HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1994-08-02The Town of
Tuesday, August
Ithaca, New York
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
AUGUST 2, 1994
Ithaca Planning
21 1994, in Town
at 7:30 p.m.
FILED
TOWN OF
ate
11,4.11 �,O mot!
Board
met in
regular session
on
Hall,
126 East
Seneca
Street,
PRESENT: Chairperson Robert Kenerson, Gregory Bell, Eva Hoffmann,
James Ainslie, Herbert Finch, Candace Cornell, Stephen
Smith, George Bayer, Jonathan Kanter (Town Planner),
Daniel Walker (Town Engineer), Hugh Kent (Attorney).
ALSO PRESENT: Bill Hilker, Mary Raponi, Joyce Cox, Harold Cox,
Frank Raponi, Robert Andree, James Rogan.
Chairperson Kenerson declared the meeting duly opened at 7:30
p.m. and accepted for the record the Secretary's Affidavit of
Posting and Publication of the Notice of Public Hearings in Town
Hall and the Ithaca Journal on July 25, 1994 and July 27, 1994,
respectively, together with the Secretary's Affidavit of Service by
Mail of said Notice upon the various neighbors of each of the
properties under discussion, as appropriate, upon the Clerks of the
City of Ithaca and the Town of Ulysses, upon the Tompkins County
Commissioner of Planning, upon the Tompkins County Assessment
Department, and upon the applicants and /or agents, as appropriate
on July 28, 19949
Chairperson Kenerson read the Fire Exit Regulations to those
assembled, as required by New York State Department of State,
Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
AGENDA ITEM: PERSONS TO BE HEARD.
Chairperson Kenerson asked if anyone from the public wished to
speak. No one spoke. Chairperson Kenerson closed this portion of
the meeting.
Chairperson Kenerson introduced Mr. George Bayer as the new
member of the Planning Board, and welcomed him to the Board.
Board Member James Ainslie, as a member of the interviewing
committee, also welcomed Mr. Bayer.
Board Member George Bayer addressed the Board and stated that
he was pleased to be a member of the Board and that he would do his
best.
There being time before the scheduled Public Hearing,
Chairperson Kenerson asked that the Board members consider approval
of the July 19, 1994 Planning Board Minutes, and asked if anyone
were prepared to offer a motion.
AGENDA ITEM:
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES - JULY
19, 1994.
MOTION by
Herbert
Finch, seconded by
James
Ainslie:
Planning Board Minutes 2 - August 2, 1994 -
RESOLVED, that the Minutes of the Town of Ithaca Planning
Board Meeting of July 19, 1994, be and hereby are approved with the
following corrections.
On Page 6,
Last
Paragraph,
Last
Sentence - the last word
should be
changed
from "tank"
to
"table ".
On Page 7, Paragraph 6, read as: "Board Member Candace
Cornell asked if Mr. Varn had any plans for roads to go
through the Town of Ithaca from this development, as in access
to Route 79."
Was changed to read as: "Board Member Candace Cornell asked
if Mr. Varn had any plans for roads to go through the Town of
Ithaca from this development, as an access to Route 79."
On Page
16, under Approval
of Minutes - May 25, 1993; Board
Member Eva Hoffmann
stated
that she had abstained from the
vote on
these
minutes because she was not a member of the
Board at
that time.
Ms. Hoffmann'
s name was moved to Abstain,
and the
motion
was changed
to be denied.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Bell, Hoffmann, Finch, Ainslie, Cornell, Smith,
Bayer.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
Chairperson Kenerson then asked if anyone were prepared to
offer a motion for the approval of the Minutes of the May 25, 1993
Planning Board Meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 25, 19930
MOTION by Candace Cornell, seconded by Herbert Finch:
RESOLVED, that the Minutes of the Town of Ithaca Planning
Board Meeting of May 25, 1993, be and hereby are approved as
written.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Cornell, Bell, Smith, Finch, Bayer.
Nay - None.
Abstain - Hoffmann, Ainslie.
The MOTION was declared to be carried.
