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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1993-07-13The Tuesday, New York, Town of July 13, at 7:30 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD Ithaca 1993, in p.m. JULY 13, 1993 FILED .._._..j TOWN OF ITHACA I Date 7 Cler Planning Board met in regular session on Town Hall, 126 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, PRESENT: Chairperson Carolyn Grigorov, Virginia Langhans, Herbert Finch, Stephen Smith, Floyd Forman (Town Planner), Daniel Walker (Town Engineer), Louise Raimondo (Planner I), John Barney (Town Attorney). ALSO PRESENT: Bill Hilker, Shirley Egan. Chairperson Grigorov declared the meeting duly opened at 7:46 p.mo without a quorum. Chairperson Grigorov read the Fire Exit Regulations to those assembled, as required by the New York State Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control. AGENDA ITEM: PERSONS TO BE HEARD. There were no persons present to be heard. Chairperson Grigorov closed this segment of the meeting. AGENDA ITEM: WORKING SESSION, DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Chairperson Grigorov declared this segment of the meeting duly opened at 7:48 p.m. Town Planner Floyd Forman addressed the Board and thanked Board Member Herbert Finch that his suggestion to hire an editor to go through the Comprehensive Plan to check for grammatical errors. Mr. Forman stated that Trudy, the person that editing the Plan, had checked over the Plan would check it over and return it to the Planning Department with her comments. Mr. Forman stated that Ron Brand, of Stuart Brown Associates, was reviewing the SEQR for the Plan and would be done by August 1, 1993. At which point the SEQR should be ready to take to the Public Hearing tentatively scheduled for August 31, 1993. Mr. Forman stated that the public would have plenty of time to review the Plan prior to the meeting and hopefully, would come to the Public Hearing prepared to make some valid points and /or concerns regarding the Plan. Mr. Forman stated that the Executive Summary should be made available to the public for free. The Planning Board Members had some general discussion regarding Chapter 3 of the Draft Comprehensive Plan. The Board members reviewed the comments made Trudy (the editor for the Plan). Board Member Virginia Langhans stated that some of the changes made by the editor seemed to make it harder to understand. '4 Planning Board 2 July 13, 1993 Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that the editor was trying to make some of the technical language easier to understand. Mr. Forman stated that there were a few typos found that will be corrected. Chairperson Grigorov stated that the first paragraph in Chapter 3 should have the italics dropped. Board Member Virginia Langhans stated that she did not feel that the public would understand what was meant by the term "performance standards ". Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that "performance standards" would need to be better defined the first time it is used in the Plan. Mr. Forman stated that there was also a term called "ministerial decisions" which he felt no one would understand. There was some discussion regarding the difference between an Institutional Zone and an Educational Zone. Mr. Hilker addressed the Board and stated that he had read an article that there was a Supreme Court ruling regarding Parks and Open Space requirements which stated that it could be required only if the park is dedicated to the public. Town Attorney John Barney stated that he did not believe that ruling came from the Supreme Court but from the New York State Court of Appeals. There was some additional discussion by the Board regarding traffic issues contained in the Comprehensive Plan. There were no specific decisions made concerning any of the issues that were discussed. The Planning Board then began discussion of the Page that Town Planner Floyd Forman had drafted titled "Brief Explanation of the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map" which follows: Brief Explanation of the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map A major factor involved in the preparation of the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map at the end of Chapter IV was the desire to focus development toward areas with existing infrastructure and away from areas which are environmentally - sensitive. The Anticipated Land Use Patters Map: * Defines preferred locations for housing (generally within water /sewer limits) * Shows a general pattern of uses (buildings, fields,.etc.) * Is one of the tools which will guide possible zoning revisions, but not a proposed zoning map Planning Board 3 July 13, 1993 * Has relatively low density development at southern and western edges of Town * Identifies agricultural and conservation /open space areas (see pg. IV -13 in Plan) * Proposes no expansions in areas currently used for industrial or commercial activities * Proposes no changes in existing transportation system * Shows Uses of land well beyond the year 2010 The following shows what the Board's decisions after discussions. The Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map The Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map helps to focus development toward areas with existing infrastructure and away from areas which are environmentally - sensitive. * All non - publically owned areas shown on map will allow for some development * Suggests preferred locations for housing (generally within water /sewer limits) * Shows an Anticipated general pattern of uses (buildings, fields, etc.) * Is a tool considered to guide possible zoning revisions, but not a proposed zoning map * Reflects low density development at southern and western edges of Town * Identifies agricultural and conservation /open space areas (see pg. IV -13 in Plan) * Shows no expansions in areas currently used for industrial or commercial activities * Shows no changes in existing transportation system * Shows anticipated uses of land well beyond 2010 * Makes no determination as to where expanded industrial or commercial activities may occur. Town Attorney John Barney asked the Board what the goal of the map was. Chairperson Grigorov stated that the purpose of the map was to direct development to the areas where there is existing infrastructure. Town Engineer Daniel Walker stated that infrastructure requires policy decisions. A few of the decisions that would need to be considered would be does the Town want to pay for infrastructure or if someone is willing to build it, is the Town willing to accept it, where does the tax base come from to support development of infrastructure. There is an additional maintenance burden put on the Town as well that needs to be considered. Mr. Walker stated that the Town staff does not make decisions, the staff is responsible to implement the policies made by the Town's Boards. Planning Board 4 July 13, 1993 Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that he would make the changes that the Board had discussed and work on the Anticipated the Special Land Use District. Attorney Barney stated a Land Use Patterns Map and bring the changes back to the Board at the next Planning Board Meeting. Mr. Forman stated that he would let the Board know when he received the SEQR from Ron Brand. There being no further discussion, Chairperson Grigorov declared the discussion of the Comprehensive Plan to be duly closed at 9:12 p.m. AGENDA ITEM: CORNELL GEIS SPECIAL LAND USE DISTRICT - DISCUSSION. Chairperson Grigorov declared the above -noted matter duly opened at 9:14 p.m. Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that the proposed Special Land Use District draft that the Board had before them was much better than the previous draft. (The SLUD dated July 1993 is hereby attached as Exhibit #1). Town Attorney John Barney stated that there was nothing in the SLUD that said that the ownership of this land use district must remain with Cornell University. Attorney Barney stated that he was concerned with what would happen if a portion of this property was sold under the Special Land Use District. Attorney Barney stated a lot of the things that is subject to occurring at the Boundary of the district should be confined to the boundary of the land that is dedicated to that particular study area. Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that one of the things that Cornell University wanted was for the Planning Board to give approval for variances instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Board Member Stephen Smith stated that Cornell wants to be able to do anything they want without any restrictions or control by anyone. Town Attorney John Barney stated that although the ownership would remain with Cornell University, the Town could require permitted uses only and give a specific uses that would be allowed. Attorney Barney stated that he felt that there should be specific allowances for accessory buildings. Attorney Barney stated that he recommended that the Board have a size limit requirement on an accessory building stated in the SLUD. Chairperson Grigorov asked if there was any further discussion regarding the Cornell University GEIS. Town Planner Floyd Forman gave a summary of the comments made thus far in the meeting for Attorney Shirley Egan. Mr. Forman stated, referring to Item 4 (B) - accessory uses, and suggested to have a size limitation on accessory buildings. Mr. Forman stated, referring to Planning Board 5 July 13, 1993 Item 4 (M) , suggested deleting sub items #1 & #2; and finally, on Page 6, delete the word "variances ". Chairperson Carolyn Grigorov stated that an additional suggestion was to have residences added to the permitted uses. There was some discussion among the Board members regarding the buffer area. Attorney Shirley Egan addressed the Board and stated that Cornell University was against the 200 -foot setback because Cornell's natural area boundary is already extremely generous and includes a huge buffer in At. Attorney Egan stated that the 30 -foot setback from the wooded edge is what the Natural Area Subcommittee at the Plantations wanted. The Board determined that the Planning Board and Cornell's representatives needed to agree on a specific number in regards to setbacks. Attorney Barney suggested to Cornell was that they could use a 30 foot setback as a right, then 30 to 70 feet with special approval of the Planning Board that would not require Cornell to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals, and anything over 70 feet would require an variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that, in terms of site plans, allowed uses, and special approvals, that the Special Land Use District for the Draft GEIS is more expansive than what is currently allowed in the Zoning Ordinances. There being no further comments, Chairperson Grigorov declared the discussion of Cornell GEIS Special Land Use District to be duly closed at 9:40 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion, Chairperson Grigorov declared the July 13, 1993 meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ��jh 0) � StarrRae Hays, Recording Secretary Town of Ithaca Planning Board N SEMEN r'ULE m%\1 E I '1 L O`' s 0 SEV E'�1 � \L�� Iv E 5�� 1U IS l oft L+ DO EZ,T " -( L l Pl G 0 C� c rti Z h SK,cicH A s /3183 "AWilliam F. Albern, P E. Engineering Consultant Exhibit #1 Sunnyslope Terrace, Ithaca, New York 14850 Telephone: (607) 272 -5077 5�46-*A � Q VG -N �1l.Er 1 \4E SU-tSD1VISI om `11 = `t 00 1 Exhibit #2 � L 1 t-1 E 1313'tl i (o z01,4 I �-lC S 13193 "AWilliam F. Albern, P F. Engineering Consultant Sunnyslope Terrace, Ithaca, New York 14850 Telephone: (607) 272 -5077 eo n rn iI Q fD r7j �l N• W t�' \ W r• cn D • r 0 I ' El I� i II I. , r- I A•i e L.� oII Jt -111, RIA o 1141, T T1, LEI uLju • � 4 C3 ❑ r , 8-4,;- 1,;- ■ ■ o m o D CD a m SD w co 1i C lJ I L v QQ � li O i o � �t�..`��:,, off- � �. ,• ,/ o mc pp� 11e Cp -lp `0 ' 1p c 6 fi I I I I I � o �o o° I� , , —i T x DO Z O--I (n rn �n O m Z p Z mo D U)