HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2006-05-02REGULAR MEETING
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
TUESDAY, MAY 212006
215 NORTH TIOGA STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK
PRESENT!
Fred Wilcox, Chairpersons Eva Hoffmann,
Member, Tracy Mitrano, Board Members
Board Member; Kevin Talty, Board Mem
Susan Bro ck, Attorney for the Towns Mi
Balestra, Planners Carrie Coates. Whitmore,
FILE _
DATE _ 6
Board Members George Conneman, Board
Larry Thayer, Board Members Rod Howe,
ber; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning;
ke Smith, Environmental Planner; Christine
Deputy Town Clerk.
EXCUSED,
Susan Ritter, Assistant Director of Planning; Nicole Tedesco, Planner,
OTHERS
Lee Shurtleff, Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response; Andrew
Sciarabba, TG Miller, PC; Rick Couture, Ithaca College; George Gesslein, 118
Sharpsteen, Rd, Locke, NY; Dave Auble, 111 West King Rd; Doug Pokorney, 282 Hayts
Rd; Steve Daughetee, 245 Hayts Rd.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Wilcox declares the meeting duly opened at 7:05 p.m., and accepts for the
record Secretary's Affidavit of Posting and Publication of the Notice of Public Hearings in
Town Hall and the Ithaca Journal on April 24, 2006 and April 26, 2006, 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 April 26, 20068
Chairperson Wilcox states the Fire Exit Regulations to those assembled, as required by
the New York State' Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Chairperson Wilcox — Before we get going, I have accolades for Kevin from Herman
Sieverding. You made the suggestion to him when they were here on the East Hill
Office Building about crushing some of the construction debris and leaving it on site.
They did that and'Herman said to me to say thank you to you, they probably saved
about $40,000.
Board Member Talty — I wasn't going to say anything, but the salesman in me was
thinking that.
t�
J,
REGULAR MEETING
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
TUESDAY, MAY 212006
215 NORTH TIOGA STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK
PRESENT!
Fred Wilcox, Chairpersons Eva Hoffmann,
Member, Tracy Mitrano, Board Members
Board Member; Kevin Talty, Board Mem
Susan Bro ck, Attorney for the Towns Mi
Balestra, Planners Carrie Coates. Whitmore,
FILE _
DATE _ 6
Board Members George Conneman, Board
Larry Thayer, Board Members Rod Howe,
ber; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning;
ke Smith, Environmental Planner; Christine
Deputy Town Clerk.
EXCUSED,
Susan Ritter, Assistant Director of Planning; Nicole Tedesco, Planner,
OTHERS
Lee Shurtleff, Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response; Andrew
Sciarabba, TG Miller, PC; Rick Couture, Ithaca College; George Gesslein, 118
Sharpsteen, Rd, Locke, NY; Dave Auble, 111 West King Rd; Doug Pokorney, 282 Hayts
Rd; Steve Daughetee, 245 Hayts Rd.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Wilcox declares the meeting duly opened at 7:05 p.m., and accepts for the
record Secretary's Affidavit of Posting and Publication of the Notice of Public Hearings in
Town Hall and the Ithaca Journal on April 24, 2006 and April 26, 2006, 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 April 26, 20068
Chairperson Wilcox states the Fire Exit Regulations to those assembled, as required by
the New York State' Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Chairperson Wilcox — Before we get going, I have accolades for Kevin from Herman
Sieverding. You made the suggestion to him when they were here on the East Hill
Office Building about crushing some of the construction debris and leaving it on site.
They did that and'Herman said to me to say thank you to you, they probably saved
about $40,000.
Board Member Talty — I wasn't going to say anything, but the salesman in me was
thinking that.
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
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Chairperson Wilcox They took your suggestion and with not having to bring in fill and
not having to truck out the construction debris...so Herman sends his thank you to you.
Board Member Conneman — We knew he was here for a reason.
PERSONS TO BE HEARD
Chairperson Wilcox' invited any member of the audience wishing to address the Board
on matters not on the agenda to come forward. There was no one present wishing to
address the Board.
AGENDA ITEM
Update on'the current review of the Town's dock regulations
Chairperson Wilcox At the COC meeting last month there was information presented
and I asked that that be brought to this meeting so that Planning Board members could
see what progress was being made. So having said that, the floor is yours.
Ms. Balestra — I don't exactly know what the board wants me to say, but in your
packets you have two spreadsheets and a narrative explaining it. Basically the Town
staff has been going essentially door to door to every property on East Shore Drive and
also we are working on the west side of the lake as well to take an inventory of what is
existing for the waterfront structures. So its docks. We were looking at anything
basically extending out into the lake from the property and logging down as accurately
as possible what we have seen. We have completely finished the inventory for the east
shore and are about almost a third of the way through on the west shore. So the first
one, the east shore inventory sheet, basically what we are giving you...it shows the
address. We looked at the type of docks that are on the properties. They are
either ... there is a variety of them actually. There are many different kinds that we have
found. There is the straight up dock, there is the ''T" shape, the "U", the "L ", any
combination of those and then we looked to see if they were temporary or permanent
and permanent meaning, almost all of them are wood piling structures. There are
maybe two or three that we found that have cement in them, which the Army Corps
and DEC are not very fond of. So those are very, very old docks that have been falling
apart. We found a couple of temporary docks and those are mostly just like metal pipe
docks that you can take out of the lake in the wintertime. They don't survive very well
in this lake so there have only been a couple of them that we have found. Most of the
docks we have found are permanent made of wood, with the wood pilings.
We measured the length from the normal watermark, meaning it was observed
on the properties where the normal mark was. We looked at where the high mark was
and then the lower one. Then we measured the width and the surface area. Any
extensions that they had, the 'T ", the ''T ", or the °U" we noted the square footage. A
good amount of them have boatlifts. Some of them are metal, some of them are wood,
some of them are large, some of them are small. There really is not a big standard.
Some of them have moorings and most of the ones that we have found; again this is
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mostly for the east shore. Most of the moorings are just buoys and it was really difficult
to tell how far out into the lake they were. The dock ended and then in another 20 feet
or so there was the buoy and we just didn't have any means to get there. Then we
measure the depth of the water from 30 feet out, if their dock was at least 30 feet long,
and then at the end of the dock, depending on how long it was. That is in the
spreadsheet as well.
Then if any of them had a deck, like instead of a dock they had a little deck
structure. Some of them have a dock off the .end of the deck, and then we noted
where the decks were. And that is that.
Chairperson Wilcox When the Town is done collecting information for both sides of
the shore, then presumably we will have the information that we need for the Town to
try to come up with potential changes to the existing zoning regulations. We will have
the data that we need to look at.
Ms. Balestra — You will end up with an inventory of what is existing, whether the
regulations are going to change or not. This is at least base information of what is
already there. If you'll note, the depth of the water is different from property to
property because the shoreline is different from property to property. So it is very
difficult to tell.
Chairperson Wilcox Again, I want everybody to be aware that research is going on to
address the current zoning ordinance. Eva?
Board Member Hoffmann — Two questions.
docks that you inventoried?
Ms. Balestra — Not so far.
Did you see any floating docks among the
Board Member Hoffmann — And the other question is, I forgot those papers at home,
but I think you said that the water level is very low right now, exceptionally low. Are
you planning to go back and measure the depth again or are you going to try to adjust
the measurement when the lake level is higher?
Ms. Balestra — That is sort of the plan. The idea was that we would measure the docks
when the lake was at the lowest level and then either compare that to later on in the
year when it is at the highest level or actually go back out and measure at the highest
level.
Board Member Hoffmann — You shouldn't have to measure it again. If you just know
what the difference is between the lowest and the highest you can just. add that to all
of them.
Ms. Balestra — That is essentially what we will probably do.
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Board Member Hoffmann — Good. I am glad that this inventory is being done.
Board Member Thayer — Good job.
Board Member Talty — I have a question. On the boatlift, is that enclosed or not
enclosed or were you counting them all the same?
Ms. Balestra — We were just measuring the square footage and if they were enclosed
then we measured the square footage for the overhang as well as the rest of the
structure if !'there was any overhang. Most of the boatlifts that we found are either the
metal boat hoists or a wooden form of that or some covered ones. There were only a
few that were completely enclosed, where it's just like a garage on the water. The only
data that we definitely have that is completely accurate is for east shore. The west side
of the lake, is a little bit different. Already we are noticing that the water depths are
deeper because it is a little steeper slopes there and it just extends right into the lake
and the docks are generally longer.
1
Board Member Talty — I appreciate all the information. I think it is great.
Ms. Balestra — Great. The COC also asked us to look into other municipal dock
regulations and compare to see what was reasonable so we are still in the process of
doing that. I don't have any data to report on that right now.
Mr. Kanter — Since we mentioned boatlifts, there is kind of an ambiguity in the
regulations that's not clear whether the boatlift should be considered part of the docks.
I think Nicole and Chris came up with that observation during a recent review. So that
is something that we may want to clarify during the process, too.
Chairperson Wilcox Thanks, Jon. All set? Chris, thank you.
SEQR Determination
Tompkins County South Hill Communication Tower, Ithaca College Campus
Lee Shurtleff, Director of Tompkins County Department of Emergency
Response,, 92 Brown Road
Rick Couture, Director of Physical Plant at Ithaca College, 104 Westhaven
Road
Chairperson Wilcox` — Lee or Rick, are you prepared to make any sort of presentation
tonight?
Mr. Shurtleff — How; much would you like, Fred?
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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
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Chairperson Wilcox — That is up to you.
Mr. Shurtleff — I can give you an update as to where we have been since July of 2004.
Chairperson Wilcox — That works fine. Then if we have questions, we can ask.
Mr. Shurtleff — As you all know, we were here some time back and presented plans for
construction of a communications facility on South Hill near Ithaca College that would
replace the existing WICB transmitter and would be used to accommodate Tompkins
County's public safety communications needs. Since we were here, we've continued to
develop plans for the overall communications system and continue to have the need for
that tower to be developed at South Hill. We are requesting permission to amend the
site plan previously approved by this board to include a larger shelter and also to
increase the height of the tower by 15 feet. With regard to the shelter, as we were
developing the overall communications plans one thing that kept coming back to us as
we developed was that the need to put the generators indoors rather than outdoors as
previously approved, that would add 11 linear feet to the length of the shelter. This is
done because of the public safety nature of the usage, not to have the generator
exposed to the conditions and in some of the towns where we were also presenting
similar plans, the desire to minimize the noise levels so we have adjusted that plan
accordingly.;
Secondly, as I think we have mentioned previously, the height of 180 feet was
the height that we have used for the propagation of the public safety communications
system and that continues to be a strong need. The reason that we have asked for the
additional 15 feet is to place the WICB transmitter, their live antennas above those of
the County on the tower so that we won't have to shut the station down every time we
go up to make an adjustment to the County systems or any other co- located users that
may be on there. Ithaca College has received approval from the FCC for that increased
height of antenna. This will keep the height of the tower to below 200 feet, which was
a goal in everything that we were working on so that there would be no lighting
required. We have also received communications that no lighting is required on the
tower from :the FAA. So that is the thrust of why we are reappearing here tonight and
putting forth this request to the Town.
Chairperson Wilcox — Questions?