Planning Board Minutes 3 - August 2, 1994-
PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF PRELIMINARY AND FINAL
SUBDIVISION APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF TOWN OF ITHACA
TAX PARCEL NO. 42
0964 AND 0.70
CODDINGTON ROAD,
OWNER /APPLICANT.
-1 -9.14, 1.43
ACRES IN
RESIDENCE
+ /- ACRES IN SIZE, INTO TWO
SIZE RESPECTIVELY, LOCATION
DISTRICT R -15. FRANK J.
PARCELS,
AT 346
RAPONI,
Chairperson Kenerson declared the Public Hearing in the above -
noted matter duly opened and read aloud from the Notice of Public
Hearing as posted and published and as noted above.
Harold Cox of 348 Coddington Road, addressed the Board and
stated that he lived along the right of way that Bolton Point has.
Mr. Cox stated that his only concern was who was going to maintain
the right of way if it is used for this subdivision.
Frank Raponi addressed the Board and stated that the land was
owned jointly with his
son, who has since passed away.
Mr. Raponi
stated that before he
passed away, he
had gotten the
legal work
needed to extend his
present driveway
on the north side
of his
house back to the lot
that was his.
Mr. Raponi stated
that he
wanted to have the utilities
put on the
back lot prior
to putting
the driveway in for that lot.
Attorney Hugh Kent asked Mr. Raponi if both lots were owned by
the Estate of Stephen Raponi.
Mr. Raponi responded that he did not own the house he was
living in, but that he was the legal guardian for Stephen Raponi's
children. Mr. Raponi stated that the house would never belong to
him because it belongs to Stephen Raponi's children. The children
will not be able to do anything with the house until the youngest
child is at least 21 years of age, which will be in ten years. The
lots are deeded in the name of the estate.
Attorney Kent stated that both parcels are owned by the Estate
of Stephen Raponi. Attorney Kent suggested that the Planning Board
consider making Parcel B into a flag lot where the right of way on
the north side of the properties would not be a right of way over
parcel A but would become part of parcel B. Attorney Kent stated
that the idea was that if, at some point in the future, you have
different parties owning the two parcels that do not get along,
there would be a stronger claim to access for Parcel B. Attorney
Kent stated that parcel A could get access anywhere along the
frontage they have on Coddington Road.
Board Member Stephen Smith asked what the status of the
existing gravel roadway was.
Chairperson Kenerson stated that he did not know how the Town
of Ithaca could issue a building permit when there is no conforming
lot or a lot that could be used.
Town Planner Jonathan Kanter stated that the question of the
zoning compliance was different from the question of the
possibility of access. Mr. Kanter stated that there were two
Planning Board Minutes 4 - August 2, 1994-
feasible
ways of access to the
property;
one that is shown on the
easement
over the driveway, and
the other
possibility being on the
existing
gravel roadway to the
water tank.
The zoning compliance
question
is another matter being that
Parcel B does not have
sufficient
frontage on a public
street, which would be the primary
non - compliant
factor.
Chairperson Kenerson asked if the driveway was already in
existence.
Mr. Raponi responded, yes.
Board Member Candace Cornell stated that the Planning Board
could grant approval for a flag lot and then take that much land
out of Parcel B and give it back to Parcel A. Ms. Cornell asked
Mr. Raponi if he purchased the land together with his son.
Mr. Raponi responded that they bought the parcel together with
the idea that the land would be split in half.
Board Member Stephen Smith asked if it was ever split in half.
Mr. Raponi responded, no.
Board Member Candace Cornell asked why is all of the land in
the name of the estate? or is it just half the rights to the land
in the estate?
Mr. Raponi .responded that he never had anything to prove that
he had any real ownership of it.
Town Engineer Daniel Walker stated that it was never
subdivided and that this is a proposed subdivision. The estate
owns the entire parcel now and the question should be whether Mr.
Raponi's intention is to purchase Parcel B from the estate.
Mr. Raponi stated that he had already paid for it.
Mr. Walker asked if there would be a transfer of title from
the estate to Mr. Raponi.
Mr. Raponi responded, yes.
