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Home My WebLink AboutPB Minutes 2007-05-01REGULAR MEETING TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD TUESDAY, May 1, 2007 215 NORTH TIOGA STREET, ITHACA NY 14850 7:00 p.m. PRESENT FILE DATE Chairperson: Fred Wilcox Board Members: George Conneman, Eva Hoffmann, Rod Howe, Kevin Talty and Larry Thayer STAFF: Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; Susan Ritter, Assistant Director of Planning; Creig Hebdon, Town Engineer; Mike Smith, Environmental Planner; Esther Blodau- Konick, Planner; Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; Paulette Neilsen, Deputy Town Clerk. . OTHERS PRESENT Rhonda Bickford, 1466 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca George Vignaux, 1470 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca Stephen and Marian Rogers, Coddington Road Dick Ladd, 322 Coddington Road, Ithaca Ed Corvill, 328 Coddington Road, Ithaca Hank Roberts, 253 Coddington Road, Ithaca Hollis Erb, 118 Snyder Hill Road, Ithaca Joel Harlan, Newfield David Herrick, T.G. Millers Architects and Surveyors Rick Couture, Ithaca College Scott Tobey, 903 Wycoff Road, Ithaca Allan Chambliss, 14.Middaugh Road, Brooktondale .David Holmberg, 1109 Taughannock Boulevard Tim Peer and Ed Wilson; Cornell University, Humphries Service Building. 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 23, 2007 and April 25, 2007 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 23, 2007, 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. PB 511107 Pg 2 PERSONS TO BE HEARD Joel Harlan, Newfield I just realized something Fred, 1 gotta let you know about it.,. I'm used to the banging of the gavel and the standing up and the saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag. That's what happens over at Common Council. And it seems strange being here and you don't have to stand up and do all that. It feels good.. - CW — I the 11, 121 13 years, however long I have been on this Board, this Board has never said the pledge of allegiance before the meetings. This Board could decide to, and that would be up to the members, but right now, we do not. And I don't use a gavel because I hate them. Mr. Harlan — It should be(inaudible) back there telling you cause it seems strange not doing it. I was about ready to get up and hold my hand on my heart and start saying the pledge of allegiance and nobody's standing up and there's no flag around. Chairperson Wilcox — There's a flag, right back there. Anybody else this evening. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of extending the time period for the Wedemever Equestrian Center protect to submit a complete final site plan application for the project located between 1456 and 1460 Trumansburq Road Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No 24- 1- 19.12, Agricultural Zone. Section r 270 -1.94 of the Town Code requires final site plan material to be submitted within 18 months of the preliminary site plan approval, but allows the Planning Board to extend the time period if needed Preliminary site plan approval was granted on November 15 2005 and the applicant is requesting an 18 month extension Robert & Paula Wedemever, Owners /Applicants. Chairperson Wilcox — I do not believe they are here this evening. Mr. Smith — No, they are still in Arizona. Chairperson Wilcox — And I assume no one is representing them this evening. Mr. Smith — No. I have spoken to them several times so I can answer any questions you have. Chairperson Wilcox — Okay. Let me first point out that there is no SEOR determination as this is a Type II action which has legislatively been determined not to have a significant environmental impact. Discussion... before we give the public a chance... PB 5/1/07 Pg 3 Board Member Talty – Mike, in your personal opinion, do you feel as though this is verifiable and accurate...what they are saying? Mr. Smith = what they are saying in their letter? [yes] Yes, definitely. Board Member Talty – So they are pursuing additional items and... Mr. Smith – Yes, I have met with Mr. Wedemyer twice when he's been up here and he's been talking with builders for the agricultural pieces, builders for the residential areas, for fences, for utilities, breeding, that type of thing... for the road, the driveway coming in ... I has also have been talking with those people. I know Dan's gotten a couple of calls from different excavators and that type of thing, asking what some of the standards are as they are putting prices together for him, so, I know they have been working on it, and when it does come back to you, you will probably see it in a different order ... the timing, than they were originally planning. Originally they were planning on doing the equestrian center and then move into the residence and then the duplex units, where now they are thinking of doing, maybe, one of the duplex units now, and you may get to see that before they come back so for them to move up here and live in so they'll be on -site when the equestrian center approvals take place and the construction will actually be happening. So they will be up here at that time. Chairperson Wilcox – The bottom line is that they are actively pursuing the project. Board Member Hoffmann – Has any work been done on the site? Mr. Smith – I believe all they have done is clear the land, brush -hog, that sort of thing. Board Member Thayer –They need another full 28 months do they? Mr. Smith — I'm not really sure. I think they are looking to do the residence for themselves this summer, which could mean they may not be doing any applications for final until next spring or something like that. So it could be up to that time. At 7:07 p.m., Chairperson Wilcox invites the public to address the Board. George Vignaux, 1470 Trumansburg Road I am a contiguous property owner. At the initial hearing regarding this property I spoke about the location of the duplex units as being not the best place, in my estimation, and I spoke about the probable outcome of placing them there, should it proceed in that manner. What we did not speak of at that point was the wetlands that are where the units were to be located on the initial plan. Subsequent to that meeting, when the clearing took place with the brush -hog, and I think they brought in heavier equipment, they roared through what had been wetland and tore it up mightily. I think that they probably were in violation in so doing. We were PB 5/1/07 Pg 4 somewhat shocked at my house, and at the house next door, that they would do that which they did without mentioning it to us, without clearing it. Surprisingly, the peepers are back, the geese are back, the ducks are back in what is definitely a wetland area.. But the copse of woods is gone. I think that should someone from Planning look at it, they would understand that it is not an ideal place to put up housing, because it is seriously damp, to about 2 -feet deep. Through the winter and through much of the spring it is full and flowing. I nabbed one of the building inspectors the other day, who was inspecting 1462 or so, 2 houses down from me they are having some work done, and I dragged him out back and said, Look, it's wetland." The geese came in for a landing as we were standing there and I think, if anyone goes out and looks at the land, they are going to understand that it is not the place for the duplex units. If they are going up this summer, then somebody better look at it before this summer. Rhonda Bickford, 1466 Trumansburg Road I am the other contiguous neighbor and George and I have watched what happened back there to the wetland with a lot of consternation and upset. Besides the fact that it may be destroying a wetland where there is wildlife, because we see the wildlife, also, if they build there, it's going to involve some interesting drainage projects. Our property is directly below this property and if they change the drainage patterns, I wonder what it's going to do to our property. I wonder what it's going to do to our wet basement. I wonder what it's going to do to our well, with the agricultural run off. So I have concerns about where the water's going to go if it's no longer in that wet area, which is a catchment area. So I do have a lot of concerns about this operation being very, very close to our property and it just doesn't look like a good place for apartment houses, especially when there's other property in that 90 acres where apartment houses can be placed. And that's all have to say on it. Chairperson Wilcox — Any one else. There being no one, the public hearing was closed at 7:15 p.m. and the matter brought back to the Board Couple of things. Michael, next time you meet with the owners, if you could just provide them with a copy of the minutes from the meeting so that they can be made aware of that. What I don't know is whether these are wetlands with a capital w as delineated or whether they are just areas that are... Mr. Smith — They are not DEC wetlands. Chairperson Wilcox — They are not. Okay. The other issue that people have spoke of ... what's before us tonight is simply a extension for the time in which they must come back and seek final approval. Your comments are well made, I hope that when and if they come back and seek final approval, I hope you will come back and make the same comments again so that we may take them into account at that PB 5/1/07 Pg 5 point. I'm not sure that it's relevant tonight, to the matter that is before the Board tonight. Board Member Hoffmann – I don't know either, but l think it is something that we need to. keep in mind because we did have trouble recently with the other developments that we approved, on South Hill, where there are problems with wet areas and we don't want to have that kind of mistake happen again. Chairperson Wilcox – And we can go back and re -look at the preliminary approval if we have new information. Board Member Thayer – Hmmm. I was going to say, because we are extending the approval for a final, so usually, it's pretty well settled... Chairperson Wilcox — Normally it's pretty well settled that you've granted preliminary, you meet these conditions, but there are conditions under which we can go back and change the plan from what was approved for preliminary, given new information or given, potentially, that we were not given correct information at the time. Mr. Smith – In your packet you have a copy of the preliminary resolution which shows that there's a pretty good list of things that they have to do and one of them . is a full stormwater prevention plan and they will come in with all of that. Chairperson Wilcox – Absolutely. Any other comments. Board Member Thayer – I'll move the resolution. Chairperson Wilcox – So moved by Larry Thayer, seconded by Board Member Conneman. My only comment had to do with hardship, the Code uses the term hardship... that it would be a hardship if we did not grant them the extension. If we don't grant them the extension, the preliminary approval would expire, and if they wanted to pursue the project, they would have to come back and seek preliminary approval again. Is that sufficient for hardship? Board Member Hoffmann – Does hardship apply to us or does it apply to the Zoning Board also? Chairperson Wilcox – I think it applies to the applicant. Board Member Hoffmann – No, I mean, is that something we look at as a Planning Board? Chairperson Wilcox – Well in this case it's relevant because it is one of the, it is the criteria for granting the extension, that it would be a hardship to the property owner /applicant. PB 511107 Pg 6 Ms. Brock — Fred, it says a significant hardship. Chairperson Wilcox — Yes, thank you.. Board Member Talty — It seems to me that things have changed here, so I don't know if I'm going to vote to extend this given the current condition that exits on this property because the way you just outlined it Fred, If I vote negative, and this Board votes negative, then they have to come back in front of us and with preliminary, right... Chairperson Wilcox — and start at the beginning, they would have to start at the beginning. Chairperson Wilcox — Sir, sir, please sit back down, no, back there. Thank you. Board Member Talty — Which may be the best course of action, considering what we may have in front of us now. Correct? Chairperson Wilcox — It's possible, it's possible, alternatively, if, as I said before, new information available to us at final, when they come to seek final approval, would allow us to modify what was approved at preliminary, yeah. Mr. Kanter — I guess I would just ask, other than hearing from the public, which is certainly important, what has changed factually ... I guess you would have to consider that before you had a negative vote....Hearing from the public is valuable information, but, I think unless any of us have personally observed a situation, I would caution not to vote negatively unless you have the basis for doing that. . Board Member Talty — I agree with that, but I would be remiss to vote positively hearing what I heard today too. Because, you know what I mean... Mr. Kanter — There's an option though which is if you have questions, then I suggest that we all go out and take a look at it and table the discussion until you actually observe it firsthand. Chairperson Wilcox — Always a possibility. Board Member Hoffmann — I wanted to ask you Mike, if you had been there and have you observed these wetland areas and what is happening. Mr. Smith — Well for one thing, if you look on the plan, there's an area marked existing pond and in between that pond and the proposed pond, the words tree buffer is located between there and the three duplexes. Last year they had mowed down the field and stuff, I did go out there, because we had some questions from the neighbors about what's going on, and it is a wet area, but it's not considered a PB 511!07 Pg 7 DEC wetland or anything to that degree and it's not anything new either, we knew about this when it was coming in for the initial approval and as I said, there is going to .be a full stormwater plan that is going to have to be done for the project which includes that new pond for the sizing of it and the wet areas can actually be enhanced, as part of that project. It's definitely not anything new and the plan that was in your packet for the reference there, is the plan the Mr. Wedemyer is still going to build. The things are still in the same location, they just may change the order of construction, but the actual plans would be the same. Chairperson Wilcox — Any other questions. I have a motion. Board Member Hoffmann — Well it seems to me... it sounds as if they;are going to come in again, because it sounds as if,, based upon what you say, that. they are doing things a little differently than they proposed in the initial plan. Mr. Smith —They are still going to do the same thing that is in the plan it's just going to be in a different order of construction, but the same ... Board Member Hoffmann — So they are doing exactly the same things but in a different order, and do you think that means that they don't have to come in for any changes in the approval? Mr. Smith —They still have to come in for final site plan approval. Board Member Thayer —They still have to come in for final. Mr. Smith — There is a list of conditions in the packet, A through L, that they still have to meet and that's one of the reasons that they haven't come back in, because they have such a lengthy list of conditions to meet and they're trying to work through all of the details that they have to before final. And it is even more difficult because they are in Arizona. Board Member Hoffmann — There will be an opportunity, it sounds like, for us to make sure that they understand that we are concerned about wet areas and that we don't want any problems on neighboring properties from drainage and such. Chairperson Wilcox — And for us to take the appropriate action. Sir ... do you want. to come back up. The issue I have is that the public hearing is closed and if I. have you speak, then I can't give favoritism, and if I let you speak, have to let anyone speak, so at this point I will let you do it. Mr. Vignaux — I just was going to note that it seems strange that the first thing that they will build is the most questionable, if they are going to put the duplexes in first, before they do anything else, then it becomes a fait -a- compli, and I was wondering, PB 5/1/07 Pg 8 what do they need to do to get final approval to go ahead with the building if it is now May and I heard that they were planning on building this summer. Chairperson Wilcox — You want to take it ... you can take it. Mr. Smith — There is nothing on the property at this point and they have the right to build one residence or single family house or anything like that that the zoning permits in this district without any of the Planning Board or any of the approval. They would just need the building permits to do that and I believe that is what they are going to start to do this summer, is building their own residence for themselves, to start with. Mr. Vignaux — And if I was in their position, I would stick the building in the wettest possible spot because then it would be done and we would be done. Mr. Kanter — If I were an applicant, even if I had a by right house by a permit and was still pending before the Planning Board, I don't think I would build it in a place that would make the Planning Board question whether they should approve further development. But that's just me, as an applicant. But since I'm not an applicant, it doesn't matter. Chairperson Wilcox — And the right to build a single - family residence comes with the ownership of the land. It meets all of the requirements for building a single - family residence. Anything other than that, and they are back to the conditions ... yup, yup. I still have a motion and a second. Board Member Conneman — If we turn it down, what does that mean? That's what I would like Susan to tell us, what does it mean, if, suppose the vote is negative. Ms. Brock — The applicant, if they wanted to pursue the project, they would need to come back, starting at the beginning again, seeking preliminary approval. Let's see ... is there ... what's the zoning for this property? Agricultural, so is an equestrian center permitted as of right? Or do they... okay ... and if there were any grandfather issues that would change .... but it doesn't sound like that's an issue...okay. Chairperson Wilcox — I am curious as to how people are thinking about voting. Board Member Hoffmann — I didn't really see that there is a big problem about allowing them this extension. It will ... one of the things it could do is to allow them more time to think it through and get a better project. Chairperson Wilcox — I still have a motion and a second. Any further discussion. PB 5/1/07 Pg 9 ADOPTED RESOLUTION PB RESOLUTION NO. 2007 — 040 Extend Time Frame to Submit Final Site Plan Material Wedemeyer Equestrian Center Trumansburg Road Tax Parcel No. 24 -1 -19.12 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, May 1, 2007 Motion made by Larry Thayer, seconded by George Conneman. WHEREAS: 1. This action is to consider extending the time period for the Wedemeyer Equestrian Center project to submit a complete final site plan application for the project located between 1456 and 1460 Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 24 -1- 19.12, Agricultural Zone. Robert & Paula Wedemeyer, Owners /Applicants, and 2. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board granted Preliminary Site Plan Approval for this project on November 15, 2005, with conditions to be met prior to Final Site Plan, and 3. Section 270 -194 (A) of the Town of Ithaca Code states that "except when a rezoning has occurred based upon a preliminary or general site plan any approval of a preliminary site plan may revoked by the Planning Board, after a public hearing and upon written notice in person or by mail to the applicant, if a fully complete application for final site plan approval has not been submitted to the Planning Board within 18 months of the date preliminary approval was granted", and 4. Section 270 -194 (B) of the Town of Ithaca Code states that "the Planning Board may, when compliance with the foregoing time periods would create a significant hardship for the owner, extend the time periods for such periods and upon such conditions as the Planning Board may reasonably determine", and 5. The applicant, Robert Wedemeyer, in a letter dated March 19, 2007, has requested an 18 month time extension, and 6. This is a Type II Action, pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 (c) (20), State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), requiring no further environmental review, and PB 5/1/07 Pg 10 7. The Planning Board held a Public Hearing on May 1, 2007 and has reviewed and accepted as adequate a letter from Robert Wedemeyer, dated March 19, 2007,. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants an 18 month time extension for the Wedemeyer Equestrian Center project to submit a complete final site plan application, to expire on November 15, 2008. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Fred T. Wilcox III, Eva Hoffmann, George Conneman, Larry Thayer, and Rod Howe NAYS: Kevin Talty ABSTENTIONS: None The motion was passed. At 7:26 p.m., Chairperson Wilcox announces the next agenda item. SEQR Determination I . Namgyal Monastery Entrance Gate, 100 Tibet Drive, Chairperson Wilcox — Are you prepared to make a short presentation? Scott Tobey, 903 Wycoff Road I can do the same song and dance I did last time if you'd like. Chairperson Wilcox — If you would. Mr. Tobey — I believe that everything is pretty much the same as the presentation that I brought last time except for the exact location of the gate. It was previously located between our edge of right -of -way but before the stream crossing. So it was downhill from the stream crossing. So, in an effort to move it further from the road, make it a little less visible, we moved it to the opposite side of the stream and because the stream crosses the road at an angle, it required us to move it significantly so that now it is located about 70 back from the edge of the right -of -way and there is a fairly large right -of -way there so it's over a 100 feet off of the edge of the pavement. I did construct, as you requested, somewhat of a mockup, it's a couple of pipes with some flags across it, I don't know if anyone went up to view its location... Chairperson Wilcox — Absolutely. Board Member Conneman — Yup. PB 5/1/07 Pg 11 Board Member Hoffmann — And it was very helpful to see it. Board Member Thayer — Yes it was. Mr. Tobey — So I don't . know if I should give my opinion on its location and appearance or if you want to give me your opinions, but, in my impression, it's almost unnoticeable coming out of Ithaca and as you are entering toward Ithaca, traveling north, there's an embankment on your right hand side with trees and brush, so you really don't get a visual picture of it until you're within our property boundaries. Basically, you'd have to look at a 45 degree angle from your direction of travel to see it, so, I don't, personally view it as a distraction, but, maybe members of the Board have other feelings about that. Chairperson Wilcox — Let me first apologize, I didn't mean to refer to you by your last name, I just... Mr. Tobey — That's quite alright. I grew up being Tobey because I had an older brother... Chairperson Wilcox — I didn't mean to do that, that was my mistake and I apologize. Questions with regard to the environmental review? There being none. Would somebody like to move the SEQR motion. Board Member Howe — I'll move the motion. Board Member Conneman — I'll second it. Any further discussion? Board Member Hoffmann — I'd just like to say that I think that this is an improvement. Vote. ADOPTED RESOLUTION: PB RESOLUTION No. 2007 SEQR Preliminary & Final Site PB 5/1/07 Pg 12 - 041 Plan Approval / Special Permit Modification Namgyal Monastery = Entrance Gate 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road) Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, May 1, 2007 Motion made by Rod Howe, seconded by George Conneman. WHEREAS. 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for a modification to the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies project located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby. Road across from Sesame Street), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10, Medium Density Residential Zone. The modification includes constructing a ±/- 20 foot high open ornate archway -like structure (entrance gate) over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way .. (105' from the edge of the pavement). Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, Owner /Applicant; Scott Tobey, Agent; and 29 This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is acting as Lead Agency in environmental review with respect to Site Plan Approval and Special Permit, and 3. The Planning Board, on May 1, 2007., has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) Part I, submitted by the applicant, and Part II prepared by Town. Planning staff, drawings titled "Main entrance gate as drawn by resident Namgyal monk" and "Highway Entrance" (Sheet C202) including note "Original map by TG Miller, Modified by Scott Tobey to indicate proposed location for Namgyal Monastery entrance gate. 4- 17 -07", and other application materials, and 4. The Town Planning staff has recommended environmental significance with respect to Approval and Special Permit; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. 0 a negative determination of the proposed Site Plan That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination of environmental significance in accordance with Article 8 of the Environmental. Conservation Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617 New York State Environmental Quality Review for the above referenced actions as proposed, PB 5/1/07 Pg 13 based on the information in the EAF Part I and for the reasons set forth in the EAF Part II, and, therefore, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Fred T. Wilcox, 111, Eva Hoffmann, George Conneman, Larry Thayer, Rod Howe, Kevin Talty. NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: None The motion was passed unanimously. At 7:30 p.m., Chairperson Wilcox announces the next agenda item. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for a modification to the Namgyal Monastery project located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road across from Sesame Street), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No, 43-2- 10, Medium Density Residential Zone. The modification includes constructing a +/- 20 foot high open ornate archway -like structure (entrance gate) over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way (105 from the edge of the pavement). Namgyal Monastery, Owner /Applicant; Scott Tobey, Agent. Chairperson Wilcox — Questions with regard to the site plan. No. Let me support what Eva just said. This plan, this revised plan that we received for review this evening puts the proposed entrance gate 32 feet farther back than the original one, it places it 40 feet farther back on the property than is required by the set back and the height of the entrance gate is 10 feet lower than is required under zoning, 20 feet instead of 30. So I'm not concerned, I wasn't concerned with the previous one either. If there are no other questions, I'll give the public a chance. Board Member Hoffmann — I do have a question, and that is, last time you mentioned that there is a row of trees, and the original placement of the gate would be so that it had a row of trees on either side, and, a lot of work has been done there for the drainage onto the road, and it looks like there is grass seeded fairly recently, and there may have been more trees before, and I was wondering, are you planning to plant some more trees adjacent to the gate and this new location? Mr. Tobey — The original location for it, there's, it's a grouping of trees that follows the pathway of the stream, and the original placement was at the front boundary of that tree zone. Now that we've moved it back the 40 feet, or the 32 PB 5/1/07 Pg 14 feet, it moves it to the back of that tree zone. So it's still within those tree boundaries, the tree clearing we did was the minimum amount required for our roadway to get in. It was actually one of the requirements in our bid package out to the contractors doing the work up there, that they not remove any more trees than was required, so, we feel it was so far a minimal effect on the trees. We do intend to maintain the trees that are there. I don't know if we are proposing to plant any more trees next to it because just like with power lines, trees grow up and they bush out and then they have to be cut back because they are encroaching on the power lines and such, so I wouldn't want to do anything that might grow up and damage our structure or encroach on it, but I think its current location is satisfactory without having to remove any more trees. I don't think its construction would require us to remove any more trees. And I think that, I didn't measure, but I would say that there are significant hardwoods within say, 20 feet, in either direction of the gate columns. Board Member Hoffmann —Well they aren't, the trees aren't all that big, but, they would grow... Mr. Tobey — Not yet, but they would grow. Board Member Hoffmann -- ...and.get bigger. There are more trees toward the north, on the northern side of the driveway there are more trees... Mr. Tobey — Right, that's more of a ... Board Member Hoffmann — than to the south, so that's why I was wondering if you were planning to add some trees, after the gate now, the plan is to move the gate to a different location. Mr. Tobey — Well, I guess on the south side of that area, sort of the southwest, is where we have the stream and a lot of utilities and stuff like that ... I don't know that we can plant too many trees in that area. We can't plant them directly on top of the stream culvert either... Board Member Hoffmann — Right. That's the reason for my question, because I figured you wouldn't be able to do that, or even shrubs, but .maybe.. 0 I seems to me, if I remember right, the location of the gate as you have it now is a bigger distance, a greater distance, from the culvert, so I thought it might be possible to do it there. Mr. Tobey — I guess it's possible. Board Member Hoffmann — I guess ... I always like trees, and this side... Chairperson Wilcox — That's an understatement... PB 5/1/07 Pg 15 Board Member Hoffmann -- ...right... this side is actually beautifully wooded, and I can understand that you wouldn't want to plant trees in such a way that you destroy the view that you have available from where the structures are going to be, because those are some gorgeous views there: But, I think some selective planting.closer to the road, especially on the ... what would it be....the south side of the driveway, on that corner where there is just a new grassy area now... Mr. Tobey — That actually was... Board Member Hoffmann -- . ...that would be nice. Mr. Tobey — Okay, to the south of the driveway... that was actually an existing grassy area, we didn't clear that area, that was existing. Chairperson Wilcox — Any other comments, questions? Alright. Scott, if you take a seat, I'll give the public a chance. Allan Chambliss, 14 Middaugh Road, Brooktondale I'm the architect for the main project and I understand that at the last go- around there was a question about the timing of the introduction of all this, of the gate, into the process ... One of the reasons I'm not, I haven't been involved with Scott on working on the gate is because, when it first came up, I was in the middle of doing the permit drawings, working on the contract drawings, and he had sympathy for me and allowed me just to focus on that and not get involved in any work on the gate at all. The first I heard of it was several months after site plan review, when the committee was formed to start planning for the visit of his Holiness to Ithaca. And it was at that point that people realized that a ceremonial gate would be needed as part of that whole process. So my only comment is that that was the first that I heard about it. I don't know of any discussion of it before then. David Holmberg, 1109 Taughannock Boulevard am a Board Member of the Namgyal Monastery and I will try to make this quick ... I'm basically just here to say that I was unable to make it to the last meeting. I, like others, heard the various representations made about the motivations for the construction of this gate, and I just want to say that the issue of the gate did not come up until very late in the process. In fact, at the time when we started to plan for the Dai Lama's visit to Ithaca this coming October so, I'm just here to confirm that that's the first it came up. I am also a cultural anthropologist who specializes in that part of the world. I am happy to answer any questions you might have on the process whereby the decision to construct the gate came up or what its significance might be in the context of the monastery. Chairperson Wilcox — My first question is, I need an address. PB 5/1/07 Pg 16 Mr. Holmeberg — 1109 Taughannock Blvd. Lifetime resident of Tompkins County. Chairperson Wilcox — Thank you. Stay right there. Questions? Board Member Hoffmann — Thank you for explaining what happened Chairperson Wilcox — There being no one, I. will close the public hearing at 7:38p.m. Board Member Howe — I'll move the resolution. Board Member Talty —Second. Chairperson Wilcox — So moved by Rod Howe, seconded by Kevin Talty. Further discussion? Vote. ADOPTED RESOLUTION: PB RESOLUTION No. 2007 - 042 Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval / Special Permit Modification Namgyal Monastery — Entrance Gate 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road) Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, May 1, 2007 Motion made by Rod Howe, seconded by Kevin Talty. WHEREAS: 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for a modification to the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies project located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road across from Sesame Street), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10, Medium Density Residential Zone. The modification includes constructing a +/- 20 foot high open ornate archway -like structure (entrance gate) over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way (105' from the edge of the pavement). Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, Owner /Applicant; Scott Tobey, 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 Site Plan Approval and Special Permit has, on May 1, 2007, made a negative determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a .Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, PB 5/1/07 Pg 17 submitted by the applicant, and a Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on May 1, 2007, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, drawings titled "Main entrance gate as drawn by resident Namgyal monk" and "Highway Entrance" (Sheet C202) including note "Original Map by TG Miller, Modified by Scott Tobey to indicate proposed location for Namgyal Monastery entrance gate. 4 -17- 07", and other application materials, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed entrance gate at the Namgyal Monastery finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270 -200, Subsections A — L, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary and Final Site Plan Checklists, having determined from the materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a significant alteration of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board, and 2. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board.hereby grants Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed entrance gate at the Namgyal Monastery located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10, as described on drawings titled "Main entrance gate as drawn by resident Namgyal monk" and "Highway Entrance" (Sheet C202) including note "Original map by TG Miller, Modified by Scot Tobey to indicate proposed location for Namgyal Monastery entrance gate. 4- 17 -07". The entrance gate is a +/- 20 foot high open ornate archway -like structure over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way (105' from the edge of the pavement). A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Fred T. Wilcox III, Eva Hoffmann, George Conneman, Larry Thayer, Rod Howe, Kevin Talty. NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: None The motion was passed unanimously. PB 5/1/07 Pg 18 At 7:40 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox announces the next agenda item. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed improvements and modifications to the Cornell University Utilities Department Service Yard located between Maple Avenue and Dryden Road (NYS Route 366) around the Central Heating Plant, Town of Ithaca Tax' Parcel No.'s 63- 1 -8.1, 63 -1 -8.2 and 63 -1 -5, Light Industrial and Low Density Residential Zones. The proposal involves improving an existing oil tank, installation of a new fuel off - loading station and oil fuel piping, expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Cornell Maple Avenue substation, replacement of the existing coal conveyor with a new covered coal conveyor, and the reconfiguration and upgrading of the existing service roadways. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; James R. Adams, Agent. Chairperson Wilcox -- Before we begin, let me also note that there is no SEQR determination. This too is a Type II action. I received a memo from Susan Brock indicating that she had discussed this with Jon Kanter and agreed that this is Type Ii, and therefore, is legislatively been determined not to have a significant environmental impact. This one seems a little odd, but that's fine. Ms. Brock — No that's fine, but just for the record, there are several Type II designations that apply and the references are actually listed in the resolution itself. If anybody has any questions about that I can answer them. Chairperson Wilcox — Therefore, we will move right to the presentation that I assume you will make. Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, if you wish to come up and around and behind us so that you may better view the visuals that are being used, you are welcome to do so. Tim Peer, Project Manager and Ed Wilson, Plant Manager; Cornell University, Humphries Service Building. Mr. Peer — So we were last here February 20th for sketch plan review for this project. So what I will do ... this presentation somewhat mirrors that in going through the components that make up this project. So I will go over them quickly and then we will come back and go over them in more detail. So we are going to replace and upgrade our existing coal conveyor, modify our existing oil storage tank, we're going to renew and reconfigure our existing electrical substation, and we're going to improve access in and around the coal storage area. PB 5/1/07 Pg 19 So again, just to orient you quickly, here is the map of Cornell University as I have shown you previously, and to the south of campus here is the Humphries Service Building Heating Plant and Utility Yard, this road here is Route 366 and behind it here is Maple Ave. So zooming in a little closer, again, Route 366 to the north, Maple Ave to the south, Humphries Service Building Central Heating Plant, and this is the NYSEG substation that powers Ithaca. So looking up here at the fuel oil tank is actually this little circle, underneath the word fuel, the oil and loading dock will go up in this area. This is the coal conveyor that we are going to replace. Here is the substation, and these yellow lines here represent the new access roads that will be built and we will also improve these existing ones. And then we also have.an area for disposal of on -site spoil and contractor lay -down space. So looking at the coal conveyor again, the location does not change. It has the same end points. The new conveyor will be enclosed and we are doing that to help minimize dust in the area and the support foundations will be relocated. Looking at the second component, that's the oil storage tank, that's this smaller tank here and it's hard to see on this picture here, but there is a red dashed line about a third of the way down, so the shell height will be lowered about.16 feet. In addition to that, we're going to comply with different regulatory requirements for the on -site storage of #2 fuel oil, which includes a double wall floor with secondary leak protection and we need to rework the secondary containment area to improve that and then we'll be replacing the piping and of course, relocating the oil unloading dock. Chairperson Wilcox — And the purpose of lowering the tank height is? Mr. Peer— For less.fuel oil storage on campus. So looking at the substation here. We're going to add a third transformer bay that will have an A -frame that looks just like these two existing ones and then there will be three transformers instead of two. So the two that are existing will be replaced and a third one added. Right now the primary protective equipment and breakers reside in this little facility. We're going to build a new one here, to replace that and have, and then install new electrical gear to feed the load. And I don't have. any pictures for the access road, but we are going to upgrade them and the idea is to improve coal delivery and general site access up in that area. I want to just show you some pictures from around the site. to sort of give you a general feel for the visual impacts that might be associated with this. So we are going to do a little tour around the site. This again being the sire, and starting over here to the right, this photo location and this one is the same that were in the site PB 5/1/07 Pg 20 plan application that we gave you and then we will go around the site in a clockwise direction. So this is the entrance to the East Hill Recreational Way and looking back up on the hill, you can see here, just over the hill, the existing two A- frames, so there will be a third one here. We did all these pictures during the winter so this would be sort of a worst -case scenario ... So coming back up on Maple Ave and looking off in the distance, there is, of course the existing NYSEG, it is very difficult to see because the coal conveyor is not visible, but just the top of the A- frames can be seen from the existing transformers. Coming a little further down Maple Ave, looking through, you can see the existing Cornell transformers back through the NYSEG owned power equipment and the coal conveyor is just in this area. This is just a little bit further down Maple Ave. where you can see through the parking area for the transportation building up there and you can see the coal conveyor up here off in the distance that is going to be replaced. Now we've come around the corner onto route 366 and off in the distance here you can see where the coal conveyor. passes through from the storage pile into the facility. So this is the corner of Coy Road and Route 366 from which none of it is visible. And coming up from Route 366, you can see again, up in the background, here's the two A- frames for the substation and the third one will be added here. This is the fuel tank here that will be shortened in height. So that's what we have for going through in the presentation`. So I will be glad to take any questions. Chairperson Wilcox — Questions? Board Member Hoffmann — You talk about the A- frames and that there'll be another added, but you also mentioned that the 2 that are there now are going to be replaced. What will the new ones.look like? Mr. Peer — The A- frames will stay, the two existing A- frames. The transformers are going to be replaced. Board Member Hoffmann — Oh, okay. Mr. Peer — So they will essentially look like the ones that are there, slightly smaller. Board Member Hoffmann — And then, I was also looking at the general site plan as it looks now, which has number, well it ends 2100, and I was comparing it with 2101, which is how it will look after you have done these projects and I don't see the ... there is no grading on the second one, but on the existing one there are quite PB 5/1/07 Pg 21 a few grades indicating the slopes that are there, and I am wondering, in this contractors staging and spoils area, what's going to happen? Is that going to be soil and other things put there and re- graded? And how will it be graded? That's what I'd like to know. Mr. Peer — we haven't put a grading plan on there other than it will be as flat as we can make it but tipped to follow the natural contours. And so, we haven't made any specific plans yet about any usage beyond staffing for this project. Board Member Hoffmann — And will there be a fence around this whole area? There is a line ... yes, it says relocated pasture fence. Mr. Peer — Yeah, the area is currently a pasture for the Cornell equestrian program, so that's just a horse fence being relocated. Board Member Hoffmann — I noticed there was a new fence put up there quite recently, just within the last month. Is that the kind of fence you are talking about or is that just ... the one that's there now, is that just a temporary fence? Mr. Wilson — I'm not sure what fence you are referring to. Board Member Hoffmann — There's one that goes away from Maple Avenue and Pine Tree Road and it looks like a fence to keep the horses in. Mr. Wilson — Any fencing that... We will be removing some fencing around the existing substation which is chain -link fencing, 8 -feet tall, and that will be relocated to include all of the ... the third A -frame and the other transformer. Any other fencing that is of a farm nature will be relocated back to return the area to some of the agricultural uses it uses now after we're through with the area. Board Member Hoffmann — But there won't be any pasture area any more, where you have the contractor staging and spoils area, is that right? Mr. Wilson — That's correct. Chairperson Wilcox — I would point out that in the resolution that was drafted for our use this evening, there is a condition which is "submission of a landscaping and reclamation plan showing location, species, size, proposed plantings and existing landscape to be retained, paying special attention to the stabilization of exposed slopes." Which I think would cover whatever they are going to do with these areas that are going to be disturbed. What are they going to do to recover them. Anyone else. Board Member Thayer — I was disappointed to hear, that day that George and I were up there, that the regulation on the #2 oil tank has to be changed, the color of PB 5/1/07 Pg 22 the tank has to go to white instead of the beautiful rust. Not anything you can do about it, apparently, but it's just too bad that it has to change to a white. Chairperson Wilcox — And that signifies to emergency personnel ... I assume, does the color have something to do with telling the emergency personnel what's in that tank? Board Member Thayer — Exactly. Chairperson Wilcox — Now also notice the size of that white tank next to .it which holds water, I think... Mr. Peer — Yes, that's thermal energy storage. Chairperson Wilcox — Anybody else? Board Member Howe — I was just going to say that this is where the site visit came in very handy because it made this much easier, to have been there on site, so thank you. Chairperson Wilcox — There are a couple of things that I want to say. Rod and and Eva took the first site visit. I want to thank Ed for taking us through the building and giving us the time and doing it twice. Board Member Talty — And I would like to thank Ed for the second time. Chairperson Wilcox — and in case I forgot, I want to say something else. During the site visit I asked Ed about violations at Cornell and the heating facility, the entire facility had been cited for, and I thought he was quite honest with us in his answer and I thnked him for his candor, and then I forgot about it. But when I was reading through the materials provided, especially the long environmental assessment form, Part I, which turned out to not be necessary, I was reminded of that candor in the materials provided. I really thought that Cornell was going out of their way not to hide anything, I felt that way, and because I felt that way, I want to thank all of you and all the participants for providing, certainly, more information than was necessary and for giving us the time to go through, both as Planning Board members and for me as, it's kind. of like being like a Kittle kid, in this building and seeing how both the mechanical systems work and some of the newer....analog and the digital systems together in the same building ... very interesting forme. Mr. Wilson — We are happy to do a tour any time you'd like to. Chairperson Wilcox —The other thing is I almost wanted to do an environmental review because the impact of these is to reduce the environmental impact of the facilities, to take the oil storage tank down from a million gallons down to two thirds of that, to help eliminate the coal dust issue when the coal is transported across PB 5/1/07 Pg 23 and then these...this is the first of three projects, the other two being the installation of new, I want to call them boilers, I'll get the right word... Mr. Wilson — Combustion turbines, recovery steam generators. Chairperson Wilcox — Thank you ... and then the transportation of the natural gas to the site, which will reduce your coal usage by 50 %, which will have impacts on the road system and both at the site. Having said that, we talk about the visual impact ... this site's a mess. If you think about it.. you look at the telephone poles all over the place ... I mean, the site is just a.... Board Member Conneman — but it's the right place to have it. Chairperson Wilcox — It is absolutely the right place to have it. I remember when the. .'When we had the cellular tower application that went on one of the telephone poles out there ... I commented that the only thing growing in this field is telephone poles and utility poles and it really is a mess back there, so I'm not concerned about the visual impact. I am concerned, obviously, about the steep slopes and that those are dealt with properly, and again, I think those are dealt with in the resolution that was drafted. We do need to give the public a chance to speak, if there's no more comment here. Hollis Erb, 118 Snyder Hill Road I thought that the sets of pictures were really very generously done so that we could see what the visual impact would be of this, and I fully agree that this is, overall, a very good idea as a project. I am going to state that I think that there are three views where the public will see this project and on at least two of those views, it might not take more than a couple of evergreens... I'm thinking of Maple Avenue and Route 366, down in the low area, to just sort of finish blocking the little bit of view that there was up into that area and it also seems to be that with a third transformer set up, on the hill, when you're coming up from the recreation way or from Pine Tree Road, if there was room on the non -horse pasture side, to put one or two or three evergreens there just to soften that impact, that also would be a lovely thing to do. And I stress it would have to be on the non -horse pasture side because I assure you, the horses will eat the trees. So thank you very much. There being no one else wishing to address the Board, Chairperson Wilcox closes the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox — Trees are nice but, this site is just... PB 5/1/07 Pg 24 Board Member Thayer — Doesn't need it. Board Member Hoffmann — It doesn't hurt. Chairperson Wilcox — It never hurts but... Board Member Thayer — It doesn't hurt. Board Member Hoffmann — Especially from the Recreation Way. Chairperson Wilcox — I also wonder what the trees would be planted in, that's a ... coal dust or ash from years ago, there's a whole nother issue there as to what the ground is made up of on this site. Board Member Hoffmann — The trees might help with that too. Chairperson Wilcox — We are lucky that we do not have to create the motions at the meeting ... we are very fortunate... Anybody else? Beside the trees, trees are nice, but I'm not sure you would even see them given all of the telephone poles and the infrastructure that's there. Board Member Hoffmann — Well it depends on what trees and how they are placed, but I think a couple of carefully placed evergreens would ,probably help and I think what Hollis was talking about, especially, was the way you see it from the Recreation Way. Chairperson Wilcox — Let's see.., let me find my picture here..: Board Member Hoffmann and you can see the existing transformers and there will be an additional one, plus another building. Chairperson Wilcox — Plus another building ... I'm not sure why, ,there's