Board Member Thayer — I think it is pretty well hidden there so the size of the building
certainly isn't important.
Chairperson Wilcox — The tower that is proposed for the requested modification is the
same as the tower that was approved of before in terms of its structure, its look and
appearance?
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Mr. Shurtleff - That's a good question, Fred. Yes. We had proposed a monopole for
the site. It was a desire of the Trustees at Ithaca College as well as in the discussions
with the Town of Ithaca. I was nervous when we put this out to bid because of the
number of antennas and the weight of the equipment that would be on it, but Motorola
in submitting the bid package back to us was able to provide us with a monopole
design at not a large increase in price to us. In fact, it was within the price range that
we were looking at and could accommodate. We have also got, I haven't provided
these to Jonathan yet, but as of today we do have signed blueprints, stamped New
York State Engineer and we have also been able to get a statement from the company
regarding the fall zone. So all of the requirements that the Planning Board had placed
on us two years ago or had asked that we consider we have been able to meet.
Chairperson Wilcox Besides the County emergency equipment and the WICB, who
I
lse is co- located on that tower?
Mr. Shurtleff — The Ithaca Fire Department has a repeater that they now have on the
present tower and the national weather service has a transmitter that would continue to
be ... would be moved over to the new structure and that serves this area around Cayuga
Lake. There is additional capacity that could accommodate co- locators if there were
private entities that wanted to co- locate.
Board Member Hoffmann — The photos that we got are very helpful in showing the
tower in addition to where we can see it ourselves. I see it from the eastern part of
Ithaca, which you don't have a photo of. This is a tower which is 150 feet tall that is
shown in the photos, is that right?
Mr. Shurtleff — No. I believe that is the 180 feet that we did two years ago in order to...
Board Member Hoffmann - Oh, this is drawn in? This is not what exists?
Mr. Shurtleff — The first page is what exists. The second page is what was projected
with the placing of a monopole on that site at 180 feet.
Board Member Hoffmann — So that is the one called alternative 3?
Mr. Shurtleff — That is correct.
Board Member Hoffmann — Okay. And how much of that pole sticks up above the tree
line?
Mr. Shurtleff — Approximately 105 feet. The tree height is approximately 70 feet so you
would be looking at 105 foot of monopole. So the additional 15 feet would be 1/7.
D
Board Member Hoffmann
photographed that's why L.
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
— I thought that this was the existing tower that was
Mr. Shurtleff — First page is existing, then the second page is proposed, the new tower
that would replace the one that is currently on the hill.
Board Member Hoffmann — And the first page shows a tower sticking up above one of
the residential towers. Is that what you mean? That is the existing one?
Mr. Shurtleff — The one that is on the tower is the antenna that we have there now and
that would come down when the new system was up.
Chairperson Wilcox — It has been enhanced to show the increased height and to
show ... also it shows the additional equipment that is on it.
Board Member Hoffmann — I think I may have missed the meeting where we had talked
about this before because it seems unfamiliar to me, but anyway, my other question
has to do with flight paths and how they come in with respect to this area where the
tower will be. It seems to me whenever I am in an airplane coming from the south
going to the airport I go over this area, but I would like you to please tell us where the
flight paths are with respect to. this tower.
Mr. Shurtleff — I don't know specifically where they are, but what we do is anytime we
have an application for a tower or a proposal for a tower structure we have to apply to
the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, for what they call a tow air study. They
determine that if this is a potential hazard to the flight and one is they may rule that
the height is not appropriate or that it needs to be lit. In this case they approved it and
stated that no additional lighting was needed. So it wasn't considered an obstruction to
the air patterns.
Board Member Hoffmann — But you don't know where the flight paths actually are with
respect to this tower?
Mr. Shurtleff — I don't know exactly. No.
Chairperson Wilcox = But the FAA does and they said it doesn't matter.
Board Member Hoffmann — Right. I still must say that the reason I thought about it
was it is now increased being within 5 feet away from the limit of 200 feet when you
need to have a light. Since this is concerning the county's safety system, I would have
thought it might be prudent to have a light there anyway, even if the FAA and FCC
don't require it.
Chairperson, Wilcox Can I, before you go any farther, does anybody here want a light?
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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
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Board Member Talty — Not really.
Board Member Thayer — Not if it is not necessary.
Chairperson Wilcox - No.
Board Member Howe'— I think the FAA and the FCC have made their...
Board Member Talty — I don't really think we are going to overrule them.
Board Member Hoffmann — No.
Chairperson Wilcox - I think we are glad there is no light.
Board Member Thayer — Eva is saying they should do it as a courtesy.
Board Member Hoffmann — I'm looking at it from a safety point of view. It is true that
we mostly have small planes, but as I say, it seems to me that I go over that area when
I'm in a plane, but Ithaca College is right underneath there and so is the City of Ithaca
a little further ahead and if I were involved in looking at safety factors I would probably
not mind having one light there for safety reasons.
Chairperson, — Rick, do you want to say anything? Is Ithaca College pleased that
there is no light?
-- - ---Mr.—Couture=—Yes.—Absolutely.
Board Member Thayer — Have you been approached by any cell phone companies to
use the tower?
Mr. Couture— Not as of this date.
Board Member Thayer — Will there be room?
Mr. Shurtleff — Two could go on there using traditional wireless equipment. It is hard to
imagine what may be desired in the future years as things. Antennas are getting
smaller and'' the technology is changing and I would presume that some of the high-
speed Internet companies would start looking for different sites.
Chairperson Wilcox — Who will own the tower? Who will get any royalty income from
co- location?
Mr. Shurtleff — It is a partnership between Ithaca College and Tompkins County.
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Board Member Thayer - I'll move the SEQR.
Board Member Talty - I'll second.
Chairperson Wilcox - All set?
Ms. Brock - Just strike the word "Further" in the resolved introduction, Now Therefore
Be It Resolved.
Chairperson Wilcox - Thank you, Susan.
Board votes on motion.
Site Plan Approval and Special Permit, South Hill Tower Redevelopment at
Ithaca College, Danbv Road, Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30,2
MOTION made by Board Member Thayer, seconded by Board Member Talty.
WHEREAS:
1. This action is Consideration of Modifications to the previously approved Site Plan
and Special Permit by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the proposed
Tompkins County South Hill communication tower located on the Ithaca College
campus, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, Medium Density Residential
zone._ The project involves construction of a 195 -foot self- supporting monopole
tower (increased from 180 feet) and a 432 square foot (12' x 369 building
(increased from 300 square feet, 12' x 259 located adjacent to the existing
Ithaca Colleges 150 foot guyed tower for the County's Public Safety
Communication System. The existing Ithaca College tower will be removed once
the existing transmitters are relocated to the new structure. Ithaca College,
Owner; Tompkins County, Applicant; Lee Shurtleff, Agent, and
2. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is acting
as Lead Agency in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to Site
Plan Approval and Special Permit, and
3. The Planning Board, on May 2, 2006, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a
Full Environmental Assessment Form Part I, prepared by the applicant and Part
II and Visual Addendum, prepared by planning staff; a memo with updated
information submitted by Tompkins County (April 5, 2006), with a survey map
prepared by'T. G. Miller, P. C., dated May 9, 2005, plans prepared by SSI Services,
Inc. (October 6, November 15, December 14, 2005), and photo simulations
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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
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prepared by Clough, Harbour & Associates (stamped April 7, 2006); 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 and
Special Permit;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED;
That the Town of ` Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination of
environmental significance, for the reasons set forth in the Long Environmental
Assessment Form Part II and Visual Addendum referenced above, in accordance with
the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act for the above referenced actions
as proposed and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
AYES.• Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NA YS: None.
ABSTAIN: M/trano.
The motion was declared to be carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Consideration of modifications to the previously approved Site Plan and
Special Permit for the proposed Tompkins County South Hill communication
tower located on the Ithaca Colle9e campus,_Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.
41 =1 -30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The project involves the
construction of a 195 -foot self- supporting monopole tower (increased from
180- feet) and a 432 square foot (12' x 36') building (increased from 300
square feet, 12' x 25') located adjacent to the existing Ithaca College's 150'
guyed tower for the County's Public Safety Communication System. The
existing Ithaca College tower will be removed once the existing transmitters
are relocated to the new structure. Ithaca College, Owners Tompkins
County, Applicant; Lee Shurtleff, Agent
Chairperson Wilcox opens the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. and reads.the public hearing
notice.
Chairperson Wilcox - Questions with regard to the site plan?
Board Member Talty - Tie downs for the tower?
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Mr. Shurtleff — This will be a self- supporting monopole structure. It has a pretty
extensive foundation underneath it. We attempted to avoid any use of guy wires in
order to minimize the size of the lot and other environmental concerns.
Board Member Hoffmann — Guy wires apparently create a lot of problems with birds so
it is a good thing they are not there.
Chairperson; Wilcox — The existing tower up there, if I remember, in each direction
where guy wires are placed there are three supporting the tower, high, middle and low.
Then there must be probably three or four of them surrounding it. Any other
questions?
Board Member Conneman — I'll move it.
Chairperson Wilcox — I've got to give the public a chance to speak. We all set over
here? Gentlemen, will you take a seat?
Chairperson invites members of the public to address the board. With no
persons present in addressing the board, Chairperson Wilcox closes the public hearing
at 7:30 p.ms and brought the matter back to the board.
Chairperson Wilcox — George?
Board Member Conneman — I'll move it.
Board Member Howe — I'll second.
Chairperson ) %Wilcox - Susan has some changes.
Ms. Brock = On page one under the first resolved clause, the last two lines have
references to the Zoning Ordinance sections as they existed before codification. So I
have the Town Code Section numbers. So these are referring to exactly the same
provisions, `it's just that the numbers changed when the Town codified all the
ordinances. So this should state, "finding that the standards of Section 270 -200 (A)
through (L) and Section 270 -219 (C) of the Town of Ithaca Code have been met. More
substantive change' is on page 2 of the resolution under the be it further resolved
clause, paragraph 2 states that the Planning Board is waiving certain requirements of
the telecommunications ordinance. The Town does not have the ability to actually
waive some!; of these requirements so I want to have this entire paragraph stricken.
The section "dealing "with waiving some of the requirements for the fall zone, you may
have had some of these in the past, but those ... you have the ability to waive those
requirements if the new facility is being attached to an existing structure. The way your
telecommunications law is written, it doesn't give you the ability to waive those
dimensional requirements for a freestanding tower like this that is not being attached to
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another existing structure. Since the County needs to go to the ZBA anyway to get a
height variance, it seems appropriate that at the same time seek the variance from the
dimensional standards involving the fall zone. So when we get to page three I will stick
in the language about this being subject to them getting that variance as well as the
height variance. So we won't deal on this page with that issue.
What is listed here under number b about the vegetative buffering, its actually
not ... you have the discretion to state what vegetative buffering is appropriate. So you
are not actually waiving that requirement. Instead what this should say now is
paragraph 2 should state, "pursuant to section 270 -219 (H) .(5) of the Town of Ithaca
Code, no vegetative buffering surrounding fence containing the equipment cabinet is
required" and then the rest of the language would continue as it is.
Then the last issue that was under this paragraph regarding the financial security
bond to assure removal if the facility is no longer needed. I would suggest that that
would become a new paragraph 3 and we state, "consistent with the original final site
plan and special permit approvals, no financial security bond is required for removal of
the telecommunications facility and property restoration ".
Chairperson Wilcox - Let me stop you right there. Are those changes okay?
Board Member Conneman — Yes.
Ms. Brock — So then what is currently listed as paragraph 3 becomes paragraph 4 and
under b there is a requirement for submission prior to the issuance of a building permit
and of any do -site clearing of details of tree removal and at the end of that paragraph I
propose that we add the following language because what this technically requires right
now is simply submission of the details, but in your telecommunications law there is a
requirement that no clear_ cutting_ of an_area,_.of a single __contiguous area exceeding
20,000 square feet is allowed. We want to make sure that is complied with. I don't
think they are planning to clear -cut anything near that area at all. So I would just add
to the end of 4b this language, "with such details demonstrating compliance with the
requirements of section 270 -219 (H) (6) of the Town of Ithaca Code" and that picks up
this prohibition about clear cutting that I talked about. Then on page 3, d, this will now
pickup the requirement that the ZBA grant this variance regarding dimensional
standards so this will now read, "granting of any necessary variances by the Zoning
Board of Appeals regarding the height of the tower or attachments and regarding
dimensional standards regarding dimensional standards for the fall zone prior to
issuance of any building permits." And I would also suggest then that we add a new
condition g that picks up a requirement from the law, which states, ''the tower shall not
be artificially lit or marked beyond the requirements of the Federal Aviation
Administration."
Chairperson Wilcox — Those changes all acceptable?
Board Member Howe — Yes.
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Board Member Hoffmann - One thing under 2 or 3 b, the vegetative buffer, in the last
line it says he ability of surrounded woods. That should be surrounding woods.
Ms. Brock - Yes, and when I read it I actually read it as surrounding. You are right.
Board Member Hoffmann - I just wanted to be sure that was caught.
Chairperson Wilcox - Any further discussion?
Board votes on motion.
Road, Tax Parcel No. 42 -I -30.7
MOTION made by Board Member Conneman, seconded by Board Member Howe.
WHEREAS:
1. This action is Consideration of Modifications to the previously approved Site Plan
and Special Permit by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the proposed
Tompkins County South Hill communication tower located on the Ithaca College
campus, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, Medium Density Residential
zone. The project involves construction of a 195 -foot self- supporting monopole
tower (increased from 180 feet) and a 432 square foot (12' x 369 building
(increased from 300 square feet, 12' x 259 located adjacent to the existing
Ithaca Colleges 150 foot guyed tower for the County's Public Safety
Communication System. The existing Ithaca College tower will be removed once
the existing transmitters are relocated to the new structure. Ithaca College,
Owner; Tompkins County, Applicant; Lee 5hurtleff, Agent, and
III
2. This'I is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as
lead; agency in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to Site Plan
Approval and Special Permit, has, on May 2, 2006, made a negative
determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted
as adequate a Full Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the
applicant, and Part II and Visual Addendum, prepared by planning staff, and
I
3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on May 2, 2006, has reviewed and
accepted as adequate a memo with updated information submitted by Tompkins
ii
County (April 5, 2006), with a survey map prepared by T. G. Miller, P.C. dated
May 9, 2005, plans prepared by SSI Services, Inc. (October 6, November 15,
13
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
December 14, 2005), and photo simulations prepared by Clough, Harbour &
Associates (stamped April 7, 2006); and other application materials.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED:
That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the, construction of the
proposed South Hill communication tower and related facilities and the installation of
the County's microwave transmitters necessary for the County Public Safety
Communication System, and the WICB radio transmitter antennae, finding that the
standards of Section 270 -200 (A) through (L) and Section 270119 (C) of the Town of
Ithaca Code have been met.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED:
II
1, That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for
Prelim /nary & Final Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary & 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
z. Pursuant to Section 270 -219 (H) (5) of the Town of Ithaca Code, no vegetative
jt
buffering surrounding the fence containing the equipment cabinet is required to
buffer the view from neighboring residences and public roads due to the isolated
location of the proposed tower and the ability of surrounding woods to provide
an effective buffer, and
__._. __ 3. Consistent_with___the original _final site plan and special permit approvals, no
financial security bond is required for removal of the telecommunications facility
and property restoration, and
4. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary & Final Site
Plan, Approval for the construction of the proposed South Hill communication
tower and related facilities and the installation of the County's microwave
transmitters necessary for the. County Public Safety Communication System, and
the 1WICB radio transmitter antennae, located on the Ithaca College campus off
of Danby Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, as shown on the
above- referenced plans and materials, subject to the following conditions:
a. l Submission, prior to the issuance of a building permit, of a copy of the
negotiated lease agreement between Tompkins County and Ithaca
College, for the construction of the proposed communications tower and
related facilities,
14
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
b. Submission, prior to issuance of a building permit and of any on site
clearing, of details of tree removal in the vicinity of the proposed tower
and the extent of the new tree -line of the wooded area surrounding the
tower with such details demonstrating compliance with the requirements
of Section 270 -219 (H) (6) of the Town of Ithaca Code, and
c. Submission, prior to the issuance of a building permit, of final detailed
tower design and foundation plans, signed and sealed by a licensed
engineer, for review and approval of the Director of Engineering and
Director of Planning, together with an opinion from a competent structural
engineer to the effect that the tower, foundation, and all facilities related
to the structure are designed in full compliance with standards applicable
to the area in which the tower is being constructed, and
d. Granting of any necessary variances by the Zoning Board of Appeals
regarding the height of the tower or attachments and regarding
dimensional standards for the fall zone, prior to issuance of any building
permits, and
e. If it is determined in the future that the tower is no longer needed by
Tompkins County, and is not desired by Ithaca College, the County will
have the tower and equipment dismantled and the area restored, and an
l agreement to that effect between the College, the County and the Town,
satisfactory to all three parties, is to be executed prior to the issuance of
any building permit, and
f �_ _ Submission of copies of all necessary permits or approvals from county,
state, and /or federal agencies, and
g. The tower shall not be artificially lit or marked beyond the requirements of
the Federal Aviation Administration.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED:
That the Planning Board does hereby recommend that the Town of Ithaca Town Board
waive all relevant Town application fees for the South Hill communication tower project
because of ii the public safety purposes to be served by the proposed communication
tower and facilities
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
AYES Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NA YS: None.
15
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
The motion was declared to be carried.
SEQR Determination
Babcock 7 -Lot Subdivision, Hayts & Trumansburg Roads
George Gesslein, Agent for Bruce and Dorothy Babcock, 118 Sharpsteen Rd,
Locke, NY'
Andy Sciarabba, TG Miller Engineers, 203 N Aurora St, Ithaca, NY
Chairperson Wilcox — Do you wish to make a presentation this evening?
Mr. Gesslein — I can start off because I was here almost a year ago. Last summer I
presented a sketch plan for three parcels of land the Babcock's have been trying to sell
for 17 or 20 years. At that time we have two 70 -acre parcels and an 18 -acre parcel and
we provided a sketch plan which took the 18 acres and one 70 -acre, consolidated and
then subdivided to create 7 lots on Hayts Road and one lot on Trumansburg Road along
with a 60 foot right -of -way on the western side of the parcel. Since that time we have
spent considerable time and TG Miller's folks have done a beautiful job on it and we
tried to address the issues that came up at that sketch plan hearing.
Since that time to bring you up to date the northern most 70 -acre parcel has
already been sold to an equestrian facility. They had no need for that 60 400t right -of-
way, which would have been a very expensive proposition any way. The other 70 -acre
parcel once we subdivide it again is under contract to Robert Jackman for a vineyard
and winery land he is already planting grapes up there. That will close assuming we get
approval for the proposal we have tonight. We have reduced the number of lots on
Hayts-Road from 7 to 6_and eliminated the 60 -foot right -of -way. I will let Andy
Sciarabba go over the details because they did most of the work on the hard part. I
just talk a lot. They do the hard work.
Mr. Sciarabba — Mainly the subdivision of for the six lots on Hayts Road, the lot sizes
vary from 2.2 to 3.6 acres. The lots in that area are bound by Indian Creek on the
north. There is also a tributary that runs north. There is a pond that is currently on
proposed lot number 5. There are steep slopes that run in the north portion of those
proposed six lots, which are wooden. The balance of the property is kind of moderately
graded and �postly brush land. The proposal on the engineering side for these lots is to
provide three common driveways to serve two lots a piece. We met with Tompkins
County Highway Department since they have jurisdiction on the driveway cut to
determine the sight distance for the driveways. They have determined that the
driveways as shown, the site distance exceeds 500 feet. So they are the safest places
for the three driveways.
Regarding utilities, water and sewer for the homes, there is currently no
municipal service out to that portion of Hayts Road. We are proposing on -site septic
systems. We had submitted to the Tompkins County Health Department initially with
iLo
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
this application, since then we have gotten comments from them and are awaiting a
couple more standard notes that we will submit to them for final approval on those
system. They will be a shallow trench type of a system, septic tank. Some of the lots
will requirej pumps because of the semi -flat grades and the location of the systems. We
did two test wells on the property. We dug two wells, one at 120 feet and one about
200 feet. Water quality in the deeper well was not very good, so he was
recommending that any of the future wells be no deeper than 100 feet. We took a
water quality sample from test well two and had that analyzed at Buck Labs and it came
back as potable. That was not submitted with the original application because we just
received that this week. That information will go the Health Department for their
review and approval as well. But based on the quality and the pump test performed,
basically we feel we should have adequate quantity and quality for the 6 residential
properties.
Stormwater is new. Quantity and quality controls by the DEC for this. We are
limiting the disturbance of the entire 6 lots to less than 5 acres. That is the DEC for
threshold for requirements for stormwater control such as the ponds and quality
features. That takes care of really the engineering portions of the lots. There is no
detailed development for the 70 acres that will be vineyard so we didn't provide any
detail on that.
Chairperson Wilcox Questions from the board?
Board Member Mitrano — Any red grapes or just white ones?
Mr. Gesslein — I didn't ask him what he planted. But he has already started.
Chairperson Wilcox — I want to know if he spoke to Dr. Frank before he died or
something like that
Mr. Gesslein — Well, Alex is the wine maker at Kingferry. So he has a pretty good
handle on what is necessary to make it work.
Board Member Thayer — I'm sure he does.
Chairperson Wilcox Though certainly not required by law, I would like to give these
two gentlemen a chance to speak if they want to. Is there anything you want to say as
we review the environmental impacts? You will clearly get a chance to speak at the
public hearing, but if there is something you would like to add now, I will give you the
opportunity,; but you will have a chance to speak when we get to the public hearing.
Any other discussion with regard to the environmental review?
Board Member Talty moves the motion and Board Member Howe seconds. Board votes
on motion
17
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
PB RESOLUTION NO. 2006 -046: SEOR, Preliminary and Final Subdivision
Approval, Babcock 74ot Subdivision, Hay& and Trumansburg Roads, Tax
Parcel No's, 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32
MOTION made by Board Member Talty, seconded by Board Member Howe.
WHEREAS:
1. This I is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed
746t subdivision located on Hayts Road and Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca
Tax Parcel No. s 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32, Agricultural Zone. The proposal is to
consolidate Tax Parcels 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32 into one +/- 87.6 acre parcel, then
subdivide off six residential lots (averaging 2.97 acres) along Hayts Road with
the remaining +/- 70 acres being maintained as one parcel fronting on
Trumansburg Road. Bruce & Dorothy Babcock, Owners, George J. Gessle /n,
Agent, and
2. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is acting
as Lead Agency in this uncoordinated environmental review with respect to
Subdivision. Approval, and
3. The Planning Board on May 2, 2006, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a
Full Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and Part
II prepared by the Town Planning staff, a survey plat titled "Final Plat -
Subdivision Map Showing Lands of Bruce M. Babcock and Dorothy D. Babcock"
and plans titled "Babcock Subdivision - Engineering Plan" (sheet C100) and
"Babcock Subdivision Details" (sheets C200 and C201), dated 312012006,
prepared by T. G Miller, P. C., Engineers & Surveyors, and other application
material, and
4. The Town planning staff has recommended a negative determination of
environmental significance with respect to the proposed Subdivision Approval,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOL VED;
That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination
of environmental significance based on the information provided in the Environmental
Assessment Form Part I, and for the reasons set forth in the Environmental Assessment
Form Part II referenced above, 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.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May Z 2006
Approved 0610612006
AYES.• Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, M/trano, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NA YS: None.
The motion was declared to be carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Consideration of Preliminary and Final Subdivision Approval for the proposed
7 -lot subdivision located on Hayts Road and Trumansburg Road, Town of
Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32, Agricultural Zone. The
proposal is to consolidate Tax Parcels 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32 into one +/- 87.6
acre parcel, then subdivide off six residential lots (averaging 2.97 acres)
along Hayts Road with the remaining +/- 70 acres being maintained as one
parcel fronting on Trumansburg Road. Bruce & Dorothy Babcock, Owners;
George J. Gesslein, Agent
Chairperson Wilcox opens the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. and reads the public hearing
notice.
Chairperson Wilcox - Do we have questions with regard to the subdivision as proposed?
Board Member Hoffmann — Actually I had trouble figuring out which the lots were we
are talking about. I heard you talking about the lot that has been sold for the
equestrian facility.
Chairperson Wilcox — The equestrian is not part of this evening's proposal.
Board Member Hoffmann — So which are the two lots that are being consolidated?
Mr. Gesslein — This lot is the 70 -acre parcel and this is the 18 -acre parcel.
Board Member Hoffmann — But I thought it said there were two lots that were ... well I
was confused I guess, but if those are the two that are being consolidated then I
understand it. The numbers didn't seem to add up to the final when I looked at it.
That's why I wanted to ask.
Chairperson Wilcox - All set?
Board Member Hoffmann — Yes. Thank you.
Chairperson Wilcox Any other questions?
Board Member Thayer — I was wondering how you were going to work the shared
driveways. Is that going to be part of a deed?
19
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
Mr. Gesslein — There are a couple of deed issues. The shared driveways will be part of
the deed and deed restrictions. Bruce and Dorothy are also proposing some deed
restrictions on what can be built there and then for the parcel being sold to Jack there
will be a limit on the number of lots that he can subdivide in the future because they
have taken some off there. So he will have a restriction on his deed that he can only
have a total of 6 lots over there. If you had the two together, the 87 acres, its suitable
for 12 lots. We have 6 on Hayts Road, one on Trumansburg Road, which can ultimately
wind up as 6 at some point in the future, if he elects to do that. Right now he
absolutely will not do that because it is not in his plan. He wants a vineyard.
Board Member Thayer — We do, too.
Board Member Howe — What kind of restrictions on buildings are they talking about?
Mr. Gesslein — We are looking at
house being built, most of whict
residential. We are looking at a
we haven't really finalized it,
construction cost of $160,000.
restrictions relative to accessory buildings, the type of
i are fairly close to the present zoning regulations for
minimum, and again this is subject to change because
it's a draft, we are looking at a minimum house
Board Member Thayer — No square footage requirement?
Mr. Gesslein — Well, Bruce is talking about a square footage requirement. If we did, it
would probably be a minimum of 1500 square feet. Again, we are flexible on those
issues. Some restrictions are positive for potential owners and some are negative so
we have to' be careful. The deed restrictions will definitely include who will pay for the
- -- shared - driveway_ and _how_ -they_are_maintained,____ _
Chairperson Wilcox Michael?
Mr. Smith — Yes.
Chairperson Wilcox `= I'm sorry. George, have you read the resolution as drafted?
Mr. Gesslein — Yes.
Mr. Kanter — Is this a good time to bring up...
Chairperson Wilcox — I'm going to the number of additional lots that can be subdivided.
I was going to go to Michael first, but I figured I would go to George because ... I will
read you what it says here. Submission of deed restrictions, conservation or
agricultural easement or other mechanism to ensure that no more than 3 additional
residential lots could be subdivided from lot 7." You mentioned 6. Staff has
determined that you get 3 more.
I%i
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
Mr. Kanter — Except ... there is this email message from John Andersson from the County
Health Department..,
Chairperson Wilcox Which was on our table this evening when we came in.
Mr. Kanter — Which we received after the resolution was done up. So there are two
provisions in the Code that talk about situations where you can have lots larger than
the 2 acres maximum required.by the zoning, one of which was the one we were going
by, which is what we put in the resolution. The other one is that if the Health
Department requires a larger lot size for septic and well purposes, and that is what we
have now, we have a memo from John Andersson saying that his determination was
that the lots do have to be larger than the 2 acres that the zoning talks about and when
that provision was put into affect, we don't penalize the remaining parent parcel for the
lots that the land area would have taken up. I believe that Mr. Gesslein's number is
correct. When you take into consideration the parent parcel that 5 additional residential
building lots would be allowed on that parent parcel. So we could do some adjusting to
the resolution to accommodate that.
Chairperson Wilcox So we have an 87.5 acres parcel. We divide it by 7, round down
and we get 412, 6 now, 6 later,. potentially. Then the large parcel that remains.
Mr. Kanter — It would be 6 total, 5 new building lots plus the remainder.
Board Member Hoffmann — In that case there was another letter from Ed Marx of the
County saying that they would prefer to see no driveways on
__ parcel if it_were further _subdivided,_ but that the d__ rivew_ ays
instead and of course that is not going to be very easy
configuration.
Chairperson Wilcox — That is true.
Mr. Kanter - That was a preference, not a determination.
Route 96 from that larger
Should be on Hayts Road
to do with the current
Board Member Hoffmann — Right, but I just thought I would bring it up because I can
see the point. One wouldn't want to have 5 or 6 more driveways there.
Mr. Kanter — No, and because of the frontage you wouldn't have that.
Chairperson Wilcox — What is the frontage on Trumansburg Road? 302 feet. Think
about how many driveways you are going to get in there.
Board Member Thayer - Not many.
21
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2. 2006
Approved 0610612006
Chairperson Wilcox — Not with the required frontage.
Mr. Kanter — Probably one for the future winery, which would probably then have a
common access point for one or more residential driveways that come off of it or
perhaps a Town road.
Chairperson Wilcox — Probably either a public road or a private road that will have to...
Mr. Walker _ With 300 feet of frontage, you would have to have a lot of flag lots to
have legal access.
Mr. Kanter = Or a cluster subdivision where you could do it through a cluster provision.
Mr. Walker Right, but there would have to be some kind of roadway built through
there to serve it.
Chairperson Wilcox Yeah, either a public road or a private road.
Board Member Conneman — So it would read no more than 5, is that right, instead of 3?
Mr. Kanter — Right.
Chairperson Wilcox Gentlemen, if you will go back and have a seat, I will give the
public a chance to speak. Thank you much.
Chairperson Wilcox invites members of the public to address the board.
Doug Pokorney, 282 Hayts Road
I came to the first meeting and I questioned 7 lots and I see that it has been reduced
and you said you were going to do a walk around, which I hope you did.. Much happier
with 6 lots. Hopefully with the protection that the engineers have done protecting that
watershed. So I'm really happy as long as there is enough room for septic systems, far
enough to save -that creek. I -guess my only other qualm is personal. Is this how you
beat the open land on the deed by putting two or three together so you can separate
things out? Because I own more than one deed and if I want to play the game later I
want to know how to play.
Chairperson Wilcox You want a response to that? I don't know how those parcels of
land were separate; I suspect that they were bought at different times. Then assuming
that they are consolidated together, which is certainly a reasonable thing to do, then
the zoning ordinance takes over from there, which says you divide the number of acres
by 7 and round down and that is the number of lots you get. Perfectly reasonable to
me. The other nice thing is that they are planting wine grapes already. It doesn't
preclude further subdivision because they do get another 5 lots, but I'm happy to see a
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2. 2006
Approved 0610612006
winery up there. I don't know about the residents, but it is a good use. Then if the
equestrian facility comes to fruition...
Mr. Pokorney — Yes. I was in my back dooryard last week and Babcock's 70 acres up
behind the Babcock house is flat as this room. They have been in there with the bush
hogs and stuff and its been cleared and it looks very nice. Now they can see the lay of
the land as far as construction.
Chairperson Wilcox — The other nice thing is that the process has worked. They came
in and kind of pushed and said can we squeeze extra lots in there and we as the board
and you as the public pushed back and said wait a minute, it may not be appropriate to
squeeze 8 lots in there. They listened and did the engineering and they came back and
said...
Mr. Pokorney — Did you do a walk around on the backside of that gorge?
Chairperson Wilcox - I did not do a walk around, no.
Mr. Pokorney — I know when I raised the point you should...
Chairperson Wilcox — We had originally scheduled one, but when they came back with
fewer lots and they took out that 60 400t wide strip we decided as a group it was not
necessary for us to go out. I don't know. Individual board members may have gone
out there.
Mr. Pokorney — That's much better. My only...your concern and the state's concern is
the watershed and that does go into Indian Creek and does go into the lake as far as
protecting that gorge. That was my concern.
Chairperson Wilcox closes the public hearing at 7:58 p.m. and brought the matter back
to the board. `
Chairperson Wilcox Any further questions? Dan, you all set? Do you have any
comments to make?
Mr. Walker — No.
Board Member Mitrano moves the motion and Board Member Thayer seconds the
motion.
Ms. Brock — I just have the changes to conform to the change in number of lots that we
discussed. So on page 2 under item le that should now read, "no more than 5
additional residential lots" instead of 3. Then on page 3 under the be it further
resolved, we now need to change the rational for why the size of the lots can exceed
23
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
the 2 acre maximum. I will just read what the new clause should state, ""that the
Planning Board hereby allows the size of all of the proposed lots to exceed the 2 acre
maximum for residential lots as permitted in section 270 -34 (A) (1) (a) of the Town of
Ithaca Code `finding that the Tompkins County Health Department has determined that
the larger lot areas are required to provide on -site water and septic systems."
Board Member Mitrano — Okay.
Mr. Sciarabba - I have a question about the wording in the resolution paragraph b
where it refers to record of submission of application for driveway approval from
Tompkins County Highway Department. Are you looking for an actual driveway permit
or are you looking for a letter from the County confirming that they have reviewed the
site distances and the driveway locations as proposed are adequate? They may not
actually put a driveway in there until they sell the lots.
Chairperson Wilcox - That is the curb cut, right?