Mr. Walker stated that he thought that there was some
confusion a couple of years ago when the property was bought, as
far as the need for the subdivision approval for the back lot by
the Planning Board.
Mr. Raponi stated that on the original map drawn up by George
Hanford, who surveyed the land, it was split as Parcel A and Parcel
B. Mr. Raponi stated that the map was never registered.
Chairperson Kenerson asked if the 60 foot right of way was the
only access to the back lands of Lillian Raponi.
Mr. Raponi responded, yes.
Planning Board Minutes 5 - August 2, 1994-
Mr. Walker stated that
there was additional access to the lot
further north
on Coddington
Road. Mr. Walker stated
that just to
the north of
the parcel
in question, there is
frontage of
approximately
200 feet that
the back lot parcel has
on Coddington
Road which is
another option
for access to the large
parcel owned
by Lillian Raponi. Mr. Walker stated that across
from Juniper
Drive there is
an additional
60 foot right of way.
Mr. Raponi stated that they were not developed roads, just
access points.
Board
Member
Stephen
Smith
addressed Mr. Walker and asked if
the gravel
roadway
was a
legal
Town road.
Mr. Walker responded that he did not think that the roadway
had ever been dedicated or accepted by the Town Board as a road.
Mr. Walker stated that the Town has a watermain there, and a
watermain easement to the tank at the end of that roadway. There
was sketch plan of a proposed subdivision that showed the gravel
roadway as a road and a number of other roads laid out.
Mr. Raponi stated that when it was first proposed, the right
of way was only 20 feet wide, and now it is 60 feet wide. Mr.
Raponi asked how it went from 20 feet to 60 feet.
Mr.
Walker stated
that he believed that
at the time of the
subdivision
of Stephen
Raponi's land from Lillian
Raponi's land,
that the
Town made that
easement 60 feet wide.
Mr. Walker stated
that when
the subdivision was granted that there was a requirement
that the
reserved strip
be 60 feet.
Board Member Candace Cornell stated that she was confused
about Mr. Raponi's ownership or rights to own the property, and is
it in the interest of the children to subdivide the property. Ms.
Cornell asked who has the legal authority to make the decision.
Attorney Kent responded that more information would be needed
from Mr. Raponi to make that decision. Attorney Kent stated that
the Estate owns Parcel A and Parcel B and that Mr. Raponi is acting
as the purchaser asking for the subdivision approval.
Board Member Candace Cornell asked what the distance from the
present house to the driveway was. Ms. Cornell asked if Parcel B
was made into a flag lot would Parcel A still be a conforming lot.
Attorney Kent responded, yes.
Town Planner Jonathan Kanter stated that the sideyard
requirement for Resident District R -15 would be a minimum of 15
feet.
Board Member Eva
Hoffmann stated that she had a
question about
the environmental review done by Assistant Town
Planner George
Frantz, under Item C4,
where it reads: "The
proposed
"Parcel B ", if
approved, would be one of a number of
similar lots
in the area,
including a lot with
an existing home
immediately
across the "60
Planning Board Minutes 6 - August 2, 1994-
ft. Reserved Strip" shown on
the
submitted
survey." Ms. Hoffmann
asked if that meant that some
of
the lots which are not fronting on
Coddington Road, but instead
on
the
60 foot right of way, have
houses on them. Ms. Hoffmann
stated
that there were four or five
lots fronting on the right of
way,
and
asked which house Mr. Frantz
was referring
to.
Town Planner Jonathan Kanter stated that one way to handle the
problem of frontage on a public road is to grant the subdivision
approval, conditioned on the grant of any required variances or
other approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals with respect to
frontage on a public road, prior to the signing of the plat by the
Chairman of the Planning Board. Mr. Kanter stated that it would
need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals anyway, and it is
generally not good practice to completely formalize a subdivision
until it does meet zoning requirements.
Board Member Stephen
Smith
asked what
the possibilities
he was advised to put a chain up and
were
for getting a right of way
down
the gravel
roadway
for
Parcel B.
Attorney Hugh Kent stated that if the right of way were
granted down the existing gravel road it would provide access but
it still would not provide the required road frontage because it is
not a Town road. Attorney Kent stated that his suggestion with the
flag lot was simply that it provides a stronger legal right to the
access in the future, which would come from a deeded access.