not another building... Board Member Hoffmann — I think that was another building that was going to go there. That was called the transformer, the new control building... Board Member Thayer — Yeah, they're taking down the old:..just moving it. Chairperson Wilcox — Just moving it. Board Member Hoffmann — Right but it moves further east so it's likely to be more visible to the Recreation Way. PB 5/1/07 Pg 25 Chairperson Wilcox — Right. But the way I look at it, now what's the height of the A- frames, roughly ... [15 -20 feet] Thank you ... what's the height of the exhaust tower [250] Board Member Hoffmann — That's from a very low starting point. Chairperson Wilcox — I'm just judging, I'm looking at what we see and I'm looking at what's the impact of adding another A -frame vs. what's already... Board Member Hoffmann — You do see those A- frames from Pine Tree Road. Chairperson Wilcox — Yes, I don't deny that. Any other discussion? Questions? Would someone like to move the motion as drafted ... moved by Kevin Talty, seconded by George Conneman. Esther ... I want to change maintenance... Board Member Thayer — (i) state... Chairperson Wilcox — You had something substantive Esther? Ms. Blodau- Konick — Yeah, on C. of the resolution... it asks for submission of a grading plan describing the volume of cut and flow materials, there composition and topography lines after construction, and the grading plans should show topography lines before and after construction. Board Member Hoffmann Would you say that again a little louder. Ms. Blosau - Konick — The topography lines on the grading plan should be should before and after construction as opposed to simply just after construction. Mr. Kanter— In other words, existing and proposed contour lines. Chairperson Wilcox — Susan's going to put legalized verbiage around it... Mr. Kanter — I don't think that has to be too legalized. Chairperson Wilcox — I know. Changes acceptable Kevin and George. Board Member Hoffmann — There is another typo, perhaps, in (a) in the first line, seal of each register line surveyor, that should be registered, I think. Chairperson Wilcox — Any other discussion? Vote. Susan, sorry... Ms. Brock — In (g), add the words fully executed Storm Water Maintenance Operation and Reporting Agreement. Chairperson Wilcox — And by that you mean.... Ms. Brock – Executed by the Town and the applicant. Chairperson Wilcox – Okay...i.e., signed by both comfortable with that change? [yes] Vote PB 5/1/07 Pg 26 Kevin and George, you're ADOPTED RESOLUTION: PB RESOLUTION No. 2007 - 043 1. Preliminary Site Plan Approval & Special Permit Cornell Utilities Dept. Service Yard Upgrades Dryden.Road Tax Parcels 63. -1 -5, 63.- 1 -8.19 638-1 -81 Planning Board, May 1;2007 Motion made by Kevin Talty, seconded by George Conneman, WHEREAS: 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and Special Permit from the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for the proposed Cornell Utilities Department Service Yard Upgrades located on Dryden Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel. Nos. 63. -1 -5, 63.- 1 -8.1, and 63.- 1 -8.2, Low Density Residential Zone and Light Industrial Zone. The proposal includes modifying the existing oil tank installation of an oil. off - loading station and fuel oil piping, the addition of a third transformer, replacement of two existing transformers with new transformers, replacement of the existing open coal belt conveyor with a covered coal conveyor and re- configuration and improvement of existing roadways within the site. Cornell University, AIA, Owner /Applicant; James R. Adams, Agent; and 2. This is a Type II action, pursuant to 6NYCRR Part 617.5 (c), subsections 21 7, and 8, State Environmental Quality Review (SEAR), requiring no further environmental review; and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on May 1, 2007, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, subject to the conditions outlined below, site plan drawings, entitled, "Site Plan— Existing Conditions," "Site Plan— Proposed Modifications," "Section A Existing Conveyor B," "Section B Modifications to Existing Conveyor B," prepared by GIE Niagara Engineering Inc., PC, dated March 2007; and plan and elevation views of the existing and proposed modifications of the oil tank entitled " #6 Fuel Oil Tank Modification Plan," prepared by U.N.I Engineering Incorporated, dated March 12, 2007, and other materials; PB 5/1/07 Pg 27 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the construction of the Cornell Utilities Service Yard Upgrades, finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270 -200, Subsections A -L, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary Site Plan Approval for the proposed Cornell Utilities Department Service Yard Upgrades, as shown on the drawings and details in the site plan submission, including site plan drawings, entitled, "Site Plan- Existing Conditions," "Site Plan— Proposed Modifications," "Section A Existing Conveyor.B," "Section B Modifications to Existing Conveyor B," prepared by GIE Niagara Engineering Inc., PC, dated March 2007; and plan and elevation views of the existing and proposed modifications of the oil tank entitled " #6 Fuel Oil Tank Modification Plan," prepared by U.N.I Engineering Incorporated, dated March 12, 2007, and other materials, subject to the following conditions prior to Final Site Plan Approval, unless otherwise noted: a. Revision of all plans to include the name and seal of each registered land surveyor, engineer, architect, or landscape architect who prepared any of the site plan materials and the name of Town, County, and State; and b. Submission of plans showing location, design, dimensions, and construction materials of all proposed roads, access drives, offloading areas, fences, retaining walls, screening, signs and exterior lighting including type and size of lighting fixtures and amount and area of illumination of any proposed lighting; and c. Submission of a grading plan describing the volumes of cut and fill .materials their composition, and topography lines before and after construction; and d. Submission of a drainage analysis and stormwater management plan showing existing and proposed drainage patterns, including a description of method used for analysis, the calculation of drainage area above point of entry for each water course entering or abutting the site and drawings showing design details of the proposed stormwater management facility for the approval of the Director of Engineering; and PB 5/1/07 Pg 28 e. Submission of an erosion and sediment control plan showing appropriate stabilization patterns both during and after construction; and f. Submission of a landscaping /reclamation plan showing locations, species, and. size of proposed plantings and existing landscape to be retained paying special attention to the stabilization of exposed slopes; and g. Submission of a fully executed Stormwater Maintenance, Operation, and Reporting Agreement if recommended by the Director of Engineering, prior to the issuance of any building construction permits; and h. Submission of drawings and elevations showing the proposed third transformer, the oil off- loading station, and a section showing the oil tank dyke liner system and other structures proposed to be constructed by the applicant which have not yet been submitted; and Submission of record of application for and approval status of all necessary permits from county, states, and /or federal agencies, or documentation that no such permits are required prior to Final Site Plan approval, and submission of documentation of all necessary approvals from County, State and /or Federal agencies prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Fred T. Wilcox III, Eva Hoffmann, George Conneman, Larry Thayer, Rod Howe, and Kevin Talty. NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: None The motion was passed unanimously. At 8:08 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox announces the next agenda item. PB 5/1/07 Pg 29 Public Scoping Meeting The purpose of the Public Scoping Meeting is to consider public comments on the Draft Scoping Document (dated March 7, 2007, Revised April 6, 2007) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement known as the EIS that will be prepared regarding the proposed Ithaca College Athletic and. Events Center located on the eastern side of the Ithaca College campus near the Coddington Road campus entrance, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2, 41 -1 -24, and 42- 1 -9.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal includes the construction of a +/- .300,000 square foot field house building (containing a 200M track, indoor field for practices and games, seating and floor space for large events, Olympic size pool and diving well, indoor tennis courts, rowing center, strength and conditioning center, etc.) an outdoor - lighted artificial turf field and 400M track, and the creation of 1015 +/- parking spaces (553 existing parking spaces moved and 462 new parking spaces). The project is proposed in several phases and will also include new walkways, access roads, stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Richard Couture, Agent. Copies of the Draft Scoping Document are available at the Town of Ithaca Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY (607- 273 - 1747), or on the Town's website: www.town.ithaca.ny.us. Are you going to make any presentation, or are you here to listen only? Chairperson Wilcox invites the public to come and stand behind the Board members to facilitate seeing the visuals David Herrick, TG Miller Engineers and Surveyors, 203 North Aurora, Ithaca Rick Couture, Vice President for Facilities, Ithaca College Mr. Herrick — This is somewhat of a departure from my usual presentation methods, but we did want to deliver tonight, a concise presentation of information that does take us back to the January 16th meeting and also will give you folks and the public in attendance tonight, a better understanding, as we now understand it of how some of the uses will be managed and scheduled for both the outdoor elements and the indoor building. The presentation boards to my left and right illustrate the extent of the initial and future phases of the college's master plan for the Athletic & Events Center as originally presented to the public at the Town Planning Board at the January 16th meeting of this year. These sketch plans serve to disclose the limit, scale, and character of the project elements. The College acknowledged that there is the potential for at least one significant adverse environmental impact and that conducting an environmental examination of the project throught the DEIS process was appropriate. We presented to the Town a preliminary list of environmental issues likely to be raised by other involved agencies and the public. This list was expanded and the PB 5/1/07 Pg 30 importance of potentially large impacts refined following the Town's completion of Part 2 and 3 of the Environmental Assessment Form, The Draft Scoping Document before .you summarizes those impacts deemed to be significant and identifies the quality of the information that we must produce to adequately address each impact. As stated in the SEQR regulation, "the primary goals of scoping are to focus the EIS on potentially significant adverse impacts and to eliminate consideration of those impacts that are irrelevant or non- significant." We believe that the Scoping Document as drafted achieves this goal. There will. certainly be other prominent issues reaised this evening and while they will be recorded in the Scoping Document we expect they will not be deemed significant. There are several key items from the January 16th presentation that we would like to reemphasize in addition to presenting a more detailed understanding of the facility's use: The project will enhance athletic facilities for the existing student population and is not being designed to accommodate any planned enrollment growth. These facilities are principally a venue for athletic competitions and practice and will minimize the present need and reliance of similar use of Cornell facilities. Some typical outdoor uses: The outdoor field, during the academic year is likely to be used for one of three general purposes: 1) Physical Education during the day, 2) Athletics practices afternoons and early evenings, and 3) intramural sports or recreation in the evenings. During the spring semester the turf field will be used for Lacrosse competition with the majority of games starting at 4:OOpm. Several games will be starting at 7pm. A lacrosse game may attract 200 spectators, on average, with two events drawing 1,000 spectators. In the fall, the field hockey team will use the field for their games, with similar start times. These outdoor competitive events will require a sound system and are expected to be completed by 9:OOpm. There is no need to use a sound system for any intramural sports and the noise levels associated with this activity are no different than a community soccer. field. The outdoor track, if relocated, will be used primarily on the weekends during the spring semester and may attract an average of 500 spectators. Up to 2,500 spectators could attend and Empire 8 tournament. The College will comply with the Town's lighting standards that require outdoor, lighted field activities to be scheduled for completion by 11:00 p.m. Outdoor concerts are not anticipated. If there is an occasional concert, the College is willing to consider applying to the Town for a noise permit specific to that event. PB 5/1/07 Pg 31 Some of the typical indoor uses: The indoor track and field house space will be used for practices on a daily basis. An indoor track meet could include 1,200 to 1,500 participants and spectators. The College currently anticipate 8 to 10 non - athletic related indoor events between commencement, lectures, and possibly concerts, for up to 3,500 people. Further, a large percentage of the spectators are expected to be students who may already be living on campus. These events typically occur during evening and weekends to take advantage of the existing parking spaces on campus. With respect to parking, the proposed number of constructed parking spaces reflects the need to replace 550 cars displaced by locating the building as tight to campus as possible. The additional 460 parking spaces represent approximately 80 spaces, which may be used by coaches, students, or staff on a daily basis. The remaining spaces will accommodate parking needs for track and field meets, and together with other existing lots, will be available for other large, non - athletic events. With respect to noise, our consultant has a database of typical sound levels at outdoor recreation and sporting events and can relate these typical noise levels to common household appliances and /or machinery such as dishwashers and lawn mowers. To expand on the analysis in section 3 of the Scoping Document, we will record ambient' noise levels onsite at representative points along neighboring property lines during the day, at 9:00p.m. and again at 11:00p.m. With respect to interior noise, we will provide comparative data from other facilities with similar uses. Again, the principle function of the building is for athletic competition and practice and not a year -round concert venue. Thank you, and now we look forward to your guidance in assisting in finalizing the scope for this DEIS. Chairperson Wilcox — Thank you David. Board Member Hoffmann -- Those were lots of facts ... would it be possible -for us to have copies of what you just told us? Mr. Herrick — Certainly. Board Member Hoffmann — Because it's too much for me to absorb. PB 5/1/07 Pg 32 Chairperson Wilcox — Do you have an extra copy with you? Even if you don't, I'll go make copies... somebody will... I didn't mention this before, Susan or Jon ... would somebody like to briefly review the SEQR process as this goes forward ... We have the scoping session tonight, which will lead to a final document which outlines those items which must be addressed in the draft environmental impact statement. Once that's completed, it comes back to the Planning Board for review, and acceptance for it being complete for the public to review. Then the public has a chance to review it and they then have an opportunity to address the Planning Board on any issues, items or concerns that maybe, they feel, were not appropriately addressed in the environmental impact statement, vis -a -vis what was laid out in the scoping document. After those issues are debated and dealt with, the draft environmental impact statement may or may not be modified, and that would lead to a final environmental impact statement which then guides the Planning Board in its environmental review of the project. How's that? Mr. Kanter —There is one option at that end point that the Board could take ... instead of going to a final environmental impact statement, if the Board found, through its review of the draft EIS that there were no significant impacts, after all, then you could basically issue a neg dec at that point and that would end the SEQR process. So the finding statement is the one that is more common, when you've gone through a whole environmental impact statement process and typically that is where you would end up with statements of mitigating measures and programmatic aspects. Chairperson Wilcox — For the benefit of the Board and the members of the public who are here, all along the way, when the draft environmental impact statement comes back to this Board for review and acceptance so the public can then view it and comment, there will be a series of public hearings, certainly