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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2001-07-17FILE • 4.01 DATE TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2001 The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on Tuesday, July 17, 2001, in Town Hall, 215 North Tioga, Ithaca, New York, at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Fred Wilcox, Chairperson; Eva Hoffmann, Board Member; George Conneman, Board Member; Larry Thayer., Board Member; Rod Howe, Board Member; Kevin Talty, Board Member; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; John Barney, Attorney for the Town; Dan Walker, Director of Engineering; Susan Ritter, Assistant Director of Planning; Christine Lehman, Planner. EXCUSED: Tracy Mitrano, Board Member; Mike Smith, Environmental Planner. ALSO PRESENT: David Herrick, TG Miller; Steven Hugo, HOLT Architects; Bryan Chabot, 30F Sunnyhill Lane; Catherine Minor, Black Oak Lane; Richard P. Shore, 925 Mitchell St; Jessica Keltz, Ithaca Times; Ryan Berryann, WHCU; Linda Finlay, 323 Eastwood Ave; Pat Graham, 38 Benson Road; Don McPherson, The LA Group PC; Laurene Gilbert, Cornell University; Harry Ellsworth, 152 Honness Lane; Jane Hammond, 16C Strawberry Hill Rd; Georgean Leonard, 16D Strawberry Hill Rd; Jeanne White, 18C Strawberry Hill Rd; Christopher Tessaglia - Hymes, Etna NY; Joan & Ed Lawler, 925 Mitchell St #2; Maria Jacobson & Dan Schwarz, 925 Mitchell St #3; Anne McLaughlin, 1342 Slaterville Rd; Sharon Haas, 1336 Slaterville Rd; Liz Walker, 115 Rachel Carson Way; Steve Wright, Cornell University: Mike Carpenter, 192 Van Dorn Rd. S.; Victoria Agagnost, Eastwood Commons; Carl Segrecci, Ithaca College; Robert O'Brian, HOLT Architects; Peter Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf. Chairperson Wilcox declared the meeting duly opened at 7:34 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 9, 2001, and July 11, 2001, together with the properties under discussion, as appropriate, upon the Clerks of the City of Ithaca and the Town of Danby, upon the Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning, upon the Tompkins County Commissioner of Public Works, and upon the applicants and /or agents, as appropriate, on July 11, 2001. (Affidavit of Posting and Publication is hereto attached as Exhibit #1.) Chairperson Wilcox 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. Chairperson Wilcox opened this segment of the meeting at 7:34 p.m. With no persons present to be heard, Chairperson Wilcox closed this segment of the meeting at 7:35 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed 4,160 ± square foot addition to the Physical Plant Shops Building located on Campus Service Road at Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41. -1 -11, Residence APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED District R -15. The addition will house five vehicle service bays and additional office space for physical plant shop staff. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLT Architects, P.C., Agent. Carl Segrecci, Vice President and Treasurer at Ithaca College - All projects this evening are considerably less in scope than most of the projects we have brought before the Planning Board. They are not of less importance. They will be providing better working environments and conditions for our staff support. Robert O'Brian, HOLT Architects, presented the board with slides of the location of the three proposed projects on the Ithaca College Campus. Mr. O'Brian - The Physical Plant Shop addition is a service bay for five vehicles. It also provides a little office space on the west end of the building. The existing building is a metal building on a concrete foundation. The plan is to add a similar addition onto the existing building. The addition is replacing existing pavement. Board Member Hoffmann - The plan does not look like there is enough space between the buildings for vehicles. Mr. O'Brian - There is enough space between the vehicles for trucks to travel through. Peter Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf - There is adequate turning radius between the buildings. These are not large vehicles. It is primarily pick -up trucks and small vehicles. They currently park along this side of the building and pull -up to the face of the building. There are very minor site improvements. There is some earth disturbance on the west side.. This will be replaced with conservation seed mix. The College does not see this being a maintained lawn area. Board Member Hoffmann - Will there be landscaping on the side of the service road? Mr. Trowbridge - There is asphalt right up to the front of the building. There are some servicing functions on that side of the building. The access door and overhead doors make is difficult to do anything on the east side of the building. Board Member Hoffmann - The ground has to be disturbed next to the addition. Mr. Trowbridge - It will be asphalt cut. The building will be inserted within the cut. Then there will be an asphalt patch up to the building. There will be very little disturbance outside the floor plate of the building. Board Member Hoffmann - It seems like an opportunity to do some plantings on this side of the building. Mr. Trowbridge - It would be a very small area It would be difficult to maintain any green. PAGE 2 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Chairperson Wilcox - There is no SEQR determination. It is classified as Type II action. Chairperson Wilcox opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m. With no persons to be heard, Chairperson Wilcox closed the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox - Landscaping would be nice, but with the large trucks entering it would make it difficult to maintain. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -55 - Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval, Ithaca College Physical Plant Shops Building Addition, Campus Service Road, Tax Parcel No. 41-1 -11. MOTION made by George Conneman, seconded by Larry Thayer. WHEREAS: 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed 41160 +/- square feet addition to the Physical Plant Shops Building located on Campus Services Road at Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -11, Residence District R- 15. The addition will house five - vehicle service bays and additional office space for Physical Plant Shop staff. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLT Architects, P.C., Agent, and 2. This is a Type 11 Action pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617, State Environmental Quality Review Act, requiring no further environmental review, and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on July 17, 2001, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, plans entitled "Site Plan," sheet L101, "Floor Plan," sheet A101, and "Exterior Elevations," sheet A102 dated 6115101, prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C., and other application material, and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary and Final Site Plan Checklists, having determined from the materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a significant alteration of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board, and 2. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed 4,160 +/- square foot addition to the Physical Plant Shops Building addition located on Campus Services Road at Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -11, Residence District R -15, as shown on plans entitled "Site Plan, " sheet L 101, "Floor Plan," sheet A 101, and "Exterior Elevations," sheet A 102 dated 6115101, prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C., subject to the following conditions: PAGE 3 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED a. submission of an original or mylar copy of the final site plan, to be retained by the Town of Ithaca with drawing A 101 to be corrected to indicate "5 vehicle service" instead of "6 vehicle service ", and b, obtaining the Special Approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 1. That the Planning Board, in making its recommendation regarding Special Approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals, determines the following: a. there is a need for the proposed use in the proposed location, as demonstrated by the applicant; b, the existing and probable future character of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected as a result of the proposed use; C, the. specific proposed use as a result of the proposed project is in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan of development of the Town of Ithaca. 