Parcel A would have access along the road frontage on Coddington
Road.
Board Member Candace Cornell stated that if the Board was
going to take land out of Parcel A, then the Board should trade
land between Parcel A and Parcel B and keep them the same
proportions that they are.
Mary Raponi, daughter of Lillian Raponi, addressed the Board
and stated that there was not a 60 foot right of way, and that she
has been unable to determine ownership of it.
Mr.
Raponi
stated
that
he was advised to put a chain up and
let the
Town of
Ithaca
prove
who
owns it.
Bill Hilker of Burns Road, addressed the Board and stated that
his brother owns the parcel near the proposed subdivision. Mr.
Hilker stated that the Town of Ithaca had approached Mr. & Mrs.
Raponi to purchase the water tower road and the water tower site,
but at that time Mr. Raponi did not want to sell it. Then the Town
of Ithaca started condemnation proceedings to acquire that 20 foot
strip of land. In the turn over of the Board, this was never acted
upon. The Town of Ithaca never acquired any title to that property.
Mr. Hilker stated that the 60 foot right of way is still owned by
the Raponi Estate.
Chairperson Kenerson stated that somewhere the ownership had
to be recorded.
Mr. Cox stated that he had a handwritten deed which dated back
Planning Board Minutes 7 - August 21 1994 -
to 1913 which stated that there was a 50 foot right of way back
then.
Attorney Hugh Kent addressed the Board and stated that Parcel
B needs to have 60 feet of road frontage. Attorney Kent stated
that the Board could ask the applicant to take care of the variance
first and then come back to the Planning Board for subdivision
approval. Attorney Kent stated that the most the Board could do
was approve the subdivision conditioned upon a variance, because
otherwise the Board would be creating a subdivision with a non-
conforming lot.
Board Member Stephen Smith stated that the applicant
Mr. Walker
may
want
to adjust the North /South Boundary lines to make
up
for
the
transfer of property used to create road frontage for
Parcel
B.
Mary Raponi asked if a house must be built in order to get a
subdivision approved.
Chairperson Kenerson stated that the lot must be created that
would be usable, and a landlocked lot without road frontage is not
considered usable.
Town Planner Jonathan Kanter stated that banks look at access
in transfers of lots when considering a mortgage.
There was some discussion regarding the lots that were located
near the proposed subdivision that were landlocked and /or non-
conforming lots because of the lack of road frontage.
Town Engineer Daniel Walker addressed the Board and stated
that in 1991 the Town of Ithaca looked at the entire Lillian Raponi
parcel and at that time Mrs. Raponi did not wish to deal with the
issue of the right of way to the water tank. Mrs. Raponi simply
wished to separate a piece of land off so that Stephen Raponi could
build his house and have it legally owned by himself. The Town of
Ithaca discussed this with Mary Raponi, who was acting formally as
Lillian Raponi's agent and there was some thoughts of applying for
subdivision for a portion of the remaining backlots. The Town
staff met with Mary Raponi to discuss some of the options, and at
that point she said that she would have to think about it. It has
not come before Town staff or the Town Board since then, one of
the requests of the Planning Board during review of the 1991
subdivision was that the lot for Stephen Raponi be placed, and the
boundaries put so that there would be at least 60 feet between the
southerly boundary of the Lillian Raponi parcel and southerly
boundary of Stephen Raponi's parcel. That is why there is now a 60
foot wide section of land separating those parcels.
Continuing,
Mr. Walker
stated
that there
were documents that
showed a 20 foot
watermain easement,
which is
a standard watermain
easement, 10 feet on either side of the watermain, up to the tank.