public hearings and public meetings where the public will have a chance to provide input on the quality and completeness of the draft environmental impact statement. Mr. Kanter — It can be done that way, there's not a mandatory... Chairperson Wilcox — Not a mandatory, but we have done it that way in the past... Mr. Kanter — In fact, a public meeting on the EIS is not mandatory, although it is common and recommended and that's how we have always.... Chairperson Wilcox — That's how we have always done it. PB 5/1/07 Pg 33 Mr. Kanter — On the decision whether to accept the EIS as complete, that is less common, to receive public comments on it, but you certainly could do that. Chairperson Wilcox — And when we accept it as complete, complete in order to ... as complete you mean that the draft is complete? Mr. Kanter —That the draft is complete.... Chairperson Wilcox — And therefore available for public comment and review. Mr. Kanter — Correct. Chairperson Wilcox — Alright. Any other questions with regard to process? Do members of the Board have questions of David or Richard at this point? In regard to the content of the draft scoping document? I see shakes of the head, which means no....Eva... Board Member Hoffmann — I'm sorry, what did you say? Chairperson Wilcox — That's alright, sometimes we are doing two or three things at once ... I want to know if you have any comments or questions that you want to ask of Richard or David at this point, or should we open it up to the public for their comments on the scoping document as drafted. Board Member Hoffmann — It's up to you in what order you would like to take it in. Chairperson Wilcox — No, it's up to you ... if you would like to ... let's hear yours now. Board Member Hoffmann — Okay, I have a number of small comments. One of my main comments is, and one can look at these 2 maps and seethe first Phase as was described in the text and then a later Phase, I don't know if it's the last Phase or not, but, the first one is supposed to include the new turf field and parking lots to offset parking displaced by the proposed building and the initial building Phase includes the indoor fieldhouse with locker room, support and office space for athletics... and when it says includes, I want to ask, does it include something else too? Besides those? The indoor field house with locker room, support and office space for athletics? Because when I hear include, I think that it includes that but it may have other things too, and that's one of my questions to start with. Mr. Herrick — So if I could clarify, the verbiage is where? Board Member Hoffmann — We're talking about Phase I... PB 5/1/07 Pg 34 Chairperson Wilcox — He's wondering where on the document. Board Member Hoffmann — Yes, this is on the first page of the draft scoping document... Mr. Herrick — Yes, I'm with you now... Board Member Hoffmann -- ...and under 1. Description of Proposed Action, the last paragraph. Mr. Herrick — Yes. Board Member Hoffmann — And it describes what's included in the first Phase and it describes what the first building Phase includes. Mr. Herrick — Right. Board Member Hoffmann — Is there anything else included in that building besides these things that are mentioned or is this strictly for athletic use? Mr. Couture — Yes, that's correct. The first Phase is as it reads in here, Eva, an indoor track, plus we'll have offices for the administrative staff, locker rooms for the athletes to be included in Phase I. But other than that, in terms of Phase I, that's our plan for Phase I. Board Member Hoffmann — Okay, so there is no space for other events? It's strictly athletic use? Mr. Couture — Well, the indoor track itself, there'll track and that may be a venue for graduation, if we you know, events like that, but, if you walk into the you'll see an indoor track with a field in the middle sure exactly what it is you think you might see, but, see. Chairperson Wilcox — It won't be a lecture hall. Mr. Couture — No, it won't be a lecture hall,... be an interior field inside the have it inside, or convocation, building, once it's completed, of it. You won't see ... I'm not it won't be ... that is what you'll Board Member Hoffmann — The reason I wanted to ask you that first is, when I see that plan, I see that all the parking is to be built in Phase I. If I look at this later Phase, that map, it doesn't have any more parking than what's there. So am wondering why is it necessary to build all the parking spaces together with Phase I if there are not going to be some of the other additional uses that are PB 5/1/07 Pg 35 supposed to be in the later building Phase? And who knows if that building Phase will even happen, so why all the parking built initially? Mr. Herrick — Well, the turf field and the indoor track and indoor field area will generate these events, these competitive events, that the College would like to host. So, the majority of your need for parking ... of those 460 + /- extra spaces is to accommodate that. purpose. You will have other facilities built in future spaces ... and auditorium, the tennis courts, the strength and conditioning center ... But those are going to be, principally on campus users. So, we are looking at developing the parking for the greatest need which is going to be those events that attract these competitive meets and games. Board Member Hoffmann — Okay, so what you're saying, then, is, after that second or third or fourth building part is added, no more parking will be needed. Mr. Herrick — That's correct. Board Member Hoffmann — and you're not going to come back later and say, "We're going to need to add more parking here." Mr. Herrick — Well, we wouldn't anticipate coming back asking for more parking because of this project, I can't speak for any other projects on campus. Board Member Hoffmann — No, of course I am talking about this project here. Well, I guess I feel I would like to see a little bit more of an explanation why all that parking is needed just for the initial building and the initial field without even that track around it that's going to come later.. Mr. Herrick — I think you will find that we do have an evaluation of parking needs and also would consider alternatives to the parking field arrangement that's been presented in these early documents. So. that is something that we will address, both the quantitative and the alternative analysis for where these facilities are going to be located. That's already part of our program. Chairperson Wilcox — I will repeat the section just so it's clear: "Identify and assess parking demand and capacity needs for significant events in addition to present residential, commuter and faculty staff needs and consider parking management and trip reduction strategies." I am reading from page 5 of 7, about a third of the way down. Board Member Conneman — David, you gave a lot of numbers and would you put into perspective for me, and I should know but, how many spectators would go to a typical Ithaca College football game? Not when they play Cortland, but I mean other than that? PB 5/1/07 Pg 36 Mr. Couture — A typical Ithaca College football game would probably be 1,500 students, fans I mean. Board Member Conneman — So this number of 2,500 is almost double that. Mr. Couture — Well, we are anticipating -that number of people when we host.an Empire 8 All Tournament track meet, which would attract a number of different schools as competitors, bringing their own fans in addition to our own fans. So it's not like it would be a football game with just two teams. A track meet would have a number of different teams and their fans. Board Member Conneman — I understand, but it would be 2,500 people, okay. Chairperson Wilcox — If we look at the plans, we can look at where the seating for the outdoor track and football field is located. It's... Mr. Herrick — One correction... there's no football here... Mr. Couture — That's right, I want.to make clear, the football stadium is staying where it is. Board Member Conneman — Right, I just wanted to make sure we knew something about the size of the crowd, that was all. Chairperson Wilcox — Eva, I'm not sure you were done. Board Member Hoffmann — No, go ahead, I will intersperse other comments, if people haven't already... Chairperson. Wilcox — I want to make sure .I.let's try and make sure that we stay focused on what, if anything, needs to be added to the draft Scoping Document. We will have plenty of time at future meetings to get into site plan details. Anybody else at this point? Rod, you're all set? Let's give the public a chance. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will call upon you in no particular order, raise your hand, you know the drill, name and address. Before you start, is this a public hearing? What rules do I have to operate under? Is this like a public hearing? Mr. Kanter — It's not technically a public hearing. Chairperson Wilcox — It's not technically a public hearing, okay, that means I can cut you off but.go ahead... PB 5/1/07 Pg 37 Joel Harlan, Newfield I think it's around 4 or 5 thousand at some of the football games and you get Cortland, which is coming this year, go up and study it, there will be about 10 or 15 thousand fans. They're all up and down the road and everything else.... I'm beginning to see why Ithaca College doesn't have lights on the property, or sound, because nobody wants it around their neighborhood. But what was funny is, you take a look around ... Cass Park, Cornell has 2 or 3 lights besides Schokoff, and you got all the high schools... Chairperson Wilcox — Joel, .'Joel,... Is there something that... Mr. Harlan =- ...(inaudible)... not to have lights on the campus, you know, everybody else around here, all the neighbors got to put up with it but the neighbors don't .want anything else like this on the campus. Noise and light pollution but you take a look around, there's lights ... even Schokoff really puts a blind ... half the county and half the City, once those lights come on, it sucks the juice ... NSEG has got, you know, we can see all the lights around downtown go dim once those lights are on. All these other neighbors around the County has high schools and Cass P ark ... but Ithaca College doesn't have any lights like that and now I see the. reason why, because the neighbors don't want it. It's finally come to (inaudible) and you're going to see a lot of friction, cause they don't want sound or lights in the neighborhood. I can't understand why the football teams don't have it on their team... Chairperson Wilcox — Joel ... is there something you would like added to the Scoping Document? Mr. Harlan — Yeah, I like the idea, but, I can understand why Ithaca College don't have anything like this because look at it now, it's a battle. You're gonna see a lot of people against this because of the sound and light pollution. Everybody else has it around, I don't know why....l'd just like to see the football stadium improved like Cortland State... Chairperson Wilcox — You are testing my patience tonight... Mr. Harlan — Well I'm all out for it Fred, you know that; it's an improvement. It's too bad locally.... Chairperson Wilcox — This is not about whether it's an improvement or not. This is about determining what's the potential significant environmental impacts will be studied by Ithaca College. PB 5/1/07 Pg 38 Mr. Harlan — Well, let them study it but I got a funny feeling it's gonna be a really challenge for you. Chairperson Wilcox —Thank you Joel. Dick Ladd, 322 Coddington Road I live right across from Juniper and the parking lot is in my back yard and obviously I have some comments that I think our environmental concerned, and it's a concern also for the quality of life of the neighborhood. First of all, that area back there is almost a nature preserve. About every mammal that's in Tompkins County is back there. Deer, fox, coyotes, raccoons... also for birds, there's turkeys back there, there's partridge back there, all the song birds in the summertime use that area back there. In the wintertime, birds will stay here all year long in the winter are in that area... They're at my birdfeeder all the time, so I have a good appraisal of that. I think someone should look into that area as ... it's a semi - wetland really back there, it's not good hard land, there's ponds, there's swamps, and this leads to my next point.... The drainage from that area at the present time, most of it comes through my back yard, I've got 2 channels that prevent the water from washing my house away, but at times the water comes across the yard if someone, if you're going to do something back there to where you're not going to have any absorption of water, the channeling of the water, somebody has to look at it very seriously because all of it's going to dump in my backyard. The parking lot going in ... I'm concerned about noise, I really am, because I can hear the kids at the swimming pool up there just like they were in my backyard. can hear people that are in that area just like they were in my backyard all the time and I am just wondering what a parking lotsback there, what effect that's going to have on noise ... You're not only going to have voices, you're going to have emergency vehicle noises going off,, you're going to have, during times of high impact in the area, all sorts of motor noises, I'm concerned about that. I guess the biggest having a parking lot numbers of people. would be like buyin backyard and I don't there. Thank you, concern is, in my back It's almos g a house think that's what's that going to do to my property value, yard, for athletic events, for concerts, for large like, if someone were to buy my home, they that has Yankee Stadium parking lot in their very desirable for the property value of the area Chairperson Wilcox — As he was speaking, I was going through the draft and he was talking about storm water management, which is part of this, he was talking about noise, which is part of this... Wetlands, I couldn't find the citation in here... PB 5/1/07 Pg 39 Ms. Brock — It is. ..C. Chairperson Wilcox -- ...the delineation of wetlands... okay, Natural Resources, okay, and then flora fauna, which are in here... Ms. Brock — Second bullet under C deals with impact on the wildlife habitat... Chairperson Wilcox — Right, okay, so I think the issues that the gentleman covered are all in here... Ms. Brock — Well, he did mention noise impact, he was talking about the noise from the parking lot, which isn't specifically covered... Chairperson Wilcox — Let's see ... we have noise from the outdoor field...David, come on up if you would....) am trying to remember, in your opening remarks, you talked about sampling noise at the property lines and then using a database of probably decibel levels, for various events. Mr. Herrick — That's correct. Chairperson Wilcox — The intent was to just concentrate the noise generated . events at the facilities, or what? Mr. Herrick — There are 2 components here. One is the expansion of what we proposed to do with the ambient conditions at the property lines.. you won't find that detail in the discussion of noise study. so that should be, could be added. The times that those ambient levels will be recorded and where they will be recorded, so we can expand on that. The second question was whether or not we are going to simulate or record noise levels from parking lots. I do believe we make mention of people exiting or leaving... under noise... "noise from spectators or pedestrians exiting the area and traveling to their vehicles "...I suppose that could be embellished to include the vehicles themselves. Chairperson Wilcox -- ...and the vehicles themselves, yeah ... David, if you don't mind, I am going to try and run this this way, so we can try to address them as they come up. A little easy for us I think, a little more difficult for you to go back and forth. Mr. Herrick — Not at all. Chairperson Wilcox — Okay, thank you. PB 5/1/07 Pg 40 Steve Rogers, 152 Coddington Road I just have a few brief comments, in particular, associated with the loop road which is mentioned in Section I and Sections 2D which is Community Character and Aesthetic Resources and 2F which is Traffic and Transportation. We're here this evening to restate our strong opposition to the construction of a campus loop road as part of the Athletic and Events Center. The proposed loop road as shown on the sketch plan for the Athletics Center will run directly behind residential properties, including ours, in the 200 and 100 blocks of Coddington Road. Although the draft Scoping Document suggests that alternate loop road corridors will be considered, we want to summarize our opposition to the loop road as shown on the initial plan. First, we question the need for the road at network of roads, including a road that runs buildings and parking lots. In addition, at the the Athletic and Events Center, Ithaca College system, with the help of traffic police, would extra traffic generated by large scale events he the campus to Route 96B. all. The College already has a around the perimeter of campus presentation of its sketch plan for made it clear that its current road be fully capable of handling any Id at the facility directing it through Second, constructing a road behind the homes on the 200 and 100 blocks of Coddington Road will sandwich our properties between 2 streams of traffic and subject residents to the hazards of moving vehicles, noise, lighting and pollution on 2 sides. Third, the proposed road will destroy the character of our road. Our family and others bought houses in this area of the City and Town as homes. We chose this location because of its rural nature. As residents we have spent a lot of time, energy and money to maintain our homes and by