Mr. Smith — It usually is, but if they were not doing that as part of this then it would not
be necessary. All that would need to be done is part of building permit in the future
anyways, so if there were something stating that these locations are okay, that would
be fine.
Mr. Kanter I don't think we say prior to the filing of the plat anyway.
Mr. Smith - Its just a general .any permits or approvals.
Chairperson Wilcox — Any permits or approvals we get a copy of.
Mr. Smith — Right.
Chairperson Wilcox Andy, what is your issue?
Mr. Sciarabba — I wanted to make sure that that wasn't a condition of signing of the
plat.
Chairperson Wilcox Which it is not.
Mr. Sciarabba — Thank you.
Chairperson Wilcox —'Any further discussion?
Board votes on motion.
i,
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
MOTION made by Board Member Mitrano, seconded by Board Member Thayer.
WHEREAS:
1. This is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed
746t'subdivision located on Hayts Road and Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca
Tax Parcel No. s 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32, Agricultural Zone. The proposal is to
consolidate Tax Parcels 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32 into one +/- 87.6 acre parcel, then
subdivide off six residential lots (averaging 2.97 acres) along Hayts Road with
the remaining +/- 70 acres being maintained as one parcel fronting on
Trumansburg Road. Bruce & Dorothy Babcock, Owners; George J. Gesslein,
Agent, and
2. 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 May 2, 2006, made a negative determination of environmental significance,
afterii having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Full Environmental
Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and Part II prepared by the
Town Planning staff, and
3.
The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on May 2, 2006, has reviewed and
accepted as adequate a survey plat titled "Final Plat - Subdivision Map Showing
Lands-of-Bruce- M._ Babcock_and_Dorothy_D._Babcock" and plans titled "Babcock
Subdivision - Engineering Plan" (sheet CI00) and "Babcock Subdivision -
Detalls" (sheets C200 and C201), dated 312012006, prepared by T. G. Miller, P. Cl
Engineers & Surveyors, and other application material,
li
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOL VED;
That the Planning Board hereby, approves the consolidation of Tax Parcel No. s 24 -1 -23
and 24 -1 -32 to form a single parcel of +/- 87.6 acres in order to meet the density
requirements of Section 270 -35 of the Town of Ithaca Code and to permit the
subdivision described as follows, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED:
1. That; the Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary and Final Subdivision
Approval for the proposed 7 -lot subdivision located on Hayts and Trumansburg
Roads, out of the consolidated Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. s 24 =1 -23 and 24-
1 -32, as shown on a survey plat titled "Final Plat - Subdivision Map Showing
25
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
Lands of Bruce M. Babcock and Dorothy D. Babcock" and plans titled "Babcock
C.
Subdivision - Engineering Plan" (sheet C100) and "Babcock Subdivision -
Details" (sheets C200 and C201), dated 312012006, prepared by T. G. Miller, P. ,
Engineers & Surveyors, subject to the following conditions:
a. submission for signing by the Chairman of the Planning Board of an
original or mylar copy of the revised final subdivision plat and three dark
lined prints, prior to filing with the Tompkins County Clerks Office, and
submission of a receipt of filing to the Town of Ithaca Planning
Department, and
b. j; submission of record of application for and approval of all necessary
permits from county, state, and /or federal agencies, including but not
limited to the Notice of Intent from NYSDEC, driveway approval from
Tompkins County Highway Department, and approvals for the septic
systems from Tompkins County Health Department, and
c. revision of the "Final Plat" (sheet 1 of 1) to include the locations of the
three shared driveways, prior to signing of the plat by the Planning Board
Chair, and
d. submission of the necessary easement and maintenance agreements for
the three shared driveways, for review and approval of the Attorney for
the Town and Tompkins County Highway Department, prior to the signing
of the plat by the Planning Board Chair, and
- - -- e, submission _of_deed_r_estrictions,_a conservation or agricultural easement,
or other mechanism to ensure that no more than 5 additional residential
If lots could be subdivided from lot 7 (Tax Parcel No. 24 -1 23) and that the
remaining land shall remain as open land for agricultural purposes, for
review and approval by the Town Attorney, prior to signing of the final
plat by the Planning Board Chair, and submission to the Town Planning
- - - Department of a- copy -of the signed agreement, - and
f. revision of the "Engineering Plan" to include a note stating that the house
locations shown are approximate only to show the relationship between
the house, well and septic system locations, and can be modified as part
of building permit application, prior to signing of the plat by the Planning
ii Board Chair, and
g, that copies of all design drawings (000, C2001 C201), revised as
required, must be filed with the signed Final Plat in Tompkins County
Clerks Office, and
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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
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h, revision of the "Engineering Plan" (000) and "Detail" (C200 and C201)
sheets to show the modifications required by the County Health
Department regarding the septic system design and location, prior to
signing of the plat by the Planning Board Chair, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED;
That the Planning Board hereby allows the size of all c
two acre maximum for residential lots as permitted in
Town of. Ithaca Code, finding that the Tompkins
determined that the larger lot areas are required to
systems
)f the proposed lots to exceed the
Section 270 -34 (A) (1) (a) of the
County Health Department has
provide on -site water and septic
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
AYES .• Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NA YS.• None.
The motion �Iwas declared to be carried.
SKETCH PLAN
Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed modifications to the Holly
Creek subdivision development located south of 111 West King Road, Town
of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 37 -146, 37447.11— 37 -1- 17.17, and 374- 17.19,
Multiple Residence and Low Density Residential Zones. The proposal
includes revising the approved plan by replacing the 20 proposed rental
apartments with —l2- single-family dwellings_in_six__duplex _ stru_ctures along
with threell,lot line changes involving the remaining residential lots. David C.
Auble, Owner /Applicants George Frantz, Agent.
George Frantz, 604 Cliff Street, Ithaca
-I. am here representing. Mr. Auble this evening. Again, what we are proposing is a
modification of a proposal. We are reducing the number of dwellings on the site from
what were a proposed 20 apartment units along the east side of the proposed Holly
Creek Lane and instead of 20 apartment units, what we, which are shown here on this
particular drawing, which you are familiar with. Again, the 20 units, rental units, along
the east side of Holly Creek Lane as well as 5 conventional lots for single family homes
on the west side. Again, lower density towards the Buttermilk Farms State Park.
Further to the east is where a new hotel has been approved by the Town as well as in
the future there is going to be anticipated more neighborhood type development.
What'il we have come up with is instead of an apartment complex; we are
proposing 12 single- family units in 6 duplex structures on the east side of the road.
They would ;Ibe setback from the right -of -way approximately 30 feet. Each unit would
have a 2 -car garage. It would have its own private driveway. It would have out to the
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rear some private space for each. of the families. All together and there would also be
some homeowners and condominium type of arrangement whereby the owners of the
12 duplexes would` own in common about 3.5 acres of permanent open space, which
would essentially around the eastern perimeter of the property and the southern
property and then also include the two stormwater detention basins that have actually
already been constructed. The open space we are proposing, actually, a very limited
lawn area, which you can see on this drawing, is a lighter green areas. What we want
to do actually is have the most of the permanent open space become meadowland and
treed. Again, part' of it primarily, we are looking to create a deep as possible buffer
between these proposed dwelling units and the commercial development to the east.
We are also proposing a buffer zone along the small intermittent stream that
flows to the property, 50 feet on either side of that for a total of 100 feet. As well a
proposed walkway, which would extend from Holly Creek Lane towards the cul -de -sac,
eastward and into the future commercial development. We show it on this drawing to
the end of ''the Holly Creek property simply because at this point it is not really sure
where the 'actual alignment would be between the eastern property line of the Holly
Creek subdivision and Route 96B. Again because we don't know the configuration of all
the commercial development in that area to the east.
Stormwater facilities. We are using the facilities that were actually approved by
the Planning Board with the site plan and subdivision plat in the previous round. These
we anticipate should be more than adequate to accommodate the stormwater from this
new proposed subdivision simply because we are proposing very significant reduction in
impervious surfaces, especially if you look again at the site plan that was approved for
the apartments you can see considerable parking lots were proposed as part of that,
considerably larger building footprints were proposed as part of that than what we are
now proposing with the duplex condominium approach.
Another- change- for _m_the_or_iginal_is_ther_e_is the existing lot at 111 West_ King
Road, which is now actually...we went back to the survey and it is slightly more than
30,000 square feet in area as it stands today. The survey listed it as .69 acres, which
works out to about 30,056 square feet. So what we are actually doing is increasing its
width alongl! Holly Creek Lane to 150 feet or more actually I should say. It will have a
depth-of roughly-200 feet _and a total area of about 34,000 square feet. Okay. Now
one issue of course is we will have the front of- the parcel still be neighborhood
commercial, this 25 400t strip would be multiple residence. David and I have discussed
one possibility would actually have this parcel, be rezoned to multiple residence and
make it one contiguous MR zone in this area. That is one possibility. Again, the other
possibility is large enough for at least a small neighborhood type retail operation, albeit
pretty smalljjwhen you take in all the Town's setback requirements.
One thing that I unfortunately forgot to put into my narrative, which the Town
planning staff has pointed, the distance between building 4 and building 5 on the cul-
de -sac and ';building 5 and building 6 is indeed less than 30 feet. Okay. That was
actually done on purpose. I decided...it is roughly 25 feet between the buildings at the
closest point and then you can see how they rapidly spread apart to be greater than 30
feet in width. The reason I did that was I, again, we want to keep the structures as
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
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close to Holly Creek Lane as possible so to have these 3 structures be 30 feet from the
street right -of -way line required that they be just slightly closer at these corners, the
corner projections of those particular buildings. We can shift them back to meet the
required 30 foot minimum distance between buildings, which is actually a cluster
subdivision requirement that I believe can also be waived .by the Planning Board. It is
not a matter of zoning as much as a subdivision regulation. We could meet that
requirement'; but again it is a loss of 5 to 10 feet of rear yard depth and a loss of 5 to
10 feet of possible permanent open space back here. So we much prefer to keep the
buildings as iclose to Holly Creek as we can and seek a waiver for that 4 to 5 or 6 feet
deficiency in' distance between buildings.
Just quickly. ' The 5 conventional lots, they don't meet all the dimensional
requirements. Lot 1, for instance, is only about 110 feet wide on the King Road
frontage, but we have insured that they all are at least 30,000 square feet in area. So
they do at least... again the area dimension or the area requirements of the low- density
residential zone.
I think that pretty well describes what we are proposing at this point, so if there
are any questions I would be happy to answer them.
11 1
Chairperson 1 Wilcox — David, may I ask you a question? In your mind, what has
changed between before and now that you have gone from apartments to either
townhousesllor condos? What has changed in the market?
Dave Auble, 111 West King Road
Since I retired and moved back here and over the period of time that I have been back,
I have had several friends and relatives request condominiums. They are planning to
sell their homes and that they are in the age bracket that I am and are thinking ahead
about the upkeep and maintenance aspects of it and so on that are becoming
burdensome and so... Then as I have looked into that a little more, I've seen that that
is a very strong trend in the area and then in terms of the market. Secondly from my
standpoint as I have become a little more retired, I've kind of been shying away from
the aspect of managing and the responsibilities and then in researching the financing
on the apartments and the risk associated with it at my age, I felt that it was a little
more than what I wanted to take on.
Board Member Mitrano — Hear, hear.
Board Member Conneman — Dave, at one point you said that you were going to live in
the development. Is that still the plan?
Mr. Auble — Yes.
Board Member Talty — Which lot?
Mr. Auble — I was thinking of the one down in the corner where it is park on both sides.
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Chairperson Wilcox — Lot 5. Put in your bid now.
Board Member Thayer — Where do we stand on sidewalks?
Board Member Mitrano — Oh, Larry.
Chairperson ,Wilcox — George, turn around and show us where the sidewalks were on
the previous 'one.
Mr. Kanter — Actually, they weren't sidewalks. It was an exercise trail.
Mr. Frantz — I interpreted this as being a sidewalk.
Board Member Hoffmann — That's what I thought, too.
Mr. Frantz —j With the change from rental units to owner occupied and what we are
talking about roughly 30 people and given the amount of use that this exercise trail
would actually get, I recommended to David that we not include it in the design. One
of the things that I have been doing a lot of work on up on South Hill and again the
idea is that all Americans are out there getting their 20 minutes of exercise every night
and it is not happening. Looking at what our experience up at Chase Farm where there
was a very good idea back in the 1990s, they granted the Town and extra 10 feet of
easement and we did put in a pedestrian path network in Chase Farm and that has
been pretty well abandoned.
— _Chair_per_son_ _W- ilcox— Hold_on.. Comment,_y_oung_ lady_? ____
Board Member Mitrano — First of all, I love when you call, me young lady. I am for
sidewalks in this development.
_Chairperson Wilcox What about at Chase Farm where you are right now?
Board Member Mitrano — Well, it's abandoned. I mean its not fully abandoned I think
some people' have and some people haven't. If you. look at my property, for example, it
looks abandoned. But if there was movement among some of the homeowners to be
clear about a'nd this comes from spending time talking with people in the neighborhood,
we would all like to maintain it. What I think that ultimately means is that we wish that
we had sidewalks originally.
Board Member Hoffmann — Don't you have sidewalks?
Board Member Mitrano — No.
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Board Member Hoffmann — It's a walkway?
Board Member Mitrano — It's a walkway, but its been abandoned, but I ... maybe what
I'm really trying to say is that its not really by choice. Its sort of by the stance in the
failure of there being a formal community organization to pull everyone together to
rehabilitate the walkway, which I think is what everyone's desire. would be given we
don't have sidewalks.
Chairperson Wilcox — So it has become overgrown?
,.
Board Member Mitrano — It's become overgrown, but it's not the preference.
Mr. Frantz —',I guess the question is are we talking about exercise path or sidewalk?
j
Board Member Mitrano — Fred is great in asking me to comment on that because he
knows I live there, but if you are asking my opinion about this, I think we should have
sidewalks. Its part of the consistency that we have .been developing over time, in
particular up'! in the South Hill region.
Chairperson Wilcox — Kevin?
Board Member Talty — I'm all for sidewalks. I don't like people walking in the streets
with their walkers or jogging or whatever. I understand that bicyclist are* going to go in
the street no matter what. A sidewalk is not really the proper venue for bicycling.
Board Member Mitrano — What about those French drains?
Board Member Talty - We didn't get to that yet. I thought maybe somebody else
would bring it up.
Mr. Frantz Then we talk about a public sidewalk in the public right -of -way that the
Town would maintain.
Chairperson Wilcox — No.
Board Member Conneman — You have a homeowners association, right?
Chairperson jWilcox — Not that the Town would maintain.
Mr. Walker - What we are doing in the Westview Subdivision, there are sidewalks in
that subdivision and it is a sidewalk district, which means that the property owner is
responsible for maintaining the sidewalk. If they do not, the Town will step in and do
it, but then charge them back.
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Mr. Frantz - First of all, I'm not familiar with Westview.
Mr. Walker''= Danby. Road. Boris Simkin, Schickel Road.
Mr. Frantz - Okay.
Mr. Kanter II Something else that is a little bit new since the original Holly Creek was
approved is ... what is the shopping center that Evan Monkemeyer is proposing up
across ... which ultimately if that is built will be a major destination for people living here
and people': on that side of Danby Road to cross over. So obviously something
else will have to be done, but if sidewalks are put in up to King Road then obviously at
some point sidewalks would have to be added to King Road and a safe crosswalk would
have to be ,put in to cross at the traffic light. But if we do it incrementally and we do
consider sidewalks as part of this development then that would start the process.
Board Member Mitrano — Yes. I am in favor of that.
Chairperson Wilcox David, you were here for Evan's presentation, weren't you?
Mr. Auble —, Yes.
y
Mr. Frantz I don't know where on King Road you could actually put a sidewalk without
substantial ''investment. I would think that this would be a more desirable route and
then mavbe across.
Board Member Mitrano — I think Jonathan meant King Road on the other side.
Mr. Kanter I haven't looked at the grading and whatever would be needed to put it in,
but I meant coming King Road.
Board Member Mitrano — Coming up this side, Jonathan?
the _ Monkemeyer .megatropolis?
Or did you mean coming from
Mr. Kanter I mean coming from this side to the intersection.
Board Member Mitrano — Okay. I misunderstood you then.
Mr. Kanter it What George is mentioning is that you certainly could also have the
walkway coming into the commercial area and then make sure there is something
added to Da" nby Road on that side to get to the intersection.
Board Member Mitrano —
I
I would be fine with that.
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Mr. Kanter —',I don't remember to tell you the truth what we did with the Country Inn
and Suites Hotel,
Mr. Smith There is a sidewalk connection proposed back into this development
connecting into the hotel's sidewalk system.
Mr. Kanter — Does that go up to the intersection of King and Danby?
Mr. Smith — It goes out their exit onto to King Road, yes.
Mr. Kanter — That certainly can be an alternate means of doing it.
Board Member Hoffmann — There was no sidewalk provided along Danby Road to the
King and Danby Road intersection along the hotel's side.
Mr. Smith — No. There is nothing along Danby Road. It is internal with their parking
lots.
Board Member Hoffmann — I think what we need to do is think about how to get
pedestrians from the interior of this site as well as the hotel site and the other
commercial development along either Danby or King Roads to get to that intersection.
Because I think the crossing has to be at the intersection where there are lights.
Board Member Mitrano — I agree.
Chairperson Wilcox — They'll either cross for Big AI's, Mr. Monkemeyer's proposal should
it come to fruition.
Board Member Mitrano — Sam Peter if they need a mattress.
Chairperson Wilcox - You also have the Italian Carry Out on the same west side.
Mr. Frantz —'One of the benefits I think of ... why I'm attached to this also is, again, you
draw people to this particular path up to Danby Road and with the Town's deep
setbacks for' the commercial districts you're going to have fairly wide tree lawns
between Danby Road and the parking lots of the commercial development up here and
thus there is going to be room for an attractive sidewalk. Not something that is going
to be right up against the road on King Road.
Board Member Mitrano — When you guys were mentioning sidewalks, where were did
you intend them to be? I meant within the development and then coming out. I didn't
necessarily mean that the one coming out had to be along King Road.
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Board Member Hoffmann — The earlier plan had sidewalks hooking up to this walkway
that went in back of the housing units, but also coming along the eastern side of Holly
Creek Lane'' up to, but not all the way to West King Road. I remember afterward
thinking that we made a mistake in not including that last bit up to King Road.
i
Mr. Kanter It was discussed. It wasn't an omissions it was a decision that was made.
Board Member Hoffmann — Personally I felt afterwards that I didn't think it was the
right decision not to have it go all .the way up to King Road, but that's what we decided.
Board Member Mitrano — Are you thinking, Eva, that people would be taking that maybe
going down' to the Park, where are they going if they go to King Road from there?
Board Member Hoffmann — They can go in all directions. I mean they certainly could
go down toward the park, too, but they would not go on the sidewalk most of the way
there.
Mr. Kanter What I was suggesting is as part of this development, the Planning Board
could require a sidewalk along Holly Creek Lane out as far as West King Road. I don't
think we could require the developer to build it along West King Road, not as part of
this development. But then what I was saying was, if that were done, then probably
the Town it some point would want to build the sidewalk on West King Road up to the
intersection of West King and Danby and then get a safe crosswalk there.
Board Member Mitrano — Thank you and that sounds very good to me. I support it.
- -- -- Chairperson_ Wilcox — The disadvantage to what George and David are proposing is that
we don't know when that parcel, the commercial parcel, will ever be, whether anything
will every be constructed there. Presumably something will, eventually at some point,
which means we have a sidewalk, which ends at the property line. Now, David, you
control those parcels and we could require, if we like that sidewalk, we could require
that there be a sidewalk extension all the way to Danby Road that might eventually be
torn up. I kind of like going back out towards West King Road rather than towards
Danby.
Board Member Mitrano I'll support that too.
Chairperson Wilcox — But I'll hear arguments either way.
Mr. Auble — Having lived there for the past couple of years and walked up to Big AI's to
cross that intersection. Sometimes down to Ithaca College just to get a feel of walking
in that area. I'm: 68, but I'm still fairly spry and I can move across the road fairly
quickly, but it very difficult to walk across Danby Road or even across King Road with
the turning. What you have is people coming down Danby Road from the south and
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taking a left down King Road and vice -versa going up King Road. It doesn't matter
which corner you're on, you're taking your life in your hands to step off into the
roadway there.
i�
Board Member Mitrano — I believe that's true.
Mr. Auble — I have a hard time really; unless you're running, picturing people walking to
li
any of the nearby shopping, unless its contiguous.
Board Member Mitrano — But I think they will if the megatropolis is built.
Mr. Auble — Pardon ??
Board Member Mitrano — I think if the Monkemeyer development, kitty- corner, is built
that there would be a greater potential for that kind of pedestrian traffic. Can they
pause the lights more?
Board Member Conneman — Well you can get a walkway.
Mr. Walker — There's no pedestrian crossing right there now. There is a left turn light,
isn't there for coming down.
Board Member Conneman — No.
Mr. Walker ' It is a signalized intersection and we might be able to convince the State
to stop all traffic for pedestrian crossing with an actuator there. There may pedestrians
every cycle,!, but when there is a pedestrian if they push it they can stop all the traffic
and have it open for pedestrians crossing.
Mr. Kanter That may actually be something that could be directly related to the
Monkemeye "- r retail development, that they would have to do that.
Board Member Hoffmann — Not to mention the rest of your development on your lands
on the commercial property that you have as well as the residential development that
Mr. Monkemeyer might do. There's a lot of potential for traffic on foot there at that
intersection:
Mr. Walker I think when the hotel gets built and opens two months ago, they're not
serving dinners in the hotel, but there is big AI's across the street and then there is the
Italian Carry Out across the other street. So I think there will be a lot of foot traffic
especially if, as they said, they are going to be catering to a lot of the athletic events at
Ithaca College. Putting teams up there.
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Board Member Mitrano - Who is going to buy that little garage and put a restaurant in
there.
Chairperson Wilcox - I think the Salino family owns that corner parcel.
Mr. Frantz - The only issue is the Town's excessive setback requirements.
Chairperson Wilcox - ,George, do you want to make any comments about the sidewalks,
besides they add to the cost.
Mr. Frantz - Again, from my perspective as a planner, I don't think they are justified. I
hear a lot ofd optimism about people walking up here and crossing Route 96 and the
like. Again this is something I studied, this is something I researched, this is something
I'll teach about up at'Cornell, and you're not going to get a whole lot of people crossing
Danby or walking from here up to there because it is an extremely hostile environment.
But, again if what you want us to do is a sidewalk along Holly Creek Lane out to West
King Road...
Chairperson Wilcox - You will, of course, consider it.
Board Member Conneman - It becomes part of the price of the lot.
Mr. Frantz - Well again, I'm not thinking of the price of the lot. I'm thinking in terms of
public policy and density and planning and how these sidewalks are put in and never
used.
- - - -- Board- Member- Conneman - Ldo.ubt_ that that wilLhappen_if_all._these_ things happen
which are very likely.
Mr. Frantz - Well, it hasn't happened elsewhere in the country.
Board Member Hoffmann - Well, the price of gas hasn't gone up enough yet maybe.
Chairperson Wilcox - Kevin, sidewalk?
Board Member Talty - Nothing I hate worse than walking in the street with my 4 -year-
old daughter; and the cars are going around me. It's going to have a sidewalk.
Chairperson Wilcox - Rod?
Board Member Howe - Yes, but I want to keep that walkway as well for future
connection.
Chairperson Wilcox - Larry?
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Board Member Thayer — Yes sidewalks.
l
Board Member Hoffmann - Yes, sidewalks too, but I think that walkway around the
back of the lihousing units that was proposed before is something that I would be willing
to give up, but the sidewalk along Holly Creek Lane I would like to see.
Chairperson; Wilcox Yes, sidewalks are fine, consider it. Let's get to the other thing.
The 25 feetflseparation at closest point for some of the buildings.
Board Member Howe — I think that's appropriate.
Chairperson Wilcox — Yes, I didn't have a problem with that. It seems. to me a
reasonable compromise.
,j
Mr. Kanter - I think we would have to take a look at that. I think whether the Planning
Board can do it as a waiver in the cluster or whether it would go to the Zoning Board. I
think either ;way is doable if the Planning Board would like to support it.
Chairperson!! Wilcox Based upon what George said it seems to be a decent trade off in
terms of the; open in the back.
Mr. Kanter '' How about the play area? I talked to George about it and it seems like
with the sett up of the individual units as opposed to apartments that the play area isn't
ii I
as great a need as it would have been before. It still is something that could be
considered somehow because I think you could have some kind of common amenities
and maybe it wouldn't be a play structure, maybe it would be something else. Maybe it
__ would_be_picnic_areas, or something.
Chairperson Iii Wilcox — We've gone from 20 rental units to 12 condos, can I call them
condos or townhouses? To me condo means something very specific.
Mr. Frantz Condominiums a form of ownership. These would be duplexes but again
each unit would be on its lot.
Mr. Kanter — George and I talked about that too, where the lot lines through the units
might go. Maybe that's something to talk about.
Mr. Frantz —'The idea that we're considering actually, I superimposed it here, is to have
the front lawn be part of the lot. Essentially run the side yard line through the party
wall on the one side, and then have it coterminous with the outermost wall of the unit
on the outside. And then give them 25 feet of private space behind each unit. If
possible, if they like, they could fence that off. This is one of the reasons why I was
thinking the play structure, recreational area, sort of becomes extraneous because the
vast majority of parents would much prefer to have their child either playing on their
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own swing 'set /play set or at least outside the window of their neighbors or friends or
whatever. As opposed to having an isolated play are off in the corner.
Board Member Mitrano — I like Jonathan's idea.
Mr. Kanter What was that?
Board Member Mitrano — Some picnic tables or something more adult oriented, fewer
toddlers.
Chairperson Wilcox — There are no guarantees in life, but the intent would be for these
to be owner occupied. Certainly someone could buy a unit and rent it, but given that it
would be owner occupied or potentially family occupied, and given the amount of space
that are around them, it does change the usage from 20 apartments. One would hope
that there 'would be some structure in the community area, picnic tables was one
mentioned.
Mr. Frantz; We're not proposing anything like a play structure or community recreation
facilities, or even a path along the rear perimeter of the site, but that doesn't mean that
they may not happen because, again, we're going to have a homeowners' association
here. These people are going to be owning this land in common and they can certainly
come together and decide we want a play structure, a communal play structure, or we
want a walking path, or let's build a pavilion or gazebo up here in the corner or
something. So it's not that we're saying, no, none of this can happen. It could very
well happen and it could be at the option of the homeowners.
____ Chairperson Wilcox_What__price range are you targeting, David ?_
Mr. Auble —�I Well, after this meeting and I cost out some of the things. I'm updating my
bids now fo'r the utilities and the road and cul -de -sac. All the construction costs, all my
bids, have had to change because of redesign. So I'm still in the process.
Chairperson Wilcox „— I didn't ask you for costs, I asked you for selling price.
Mr. Auble — Well, selling price will be predicated on my costs.
Chairperson Wilcox — Give me a range. Can you give me a range, publicly?
Mr. Auble With building costs running at about $120 per square foot, you're probably
looking at t I e $200] $225 range.
Chairperson Wilcox — All right, so you're between 2 and 3 hundred thousand.
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Mr. Auble — Yes, depending on what options people want. I actually looked at this
design. It was a project in Penfield that some friends of mine are doing and I liked
their design Wand their work and they're coming at about that range.
Board Member Mitrano — What's the name of it?
Mr. Auble — Oakmount.
Board Member Mitrano — Oakmount? I'll be up there this weekend. I'll take a ride up
there.
ChairpersonWilcox - Everybody Google Oakmount.
I�
Board Member Talty,;— I'll be there tomorrow. Really.
Mr. Frantz — js that on the south side of Victor?
Mr. Auble —,I'm not really that familiar. I've been up there about three times to that
site, but as far as the other ... it's Penfield.
Chairperson IjWilcox - Any other comments from members of the board? Kevin?
Board Member Talty' — Since culverts were brought up, what type of culverts system will
you have?
Mr. Auble —I Drainage culverts? We have drainage swales that were approved in the i
_ _ f r_st go- around, which will_ be__lined with riprap and that is all we are doing. Most of it is
in place, in fact all of the swales are in place. We haven't completed the riprap part of
it, but we have completed enough to control the drainage so that it was approved by
the Town Engineer. We didn't anticipate any change in the drainage system.
Chairperson (Wilcox — Will there be ditches along the road? Or a ditch along Holly Creek
Drive?
Mr. Auble — I'm trying to see where the sidewalks would fit in between the drainage
swale and the road.
Mr. Kanter —That might require some modification.
Mr. Frantz = Actually, I believe what I did was take the approved stormwater
management system, which included swales along Holly Creek Lane, So the only
difference is! there is a lot less impervious surface and probably more open drainage
swales in this proposal than in the previous one.
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Chairperson, Wilcox - Kevin has been a standard bear for putting the drainage along the
road underground, piping it underground rather than having open ditches along the
side of the road, He's made a forceful case.
Mr. Frantz _ Well, I've been saying that for about 15 years here.
Mr. Auble —'I One drawback, I think, is the speed when you have culverts, When they
are piped the water goes a lot faster and when it is rip rapped it is obviously, the idea is
to slow it down.
ii
Mr. Kanter There will be some relooking at all that based on if sidewalks are going to
go in, how; that will relate at the road system, some slight changes around the
individual b ul ildings since they are a little bit different configuration. So that is all detail
stuff that would need to be done.
Chairperson' Wilcox - Anything else you need back from us?
Board Member Mitrano — How many bedrooms on average? Are we talking 2 or 3
bedrooms a ;unit?
Mr. Auble —The design is a 2- bedroom ground floor and an optional 2 "d floor and the
idea is for people who want ground floor living and again, people in my bracket age
wise. Them, if they want grandchildren visiting or that type of thing they have the 2 "d
floor. option.I
Board Member Mitrano — That sounds great. I hope I look have as good as you at your
age. --- - - - - -— -
Chairperson ,Wilcox — George, you're all set? I mean they're complimenting each other.
Mr. Frantz No. If you don't have any questions, thank you very much and we'll be
back.
Board Member Hoffmann — I was just going to say that if you can come up with some
other idea other than a standard sidewalk to let people safely walk and do the drainage
system and so on at the same time, I would be very willing to hear that. But I would
like to see a jsafe way for people to walk along the road instead of walking on the road.
n
Chairperson Wilcox — Thank you, You can't leave yet, I was reminded that we do have
one piece of1l business to do here. There is a resolution in here some place. We have a
proposed resolution establishing the Planning Board as lead agency to coordinate the
environmental review,
.]
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
Chairperson Wilcox moves the motion and Board Member Conneman seconds the
motion. Board votes on motion.
MOTION made by Chairperson Wilcox, seconded by Board Member Conneman.
WHEREAS;
1, The Town of Ithaca Planning Board is considering a Sketch Plan for the proposed
modifications to the Holly Creek subdivision development located south of 111
West King Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel Nos. 37. -1 -16, 37. -1 -17.11 - 37s"10,
17.17, and 37 -1- 17.19, Multiple Residence and Low Density Residential Zones
The proposal includes replacing 20 proposed rental apartments with 12 single -
family dwellings in six duplex structures along with three lot line changes
involving the remaining residential lots David C, Auble, Owner /Applicant;
George Frantz, Agent, and
2. The proposed modifications to the previously approved subdivision and
development is a Type I action pursuant to the State Environmental Quality
Review Act, 6 NYCRR Part 617, and Chapter 148 of the Town of Ithaca Code
regarding Environmental Quality Review, and
3. A report and sketch plan for the proposed "Holly Creek Community" (March 22,
2006) and a Full Environmental Assessment Form, Part 1, has been submitted by
the applicant for the above - described action,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOL VED:
That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby proposes to establish itself as lead
agency to coordinate the environmental review of the proposed modifications to the
Holly Creek subdivision development, as described above, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED;
That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby requests the concurrence of all involved
agencies one this proposed lead agency designation, said concurrence to be received by
the Town of Ithaca Planning Department within thirty days from the date of notification
of the involved agencies, said notification having been sent to potential involved and
interested agencies in a letter dated April 21, 2006.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
41
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
AYES.' Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NAYS. None.
The motion was declared to be carried.
PUBLIC HEARING.
Consideration of recommendation to the Town Board regarding a proposed
Local Law; amending the Zoning Chapter of the Town of Ithaca Code
regarding 'the definition of a hospital and regarding permitted uses in
Conservation Zones.
Chairperson "Wilcox opens the public hearing at 8:47 p.m. and reads the public hearing
notice.
Chairperson I Wilcox - Mr. Kanter, do you wish to make a presentation?
Mr. Kanter - I don't think we really need a presentation. I think my memo basically
outlines it.
Chairperson i Wilcox 7 Very good. So we are changing the definition of hospital. I think
it has to do with overnight and people, essentially,. and we are allowing hospital uses in
a Conservation Zone. This was at the request of the hospital.
Mr. Kanter The Town Board did rezone that area to Conservation Zone.
Chairpersonll Wilcox Yes, they did.
Mr. Kanter That is now in place.
Chairperson] Wilcox invites the public to speak, but no one was present to speak at the
public hearing. Chairperson Wilcox closes the public hearing at 8:48 p.m.
Board Member Mitrano moves the motion and Board Member Talty seconds.
Conservation Zones
Motion made by Board Member Mitrano, seconded by Board Member Talty.
WHEREAS: The Town of Ithaca Codes and Ordinances Committee has reviewed the
provisions in the Town of Ithaca Zoning Code regarding definition of "hospital" and
regarding permitted uses in Conservation Zones, and
42
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
WHEREAS; Based on this review, the Codes and Ordinances Committee has drafted a
proposed local law amending the Zoning Chapter of the Town of Ithaca Code regarding
definition of hospital and regarding permitted uses in Conservation Zones for the Town
Boards consideration, and
II
WHEREAS: The above - described amendment would revise the definition of "hospital"
to be "an establishment for temporary overnight occupation by sick or injured persons
for the purpose of medical treatment licensed by the State of New York for such
purposes" and would add "hospital" as a principal use authorized by special permit only
in Conservation Zones, and
WHEREAS; The Town Board on April 10, 2006, enacted a local law amending Chapter
270 of the Town of Ithaca Code, titled "Zoning" and the Official Zoning Map to rezone
certain lands along and west of Taughannock Boulevard from Low Density Residential
to Conservation Zone, and portions of property owned by Cayuga Medical Center, are
located within this newly enacted Conservation Zone, and
WHEREAS: The Town Board has reviewed the above - described proposed local law at
its regular meeting on April 10, 2006 and has referred this matter to the Planning Board
for a recommendation, and
WHEREAS: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board has held a public hearing on May 2,
2006 to consider. comments from the public regarding this proposed zoning
amendment,
. NO_ W,_T_HEREEO_RE,_BE_IT_RESOLVED; That the Town of Ithaca_ Planning Board,
pursuant to Section' 270- 236(H) of the Town of Ithaca Code, hereby finds that:
1. There is a need for the proposed zoning amendment, in the proposed locations,
in particular with reference to the public purpose of hospitals, and
2. The 'existing and probable future character of the neighborhood will not be
adversely affected by the proposed zoning amendment, and in particular that the
special permit process to allow. hospitals in Conservation Zones will allow the
Planning Board to carefully evaluate the local conditions of any proposal for
hospital use in a Conservation Zone, and
it
3. The proposed zoning amendment is in accordance with a comprehensive plan of
development of the Town, and in particular that portions of the Cayuga Medical
Center property are shown on the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map in the
1993' Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan as "Public /Institutional' and portions
of the Cayuga Medical Center property are now located within the recently
enacted Conservation Zone as referenced above, and
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May 2, 2006
Approved 0610612006
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby
recommends that the Town Board adopt the proposed local law amending the Zoning
Chapter oflj the Town of Ithaca Code regarding definition of hospital and regarding
permitted uses in Conservation Zones.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows:
AYES .• Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer, Howe, Talty.
NAYS: Norte.
The motlon,j was declared to be carried
MINUTES 1
MOTION
Chairperson Wilcox, seconded by Board Member Talty.
I
RESOLVED, that the Planning Board does hereby approve and adopts the April 4, 2006
minutes as the official minutes of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the said
meeting as presented with corrections.
The vote on the motion resulted as follows:
AYES.• Wilcox, Mitrano, Howe, Talty.
NA YS: None. 11
ABSTAIN: Hoffmann, Conneman, Thayer.
II
The vote on the motion was carried.
i
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Kanter reports that there is only or
Planning Board meeting. The Board
agenda items.
h
Board Member Hoffmann comments on
She was surprised by the number of
explains that the trees were removed
ie agenda item scheduled for the May 16, 2006
decided to cancel the meeting due to lack of
the demolition taking place at the Rite Aid site.
trees that had been taken down. Mr. Kanter
for the stormwater system and the sewer line
replacement. She thought that the stormwater system was going to be closer to the
driveway that is falling apart anyway and is now wondering if those trees remaining
there will be taken down as well.
I
..
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
May Z 2006
Approved 0610612006
Board Member Hoffmann thought the site looks like it is finished being graded, but the
grade looks higher' than it was when the old building was sitting on the site. She
wondered if they were going to get a building that looks taller because of that.
Mr. Kanter comments that if it doesn't comply with the grade elevations shown on the
plan, then it will be. discovered during inspections by the Code Enforcement Officials.
Board Member Hoffmann suggested that the Board may not always realize they are
approving something that might sits 5 feet higher than the previous building.
Chairperson! Wilcox; states that the Board needs to make a motion to cancel the May
16th Planning Board meeting.
MOTION made by Chairperson Wilcox, seconded by Board Member Talty.
BE IT RESQL VED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby cancels the May 16,
2006 meeting and directs the Director of Planning to notify the press of the meeting
cancellation.
The vote on the motion resulted as follows;
A YES: Wilcox, Hoffmann, Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer; Howe.
NAYS: None.
u
The - motion" was- declar-ed_to_be_car_r_ied. —_ _ —
Mr. Kanter informs that Board that Cornell will be back at one of the June meetings to
give an update on the TGEIS project.
Board Member Hoffmann noticed that a sign was just put up in the last few days in the
parking area of the Pew Trail.- It says, Welcome to the Eastern Heights Neighborhood ".
It is outside of what she always thought was the Eastern Heights Neighborhood, but
she is happy to finally be living in a named neighborhood.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairpersons Wilcox 'adjourns the May 2, 2006 Planning Board meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully
C
Carrie Coates
itted,
Deputy Town Clerk
45
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
AGENDA
7:00 P.M. Persons to be heard (no more than five minutes).
7:05 P.M. Update'; on the current review of the Town's dock regulations.
7:10 P.M: SEQR Determination:. Tompkins County South Hill Communication Tower, Ithaca College Campus.
7:10 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of modifications to the previously approved Site Plan and Special
Permit '!for the proposed Tompkins County South Hill communication tower located on the Ithaca College
campus, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41 -1 -30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The project involves
the construction of a 195 -foot self - supporting monopole tower (increased from 180 -feet) and a 432 square
foot (12' x 36') building (increased from 300 square feet, 12' x 25') located adjacent to the existing Ithaca
College's 150' guyed tower for the County's Public Safety Communication System. The existing Ithaca
College tower will be removed once the existing'transmitters are relocated to the new structure. Ithaca
College, Owner; Tompkins County, Applicant; Lee Shurtleff, Agent.
�I
7:30 P.M. SEQR Determination: Babcock 7 -Lot Subdivision, Hayts & Trumansburg Roads,
ii
7:30 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Subdivision Approval for the proposed 7 -lot
subdivision located on Hayts Road and Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 24 -1 -23 and
24 -1 -32, Agricultural Zone. The proposal is to consolidate Tax Parcels 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32 into one +/-
87.6 acre parcel, then subdivide off six residential lots (averaging 2.97 acres) along Hayts Road with the
remaining +/- 70. acres being maintained as one parcel fronting on Trumansburg Road. Bruce & Dorothy
Babcock, Owners; George J. Gesslein, Agent,
8:00 P.M. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed modifications to the Holly Creek subdivision development
located' south of 111 West King Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 37 -1 -16, 37 -1 -17.11 — 37- 1- 17.17,
and 37 -.1- 17.19, Multiple Residence and Low Density Residential Zones. The proposal includes revising the
approved plan by replacing the 20 proposed rental apartments with 12 single - family dwellings in six duplex
structures along with three lot line changes involving the remaining residential lots. David C. Auble,
Owner /Applicant; George Frantz, Agent.
8:15 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a recommendation to the Town Board regarding a proposed Local
Law amending the Zoning Chapter of the Town of Ithaca Code regarding the definition of a hospital and
regarding permitted uses in Conservation Zones.
9. Persons to be heard (continued from beginning of meeting if necessary).
10. Approval of Minutes: April 4, 2006,
11, Other Business:
12, Adjournment.
Jonathan Kanter, AICP
Director of Planning
273 -1747
NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE NOTIFY
SANDY POLCE AT 273 -17474
(A quorum of four (4) members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.)
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
By direction of the Chairperson of the Planning Board, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Public Hearings will be
held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at
the following times and on the following matters:
7:10 P.M. Consideration of modifications to the previously approved Site Plan and Special Permit for the
prooposed Tompkins Cou:parcel South Hill communication tower located on the Ithaca College
campus, Town of Ithaca T No. 41 -1 -30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The project
involves the construction of a 195 -foot self - supporting monopole tower (increased from 180 -feet)
and a 432 square foot (12' x 36') building (increased from 300 square feet, 12' x 25') located
adjacent to the existing Ithaca College's 150' guyed tower for the County's Public Safety
Communication System. The existing Ithaca College tower will be removed once the existing
transmitters are relocated to the new structure. Ithaca College, Owner; Tompkins County,
Applicant; Lee Shurtleff, Agent,
7:30 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary and Final Subdivision Approval for the proposed 7 -lot subdivision
located on Hayts Road and Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1-
32, Agricultural Zone. The proposal is to consolidate Tax Parcels 24 -1 -23 and 24 -1 -32 into one +/-
87,.6 acre parcel, then subdivide off six residential lots (averaging 2.97 acres) along Hayts Road
with the remaining +/- 70 acres being maintained as one parcel fronting on Trumansburg Road.
Bruce & Dorothy Babcock, Owners; George J. Gesslein, Agent.
8:15 P.M. Consideration of a recommendation to the Town Board regarding a proposed Local Law amending
the Zoning Chapter of the Town of Ithaca Code regarding the definition of a hospital and regarding
vermitted uses in Conservation Zones,
Said Planning Board will at said times and said place hear all persons in support of such matters or objections thereto.
Persons may appear by agent or in person. Individuals with visual impairments, hearing impairments or other special
needs, will be provided with assistance as necessary, upon request. Persons desiring assistance must make such a
request not less than 48 hours prior to the time of the public hearings.
Jonathan Kanter, AICP
Director of Planning
273 -1747
Dated: Monday, April 24, 2006
Publish: Wednesday, April 26, 2006
m
TOWN OF ITHACA
PLANNING BOARD
SIGN -IN SHEET
DATE: May 2, 2006
(PLEASE PRINT TO ENSURE ACCURACY IN OFFICIAL MINUTES)
PLEASE PRINT NAME PLEASE PRINT ADDRESS /AFFILIATION
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TOWN OF ITHACA
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION
I, Sandra Polce being duly sworn, depose and say that I am a Senior Typist for the Town of
Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York; that the following Notice has been duly posted on the sign
board of the Town of Ithaca and that said Notice has been duly published in the local newspaper,
The Ithaca Journal.
Location of Sign Board used for rosttng:
Date of Posting: April 24, 2006
Date of Publi c�ation: April 26, 2006
i
STATE OF NEW YORK) - -SS: --
COUNTY OF TOMPKINS)
�i
1 own t. 1em wgn tsoara — L i D ivorui 1 10M 0LrOUL.
Sandra Polce, Senior Typist
Town of Ithaca
Sworn to and "subscribed before me this 26th day of April 2006.
otary Public
�ICONNIE F. CLARK
Notary) Public, State of New York
No. 01 CL6052878
Qualified in Tompkins County /_
Commission Expires December 26, 20.06 n
r