Mr. Walker also had a
1991 referring to a
mentioned in a deed to
a legal issue that has
map from George Hanford that was drawn in
50 foot wide roadway to the water tank
the Cox's. Mr. Walker stated that this is
been with the Town for quite a few years,
Planning Board Minutes 8 - August 2, 1994-
and the Town would like to resolve it as soon as possible. To
resolve that question, Lillian Raponi would need to be involved
since she owns the land in question, the Stephen Raponi subdivision
appears to have no legal frontage to Parcel B and unless there was
a variance it would not be a buildable lot. If the Planning Board
wishes not to approve the subdivision contingent upon a variance,
Mr. Walker thought that would be a very appropriate decision and
that it should be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals or
preferably have the question of the right of way resolved for the
satisfaction of everyone, with either a road or a public way.
Chairperson Kenerson noted that this was a Public Hearing and
asked if anyone else present wished to speak. No one spoke.
Chairperson Kenerson closed the Public Hearing and brought the
matter back to the Board for discussion.
Chairperson Kenerson stated that the Planning Board had three
options:
1) Defer the subdivision until
2) Reject the proposal,
3) Come up with conditions for
the needs for this to become ready
Appeals to get a variance.
the issues were cleared up,
approval
that
would
clear
up
to go to
the
Zoning
Board
of
Town Engineer Daniel Walker addressed the Board and stated
that normally the Planning Board could grant preliminary
subdivision approval conditioned upon the receipt of a variance
from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Planning Board Member Gregory Bell stated that granting
preliminary approval would be approving something that has not yet
been seen by the Planning Board.
The Board discussed the options before them with regard to the
proposed subdivision of the Estate of Stephen Raponi. Based on
that discussion, the Chair asked if anyone were prepared to offer
a motion.
MOTION by Stephen Smith, seconded by Herbert Finch:
WHEREAS:
10 This action
is
Consideration of
Preliminary Subdivision
Approval for
the
proposed
subdivision
of Town of Ithaca Tax
Parcel No. 42 -1 -9.14,
approximately 0.70
located at 346
Estate of Stephen
and
1.43
+ /- and 0.64
Coddington
J Raponi,
+/- acres in size, into 2 parcels,
+ /- acres in size respectively,
Road, Residence District R -15.
Owner; Frank J. Raponi, Applicant,
2. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on August 2,
1994, has reviewed and accepted as adequate the Short
Environmental Assessment Form Part I prepared by the
applicant,
subdivision
Road,
a Part II
plat entitled
Town of Ithaca,
prepared by the Town Planning staff, a
"Survey Map, No. 346 Coddington
Tompkins County, New York," prepared by
Planning Board Minutes 9 - August 2, 1994 -
T.G. Miller, P.C. Engineers and Surveyors, and dated June 2,
1994, and other application materials, and
3. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca
Planning Board, acting as lead agency in environmental review
with respect to Subdivision Approval, has, on August 2, 1994,
made a negative determination of environmental significance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED.
1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain
requirements for Preliminary Subdivision Approval, as shown on
the Preliminary Plat Checklist, having determined from the
materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a
significant alteration of the purpose of subdivision control
nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board.
2. That Preliminary Subdivision Approval of Town of Ithaca Tax
Parcel No. 42 -1 -9.14 is granted subject to the following
conditions.
a. The easement area shown on Parcel A be redrawn as part of
the actual lot area of Parcel B to create a flag lot, so
that Parcel B has 20 feet of frontage on Coddington Road;
b. The lot lines of Parcels A and B be adjusted to even up
both parcels to avoid creating additional non -
conformities of either Parcel A or Parcel B;
c. A letter be provided by the applicant stating that he is
formally acting as the agent of the owner of Tax Parcel
No. 42 -1 -9.14; and
d. The applicant obtain any required variances from the
Zoning Board of Appeals with respect to the lack of
required frontage on a public road, or relating to any
other zoning non - conformities of either Parcel A or
Parcel B, prior to obtaining Final Subdivision Approval.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Bell, Hoffmann, Ainslie, Finch, Smith, Bayer.
Nay - Cornell.
The MOTION was declared to be carried.
MOTION by Stephen Smith, seconded by Herbert Finch.
1. This action is consideration of Preliminary Subdivision
Approval for the proposed subdivision of Town of Ithaca Tax
Parcel No. 42 -1 -9.14, 1.43 +/- acres in size, into 2 parcels,
0.70 + /- and 0.64 + /- acres in size respectively, located at 346
Coddington Road, Residence District R -15. Estate of Stephen
Planning Board
Minutes
10
- August 2, 1994-
) Raponi,
Owner; Frank J.
Raponi,
Applicant, and
2. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca
Planning Board is legislatively determined to act as Lead
Agency in environmental review with respect to Subdivision
Approval, and
3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on August 2,
1994, has reviewed and accepted as adequate the Short
Environmental Assessment Form Part I prepared by the
applicant, a Part II prepared by the Town Planning staff, a
subdivision plat entitled "Survey Map, No. 346 Coddington
Road, Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York," prepared by
T.G. Miller, P.C. Engineers and Surveyors, and dated June 2,
1994, and other application materials, and
4. The Town planning staff has recommended a negative
determination of environmental significance with respect to
the proposed action, as proposed;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative
determination of environmental significance in accordance with the
New York State Environmental Quality Review Act for the above
reference action as proposed and, therefore, neither a Long
Environmental Assessment Form, nor an Environmental Impact
Statement will be required.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Bell, Hoffmann, Ainslie, Finch, Smith, Bayer.
Nay - None.
Abstain - Cornell.
The MOTION was declared to be carried.
Chairperson Kenerson declared the matter of the consideration
of Preliminary Subdivision Approval for the Estate of Stephen
Raponi duly closed at 8:46 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM. CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS ON REQUESTED SIGN VARIANCES ON TOWN OF ITHACA TAX
PARCEL NO. 62 -2 -1.13, 0.83 + /- ACRES, LOCATED AT 1000 JUDD FALLS
ROAD, BUSINESS DISTRICT D. ROBERT ANDREE, OWNER /APPLICANT.
Chairperson Kenerson declared the above -noted matter duly
opened and read aloud from the Planning Board agenda.
Attorney Hugh Kent addressed the Board and stated, for the
record, that Attorney John Barney represents Mr. Andree and for
that reason he was excusing himself from participation in this
matter.
Planning Board Minutes 11 - August 2, 1994-
Board Member Eva Hoffmann asked what the height would be from
the pavement to the top of the canopy.
Robert Andree responded that the building would be 18 feet
high with the canopy attached.
Board Member Stephen Smith asked if a sign that large was
needed because there was no competition to attract business from.
Mr. Andree's gas station is the only gas station in the area.
Board Member Candace Cornell asked Mr. Andree how high the
free - standing sign would be from the ground.
Mr. Andree responded,
20 feet. Mr. Andree
stated
that
Citgo
has an imaging program,
and they determine
which
sign
your
operation needs. The sign
proposed, is only 20 feet tall, and that
the corporation wanted Mr.
Andree to have a sign
30 feet
tall.
The
proposal is for 5 feet wide,
and Citgo wanted it
to be 7
feet
wide.
Mr. Andree stated the sign
proposed is scaled down
from
what
Citgo
requested of him.
Board Member Stephen Smith asked if the sign would be lighted.
Mr. Andree responded that it would be internally lit.
Board Member Eva Hoffmann asked if the building and canopy
would be lit as well.
Mr. Andree stated that there were overhead lights under the
canopy.
Ms. Hoffmann asked if the lights would be on all night.
Mr. Andree responded, no, but that there would be night lights
on in the building, for security.
Ms. Hoffmann stated that she was concerned about the traffic
situation. Ms. Hoffmann stated that she hoped that there would not
be any traffic through the gas station.
Mr. Andree responded that the entrance to the station on Judd
Falls Road has been slowed to about half the flow that there used
to be, and that the entrance between the gas station and East Hill
Plaza would be 60 feet with speed bumps.
Board Member Gregory Bell asked if the entrance off Judd Falls
Road was going to be leveled off.
Mr. Andree responded that the entrance would be more level and
somewhat smoother, although it would not be built up as high as
possible to allow for drainage.
Board Member Candace Cornell asked if the placement of the
sign would be a safety hazard.
Town Planner Jonathan Kanter responded that the location main
Planning Board Minutes
12
- August 2, 1994-
free - standing sign was approved on the site plan and that it is in
a good location far enough back from the intersection.
