a resolution . After
discussion , it was agreed that there would be another vote . The second vote was
5 ' yes , 3 opposed , and 5 recorded abstentions . Voting "yes " were Benson ,
Kiefer , Raffensperger , Anderson , and Richards . Voting "no " were Brink; - Miscall ,
and Schultz . Abstaining : Hemming , Cole , Clynes , Cox , and Bayley .
Proposed Rt . 96 Alternative in the Hospital Area
Liguori reported that a strong consensus is developing for selection of an
alternative in the hospital area on Rt . 96 . This alternative was proposed
by the Ithaca Town Planner-Engineer , Larry Fabbroni , and has now been endorsed
by the Ithaca Town Board , Ithaca Planning Board , Hospital Board of Managers ,
Professional Building , Paleontological Society , and the peoples in the area .
Larry Fabbroni outlined the proposal which is basically a combination of alter-
nates 3 and 2 with some modifications . After discussion , .Motion was made by
Eleanor Bayley and seconded by Tony Schultz that the Board go on record as
supporting the alternative . The Motion was passed by voice vote . Upon question ,
LeGrace Benson said that the City of Ithaca is presently considering various
alternatives but is awaiting a study by DOT on the peripheral impact of various
ndation .
alternatives before making a final recomme
Planning Department Reports
Liguori reported that Round 2 of the Public Works Employment Grants has
• been programmed with about 1 / 2 billion dollars for New York State . Theoretically ,
municipalities and agencies in Tompkins County are eligible , if an application
was filed as .part of Round 1 . ( Subsequent to the meeting , it has been learned
that Tompkins County was not selected as a target area , which means that no
allocation has been set aside for Public Works Grants in Tompkins County . Other
counties in this area also left out include Broome and Tioga . Undoubtedly , the
unemployment rate in the county compared with other counties is the critical
factor . )
It was reported that the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Board on behalf
of the Appalachia Regional Commission is now entertaining applications for
Appalachia grants for the 1977 -78 fiscal year . Workshops have been held to j
acquaint potential applicants of the procedures and several agencies from
Tompkins County have participated . I I
Leonard Miscall moved that the meeting be adjourned until the September 14th
meeting . There will be no meetings during July and August .
Respectfully . submitted ,
Frank R . Liguori -
C ommiss inner of :Planning j
I
f
i E
f
f
i
5