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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1981-11-03 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOVEMBER 3 , 1981 • The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on Tuesday , November 3 , 1981 , in Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , at 7 : 30 p . m . PRESENT : Chairman Montgomery May , Barbara Schultz , James Baker , Bernard Stanton , Edward Mazza , Liese Bronfenbrenner , Carolyn Grigorov , David Klein , Lawrence Fabbroni ( Town Engineer ) , Nancy Fuller ( Secretary ) . ALSO PRESENT : Stewart D . Knowlton , Douglas Knowlton , Chairman May declared the Meeting duly opened at 7 : 35 p . m . CONSIDERATION OF SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR PROPOSED 1 , 500 SQ . FT . ADDITION TO THE EASTERNMOST END OF THE EAST HILL PLAZA COMPLEX , 1020 ELLIS HOLLOW ROAD , TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL N0 , 6 - 62 - 2 - 13 . 5 . STEWART D . KNOWLTON . Chairman May declared the matter opened at 7 : 35 p . m . and stated for the record that a Notice of this proposal , as noted above , was published in the :legal section of the Ithaca Journal on October 31 , 1981 , and November 3 , 1981 , and that a Notice of this meeting was posted in Town Hall on October 30 , 1981 . Mr . Stewart Knowlton appeared before the Board and described his pro - posal for a 1 , 500 sq . ft . extension on the rear of the former " hardware store " , which it has come to be known as, by this Board , although it is , in fact , occupied by Cornell University Publications . Referring to Drawing 10 - 1080 - F " Exhibit. A " , as part of the documentation submitted to the Board with their Agenda , Mr . Knowlton described a recessed entry with two glass doors . Mr . Knowlton stated that the addition will house two entities , one of which , shown as " 10E3 " on Exhibit " A " will have a front window of approxi - mately 4 ' high and between 6 ' and 8 ' long ; the other front " 10E4 " will not because it is so small . Mr . Knowlton described the addition as being very conventional in concept . Mr . May inquired if the two entities were office or store . Mrs . Grigorov noted that they are two separate spaces . Mr . Knowlton concurred and commented that a bicycle shop is proposed for the larger one of the two . Mr . May asked how access will be arranged for patrons of the store and noted that there i :D no parking in the front . Mr . Knowlton asked the Board to refer to the front page of the submission - - Drawing 381 - EHP - D , Parking - Traffic Flow , Phases 1 to 4 . He pointed out the parking area in a 100 ' x . 100 ' area toward the rear of the property which will be used for parking . He noted that that is the area which has been a truck loading : dock . Mr . May inquired if Mr . Knowlton was not using the truck dock any longer . Mr . Knowlton stated that it is used once in a blue moon but is left in at this point . Mr . Knowlton stated that twenty cars can be put out there with no problem . • Mr . Knowlton stated to the Board that grading is started in the trian - gular area toward the front of the Plaza ( toward Ellis Hollow Road ) and indicated this area on the drawing entitled " Parking - Traffic Flow " . Mr . Knowlton stated that there are . .92 , spaces .being . added . as . . he has spoken to the Board about some time ago . He noted again that that is being done right now . r i Planning Board - 2 - November 3 , 1981 Mr . May asked Mr . Knowlton what kind of signing he might be talking about . Mr . Knowlton stated that this aspect was very much in the preliminary *stages of discussion with a surface mounted sign on the bicycle shop contem - plated now . and perhaps a freestanding sign with an arrow . Mr . Stanton wondered how " Phase 4 " indicated on the drawing entitled 11381 - EHP - D " - - Parking - Traffic Flow Phases 1 to 4 - - is coming along . Mr . Knowlton stated that that phase is in limbo right now . Mr . May discussed with Mr . Knowlton the rest rooms in the entire Plaza , of which there are many . It was noted that bathrooms are readily accessible to this extension - - Phase 3 - - through a common area toward the rear . Mr . May asked Mr . Fabbroni if he felt comfortable with all the Code requirements being met . Mr . Fabbroni said he did and added that he went through all this basic layout of =_ the -.- mall _ for : past approvals . Mrs . Schultz asked what actually is in the other part now . Mr . Knowlton described the offices as they are being used by Cornell Publications , Mr . May inquired about. the time period in which Mr . Knowlton expected Cornell to remain there . Mr . Knowlton described briefly the leasing arrangements with Cornell . Mr . Stanton inquired about the traffic circulation around the back of the Plaza . Mr . Knowlton discussed same and stated that there will never be a time when you will not be able to circulate around the buildings . He noted that this is very important for safety reasons and for protection of the •tenants . and the Plaza from vandalism . Mr . Mazza inquired about the lighting that will be involved with this addition . Mr . Knowlton stated that there will be a total of three security lights on the easternmost end of the building - - two existing and one to be installed . Chairman May asked if there were any further comments or questions from anyone present . There were none . Turning to the Environmental Assessment Form ( EAF ) that had been com- pleted by the applicant and reviewed by the Town Engineer and which had been submitted to the Planning Board members with their Agenda , Mr . May stated that all questions had been answered in the negative and Mr . Fabbroni had recommended a negative declaration by the Planning Board . MOTION by Mr .. Bernard Stanton , seconded by Mr . Edward Mazza : RESOLVED , that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board , acting as lead agency in the review of the proposed 1 , 500 sq . ft . addition to the easternmost end of the East Hill Plaza Complex , 1020 Ellis Hollow Road , Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No . 