Board Member Gregory Bell stated that there was a tree at the
northern part of the site, which had been bulldozed and asked if
there was a reason for that.
Mr. Andree stated that it was in the expanded blacktop area.
Mr.
Bell stated,
for the record,
that
he liked the tree there
for buffering for the
whole plaza.
Mr. Bell continued, for the
record,
and stated that
it annoys him
that
large corporations can
dictate
the sign look.
There is an
implicit
assumption by the
corporations
that they
can dictate the
look
of the Town of Ithaca's
signs.
Board Member James Ainslie stated that the corporations hire
very expensive people to tell them what brings in business.
Mr.
Bell
stated
that
the size
of
this
sign goes beyond the
spirit of
the
look of
that
part
of
the
Town
of Ithaca.
Mr. Andree stated that the sign he is proposing, which has
been scaled down from what the corporation wanted, he is ending up
with 25 feet less than he is allowed under the Town of Ithaca Sign
Law.
There appearing to be no further discussion, Chairperson
Kenerson asked if anyone were prepared to offer a motion.
MOTION by Candace Cornell, seconded by Stephen Smith:
RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as the
Town of Ithaca Sign Review Board, recommend and hereby does
recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the request for sign
variances and /or permits for one free standing sign and several
additional signs, including spandrel signs mounted on the canopy
columns and a convenience store identification sign, as described
in a letter from Andrew Frost to Robert Andree, dated July 18,
1994, be granted.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Bell, Hoffmann, Ainslie, Finch, Cornell, Smith,
Bayer.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
Chairperson Kenerson declared the matter of the Recommendation
to the Zoning Board of Appeals with regard to the sign for Robert
Andree duly closed.
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS ON A REQUESTED SIGN VARIANCE ON TOWN OF ITHACA TAX
Planning Board Minutes 13 - August 2, 1994 -
PARCEL NO. 40 -4 -2 LOCATED AT ROGAN'S CORNER, 825 DANBY ROAD,
BUSINESS DISTRICT A. JAMES ROGAN, OWNER /APPLICANT.
Chairperson
Kenerson
declared
the
above -noted matter duly
opened
and read
aloud from
the
Planning
Board agenda.
James Rogan addressed the Board and stated that there was no
record of his receiving a sign permit ten years ago. Mr. Cogan,
from Cogan Associates, designed the sign, who then commissioned
Rudy Christopher to put the sign up. Mr. Rogan stated that he
talked to Mr. Christopher who thought that he had a permit for the
sign but could not find it, so Mr. Rogan called Mr. Cogan and Mr.
Cogan thought that Mr. Christopher had the permit. Mr. Rogan
stated that he has gone ten years without a permit and would like
to get one now.
Board Member Candace Cornell asked if the sign conformed with
the Town regulations.
There
Town Engineer Daniel Walker stated that it does
are two signs there on one installation that
and does not.
are 24 square
feet
states
each. Mr. Walker stated
that you shall take
that the Town of Ithaca Sign Law
the longest extension of any portion of
the sign,
width
so the height of
is actually 12 feet,
the sign is actually nine feet and the
which makes it exceed 50 square feet.
There appearing to be no further discussion, Chairperson
Kenerson asked if anyone were prepared to offer a motion.
MOTION by Herbert Finch, seconded by Candace Cornell:
RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as the
Town of Ithaca Sign Review Board, recommend and hereby does
recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the request for a
sign variance for one free standing sign be granted.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Kenerson, Bell, Hoffmann, Ainslie, Finch, Cornell, Smith,
Bayer.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
Chairperson Kenerson declared the matter of a recommendation
to the Zoning Board of Appeals with regard to the sign variance at
Rogan's Corner duly closed.
Planning Board Minutes 14
ADJOURNMENT
- August 2, 1994-
Upon MOTION, Chairperson Kenerson declared the August 21 1994
meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 9:06
p.m.
8/5/94.
Respectfully submitted,
Ai -WJ
StarrRae ays,
Recording Secretary,
Town of Ithaca Planning Board.