extension, our neighborhood. We also pay taxes. As taxpayers we expect to be able to enjoy our houses and yards. We also expect traffic to stay where it belongs, on the public thoroughfares of the City, Town, County and State, which our taxes pay for, and not on an unnecessary private road along our backyards. To conclude, we ask that, at the very least, alternative routes for a loop road be seriously considered. Thank you for your attention. Chairperson Wilcox — Thank you. Board Member Conneman — Is there any response from David or Ithaca College about Mr. Roger's statement? Chairperson Wilcox — The question is, is that something we want included? Yes. Board Member Conneman — Yes, absolutely. PB 5/1/07 Pg 41 Chairperson Wilcox — Yes, okay, that's our response to you. Do you have a response to our ... I think that's reasonable. Mr. Herrick — It is and you will find that under the list of Alternatives. Specific to the loop road, alignments and corridors.... Ms. Brock — Although, on page 5, the last bullet under F says "assess the potential impacts of a ii loop road alignments and the word any makes it sound as if they don't have to propose any, but if they do, they'll assess the impacts. So you might want to strike the word any. Chairperson Wilcox — I'm sorry, but I do not know where you're reading from... Ms. Brock — On page 5...the last bullet, right before G... Chairperson Wilcox — Okay... Ms. Brock — Strike the word any, because that implies it's an applicant discretion as to whether they want to supply alternative alignments and it sounds tome as if the Board is saying you definitely want to see alternatives. Chairperson Wilcox — The best solution is to internalize the traffic in or near the existing buildings and keep it away from the residential neighborhoods, clearly... Hank Roberts, 253 Coddington Road I just want to say that there is an impact right now in the neighborhood from this project, and I felt it since I first found out about it, which was kind of late. I am disappointed in Ithaca College that they didn't include the neighbors in their plans or try to communicate with any of us about this and then suddenly, what they do is, I guess it's the typical way, you get everything all together and then you just lay it on people at the last minute, and they don't know about. And so, I feel my blood pressure going up every time I come here to talk about this because, in a way, it's so new to a lot of us and now, suddenly, all of us who put so much energy and love into our properties and now we see this thing and it's hard to know what it's going to be for us. No one's really tried to communicate with us and so the environmental impact upon our psychology right now is not great because I want to make investments in my home and I want to live happily in this place that I bought 13 years ago and that I have put so much into and this is where I want to be. So, now I'm upset. Of course these guys are upset about their money if people come up and they want the project to go through and I understand that, you know, for them it would be a big loss of money or work or something, I don't quite understand, but, I don't appreciate that, and so, in a way, I'm in the dark still. I look at these maps ... I wish I could look at a map that shows what is now and what will be. I wish I could know how many trees will go down and what will happen to the animals that are there now. I know there are some PB 5/1/07 Pg 42 incredible animals in that place. Birds, I've said it before when I was here, and Mr. Ladd said it this evening. So,. we don't, those of us in the, neighborhood still don't know what's going to happen. You talk about environmental impact but you don't talk about 10 years or however many years it's going to take to build it. Hearing those machines going up there all the time and pounding into the earth to drive piles and then we talk about concerts, but they said maybe that'll happen and then at that point, maybe we'll after it's all built, then we'll go and try and get a permit for noise and. .So that felt kind of sneaky to me, like they don't want to really say what this is going to be used for and I guess it may sound paranoid, but it's just that, here I am living happily in my neighborhood and suddenly, here's this huge giant that is going to be built on the hilltop next to my house. So, I'm very flustered right now and upset and I don't know what's going to happen to that stream that's up there ... Is that going to become a corrugated pipe under the ground? I mean, at what point does nature just become a run -off. Now that stream comes down to Coddington Road, across Coddington Road and comes down to my property and settles in a pond right across from my house. So, is there going to be people walking out of there at nighttime, pouring their coolers down. into the storm drains or I don't know....my imagination's going wild ... or is the runoff from those cars ... is that going to come over my property and settle down in the pond in front of my house ?. Or is it going to come down into the reservoir when they are building up there? Who is going to be up there watching these construction guys.... So, I think I probably already said enough. I wonder what that construction time impact is going to be. We talk about the impact of this thing when it is already built, but how bout for the 10 years or how ever long it takes for them to build that place. How about those trucks going up and down my road .... I'm telling you, it's going to be a hell of a lot more intense than these guys are telling you it's going to be. And I feel for them, because they've got a lot involved in it, a lot invested in it, but at the same time, this is our life. This is where we live. These guys get done with building, and they're gone. I live right there. They .don't give their addresses, I give my address and so, I'm not mad at them, I just think it's really sneaky and underhanded the way it's been done and I think Ithaca College is outside the TOWO (phonetically) declaration they made last year with this and .intend to try to find out what that was and why that is and if there aren't other alternatives to this huge thing. So, I don't know if you guys could help to show me.:. Chairperson Wilcox — Sir, I have to ask you to talk to us (the Board)... Mr. Roberts — Oh, okay, I can't talk to them ... see that's the strange thing about all this to me. These guys I can't talk to because... PB 5/1/07 Pg 43 Chairperson Wilcox — Well, in this particular setting I ask you not to, and this is nothing personal about you, there is the potential when emotions run high for something to happen that we don't want to... Mr. Roberts — I'm not dangerous, I am very controlled, I am upset but... Chairperson Wilcox — No, I know you're not dangerous, but I don't want separate rules for you and then others... Mr. Roberts — Of course, I understand what you're saying, but I wish there was someone who could sit down with me and the other neighbors and really show us what's going to happen. Or take us up there and walk us through and say this is what's going to happen here... You know, we live there, so, you know...what's going to be the pollution for Mr. Rogers and for us, and for Mr. Ladd, this is not in the environmental impact statement, as I understand....the amount of pollution that will be caused, so I'm in the dark, and I live right on top of this thing, so, I'm hoping there will be some clarity for the simple man to understand what's going on here, so I can really see it and see what's going to happen. You know, should I go ahead and fix my porch this year or start looking for a new place. Board Member Conneman — Your address is 253? Mr. Roberts — I'm 253. My house looks very humble but it's nice. I fixed it up on the inside. It's clean, it's good, I've put a lot of time and effort into it and I'm low income, but I've put... me and the neighbors have put a lot into that house and we love it there. Chairperson Wilcox —The issue of staging and the impacts of staging...l'm not ... did I miss something in here ... the impacts of staging which has been brought up with the noise levels ... the ambient noise levels being higher than normal etc. etc....l'm not sure that that's addressed in here because we really don't know how long construction will last and I think that's a reasonable point, and I am getting nods from over here. How to phrase it is always an issue. Mr. Herrick — Not to waste air time here, but I thought that we did have some description of construction phasing and ... (On page 2 under 3, Land) ... yeah, that would be again, a narrative description and some visual aids to understand phasing of the project. We do not have, I guess, any specific study element to estimate noise... Chairperson Wilcox -- ...the noise or other impacts... Mr. Herrick — ...from typical construction activity. PB 511107 Pg 44 Chairperson Wilcox — The impacts of having a project last a longer duration than one would hope would be; noise, truck traffic, dust ... I'm trying to think ... are those the major ones? I am looking at all the experts sitting up here and all the non - experts sitting up here. Board Member Talty — Time of operation. Chairperson Wilcox — Time of operation, sure, when construction starts in the morning and when it ends. Whether it occurs on the weekends. Board Member Hoffmann — That's the impact on the immediate neighbors, but there's also impact on all of us as taxpayers, what happens on the roads from_ all the heavy trucks going by. Board Member Thayer — Neighborhood type meetings. Board Member Hoffmann — Yeah, I was going to ask that. Chairperson Wilcox — about how we want to talk about the impacts us agree that we want resulting from the long or 10 years, I'm not e good number. Wait a minute, let's get there. Right now we're talking change the Scoping Document here with regard to.. Let's of staging right, I think I am getting...) think the majority of to put something in here about the environmental impacts construction projected for this project, whether it's 5 years ven sure you know at this point, but you'll have to pick a Mr. Kanter — Yeah, you would usually want to look at the worst case scenario. Chairperson Wilcox —Yeah, which would be driven from fundraising. Let's go back through them; we talked about the noise, we talked about the hours of operation, we talked about the dust, we talked about construction traffic, which is usually heavy equipment and dump trucks, anything else? Board Member Thayer — It says "construction activity" which covers basically all... Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, lights are an issue if they work at night, but that's going to come up as hours of operation. If they're going to be building at night, constructing at night, I don't think this Board ... well, I don't think we would look upon that very favorably and I'm not sure the unions would look on it very favorably.... Mr. Kanter — Actually, I think our noise ordinance has limitations on construction hours. PB 5/1/07 Pg 45 Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, construction doesn't happen at night. Yeah, I think we kind of ... you been making notes...okay, thank you, I appreciate it... Community outreach... Mr. Couture — I just want to make sure that the Board does know that back in November of 2006 we did hold an open forum for all of the residents of Coddington Road. We mailed out invitations to everyone who lives along the road and along Juniper and Northview and all those areas that we thought would be impacted by the building of this facility. And we had, it was at 7:00 at night and I believe it was on a Tuesday night, I can't remember the exact date, but, we had a forum where we had the architect there, David was there, we had people from Must -Go Lighting, and we had a number of different representatives that could talk specifically about issues like lighting and noise and things along those lines and we had 16 people show up for the event.... Board Member Thayer — How many? Mr. Couture — Sixteen people came to the meeting. Board Member Talty — Of the 16, how many were couples? Mr. Couture — I don't know, I'm not sure. Board Member Talty — So it would probably be in the best interest to have another one of those. Mr. Couture — We would certainly be more than happy to do that and I would also say that anyone at any point in time, if they would like to give me a call, Rick Couture, 274 -3269, 1 would certainly be happy to sit down and talk to anyone and try to provide as much information as we. possibly can because our perspective on this is we want to try and be as inclusive as we can on the project. Chairperson Wilcox — Hold on, hold on ... I am trying to maintain some type of order here ... I will give you a chance. David you made notes, Susan you've made notes, we can get the language before the meeting is over? Okay, thank you gentlemen. You're next. Board Member Talty — Before he starts, if memory serves me correctly, I do believe that Eva brought up a request to have the houses across Coddington put on these plans, if I'm not mistaken, correct? And I think that's just as important because an extra 60 feet of noise...) know it goes down accordingly, but I think that should be reassessed and involved. PB 511107 Pg 46 Ed Corvill, 328 Coddington Road That's right here ... I grew up in the Bronx, I know what it's like to live in a parking lot and see nothing but concrete. I want to know 1, how many of those 16 people who showed up really did approve of the project that would be my first question. My second question would be the traffic that's going to be flying down Coddington Road. Right now, I pass the back entrance of Ithaca College twice a day, going to work, going from work, both times I have my daughter with me going to and from school and daycare. I almost inevitably have to drop my speed by 10mph just to make sure everyone is going to stop at the stop sign. The condition of that road is not the greatest and I'd like to know what's going to happen to it when we have dump trucks, graders, and other heavy equipment being ferried back and forth over it for 10 years. Our tax dollars pay for that road. Is Ithaca College going to supplement the maintenance of that road or are we going to be expected to pick up that burden. On the subject of stormwater management. I'd like the council to take serious note of what these people intend to do with storm water management. I worked at Rogan's Corners for 12 years. For 6 of those years we flooded every spring with 6" of water flowing out of the back maintenance road of Ithaca College. It took them 6 years to fix the problem. I have some other real major concerns. If you flip over to Community Services... I heard a lot of talk about special events... what's going to' happen with the everyday traffic, when we have an extra what was it ... 400...parking spaces that they're adding... Chairperson Wilcox — Roughly... Mr. Corvill -- Roughly. Well, if you have 400 extra parking spaces in this area, these people are not going to get into their cars and drive around to 96B to go downtown. They are going to hit Coddington Road and they're going to beeline right down Hudson Street and you are going to see an increase in traffic load, hopefully not an increase in speed, but an increase in volume, the likes of which we probably haven't seen yet. I think we should consider having. Ithaca College do something more with the traffic control of this area and have that included in the Scoping Document. The wetlands that are behind our house are beautiful. The lands back there are great. I have deer in my yard, I have turkeys every fall. That is going to vanish for 15 years,. cause it's going to take the birds and the deer time to come back when the jackhammers leave. 1 just think that the plan for this is done on an aethetic view and not considering the feelings of their neighbors. Leaving this this way would give them a huge buffer and make a whole lot more people happy with this concept. PB 5/1/07 Pg 47 Also, my other problem is, these trees that currently run all the way through here, create an incredible buffer and insulation for sound of motors, students etc. They may have a database of sound clips and sound volumes, I'd like to see how that stacks up against standing on my porch during fountain day and senior week, okay. I can hear, as it is, I have a forest in between me and I can still hear stereos coming out to the Towers, and granted, it's humorous, I was an Ithaca College student back in '83 but, I've got a little girl now who needs her sleep. How is cutting down all these trees and creating this huge empty space that's just going to echo sound ... how is that going to affect my property and the properties surrounding me... Thanks, and sorry for interrupting. Chairperson Wilcox —Thank you. Alright, let's go back to traffic ... I think traffic is pretty well addressed in here. That's clearly a concern... For those of you who don't know, I spent 19 years...how many years did I live on Juniper Drive ... 