6 - 62 - 2 - 1. 3 . 5 , approve and hereby does approve the Environmental Assessment Form as completed ; and FURTHER RESOLVED , that pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act , Part 617 , this action is classified as Unlisted ; and • FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board has determined from the Environmental Assessment Form and all pertinent information that the above -mentioned action will not significantly impact the environment and , therefore , will not require further environmental review . There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Planning Board - 3 - November 3 , 1981 Aye - May , Schultz , Baker , Stanton , Mazza , Bronfenbrenner , Grigorov , Klein . •Nay - None . The MOTION was declared . to be carried unanimously . MOTION by Mr .=, . Liese Bronfenbrenner , seconded by Mr . Montgomery May : RESOLVED , that the . Town of Ithaca Planning Board grant and hereby does grant Site Plan Approval for proposed 1 , 500 sq . ft . Addition to the eastern - most end of the East Hill Plaza Complex , 1020 Ellis Hollow Road , Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No . 6 - 62 - 2 - 13 . 5 , Stewart D . Knowlton , Developer , as shown on drawings submitted to said Planning Board entitled " Parking - Traffic Flow " , Phases 1 to 4 , dated 3 / 12 / 81 , Rev . 10 / 16 / 81 , Rev . 10 / 27 / 81 - - Drawing No . 381 - EHP - D ; and " East Hill Plaza , Major Building 10 " - - Drawing No . 10 - 1080 - F , Exhibit " A " which indicates the addition hereby approved as 10E3 and 10E4 . There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Aye - May , Schultz , Baker , Stanton , Mazza , Bronfenbrenner , Grigorov , Klein . Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously . Chairman May declared the matter of the hearing in re the proposed addition at East Hill Plaza duly closed at 7 : 55 p . m . OPEN DISCUSSION The Board members and Mr . Fabbroni held an open - ended discussion of various Town matters . Mr . Fabbroni described the Computer / Word Processor Search - - Mr . May gave Mr . Fabbroni an information notice about a large presentation of state - of - the - art equipment , in Chicago , Illinois , at the O ' Hare Conference Center in mid - November of this year . There was a free and easy exchange of ideas and suggestions . The Board members were most interested in the results of the flooding that took place in the big rainstorm on October 27 / 28 , 1981 . Mr . Fabbroni summarized the flood damage briefly , as follows : Caldwell Road - - $ 10 , 000 . Forest Home Drive -- - $ 75 , 000 - - washout of retaining wall along Fall Creek , Forest Home Bridge ( the North bridge ) - - $ 15 , 000 . - - rip / rap - - may be Cornell or Town . Damage to the Dam remains to be seen . Shoulder , Roadway , Ditch Damage - - Snyder Hill Road , Joanne Drive , Sharlene Drive , Hopkins Road , Calkins Road , Ridgecrest Road , Updike Road , Elm Street , Homestead Circle , Culver Road , Summerhill Lane - - $ 20 , 000 . es tone Quarry Road - - $ 25 , 000 . - - major washout of roadway edge , guardrail , riprapped bank . Burns Road - - City silt dam filled up and overflowed 1 / 3 mile of silt ; washout of retaining wall - - has to do with bridge down there - - $ 10 , 000 . Honness Lane Bikeway - - washout - - $ 3 ) 0000 Planning Board - 4 - November 3 , 1981 Eastern Heights Drainageways - - $ 15 , 0. 0.0 . - needs repair . �ashout of water transmission main serving South. Hill emergency repair and permanent repair - - $ 20 , 000 . Washout of Varna transmission main mounted on former Freese Road Bridge - - Varna Bridge washout - - some repairs needed . We are following up for Bolton Point and Town of Dryden . Mrs . Schultz inquired how the DeWitt Junior High pond fared . Mr . Fabbroni stated that he was very pleased to report that it held up beautifully . Mr . Fabbroni continued to discuss the Storm of October 27 , 1981 , speaking of various aspects and describing the process of submitting the information to the State and the President . DISCUSSION OF EXPIRATION OF TERMS OF OFFICE OF TWO PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS , Chairman May recalled that last month. the Board had discussed the fact that there will be two Planning Board vacancies at the end of this year because of the expiration of the terms of Mr . David Klein and Mrs . Liese Bronfenbrenner . He noted that Mr . . Klein was appointed to fill the one - year vacancy created by the retirement of Mr . Henry Aron from the Planning Board to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals . Mr . May stated that Mr . Klein has indicated a keen desire and wish to maintain a seat on the Board . Mr . Klein stated that that was true ; he very much enjoyed his year on the Board and would like to continue serving , should that be the wish- of the Board . MOTION by Mr . Montgomery May , seconded by Mrs . Carolyn Grigorov : a : the Town of Ithaca Planning RESOLVED , that: g Board recommend and hereby does recommend to the Town of Ithaca Town Board the re - appointment of Mr . David Klein as a member of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board commencing January 1 , 1982 - - seven year term . There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Aye - May , Schultz , Baker , Stanton , Mazza , Bronfenbrenner , Grigorov , Klein . Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously . Mr . Klein thanked the Board members for their support . Turning now to the matter of the expiration of Mrs . Bronfenbrenner ' s term of office , Mr . May stated that it was with a great deal of regret that he has to say that Mrs . Bronfenbrenner has decided to retire from her many years of service to the Town of Ithaca Planning Board . He stated that Mrs . Bronfenbrenner has been on the Board as long or much longer than he and he will personally miss her . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner thanked Mr . May . Mr . May continued and stated that Mrs . Bronfenbrenner has always been a very hard worker and served with distinction as Planning Board Chairman also having handled many very complicated matters that came before the Board . . Mr . May stated that on ' behalf of the Board he would thank her very much . Each �oard member concurred most heartily with Mr . May ' s statement . Mrs . Bronfenbrenner thanked the Board , and added that she has enjoyed her tenure very much . Mr . May stated that the matter of recommending an appointment by the Planning Board to the Town Board is on - going . f , Planning Board - 5 - November 3 , 1981 i Mr . May asked the Board if it were still firm in its consensus that a person from Forest. Home should sit on the Planning Board , Each Board member 0n turn stated that they believed that to be a sound approach . DISCUSSION OF PLANNING BOARD PRIORITIES FOR 1982 . Mr . May asked Mr . Fabbroni to commence the discussion of Planning Board priorities .. Mr . Fabbroni stated that he would be happy to present to the Board some of the ideas and comments that have resulted from his staff discussions . He stated that the biggest one is " innovative zoning " - - a term borrowed from the New York State Office of Planning Services , now a part of the Department of State , and now referred to as Planned Unit Development and Cluster Development , Mr . Fabbroni commented that the document that is about to be passed does not have much in it in the way of residential zoning from what we now have in the 1968 ordinance . He commented that maybe the conclusion is that that is the way the Planning Board feels , however , there is more and more an awareness of household size , increase in heating costs in larger buildings, smaller households , more efficient households - - both from the standpoint of existing dwellings and what is viable for new dwellings - - and single and two family homes - do they fit the equation ? Mr . May stated that this is a very important area and one we need to work on . Mr . May asked Mr . Fabbroni if his office can put together some things � or an evening of discussion , and , with either Mr . Fabbroni or someone being a leader - - and then we can appoint a committee to review just where we want to go . He asked Mr . Fabbroni , can you do that . Mr . Fabbroni said , yes . Mr . Mazza inquired as to what kind of things might be put forth . Mr . Fabbroni stated that matters such as " zero " lot lines , PUDs , Cluster Housing , PRDs , " older " , large homes in various neighborhoods - - Forest Home , for example . The Board members talked about the Planning Board By - Laws as a priority item . They spoke of the up - dating of the Subdivision Regulations as a goal . The Planning Board stated its wish also to review the Sign Ordinance in order to pinpoint any amendments that might be positive , such as an improvement in the process under which Doctors can obtain appropriate signage . The Board stated its wish to review its philosophy of two meetings a month . The Board held a lengthy discussion with Mr . Fabbroni on Solar Access and the need for solid information and direction . This discussion led to the discussion of the Planning Board having , or , attending , an education workshop - - not necessarily just on solar , but other areas of land use planning for the future . Mr . Fabbroni said that he and his staff could draw together some proposals to achieve such an end . • The discussion continued with thoughts on windmills , landscaping . to achieve energy saving . , The final particular matter discussed was pre -manufactured homes , modular construction and mobile homes , for example , can a mobile home ever be other than a mobile home . ' Planning Board - 6 - November 3 , 1981 It was the consensus of the Board that priority discussions will continue . ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion , ' the Chair declared the November 3 , 1981 , meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 8 : 50 p . m . - - the sixth anniversary of the Planning Board meeting on Election Night with Mr . Stewart Knowlton on the Agenda . Respectfully submitted , Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary .