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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1983-03-01 1 \yl• . TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD MARCH 1 , 1983 The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on Tuesday , March 1 , 1983 , in Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , N . Y . , at 7 : 30 p . m . PRESENT : Chairman Montgomery May , Virginia Langhans , James Baker , Edward Mazza , David Klein , Peter M . Lovi ( Town Planner ) , Nancy M . Fuller ( Secretary ) . ALSO PRESENT : William Frandsen , Linda Hooper . Chairman May declared the meeting duly opened at 7 : 38 p . m . REPORT OF THE TOWN PLANNER , PETER M . LOVI Mr . Lovi reported that he has been working on entering the proposed Zoning Law as it presently stands into the Word Processor so that , hopefully , as continued review occurs any revisions may be more easily incorporated . Mr . Lovi informed members that he has been asked to join the Planning Committee of the Human Services Coalition and will be reporting on the meetings he attends . Mr . Lovi stated that a developer has come to speak with him about a proposal involving a rezoning on East King Road . The developer ' s project is on one acre , is a single structure , eight units in the: building . The property is presently zoned R- 15 . The proposal appears to meet the minimum requirements of the Zoning Ordinance . Mr . Lovi stated that no other actions have been taken with regard to the Commonland matter since the final approval . Chairman May thanked Mr . Lovi for his report . REPORT OF THE TOWN BUILDING INSPECTOR , LEWIS D . CARTEE The Building Inspector ' s Report of Building Permits Issued for February 1983 shows that one building permit was issued at a total construction cost of $ 305 , 000 . 00 [ P & C Market ] as compared to February 1982 where three building permits were issued for a total construction cost of $ 47 , 500 . 00 . GENERAL DISCUSSION • Chairman May commented that the positive side of the Commonland matter is beginning to be heard and mentioned that i+ 6I( Planning Board - 2 - March 1 , 1983 . someone from the City had congratulated the Planning Board on not letting this matter fall through and in doing such a good job . Chairman May stated that he had called Leslie Dotson , Tompkins County Department of Planning liaison to the Environmental Management Council , to see if she would look into what their feelings are on the Upland Swamp area and whether the Planning Board should be taking any further action . Chairman May reported that Mrs . Langhans and he had attended the meeting on SEQR procedures and that it was very worthwhile . Mr . Klein asked if any points were raised that they were not familiar with or if anything in particular was emphasized . Mr . May stated that he had taken notes on various time frames and some other minor points but nothing real specific . There was a general discussion about SEQR regulations and how towns , cities , and larger municipalities are handling this procedure . Chairman May stated that it did appear that this Planning Board was much farther ahead of other towns in understanding SEQR ; some towns are just starting to understand what SEQR is . REVIEW OF SKETCH PLANS FOR 62 ± LOT SUBDIVISION OFF PARK LANE , TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL NO . 6 - 56 - 3 - 13 . WILLIAM FRANDSEN , OWNER / DEVELOPER . Mr . William Frandsen presented the new sketch plans , dated • February 25 , 1983 , for the proposed subdivision . He stated that one lot was =Lost and two roads were been eliminated in the middle since the last set of plans . he proposed . Chairman May asked what Mr . Frandsen ' s plans were as far as coming down the Slaterville Road . Mr . Frandsen stated that they were not finalized at this time . Chairman. May asked if all the cul - de - sacs were sufficient for emergency vehicles . Mr . Lovi stated that there was no problem with the radii but there is a problem with the slope . Mr . Klein asked what the contours of the area of the cul - de - sacs were . Mr . Frandsen stated that the contour followed Tudor Road . Mr . Klein asked what the measurement of the contours was . Mr . . Frandsen stated that they were 5 feet apart on the old map . Chairman May commented that from the top to the bottom of the cul - de - saes there is a 25 foot slope . General Board discussion followed , individually , collectively , and with Mr . Frandsen about the sketch plans . There was general Board discussion of slope and contours as • they relate to the cul - de - sacs . Planning Board - 3 - March 1 , 1983 . All Board members agreed that the layout of the development was much improved from the earlier plans that were reviewed on February 15 , 1983 . Mr . Lovi suggested that around Lot E - 12 the cul - de - sac on Velma Drive be moved westward to improve the slope . However , this may create problems with the 150 foot depth requirement on Lot 22 . It was also suggested that the cul -de - sac at the end of Park Lane could be squared off , it would be 60 foot wide . Mr . Klein suggested that all lots should be checked to be sure that they are legal . Several of the lots appeared to be close to the 100 foot frontage , 150 depth minimum requirements . Chairman May stated to Mr . Frandsen that he might be able to request variances on the lots that do not meet these requirements . Discussion was held on some individual lots and the proposed sizes . Chairman May commented to Mr . Frandsen that he might do well to consider having one large lot in a few places rather than two smaller onesO Mr . Frandsen was asked to fill out a SEQR Long Form with the aid of Mr . Lovi and Mr . Fabbroni . Chairman May asked Mr . • Frandsen to have the dimensions of each lot available to the Town Engineer or -to the Board . Mr . Lovi stated that he would send a note , along with the map , to Mr . Frandsen to point out the concerns the Board had with this development so that Mr . Frandsen could work the problems out . Chairman. May explained to Mr . Frandsen that he would be scheduled for a preliminary approval public hearing and from that to final hearing , after the Town Engineer and Town Planner had had a chance to review the detailed map . Chairman May also told Mr . Frandsen to come in to the Town Office and sit down with Mr . Lovi and Mr . Fabbroni to have the legal requirements described about preliminary and final approval . They will be able to help Mr . Frandsen get to the point where he can make a presentation to the Board and that possibly this could all be done at one hearing because of the previous approvals . Mr . Frandsen will work with the Town Engineer and the Town Planner and will return to the Board at a later date . REVIEW OF PROPOSED SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS Mr . Lovi stated that he started from the present subdivision regulations , updating some of them to bring in line with current practices such as the cluster regulations . The SEQR regulations • needed to be incorporated and there was a need to come up with innovations in the way the Board reviews subdivision plans in order to give them more time to concentrate on " Commonland - size " Y' l Planning Board - 4 - March 1 , 1983 • reviews and have another mechanism whereby smaller developments do not have to come through a lengthy review process . The innovations in the minor subdivisions are something that the Board should look over carefully . Mr . Lovi stated that he had reviewed what other towns have been doing and the proposed subdivision regulations reflect such . Chairman May asked Mr . Lovi why he had reduced to three copies the requirements for preliminary plans . Mr . Lovi stated that this was an error and that it should be changed to ten copies . Mr . Lovi also stated that page 3 needed to have boxes drawn around. each item so that it would appear as a flow chart for ease in reading . The Board commenced its review , posing questions to Mr . Lovi , who responded with regard to his reasoning . One point that was emphasized was the fact that everything should be in the office of the Town Planner and the Town Engineer ten days before the scheduled meeting . This fact needs to be in print . It was suggested that perhaps it could be stated that the parties will not be put on the agenda if this time requirement is not met . It was also suggested that the wording of the subdivision regulations :should be consistent with that of Town Law . • Mr . Lovi pointed out that this was the kind of project that affects the entire town ( long - term land use plan ) and that it would be best to use the public comment and the review features of the Environmental Impact Statement process . This was suggested as the best way to get focused public comment into the review of the! subdivision regulations as soon as possible . MOTION by Mr . Montgomery May , seconded by Mr . Edward Mazza : WHEREAS : 1 . the Planning Board has begun the revision of the present Town of Ithaca subdivision regulations , and 2 . the Planning Board has reviewed the Environmental Assessment Form ( Long Form ) , and 3 * such revision is a direct , Type I action as defined by SEQRA and Town of Ithaca Local Law # 3 - 1980 , and 4a such revision will have an effect on permitted land uses within the Town of Ithaca , and 50 a comprehensive environmental assessment should be made prior to the revision of these regulations , and 40 Planning Board - 5 - March 1 , 1983 • 6 . the Planning Board should act as the lead agency in this SEQR review , THEREFORE , IT IS RESOLVED THAT : 1 . The Planning Board declare and hereby does declare that the revision of the subdivision regulations is a Type I action and that a positive declaration of significance shall be filed with the Town Board as an affected agency , and 2 . A " scoping " session shall be scheduled and all affected agencies shall be notified thereof . There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Aye - May , Baker , Mazza , Klein , Langhans . Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously . CONTINUED DEPARTMENT OF STATE SEMINARS Chairman May stated that Richard Boos , Senior Planner with the Department of State , will be happy to present another seminar at a Town Planning Board meeting . The topic will be " Solar Access Through Zoning " . Mr . Boos and / or Mr . Donald Odell are scheduled to speak at the May 17 , 1983 Planning Board meeting . ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion , the Chair declared the March 1 , 1983 , meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 9 : 30 p . m . Respectfully submitted , Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary , Town of Ithaca Planning Board .