2. That the Planning Board reports to the Zoning Board of Appeals its recommendation that the aforementioned request for Special Approval be granted. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Tally. NAYS: The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM: SEQR Determination, Temporary Office Building, Ithaca College. Chairperson Wilcox opened this segment of the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Mr. O'Brian - The temporary office building will be located on open lawn. We have sited it in a way so that there is minimal disturbance and fill. There are two major groups of Human Resources uses being located in the temporary office space. The accessible entrance to the building faces the campus. The north side of the building has a stairway down to the parking. There is not a lot of landscaping proposed. One tree is being relocated as part of the project. David Herrick, TG Miller - We have water that runs parallel to the long axis of the building on the west. It would be a simple, temporary connection. There will be a small holding tank for sanitary sewage. It would force sewage into the lines that run through the plaza. This does fall within the PAGE 4 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED larger watershed that drains to the pond down below. Any increases in water flow from impervious surfaces would be drained into that area. Board Member Thayer - What is the exterior color of the building? Mr. O'Brian - The temporary buildings Ithaca College has put up before have had a Texture 111 siding. They can be stained in a variety of natural stains. The rendering shows the color as tan. It will be a light natural color stain. Board Member Thayer - Is a new building being built to house these employees? Mr. O'Brian - The College is in the process of working on a Master Plan. We have been working on it for quite some time. We expect to have the Master Plan finalized by February 2002. There are a number of potential projects that have emerged as part of this process. We cannot say where the projects are going and what the scope will be. These will be determined over the next six months. There are plans to build additional space. We would not ask for a temporary building if we did not know that we were going to provide permanent space. Chairperson Wilcox - The board has had applicants ask for temporary office space and then ask for an extension. Mr. O'Brian - Ithaca College has put up temporary buildings and taken them down as promised. Board Member Hoffmann - West of the Park Building there is a high grade in the lawn that slopes away to the east. Is the building going to straddle that? Mr. O'Brian - It is the roof of the mechanical building. Then the grade slopes down to the east and north. Board Member Hoffmann - Will you be cutting into the grade? Mr. O'Brian - No. There is a building underneath. We try not to excavate a lot with temporary buildings. Mr. Kanter - Drawing L101 does show some minor grading straightening out the contours of the corner. Chairperson Wilcox closed this segment of the meeting at 8:02 p.m. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -56 - SEOR, Ithaca College - Temporary Modular Office Space, Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Recommendation for Special Approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals. MOTION made by Rod Howe, seconded by Kevin Talty. WHEREAS: PAGE 5 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED -APPROVED - APPROVED 1. This action is Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the installation of a one -story 11,000 f/- square foot temporary modular office space located on the Ithaca College campus on the lawn east of the Roy H. Park School of Communication, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, Residential District R -15. The proposal would include office space for current Ithaca College employees and will be removed after five years. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLT Architects, P.C. Agents. 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 Site Plan Approval, and 3. The Planning Board, on July 17, 2001, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part 1, submitted by the applicant, and a Part it prepared by Town Planning staff, and drawings prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C. entitled "Site Plan" sheet L101 dated 612212001, "Schematic Site Utility Plan" sheet C101 dated June 22, 2001, "North Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 2001, and "East Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 20017 and supplemental information provided by the applicant, and 4. The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental significance with respect to the proposed Site Plan Approval, 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 referenced action as proposed, and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Tally. NAYS: None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed 10,92.0 ± square foot temporary offices located at Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel no. 41. -1 -30.2, Residence District R -15. The proposal would include office space for current Ithaca College employees and will be removed after five years. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLT Architects, P.C., Agent. Chairperson Wilcox opened the public hearing at 8:02 p.m. With no persons to be heard, Chairperson Wilcox closed the public hearing at 8:03 p.m. PAGE 6 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Chairperson Wilcox - Is the board concerned about lack of landscaping? Board Member Hoffmann - Now Chairperson Wilcox - This area is a beautiful area. I was thinking about this ugly trailer being plopped down in the middle of the green area. I thought the tall grasses might be appropriate to surround the building. The campus is beautiful. Board Member Thayer - T -111 siding is a nice exterior. It blends in with the area. Board Member Hoffmann - The trees on the drawing will remain on site. Chairperson Wilcox - The trees could be overstated on the drawing. Mr. Trowbridge - We measured the canopies of the trees. The drawings are to scale. We felt that adding something did not make a big impact. The landscaping would be destroyed when the building is removed. Board Member Hoffmann - This project is internal to the campus. Board Member Thayer - The resolution does not mention that the trailers can be removed before the 5 -year time period expires, Attorney Barney - It would not be necessary. Chairperson Wilcox - We have seen information presented through slides that we do not have in hard copy. How should we deal with that? Mr. Kanter - We have the necessary materials in hardcopy. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -57 - Ithaca College - Temporary Modular Office Space, Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Recommendation for Special Approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2. MOTION made by Eva Hoffmann, seconded by George Conneman, WHEREAS: 1. This action is Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the installation of a one -story 11,000 +/- square foot temporary modular office space located on the Ithaca College campus on the lawn east of the Roy H. Park School of Communication, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No, 41 -1 -30.2, Residential District R -15. The proposal would include office space for current Ithaca College employees and will be removed after five years. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOL T Architects, P.C. Agents. PAGE 7 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED 2. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as lead agency in environmental review has accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form, Part 1, submitted by the applicant, and Part 11, prepared by the Town Planning Department, and has on July 17, 2001, made a negative determination of environmental significance, 3. The Planning Board, at a public hearing held on July 17, 2001, has reviewed and accepted as adequate application materials presented by the applicant, including drawings prepared by HOLT Architects, P. C, entitled "Site Plan" sheet L 101 dated 6/22/2001, "Schematic Site Utility Plan" sheet C101 dated June 22, 2001, and "North Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 2001, and "East Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 2001, and supplemental information provided by the applicant. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary and Final Site Plan Checklists, having determined from the materials presented that such waivers will result in neither a significant alteration of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board, and 2. That the Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed installation of a one -story 111000 +/- square foot temporary modular office space to be in place for maximum of 5 years, as shown on the drawings prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C. entitled "Site Plan" sheet L101 dated 612212001, "Schematic Site Utility Plan" sheet C101 dated June 22, 2001, "North Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 200, and "East Elevation" sheet dated June 21, 2001, and other application materials, subject to the following conditions, all prior to issuance of any building permits: a. the granting of Special Approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals, b, documentation of the materials and colors of the modular office space, C, submission of an original mylar copy of the final site plan to be retained by the Town of Ithaca, d, submission of details of proposed light and asphalt walk at the north end of the building. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 1. That the Planning Board in making a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals, determines the following: a. there is a need for the proposed use in the proposed location, as demonstrated by the applicant; PAGE 8 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED b, the existing and probable future character of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected as a result of the proposed project; C, the proposed use as a result of the proposed project is not in conflict with a comprehensive plan of development for the Town of Ithaca. 2. That the Planning Board reports to the Zoning Board of Appeals its recommendation that the aforementioned request for Special Approval for the installation of a 11,000 +/- square foot modular office building be granted, subject to the following: a. That such Special Approval shall expire on September 15, 2006. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Talty, NAYS: None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM: SEAR Determination, Campus Safety /General Services Building, Campus Service Road. Chairperson Wilcox opened this segment of the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Mr. O'Brian - This building will occupy the former composting site. It is an area that is being used for site storage at this time. This building is a two -story building. Everything is on a slope. It has two grade level entrances. The lower level houses shop functions. The upper level consolidates all offices of Campus Safety. They are currently located in a number of buildings. This will clean up the site. The building has a metal roof. The lower portion of the building is metal and the upper portion is masonry. Mr. Trowbridge - There are 54 new parking spaces. They are on the south side on the building. The north side of the building is primarily service function with maintenance buildings. We have made some improvements to the current parking. The only pole lights are on the south side of the building. They are paired along the entrance. The large White Oak tree was omitted as part of the site plans. It will remain on site. It will give the building character. There is a steep slope on the west side of the building. There will be large beds of shrubs and trees where we get most of the drainage flowing around the west end of the building. The college has been historically concerned about the removal of vegetation in between the main campus and the service area. The campus looks down on the service area. There is a thin, green buffer. We are trying to maintain that as much as possible. The storm water will sheet to the south of the site. It will be picked up within traditional storm drainage. PAGE 9 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Mr. Herrick - There is storm piping that exits just to the north of the existing service building. It has carried quite a bit of sediment, shale and soil with it. It has been deposited in Coddington Road. We have included in this plan some storm piping that would eliminate some of the problems. The utilities are connected to existing .facilities on the property. We have a small size sewer lateral that will connect into the existing pipe. The water is already in the middle of the site with a fire hydrant centrally located. Board Member Thayer - The first exterior picture showed a nice green roof. The roof looked gray in the second picture. Mr. Trowbridge - The green roof is a rendering. It represents our currently thinking for the color scheme. Board Member Hoffmann - The northern elevation looks very different from the southern elevation. Mr. Trowbridge - There is a change in material. The lower floor of the building is a utility structure. The building houses two very different functions trying to co -exist under one roof. The upper function is office space. The lower level has high ceiling requirements. The upper level is very simple office space. The approach to the design was to create a building that was a utility building. We have a flat roof structure on the north side because we could not slope the roof on that portion of it. The building will be a light color. Board Member Hoffmann - The functions are different, but the two levels do not need to represent that on the outside. Mr. Trowbridge - The architectural approach was different. This is a different type of building. We wanted to make an expression that was more related to the other buildings in the area. The masonry side of the building is more the campus side of the building. Board Member Hoffmann - I do not see the argument. When you look at the entire site for this building, the parking lot is to the north and then there is a barrier of trees. The trees separate the utility function of the building from the surrounding area. The utility buildings are not together in one space. The planting plan shows a number of evergreens in the northern most planting. Are they remaining? Mr. Trowbridge - There are two Pine trees there. The Pine tree located up against the board fence was hard to maintain. The second Pine tree is located in the canopy of the large White Oak. We decided to eliminate the tree to give the Oak some space. It is currently very crowded. Board Member Hoffmann - Are any of the taller trees remaining? Mr. Trowbridge - The Poplar Trees are not great quality trees. They do fall within the parking area. PAGE 10 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Board Member Howe - It does not bother me because of the location. It would be of more concern if the building were located on a very visible site. Not many folks will be driving on this road. I am not concerned about how they chose to treat the two different types. Chairperson Wilcox - The service building to the north has field of asphalt in front of it. Board Member Hoffmann - There is a brick building north of the service buildings. It looks quite different and is much more attractive. Chairperson Wilcox - This proposed building would be used for people paying parking tickets. Under current Ithaca College regulations, it is illegal to drive to the proposed building. A special permit is needed to get onto that section of the service road. Mr. Walker - There was some discussion about the road when the new parking was put in several years ago. The concern was that there would be a lot of traffic generated from the parking lot down to Coddington Road. It might have been a requirement of the Planning Board that they eliminate drive through traffic. Chairperson Wilcox - They could move the service permit up towards the northeast. This section is the ugly duckling part of the campus. It was not the tire pile that bothered me. It was the chairs, trash, mattresses, sinks and beds. The wildflowers are starting to grow over the items. Do we have a commitment that the entire site will be cleaned up as part of this development? The board will make it a condition as part of preliminary approval. Mr. Segrecci - We concur with your observations, to address it when we come back for final approval. We will take a look at it and hopefully will be able Board Member Hoffmann - Staff had concerns regarding the surface drainage from the parking lot. Does staff feel that has been taken care of? Ms. Balestra- Lehman - It has been taken care of preliminarily. Ms. Ritter - It is a small parking lot, so it is not a huge concern. It is being addressed with the new parking lot. We thought it would be an improvement. Chairperson Wilcox closed this segment of the meeting at 8:33 p.m. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -58 - SEOR, Preliminary Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval, Ithaca College Campus Safety /General Services Building, Campus Service Road, Tax Parcel No. 41 =1 -11. MOTION made by Larry Thayer, seconded by George Conneman. WHEREAS. PAGE 11 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED 1. This action is Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed two -story building with a 13,365 +/- square foot footprint located on Campus Services Road, Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -11, Residence District R -15. The proposed building will be sited where the old composting building currently is and will house offices for campus safety on the upper level and the college's mail, duplicating, and printing facilities on the lower level. The proposal also includes 54 +1- parking spaces and associated sidewalks and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLTArchitects, P.C., Agent, 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 Site Plan Approval, and 3. The Planning Board, on July 17, 2001, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part 1, submitted by the applicant, and Part 11 prepared by the Town Planning staff; plans entitled, "Campus Safety /General Services Building, Ithaca College, Campus Services Road, Ithaca, New York," including Sheet C101 entitled "Site Utility Plan," Sheet L 101 entitled "Site Plan," Sheet L 102 entitled "Site Layout Plan," Sheet L 103 entitled "Site Grading Plan," Sheet L 104 entitled "Planting and Site Lighting Plan," Sheet L 105 entitled "Site Details," Sheet A 10 1 entitled "Lower Floor Plan," and Sheet A102 entitled "Upper Floor Plan," all prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C. and dated June 15, 2001; and other application materials, and 4. The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental significance with respect to the proposed Site Plan Approval; 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 referenced action as proposed and, therefore, neither a Full Environmental Assessment Form nor an Environmental Impact Statement will be required. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Talty. NAYS: None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed two -story building with a 13,365 ± square foot footprint located on Campus of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41. -1 -11, Residence District R -15 . where the old composting building currently is and will the upper level and the college's mail, duplicating, and Services Road, Ithaca College, Town The proposed building will be sited house offices for campus safety on printing facilities on the lower level. PAGE 12 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED The proposal also includes 54 ± parking spaces and associated sidewalks and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicants HOLT Architects, P.C., Agent. Chairperson Wilcox opened the public hearing at 8:33 p.m. With no persons present to be heard, Chairperson Wilcox closed the public hearing at 8:34 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox - There are a total of 232 new plantings proposed for this building. It is good to see. The upper level floor plan has a room referred to as the "Bull Pen ". What is it? Mr. O'Brian - It is a term used by the patrol division. It's the room used for typing up reports. Board Member Hoffmann - I would like to see better elevations for the board to look at during final approval. I would also like all the elevations. The drawings need to be updated to show the Oak tree. Attorney Barney - The Town has sent notices regarding the existing Life Safety occupancy of the building. There has been some exchange of correspondence between Tom Salm and Andy Frost. Is there any plan to take steps to bring the building into compliance with Town regulations? Mr. O'Brian - The building that we are proposing will absorb all the occupants in the building. Attorney Barney - When will the building be ready for occupancy? Mr. O'Brian - It will be ready next summer. Attorney Barney - There should be some communication between the College and Mr. Frost to see if anything should be done with the existing building. It has been a sore spot with the Town. I will not recommend that the Town denies preliminary site plan approval, but something needs to occur before final approval. The site plan C -101 shows a Life Safety Building #134. The building has never been approved for that type of occupancy. It should be labeled as an existing building, not the Life Safety Building. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -59 - Preliminary Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval, Ithaca College Campus Safety /General Services Building, Campus Service Road, Tax Parcel No. 41-1 -11. MOTION made by Rod Howe, seconded by Kevin Talty. WHEREAS. 1. This action is Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and a Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Special Approval for the proposed two -story building with a 13,365 +/- square foot footprint located on Campus Services Road, Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -11, Residence District R -15. The proposed building will be sited where the PAGE 13 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED old composting building currently is and will house offices for campus safety on the upper level and the college's mail, duplicating, and printing facilities on the lower level. The proposal also includes 54 +1- parking spaces and associated sidewalks and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; HOLT Architects, P.C., Agent. 2. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as lead agency in environmental review with respect to Site Plan Approval, has, on July 17, 2001, made a negative determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and a Part ll prepared by Town Planning staff, and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on. July 17, 2001, has reviewed and accepted as adequate plans entitled, "Campus Safety /General Services Building, Ithaca College, Campus Services Road, Ithaca, New York," including Sheet C101 entitled "Site Utility Plan," Sheet L101 entitled "Site Plan," Sheet L102 entitled "Site Layout Plan," Sheet L103 entitled "Site Grading Plan," Sheet L 104 entitled "Planting and Site Lighting Plan," Sheet L 105 entitled "Site Details," Sheet A 10 1 entitled "Lower Floor Plan," and Sheet A102 entitled "Upper Floor Plan," all prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C. and dated June 15, 2001; and other application materials. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for Preliminary Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary Site Plan Checklist, having determined from the materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a significant alteration of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board, and 2. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary Site Plan Approval for the proposed Campus Safety /General Services Building located on Campus Services Road, Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -11, as shown on plans entitled, "Campus Safety /General Services Building, Ithaca College, Campus Services Road, Ithaca, New York," prepared by HOLT Architects, P.C. and dated June 15, 2001, subject to the following conditions: a. Submission of pre & post development drainage analysis of the site and downstream watershed area, and plans for pre- treatment of runoff from the upper parking lot, to Director of Engineering, prior to final site plan approval, b, submission of construction materials, including colors of proposed building and submission of elevations of all sides of the building, prior to final site plan approval, C, submission of cut sheets for the proposed light poles and light fixtures, prior to final site plan approval, d, obtaining of the Special Approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and PAGE 14 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED e. the name and seal of the registered land surveyor or engineer who prepared the topographic and boundary survey and date of the survey on Sheet L 103 -Site Grading Plan, prior to the issuance of a building permit, and f. site utility plan, Drawing C101, be modified to eliminate the reference to "Life Safety Building" on building #134, and g1 a plan for removal of debris in the vicinity of the building be submitted and approved by the Planning Board as part of the Final Site Plan approval process, and h, a plan, satisfactory to the Town Director of Building and Zoning, be submitted by the applicant prior to Final Site Plan approval, pursuant to which the occupancy of Building 134 is brought into conformance with applicable laws and codes to the extent deemed necessary by such Director considering the anticipated temporary occupancy of the building, and i. revision of Planting Plan L104 to show that the existing White Oak at the southeast corner of the proposed building will be retained, and protected during construction. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 1. That the Planning Board, in making its recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals, determines the following: a. there is a need for the proposed use in the proposed location, as demonstrated by the applicant; b, the existing and probable future character of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected as a result of the proposed project; ce the specific proposed change in use as a result of the proposed project is in accordance with a comprehensive plan of development for the Town of Ithaca. 2. That the Planning Board reports to the Zoning Board of Appeals its recommendation that the aforementioned request for Special Approval be approved. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Talty. NAYS: None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a revised Sketch Plan for the proposed Cornell University Precinct 9 Athletic Fields located off Pine Tree Road behind .the Reis Tennis Center and the Cornell Equestrian Center, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 60.- 1 -9.1, 608- 1 -9.29 60. -1 -181 609-1 -59 PAGE 15 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED and 60.- 1 -8.2, Residence District R -30. The proposal includes the creation of two multi- purpose athletic fields that will include the deposition of 7,500 ± cubic yards of fill. The proposal also includes the creation of a recreation trail which will link the proposed athletic fields and the Reis Tennis Center to the East Ithaca Recreation Way. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Laurene Gilbert, ASLA, Agent. Chairperson Wilcox opened this segment of the meeting at 8:49 p.m. Laurene Gilbert, Cornell University - We are before the board for our third sketch plan review. There is a shortage of fields for summer camps and non - Varsity programs at Cornell. The summer camp program and non - Varsity programs are scattered throughout the community. The fields would be available for drop -in, informal recreation by the community when not in use by Cornell programming. The first plan we brought before the board was in 1997. It began as a capital project with three fields, sports lighting, changing facility, connecting trail, paving, retention ponds and a bus pull -off area. It was a much larger project. In .1998, as a response to public and Planning Board concerns, the size and the layout of the project was changed. The fields were rearranged and there were lighting changes. The original components were still in the project. The second revision we brought before the board in May 2001. It was a scaled down version in response to funding issues. There were changes in the Athletics Department's priorities. They scaled down the projects. The project consisted of the three fields without lighting, buildings, parking areas and bus pull -offs. We also tried to make use of potential amounts of fill from various other projects on campus. The layout of the fields remained the same. Due to a lot of concerns from the Town and public in terms of the fill, sizes of fields, and the impact on the surrounding area, we brought the project back to our office. We are now presenting a revised plan that has been reduced. The number of athletic fields has been reduced from three to two fields. A substantial reduction has occurred in the quantity of fill needed. The amount of the orchard to be disturbed has been reduced. Ms. Gilbert presented a model of the site plan to the board. The amount of disturbance to the orchards is now one tenth of one acre. We would still be including two siltation ponds for run -off control during the grading of the project. We would also be including two additional retention areas for storm water run -off. Don McPherson, L.A. Group - The design point of the drainage study will be stacked culverts. There will be two plastic pipe culverts under the existing bike trail. It will be the crossing point for where any upstream water runs to the west. It was the design point of the study to make sure we understand what is being conducted through the culverts today and what changes may occur as a result of field development. We do not want to increase the rates running through. We are aware of the Town's efforts to build watershed study for uphill. We have met with Town staff and have been sharing information. PAGE 16 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED There was a good understanding that we were headed in the right direction. We will have a full sedimentation and erosion control plan in place. This will include a silt fence and barriers, as well as creating settling basins. The perimeter swales around the field areas are funneled through the settlement basins to make sure any sediment in run -off is collected there before the run -off continues down the stream. It will control the peak flows of the run -off, but also the sedimentation. Field A and Field B will have new basins created. We have created two sedimentation basins for Field A. There are two areas west of Field B that are available as storm water detention basins. The next step is to gather additional survey information. We need to focus on a few key points of the site. We want to understand the soil in the area. A study will be done as the project proceeds. It will be submitted to the Town for their review. We will follow any standards set into place by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency, Ms. Gilbert - The orchard will remain intact preserving the feeding and nesting area of various migrating songbirds. The drainage will be controlled on site. The noise pollution will be ameliorated because of the existing vegetation that will remain. There will be a lack of spectator activities and no evening activity. There was some concern about the detention ponds in regard to West Nile Virus. I found that West Nile Virus only thrives in stagnant, high organic content waters. Detention ponds do not lend themselves to this sort of situation. Pleasant sounds of the animals will remain. I feel that we have listened to concerns and responded to them. We have tried to make this a project that impacts the outlying areas in the least way possible. Board Member Hoffmann - Have the individual fields remained the same size as they were originally? Ms. Gilbert - There have been two different size fields. These fields are the same size as the fields presented in May. It is because the fields are not designed as any one particular sport. They bare designed for several types of activities. The size takes into consideration several games that can be played. Board Member Hoffmann - The fields are larger than the fields originally proposed. Mr. McPherson - The original plan had two fields that were designed to accommodate full size soccer. The fields were 225 feet by 360 feet. It is the perimeter striping of the field. The current fields have the same dimension. The earlier plan included a third field that was 450 feet long. Board Member Hoffmann - I reacted to the size on the model. It looked larger than the drawings. Ms. Gilbert - The collar on the outside of the fields on the model is larger than the actual field. Board Member Talty - The amount of fill dropped dramatically from 84,000 to 7,500 square feet. Where is the fill being taken? Ms. Gilbert - The fill was part of the Duffield Hall project. The contractor is responsible for the removal of fill. The Duffield Hall project had to file an Environmental Impact Statement. It was PAGE 17 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement approved by the City and County. I do not know exactly where it is going. Board Member Talty - I have some issues with the noise that could come from the fields. Has there been any discussion with regard to an earth berm to further reduce the noise? Ms. Gilbert - The type of noise that would be heard is the noise of the players amongst themselves. The earliest plan had a field near Honness Lane. We removed the field because of the sight and sound that would be impacting those residents. The distance from the field to Honness Lane is much further away. Board Member Hoffmann - There is a sound system used in the little ball field that is north of the tennis center. One can hear that quite well from some distance. Will there be a sound system? Ms. Gilbert - No. Chairperson Wilcox - The plan has changed dramatically over the years: Board Member Thayer - I am very happy in the way that Cornell has listened to the board and the public. Chairperson Wilcox - So far this is a case where the planning process works. The Ithaca Journal stated on the front page that I often allow the public to speak even though it is not a public hearing. I want to give those in attendance this evening an opportunity to address the board. I ask that you keep your presentation short. There will be a public hearing at some point if the plan proceeds. Mike Carpenter, 192 Van Dorn Road South - There is a shortage of athletic fields and facilities for children, adult, Town of Ithaca and City of Ithaca sports programs. I hope the board will support the project if the facility is available for use by the public. Richard Shore, 925 Mitchell Street - I am encouraged by the changes that Cornell has made. We have donated a plot of land in the back of our common land with the help of three of our neighbors. It is three or more acres that we donated to Cornell. It was donated with the provision that this property not be changed for any purpose for the next 25 years. I trust that Cornell is going to hold strictly to that pledge. Chairperson Wilcox - Are the covenants attached to the property? Mr. Shore - Yes, it is. Victoria Agagnost, Eastwood Commons - I spoke with Ms. Gilbert earlier this evening. She expressed that the Town requested the trail to connect to the bike path in its proposed location. Why specifically this location? Please remember that the units at Eastwood Commons are elevated. The PAGE 18 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED sound traveling downhill does not enter the first floor units. It enters the second floor units. We can hear all activity from Pine Tree Road when the windows are open. Harry Ellsworth, 152 Honness Lane - I am directly south of the development. I look at this as a major shift. I call this an extension of the athletic campus. This is turning out to be a major athletic facility. I view this as another step in that development. I was at Alumni weekend at my school. They raised $2.6 million from their alumni. Cornell raises $400 million a year. Cornell has about two hundred times to raise funds as other schools. I expect to see a lot more development in this area. There were small children playing on the softball fields a few weeks ago. I could hear them from my backyard, even with the vegetation. Now we are going to have noise April through October. The Town needs to consider that. The Town also needs to consider traffic? How are the students getting to the site? It is tough to be against something that has been scaled down like this has, but I expect Cornell to come back wanting more fields for this location. It needs to be locked in very carefully to intramural sports. We will still be able to hear students playing. I realize it is a long way to Honness Lane. This is an off campus athletic facility and it is developing very fast. This is another step in that direction. The Town needs to keep in mind the people that live in the adjoining area. Kathryn Miller, Black Oak Lane - This is a much better plan that what we were faced with before. We are still concerned about a few items. I was pleased to hear about the silt control, but I am not absolutely convinced it will take care of the problem. The softball field was built a few years ago. I am not sure if there was an environmental review at that point. The silt from that field continues to be washed downstream into our pond and into the watershed. I hope that this is going to work. We are concerned about the proposed path. It is hard to tell if anybody is going to be tempted to cut through the Black Oak Lane property. It needs to be made clear that this is private property. I am perplexed as to why we need this particular path. Who is going to be using it? I would prefer not to see the path there. Board Member Hoffmann - I remember earlier discussions from when the tennis center was built. It was supposed to be possible for students to get on foot from campus to go to these facilities. It was part of the reason for the connecting trail. Anne McLaughlin, 1342 Slaterville Rd - I live further downhill from the proposed athletic fields. The proposed Steeples Glen project will directly abut this project. It will have the same issues confronting residents again. I would like the board to keep in mind that this is the beginning of the issues. This proposal and the next proposal directly impact many people. Chairperson Wilcox - I grew up at 1346 Slaterville Road. When the pig barn was present, there was no water and sewer hook -up. When the wind came from a certain direction, you had to close your second floor bedroom window. Noise travels the same as odor. Ms. Gilbert, could you address the comment of the location of the path on the trail up to the facilities? PAGE 19 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Ms. Gilbert - The path is existing. It wraps around the outdoor tennis courts and over to the softball field, then out to Pine Tree Road. I understood that the connector was not put in for Cornell use. It was put in for persons traveling along the trail to be able to connect to Pine Tree Road. The connector could be removed. Chairperson Wilcox - It was stated at previous presentations that the trail will allow athletes to walk or run to the facilities. Ms. Gilbert - It is a possibility, but it could be done without a trail. The athletes would be bussed over to the fields or would jog over as part of their warm -up. Chairperson Wilcox - Mr. Kanter, do you remember any discussion between Cornell University and the Town in terms of the location of the intersection of the path to the trail? Mr. Kanter - I do not remember talking specifically about where the connection would be. It is something that we would want to look at further. It needs to be somewhere in that general area because of the topography. I do think part of the connector is intended to serve the athletic fields and student population. It is a good use for serving the surrounding residential neighborhoods that do make use of the trail. Board Member Hoffmann - Students could still jog to the site without the trail, but this trail would help them to stay off the roads. It is a very important safety factor. Joggers often do not seem to see lights and stop signs. It would be much safer for all joggers, as well as for others using roads. Chairperson Wilcox - There are still concerns about noise, traffic impacts, and silt control. Others are concerned about the type of sports using the fields. Attorney Barney - What is the approximate acreage of the project? Ms. Gilbert - The last proposal was about 10 acres. It is now about 3 to 4 acres. We will have the exact acreage on the revised Environmental Impact Statement, Attorney Barney - This is an R -30 zone. R -30 zoning would allow 6 or 7 houses to be built in this area. Mr. Kanter - There could be other college facilities on this site as well. They could be of large size. Board Member Hoffmann - The plan looks as if the field next to the Polo facility will have a lot of cut happening. The other field that is next to the tennis facility requires fill. Mr. McPherson - The cut and fill will be distributed between the two fields. Ms. Gilbert - The slope is a gradual slope. It would not be a gouge of 6 or 7 feet from the site. Board Member Hoffmann - We have tried over the years to preserve the special views of the Town. There are some wonderful views in these areas. Some of the view has been destroyed because of PAGE 20 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED the tennis facility. I hope that nothing more will be built in the open area and the beautiful view will be preserved. It needs to be valued. Ms. Gilbert - One field was removed from that area because of the view and the sound proximity to Honness Lane. In the foreseeable future there are no plans for additional facilities in this area. The view shed has been taken into consideration. Mr. Ellsworth - In 1997, there was a meeting between Cornell University and the public. At that time part of the project was to pave the dirt road into the Polo and Reis Tennis Center. Is that still part of the project? Ms. Gilbert - Part of the Reis Tennis *Center project was to eventually pave the parking lot. The parking lot was designed with that in mind. It has not been paved at this time. It had a lot to do with funding issues. The condition of the road and parking areas has deteriorated over the years. It is very bad now. There are plans to pave the parking lot. Chairperson Wilcox - The fields will rely upon that parking to some extent. Ms. Gilbert - We do not anticipate any additional vehicular traffic as a result of this project. We are fully aware that it needs to be paved. Chairperson Wilcox - The board .could tie improvements to the parking facility to this proposal. Mr. Kanter - It may be that the approved site plan for the tennis center included a paved parking lot. would like to see some further analysis of the traffic. Steve Wright, Cornell University - It has always been my understanding that it was a desire of the Town not to pave that area. Is that not correct? It has been on the capital project wish list for many years. The rumor has been that the Town did not want that to happen. Board Member Hoffmann - I know that the Town has been very concerned about drainage problems and persons living downhill from the site. It could be that there was some discussion about not wanting to pave the parking lot for that reason. Mr. Kanter - We will be able to get to Cornell on the issue. Board Member Talty - Could someone get a clarification on the donation of Mr. Shore's property? Mr. Kanter - This site is not part of that property. Attorney Barney - There was a concern that this project might interfere with that land. Chairperson Wilcox closed this segment of the meeting at 9:44 p.m. AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of acceptance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed EcoVillage at Ithaca development, pursuant to the State Environmental Quality PAGE 21 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Review Act, Part 617, for the proposed Special Land Use District (SLUD) amendment to be applied to the overall EcoVillage property, and the proposed development of a Second Neighborhood Group consisting of 30 ± dwelling units and a common house, located off of Mecklenburg Road at Rachel Carson Way (a private drive), on Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 28. -1 -26.2 and 28. -1 -26.8, consisting of a total of 176 ± acres. EcoVillage at Ithaca, Owner /Applicant; Rod Lambert, Agent. Chairperson Wilcox opened this segment of the meeting at 9:45 p.m. Liz Walker, 115 Rachel Carson Way - We have submitted a Final Environmental Impact Statement on July 3, 2001. It included a very detailed response to Martha Armstrong and Lois Levitan. The major points in their letter were addressed in the FEIS. One of the concerns raised was the proximity of the SONG site to the Coy Glen Unique Natural Area (UNA). The closest that EcoVillage houses would get to the UNA is 1800 feet. The area is very steep. The letter also addressed various alternative site plans. The Planning Board visited the site and came to understand some of the problems with the alternative sites. We would like to create a social interaction as a village in addition to environmental soundness of our plan. We want to densely cluster each neighborhood and the neighborhoods together. Chairperson Wilcox - The issue before the board this evening is if the board believes the FEIS is sufficient in content, detail and meets the legal requirements. The board received a memo from Mr. Kanter dated July 11, 2001. Mr. Kanter recommends that we make a few changes to the document. It adds a couple of letters and documents to the FEIS. The applicant has adequately addressed the issues raised at the public hearings. I am willing to move ahead and accept the document. The board agreed to accept the document as complete. Chairperson Wilcox - Staff and EcoVillage have done a wonderful job. The applicant was willing to address various comments made by the public. The board has a prepared resolution as prepared by staff. We need to add the additional missing documents to the resolution. Mr. Kanter - I have suggested wording for the resolution. Mr. Kanter gave the proposed wording to the board. It was agreed to include the proposed wording in the resolution. Board Member Hoffmann - The board received a letter from Mr. Mitchell this evening. What do we need to do about the letter? Chairperson Wilcox - Mr. Mitchell called and asked me about this issue. I suggested that he write a letter to the Town. Mr. Walker, do you have any comments? PAGE 22 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Mr. Walker - Mr. Mitchell was concerned about not having enough water on the site. The use of water was dealt with previously. The Town does not have laws regarding water. Irrigation of farmland from a farm lot is a normal practice. The emphasis on the project was that the flow of water not be increased on the site. The Town does not have regulations concerning the use of water on someone's property for agricultural production. Mr. Kanter - The letter is relevant to earlier things that happened on the EcoVillage property, but not relevant to future development. The board should know about it if it is an existing problem. Mr. Walker - The FEIS is for the development of the entire property. It is an appropriate concern. The agricultural use of the property is part of what the FEIS is covering. The watershed areas that will be impacted by the residents groups will not impact the water shed. The last group might impact the upper part of the water shed a little. The water shed drains to the south. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -60 - Regarding Completeness of the EcoVillage at Ithaca Special Land Use District & Second Neighborhood - Final Environmental Impact Statement. MOTION made by Rod Howe, seconded by George Conneman Whereas, EcoVillage at Ithaca has requested Site Plan Approval and Subdivision Approval from the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the proposed development of a Second Neighborhood Group consisting of 30 +/- dwelling units and a common house, located off of Mecklenburg Road at Rachel Carson Way (a private drive) and has proposed the amendment of a Special Land Use District (SLUD) to be applied to the overall EcoVillage property on Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 28 -1 -26.2 and 28 -1 -26.8, consisting of a total of 176 +/- acres. Ecovillage at Ithaca, Owner /Applicant; Rod Lambert, Agent, and Whereas, this is a Type I action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board has established itself as Lead Agency to coordinate the environmental review with respect to this matter, and Whereas, EcoVillage at Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca Planning Board at the February 2, 1999 meeting have mutually agreed to conduct the environmental review of the above - referenced actions by means of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential specific impacts of the proposed Second Neighborhood Group and cumulative impacts related to the amendment of the Special Land Use District and potential future development, and Whereas, the Planning Board held a public scoping session on April 6, 1999 to hear comments from the public regarding the scope and content of the EIS and approved a Final Scope for the Environmental Impact Statement , as revised at the April 6, 1999 meeting, to identify relevant environmental impacts to be addressed in the EIS, and Whereas, EcoVillage at Ithaca has prepared and submitted to the Planning Board on April 3, 2001, a Draft EIS which has examined possible environmental impacts of the proposal, and based on a request from the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, Town Board and staff, has provided additional information regarding possible environmental impacts in an addendum to the DEIS, entitled "Errata and Additions Submitted May 7, 2001', and PAGE 23 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Whereas, the Town of Ithaca Planning Town Staff, reviewed the Draft EIS at their re reviewed the "Errata and Additions Submitted May 15, 2001, and has found the Draft EIS to adequacy for the purpose of public review, complete, and Board, as Lead Agency, has with the assistance of gular public meeting held on April 17, 2001, and has May 7, 2001 " at their regular public meeting held on be satisfactory with respect to its scope, content, and and has therefore, determined the Draft EIS to be Whereas, the Town of Ithaca Planning Board has held a public hearing at the June 5, 2001 meeting, which was continued at the June 19, 2001 meeting, to hear comments from the public regarding the Draft EIS, and the period to receive written comments from the public was extended until June 29, 2001, and Whereas, the applicant has submitted a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on July 3, 2001, which includes by reference the Draft EIS, dated April 3, 2001, and the Errata and Additions, dated May 7, 2001, and also includes a copy of all comments received regarding the Draft EIS and responses to all substantive comments. Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, as Lead Agency, on July 17, 2001, after reviewing the Final EIS, hereby finds that the Final EIS is satisfactory with respect to its responses to comments received regarding the Draft EIS, and is, therefore complete as per the requirements of 6NYCRR Part 617.9, conditioned upon the following: 1. The following correspondence shall be added to Appendix I of the Final Environmental ,Impact Statement: a. Memorandum from Town of Ithaca Environmental Review Committee dated June 7, 2001, and b. Letter from Catherine Johnson dated June 13, 2001, and C. Letter from Francis Vanek dated June 13, 2001, and 2. The following wording in the Final Environmental Impact Statement shall be deleted: a. Page 9, middle of page under Section 4: "No significant adverse environmental impacts were identified for the proposed siting of any of the neighborhoods in the master site plan including SONG.' b. Page 11, first paragraph at top of page: "No adverse environmental impacts have been found for the current proposed siting of any of the neighborhoods including SONG as demonstrated by the extensive studies including Traffic and transportation, Storm Water Management, Community Service, Community Character, and Natural and Cultural.' C. Page 111 #6 under Alternative B: "The proposed SONG site's lack of impact on the Coy Glen UNA has been documented. " PAGE 24 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED d. Page 1.3, second sentence under #7: "There are no anticipated environmental impacts to the character of the West Hill neighborhood, " and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby directs the Town of Ithaca Planning Staff to take those steps that are necessary, including filing a Notice of Completion of the Final EIS and distributing said Notice of Completion and the Final EIS to all involved and interested agencies and interested members of the public, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that public comments regarding the Final EIS will be accepted by the Lead Agency until August 1, 2001. The vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Tally. NAYS: None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. Chairperson Wilcox - There is now another comment period for a minimum of 10 days. The Town has agreed to let the comment period run through August 1, 2001, Mr. Kanter - We have to file the notice of completion of the Environmental Impact Statement and issue a publication in the announcement in the Environmental Announcement Bulletin. The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be distributed to involved agencies. We will need 30 to 35 copies of the revised Final Environmental Impact Statement to do so. The next step will to be receive additional public comments and drafting a Statement of Findings. The Statement of Findings wraps up the environmental review process. I was hoping the board could give staff some direction on the findings. We do not want to draft something completely different from what the findings will be. The findings relate to the significance of environmental impacts. We are concerned with the items that may have potential significant impact. The scoping document was where the initial environmental issues were identified. Hopefully we will be able to come to some conclusion. We will probably be scheduling the August 7t" Planning Board meeting for consideration of Adoption for the Statement of Findings. Chairperson Wilcox - The board found it very difficult to come up with a Statement of Findings for the North Campus project. It was hard to develop a Statement of Findings that the board could agree with that was consistent with the record that had been created. My guess is that we will have a lot less problems for this Statement of Findings. I am not aware of any significant environmental impacts. It is one thing to have a significant impact that is mitigated. The land between EcoVillage and Coy Glen has been set aside. It will not be developed. They have addressed traffic. They have agreed that there will be no red roofs. Board Member Conneman - I do not see any of the same problems with this project as there were with North Campus, PAGE 25 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED Chairperson Wilcox - I would hate for our next meeting to be scheduled to take one hour to address the issue and then the board takes hours on the Statement of Findings. Is anyone aware of any significant impacts on this proposal? The board was not aware of any significant impacts. Mr. Kanter - I will send the draft out to the board ahead of time so that the board has a chance to review the document. Then comments can be returned to staff before the meeting. Ms. Walker - EcoVillage had planned to break ground this fall. A lot of people are counting on it. The Town Board has changed its August meeting date to a week earlier than it was regularly scheduled. The Planning Board meeting is August 7, 2001. The one change can throw off our schedule tremendously. I am wondering if there is any way that the Planning Board can help accommodate our strong desire to keep this building season. Mr. Kanter and I discussed two possible options. One was to have the Planning Board schedule a special meeting at the end of July to look only at the finding issue. Then we could proceed with the regular schedule. Another possibility might be to put the preliminary and final site plan approvals together in one meeting. It would set us back a couple of weeks. This has serious financial impacts for us. Attorney Barney - The Town Board could set a public hearing in August for September. Mr. Kanter - I did talk with Supervisor Valentino about the possibility of scheduling a special Town Board meeting in August. It would be the easiest of all solutions. The Town Board could set the public hearing for a possible special second meeting in August. All final details would need to be taken care of in order to hold preliminary and final approval in one meeting. Chairperson Wilcox - The board has granted preliminary and final approval in applicant knew coming in that if the board did not find that the submittals were could grant only preliminary. It puts a high standard on the applicant to have all board does not like approving preliminary and final with a long list of conditions. Chairperson Wilcox closed this segment of the meeting at 10:12 p.m. AGENDA ITEM: Approval of Minutes: June 5, 2001 and June 19, 20016 one meeting. The sufficient, the board the materials. The RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -61 - Approval of Minutes: June 5, 2001 & June 19, 2001 MOTION by Fred Wilcox, seconded by Larry Thayer. RESOLVED, that the Planning Board does hereby approve and adopt the June 5, 2001 and June 19, 2001 as the official minutes of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the said meeting as presented with corrections. THERE being no further discussion, the Chair called for a vote. PAGE 26 APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED - AUGUST 7, 2001 - APPROVED - APPROVED - APPROVED AYES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Howe, Talty. NA YS: NONE. The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS: Chairperson Wilcox - I received a copy of the letter from Supervisor Valentino to Michael Lane, who is chair of the County Public Works Committee. The letter was regarding the County not having the courtesy to submit the plans for the Public Works Facility to the Town for review. The article in the paper stated that the County forgot because they had a staff change. I commend Supervisor Valentino for her strongly worded letter to Mr. Lane, The NY Planning Federation Conference is October 7 through October 10. Please contact Mr. Kanter if you are interested in attending. The Annual Town Picnic is Friday, July 27th AGENDA ITEM: ADJOURNMENT: Upon MOTION, Chairperson Wilcox declared the July 17, 2001 meeting of Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Resp ctfully sWe{���c.Y Carrie Whitmore, Deputy Town Clerk/Deputy Receiver of Taxes PAGE 27