19 years I lived on Juniper Drive ... up until 2002 ... so I know the neighborhood fairly well, having been a longtime resident. Traffic concerns along Coddington Road are significant. As part of Ithaca College's review of the environmental impacts, I am sure they will be looking at measures to detour.. .re -route traffic away from Coddington Road, that's been mentioned. Of course they are only as good as their execution, not the plan on paper. Flora, fauna were brought up again which is address management....We should mention, David is an management... usually when we see you here you stormwater management. You are a respected person expect the best work, I expect your usual best work on respect for David and the work that he does in that area. :d in here. Stormwater expert on stormwater are here talking about in this community and I this. So we have great Did I miss something else that he brought up, that he mentioned... Board Member Hoffmann — No, I'm thinking the problem of damage to the roads from transportation of stuff on big trucks was brought up again and I almost think we should add that to the other things. We were writing at the bottom of page 2 what would be included in the worst case scenario, noise, dust, hours of operation..] think we should add damaged roads and who is responsible for fixing up the roads as something to be talked about and considered. I had mentioned that myself, too. Mr. Hebdon — The County is, as I am sure everyone knows, has some type of a plan for Coddington Road... Chairperson Wilcox — Does anybody ... can anybody tell me why they put little dig safely flags all along Coddington. Road all the way out into the Town of Danby on PB 5/1/07 Pg 48 the west side? Anybody seen them? (inaudible) Yeah, they go all the way out to the Town of Danby ... I think they're orange... Mr. Hebdon — It wasn't the Town of Ithaca. Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, they're little orange and they're the typical dig safely little flags (Off microphone — inaudible) Mr. Hebdon -- ...it might be seismic survey where they are looking to drop a base out of a truck and measure the vibration... Chairperson Wilcox — I thought it was something to do with the County... Mr. Hebdon — It may or it may not. There are a lot of companies out there looking for whatever....whatever they are looking for. Chairperson Wilcox — The County would have to. ..does the County issue permits for construction. traffic? I don't think that they do, but they have voiced their concern. Mr. Hebdon — they will look at the impacts on the roads and they may have a truck routing plan where they will say they want to keep the trucks off of Coddington Road and run them up Rout 96B ... Similar to what we did with Cornell when we told them they could only have their trucks run in a certain direction. Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, I remember in other plans where maybe as part of the County's 239 review, they have suggested routings... yeah, they have strongly urged specific routings which keep heavy equipment off certain roads, which may not be able to handle it. Mr. Hebdon — And they may do something like that with this.. Board Member Hoffmann — Which would mean that the traffic would have to go across Ithaca College's campus from this side of campus across... Mr. Hebdon — That's a possibility, yes, that they'll have to. bring it across the college campus which means you will have a state. road that's built to handle heavy equipment and they will take care of their own roads. Board Member Hoffmann —There was one other thing that the last speaker mentioned and that is ... Trees as insulating from noise and I remember when we were 'educated' as a Board about how that doesn't work, apparently. You have to put up a fence or some sort of solid structure ... an earth berm or something like PB 5/1/07 Pg 49 that in order to block noise. Trees, unfortunately, don't block noise. That doesn't mean that they are not nice to have there for other reasons, however, and one of the things that I would like to propose being looked into actually is, instead of building the parking lot on the ground, the way you have shown it to us now, is if you would look into building parking structures.... It could be something like, because it's on a slope. anyway, a lower level could be partially built into the hillside and then there could be a run up to another level, which, on a slope, wouldn't be so noticeable, and you could have the footprint of all these parking spaces halved if you just had 2 levels. But of course, it also could be built into more than 2 levels and be just one structure and that way, you could have it closer to the already constructed campus and further away from the Coddington Road residences. Board Member Thayer — I think we asked for alternative parking solutions. Chairperson Wilcox — I think that's a great idea, and I am looking on page 6 of 7, under alternatives, I am looking at the 5 alternatives, I am looking at the second bullet point....site plan revisions.... moving the building and parking lots campus location... alternate parking facilities, including parking structures... I think we will just make that clear, or multi -level parking structures, to minimize the area of surface lots, yeah, and moving the loop road corridors... I think that's a great idea Eva, we've heard the argument before, but we'll hear it again. Board Member Hoffmann — Especially since we have heard so many people come and describe the value of this natural area with both plants and animals and it's also very close to the Six -Mile Creek area which is important to everybody in the Town and bringing that much parking close to Six -Mile Creek area is, to me, something that could be dangerous. Board Member Thayer — Somebody mentioned a before picture too, so we could tell how many trees were going to be taken down and all of that. I don't think we've seen that either. Board Member Hoffmann — I am wondering if we didn't see some document showing the existing conditions, but it was a long time ago. It wouldn't hurt to have it again and in a drawing similar to what you have presented here and to include all the houses too, on the other side of Coddington Road an Six -Mile Creek and covering a larger area. Board Member Conneman — That's one of my concerns, David, I don't know why you left it out, because we did talk about it last time, there's another side of the road and it looks like you're trying to decrease what might be a view of the impact of the neighborhood. I brought my diagram too. It's the same one that is up there. There are houses on the other side of the road. PB 5/1/07 Pg 50 Mr. Herrick — George, these are the original sketches that came to you in January, and... Board Member Conneman — Yes, .that's right and we raised the question at that time. Mr. Herrick — Right, but these form the basis for our review of the impact so when . you get the DEIS, you will see all of the information that you've described. So we haven't brought back to the Board, because we've only had a sketch plan presentation, further modified drawings, but you will certainly see those. Board Member Conneman — I just want it in the minutes so we could not forget it. Mr. Herrick — Oh, it's right here and no problem. 1. Board Member Talty — It's scoping ... how about those baffled walls that you see along the interstates and on ramps and things of that sort. Why couldn't you put some sort of noise baffle wall that's 8 - 10 feet high and put it along where the tree line is and you could even plant trees in front of it or say from a parking lot point of view so it's not some huge graffiti type of wall. I think maybe you should take a look at that because those really work. Those individuals that live around the 190's the 390's the 490's 690's, they have those walls, as bad as they look, they really work. So I am thinking that you may be able to utilize that configuration and at least those particular neighbors that live on the west side, as well as the east side of Coddington Road. Mr. Herrick — Okay. Chairperson Wilcox — So a possible mitigation measure for noise.and we've all seen these rather ugly looking but structures that apparently do work or they wouldn't continue to build them and they are everywhere. Board Member Talty — Yeah, and the people ... I honestly believe, that are adjacent to these roads, would rather have those than to hear the tractor trailers and the horn blowing and the things of that sort that goes on and so...lf they didn't, they wouldn't be building them. Board Member Thayer — You usually see them in a very high traffic area rather than in a situation like this. Board Member Talty — I don't know the cost, but... Board Member Hoffmann — There . could be other problems with that though. And wonder if they would have to be as high as they are along some highways; I mean, they are.really high. PB 5/1/07 Pg 51 Board Member Talty — Probably not... Board Member Hoffmann — High enough to hide 2 -story houses and I don't think something like that would be a good idea. Board Member Talty — I am sure that they make them in different sizes, shapes and colors because I have seen them in Phoenix, I've seen them in all different. types of cities and townships, so, at least it is something to consider. Chairperson Wilcox— David are you all set? Alright. Next..., Hannah Kinsella, 107 Hickory Place I just wanted to quickly say that in terms. of the need of this...) guess I just don't see ... I know that there is a recreation area or fields on the other side of IC and guess I am just not informed so I would like to know why ... what do the sports players ... I know that the sports players, lacrosse, are already played on the other fields, so why do we need it? I don't know. I just, I know there's a track....) am pretty sure there is another track as well, just in terms of the need of this and ... so why is it really needed since it is going to be taking a toll on our community in a lot of ways. And also, if IC people are asking for something that is going to impact our community, how are they willing to compensate for the birds that are going to be, have to move and the deer and all the wetland environment that is. very important, I guess, to the Ithaca community and the surrounding area, so, just wanted to ... it's important that they show that they care about us because we're showing that we care about our area, so we both want to care about this environment, so if they could compensate for the loss of.... Chairperson Wilcox — Or as we say, mitigate the impacts... There is a difference between compensating and... Ms. Kinsella — Yeah, I guess, yeah and also like you were stating, the roads, guess is another big issue. Chairperson Wilcox -- Anything there that wasn't covered already? I think we've got Flora, fauna are mentioned here and have been addressed already. Anything else? Hollis Erb, 118 Snyder Hill road I would like to talk about, just reiterate 2 things. One has to do with the construction phases themselves and the other is the after phases, when everything is in place or when things have started to become in place. As a member of the public, agree that it was very frustrating. not to have a picture board that shows a current so and so I am very glad that the Board is pulling up with that idea. I was trying to imagine what it would be like to be a neighbor living there, and certainly, I would want to see some very active ideas presented about PB 5/1/07 Pg 52 the construction hours and about the construction traffic. And also, even such silly ideas as are all the diesel engines on site going to be. able to sit there and idle hour upon hour upon hour, because that's an amazing rumble noise that just adds into the neighborhood deluge from something like this and I would think that the neighbors are in great uproar over the agony of many seasons of construction here. absolutely concur with the idea of trying to build something that would mitigate some of the noise. Some sort of a solid feature ... I wonder if it has to be "the wall", although they certainly work, if a berm would also work almost as well. am thinking that the berm would be less likely to trap animals on the wrong side. And if this is an important natural area, I am sure that there are wildlife slipping in around the wall itself at some point and there is nothing sadder than seeing a beast up against a wall like that, and I am thinking maybe a berm or an interrupted berm and wall feature where there is the occasional escape outlet that still is a noise protector, might be a nice thing to see. Then it isn't, also, a solid cement wall of some sort, as a possible idea. The other things I would like to..1 tried to put myself into the idea of a neighbor living there afterwards, and, I hear assurances that IC knows that the lights are supposed to go off by 11:00, but, I.would like to know that the lights are not going to be on except for game days. I would like to know that sort of thing. If we are talking about these, about the traffic that is coming in for the occasional event, I'd like to know what the plans are to have, for where those buses are going to park and whether those buses are going to be told to shut their engines off, both for air pollution and noise pollution. And I'd like to know things like whether tailgate parties are going to be severely restricted or even not allowed on this ... suppose the parking lot is anywhere near where it is now and I really do not know the laws about tailgate parties, but, I wouldn't want one just across the treeline from my backyard on a major event. Those were the comments that I had written down, I think I got them all, some more of my strange ideas but I really do think that things like turning off engines, allowing some animal escape back out from the area occasionally, those sorts of ideas and I would really like to know that the lights weren't going to be on except on game day, if you understand: Thank you. Chairperson Wilcox — Absolutely. Board Member Hoffmann — That's a very good comment. You know, I can add something about motors which I think is maybe sort of relevant, if you have ever taken a bus to NYC from here, you can see at the Port Authority bus terminal, where they pull in, signs saying that the motor has to be turned off within 3 minutes of arriving and if the buses in NYC can turn of their motors and still keep going when it's time to go, the buses and trucks can do it anywhere. And I have PB 5/1/07 Pg 53 talked to the people who deal with the buses here in Ithaca and they won't hear it, they won't hear of it. Board Member Talty — Growing up in an automotive family, really the only reason to keep a diesel engine going is in the winter... Board Member Hoffmann — They even shut them off in the winter in NYC... Board Member Talty — Well, that's true but they also leave them running and they have those new exhaust hoses that they attach, you may see them along the thruway now, for tractor trailers, because of the pollution when these guys pull over for the night, what they do is they now have these structures like gates that they attach their exhaust pipes to because in the winter, when they are sleeping in their cab, they have to keep it warm, but at the same time, diesel engines have to remain warm during the winter because they can't fire them back up because they work differently. So, with that being said, I don't really see an issue, if you're not going to use the outdoor field anyway, in the winter, there should be no reason for those diesel engines to remain on because it will be during the Fall and the Spring time which means it will be warmer, so they don't necessarily have to keep those engines warm. Do you understand what I mean? Chairperson Wilcox — I was going through what Hollis said, some of the things, I think, were site plan issues with regards to restricting the lights to only being on during competition, I don't see that, right now, as being part of the environmental review. Same with the ... The bus parking area is an interesting one though, and think that's kind of interesting .... Where would you park the buses for these competitions if indeed you're going to have 8 schools in competition, 7 from, excluding Ithaca College, especially a track meet where you might. have, well, some schools might bring a small van, some schools might bring a full -sized bus and then they might even bring a second bus or something, so, where these are going to park is certainly of concern. And again, we're talking about wildlife and noise and all that, I think we're all set there. I did not respond to Hannah about why these new facilities. I just realized that and I can let Ithaca College do it but, in their previous presentations they have essentially said that in order to attract student athletes, in order to be competitive with other schools, they need these additional facilities. That in a nutshell, you may want to elaborate, but they are ... that is their position. Do you want to say anything more Rick? Board Member Thayer — I think she also wondered why it was on the other side of the campus from the football, which we've talked about. Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, we've talked about that as well. PB 5/1/07 Pg 54 Mr: Couture — I think you summed it up well, most of our Athletic facilities are 45- 40 years old and we're in a position where we'd like to have some current facilities to keep our campus competitive and to attract students on a continuing basis. Chairperson Wilcox —And we heard this at a previous meeting, why here, why are you proposing it here and not on the other side of campus where the existing facilities are. Mr. Couture — I think as we add, I think Larry's right, we talked some time ago that we had looked at other facilities, other locations, I'm sorry, we had looked at putting it in the side of the hill where the football field is now and the cost what just prohibitive for us to do that. We had looked at placing it up where we have the softball field and the soccer field. Putting it there, there would be no parking available for people to use and also, that means we'd have to relocate those existing fields some place else on campus and it came down to that location that we have currently picked as being, in our minds, the best location. Chairperson Wilcox — And this will all be brought up in the environmental impact under alternatives. Ms. Kinsella — Just in terms of, what I was saying, is since it's only them benefiting from this....that's why I was bringing this up, because I understand that the reasoning would be that they would gain, I guess, students, which means gaining money I guess, students equals money I guess. It just seems that somehow it's them gaining everything and the community and the neighborhood not gaining really anything. So I guess that seems somehow not right in my mind. Chairperson Wilcox I hear you. I'm not sure I can translate that into. an environmental concern, but I hear you, absolutely, thank you. Anybody else this evening? Alright. Thank you all very much. Now, how are we going to proceed here because we've received... Board Member Hoffmann — I have some more comments and some of it relates to what I have already touched on earlier, but if you look on Page 5, under Community Services, the first point talks about the expansion of athletic and public gathering spaces will increase the reliance on emergency services and so on and I wanted to have an expansion on what public means in this case and think that I would like to have that kind of description also included on Page 1, under 1, Description of Proposed Action. I asked you before whether this was going to be only for athletic facilities, the building and the things that were built in the first Phase, and you said, no, there would be other things too, there would be PB 5/1/07 Pg 55 events. And I would like to have an expansion of what that means in the text so that it doesn't give the impression that this is only for athletic use but also for other use. So I would like it to expand on what "public gathering spaces" means. What sort of public events and then include a description of that under point one on page 1. Mr. Herrick — Okay. Chairperson Wilcox — I will point out that the title of this document says "Ithaca College Athletics and Events Center"; I don't think that there's any.... Board Member Hoffmann — But events doesn't necessarily mean public events... Chairperson Wilcox —. I agree. I don't think that anybody is trying to hide the fact that there will be non - athletic events held. there, but... Board Member Hoffmann — No, but you know... Chairperson Wilcox — You're looking for what sorts of non - athletic events... Board Member. Hoffmann — I think it should say under Description of Proposed Action, it should include some text about what other non - athletic uses there will. be. Chairperson Wilcox — Agreed. Board Member Hoffmann — And then, if you would please expand, you can do it now, and you can also include it in the text later, what public means in this case. Mr. Couture — There are several examples that I included in my statement which also mirror the statements that Carl Seggreci made back at the January 16th meeting where he described what some of those public uses might be. Commencement, not necessarily just for Ithaca College, if there needed to be alternative space for the high school for instance, that might be an appropriate venue. Guest lecturers, those would obviously be open to the college community and the public.... Chairperson Wilcox —The Dai Li Lama, if this was ready in time, who will be speaking.... Mr: Couture -- ...and concerts, recitals, what not .... So those are opportunities for more than just the college community. And those represent more than just the college... PB 5/1/07 Pg 56 Ms. Brock — Fred, how's this sound.... "The field house will be used for athletic practices and competitions and public events which may include concerts, commencement and convocation ceremonies and lectures." Board Member Hoffmann — Okay, but it should also be made clear that it is not just for the Ithaca College .community. Ms. Brock — No, it says "and public events." Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, I mean,, commencement is a public event. Board Member Hoffmann — Right, but if they just mentioned it wouldn't just be the Ithaca College commencement but perhaps the high school commencement too, that's a different thing. I mean, it wouldn't have occurred to me to think that a high school commencement would be here if you hadn't said it. Chairperson Wilcox — Do you know where they are right now? They are on the Cornell campus. Ithaca High School's commencement is now in the basketball arena, it used to be at Barton ... boy was that tough. Board Member Hoffmann — Then I. had some comments on Page 4, well, it starts on Page 3 1 guess, there are some identifications of some various points where one can see this part of Ithaca College and the effect that this could have on the view, and I think there should, perhaps, be some more places added. Maybe one wouldn't necessarily see structures, but I think it would be possible to see lights from the lit fields. Or maybe even not the lights, but to see 'a lit up field from other places, For instance, certain locations along the west side of the lake. Routes 96, 899 1 think it might be possible and I would like to find out if that is possible. And there are several areas more on East Hill where I think it could be seen. Like all along Snyder Hill Road within the Town. of Ithaca and all along Pine Tree Road, instead of just at that one spot where Snyder Hill Road and Pine Tree Road come together. Chairperson Wilcox — We have to be reasonable though and pick, or identify a definitive set of locations. We can't ... I don't want to send wording saying "all along the road" because that leaves it open to if they do 6 we wanted 8 and yeah... Board Member Hoffmann — I guess I also mis -spoke because maybe not all along the entire stretch of Pine Tree Road, you're right, but more than that one point that you have in here, anyway. And that's something that can be defined after one looks at it. I also wondered about ... you have listed Tompkins County candidate view # 81 East Hill Recreation Way, and I just don't remember... is that the former railroad track, or is it the Recreation Way along Pine Tree Road? PB 5/1/07 Pg 57 Mr. Herrick — No, this is the old railroad alignment that connects Honness Lane with Maple Avenue.. Board Member Hoffmann — I think, on that one, there is just one point where they specify a view whereas the Recreation Way that goes from Elllis Hollow Road to Snyder Hill Road, one can really see the view all along that walkway. One can really see the Ithaca College...from just south of the Burger King, there is a walkway that goes along Pine Tree Road south to Snyder Hill Road, and you can see the views across Ithaca College all along there. So I think that that would be a more important Recreation Way for pedestrians, to consider. Mr. Kanter — That area that Eva is talking about is basically covered under County View AP 013, Pine Tree at Snyder Hill Road, and again, that's not saying the whole stretch, but that's basically the center of where that view is. That's the real ... it's the one, actually, where our Scenic View Committee has identified as a... Chairperson Wilcox —As a point... Board Member Hoffmann — Well, the Scenic View Committee, which I am on, has stretched that view out a little bit along the road... Chairperson Wilcox — But we have to pick a point... Mr. Kanter —What I am saying is that that point covers the general view, so I think we have to be reasonable about how, many actual photographs of actual viewing points we require. Chairperson Wilcox — And balloons put up in the air and things like that. I like th idea... Board Member Hoffmann — Well, take a look at it... Chairperson Wilcox — The west side of Cayuga Lake though, is... Mr. Herrick — I would like to suggest one location that may represent the west side of the lake in some regards and that is the Waterfront Trail at Cass Park. It presents a different view of the Six Mile Creek valley that you don't get from the eastern views so I think that ... I would almost recommend that in lieu of the East Shore Park on East Shore Drive, because you do get a closer and different perspective that I think is probably more meaningful and probably more accessible. PB 5/1/07 Pg 58 Mr. Kanter — I think we should keep the East Shore Park simply because it's the 1 Town Park that we have on the lake and it may not be a significant impact but I think we want to look at it and just make sure it's not.... Mr. Herrick — I also just wanted to make one comment, we do also have Slaterville Road at Pine Tree Road. That's another intersection, Coddington Road view that we have. Board Member Hoffmann - Yes, and I'm not sure that you actually can see through the trees that are on the south side of Slaterville Road at that point. Maybe you can during certain times of the year, but, I think this list can be refined a little bit further. Chairperson Wilcox'. Our job right now is to say this is on the list and this isn't, we can't leave it open ended. We really need to pin it down right.now. Board Member Hoffmann — Well, that's tough. Chairperson Wilcox — It is tough. Board Member Conneman — Well, David, Hannah raised a question that I raised originally and that's that being an economist I deal with trade -offs and alternatives, and it seems to me that under Alternatives, where it says, 5, the 2nd bullet, it talks about moving the building and parking lot to another location. I don't think that it is sufficient to say, well, it's not going to work any place else. I'll give you an example: When Cornell wanted to build some fields for their recreation programs in the summer, they were going to use the horse pastures, and we suggested.that maybe they look elsewhere, and they came back with a much better location, which is off of Gamefarm Road. And it seems to me that if this is really true, that these other locations on 96 are really rotten locations, you ought to show us that. Mr. Herrick — We will. Board Member Conneman — Because I think that's important to say hey, this is what it would cost, this is what we could do, this is what we can't do ... because that's part of planning, in my opinion. Mr. Herrick — It will become evident, in the information that you do receive, that this process, internally at the College, has been on -going for the better part of 7 years. Board Member Conneman — I just wanted to raise this question because... PB 5/1/07 Pg 59 Chairperson Wilcox — Alternates are usually, through the draft environmental impacts statements that I've been through on this Board, alternatives, presenting alternatives, is an important section of that document, absolutely. Board Member Hoffmann — I guess I would just like to add that I am concerned that the lights, especially from the outdoor fields, might be seen from places other than what are listed here. Chairperson Wilcox — And those would generally be your higher locations that look across the valley towards the Ithaca College facilities. Board Member Hoffmann — Yes, or where there is a stretch of open view from down below too, like you said, by Cass Park for instance, looking up to the hillside, and then the lights, you might actually be able to see the lights even though they are shielded because you see them from below. That is my concern. Chairperson Wilcox — There will be some impact. The question is, what is that impact and what can be done to mitigate it. Board Member Hoffmann — Well those lights in other fields that already exist on the Cornell University campus are pretty strong lights, and we all have. experiences of seeing them when they are on from quite far away, so, it's a real concern. Mr. Herrick — We do have, as you heard previously, Musko Lighting is going to be engaged and involved in some of this analysis and they are obviously a leader in sport field lighting. We will have the opportunity to look at an installation at SUNY Binghamton in June. There's a project there that is going to incorporate, if I understand correctly, similar fixtures to what is going to be proposed here, so we will have a 45 minute drive, perhaps we could organize something and actually go down and look at that field. Board Member Hoffmann — Yes, that would be very useful. I would like to know about that, if that is possible. Chairperson Wilcox — From some personal experience, I can tell you that Musko is the leader in lighting of athletic fields and other events. They are, I'm not sure that anybody comes close to them right now in the technologies that they've developed to light efficiently and to ensure that there is no spillage. I can tell you stories about what I've seen them do with lighting. It's not cheap, I can tell you that. Board Member Hoffmann — I think there are some lights of that type on the Cornell University campus already, actually, but whether they are the big ones that one can see from a distance, I think maybe that field that is closer to the east PB 5/1/07 Pg 60 end of that open area which is now being built ... it would be north of the wrestling facility....there was a field there....that one might have those kinds of lights ... does anyone remember. . Board Member Talty — I have a question. The Ithaca lacrosse team. Are they going to practice in the winter, outside, similar to the Cornell lacrosse team that I see when I exit the Cornell hockey game? Mr. Couture — There is the possibility that they will be practicing but, more than likely, that practice would be at 4:00 in the afternoon and that would . be very weather dependent. Board Member Talty - Because I do see the Cornell lacrosse team practicing 7, 81 91 109 11 o'clock at .night when I get out of the Cornell hockey game. Mr. Couture - Right campus. We don't anticipate that same thing happening on our Board Member Talty — Okay. Board Member Thayer — We haven't talked too much about time lines. Somebody indicated that construction will go on for 8 or 10 or 12 years and we know that's not going to happen, continually. So, it would be nice, I think, to know Phase 1 is going to take so many months, and then it's going to stop. And then when Phase II starts, it's going to take so many months and then it's going to stop. Mr. Herrick — Yes, and that's part of our understanding of the phasing sequence. Chairperson Wilcox — You make the best projections you can based on when money is going to be donated and be sufficient to then start another phase. Board Member Thayer — And is it really going to be 25 years? 1 know you don't know ... I hope not. Mr. Couture — We hope not too. Chairperson Wilcox — Let's get to process. I'm not sure ... I was thinking and hoping that, based upon the comments that have been provided, the notes that you have written, that you could come up with a revised draft....l know that Staff and the Attorney for the Town have taken notes as well, so that, in 2 weeks we can have a further draft to review and potentially approve .... I just don't see us getting all the language down tonight between now and .10:00 o'clock. So I would just ask if you would take the comments that have been provided, the notes that you.have written, make your changes... PB 5/1/07 Pg 61 Mr. Kanter — Go over it with us.... Chairperson Wilcox Go over with the notes that Staff and the Attorney have made and then we will review that at our meeting in 2 weeks and then, hopefully, make minor changes, if any, and then send you on your way... to spend lots of money to do the environmental review. You know, you guys can complain about the timeline and that it pushes you back '2 weeks, but we're not going to sit here and wordsmith this tonight, and we're not going to do it efficiently, and we're going to get tired and we're going to get grouchy, frankly, and we don't think very well after 10:00 o'clock. So, I would recommend that course of action as being reasonable for all the parties. Of course, you could begin the environmental review knowing that there are some things that are set in stone that you know you're going to have to do. Mr. Herrick — Correct. Mr. Kanter — Which they already have. Chairperson Wilcox — Can you make that work, please. Mr. Herrick — I understand. I am hesitating because I am thinking of procedural timeline. Mr. Kanter — We have Ithaca College tentatively scheduled for the next Planning Board meeting in 2 weeks, which means... Chairperson Wilcox — Tentatively scheduled for what, may I ask. Mr. Kanter — For consideration of acceptance of the final scoping document. Chairperson Wilcox — Oh, so you had already planned for doing it this way. Mr. Kanter — But that means we'd need to go over it with you within the next week and have it ready for the mailout next... Mr. Herrick — Again, the comments are well thought out and really, most of the information is here already so... Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, get it up on the website. Mr. Herrick — This won't take long, as long as we're all available. Board Member Hoffmann — Do you have a web address already where this is going to be posted? PB 5/1/07 Pg 62 Mr. Couture — In addition to being posted on the Town website, it's also listed. on the Ithaca College website...if you went to the Ithaca College main page, www.ithacacollege.edu and go to the site index and under the letter F for Facilities, go to the Facilities home page and on the top you will see a link to the Draft Scoping Document, Chairperson Wilcox — Members of the public, we thank you for your input, and you're welcome back in 2 weeks for what will hopefully be a quick agenda item to review and make any minor changes, which I doubt will be substantive because think we've already....yeah, then you're on your way. MINUTES Chairperson Wilcox—.. I hereby move the minutes of April 3rd Board Member Hoffmann — Didn't we do those? Chairperson Wilcox — No, we had two last meeting and we didn't want to do the second one because we didn't have enough time to review them, so.Trn moving April 3rd..... seconded by Kevin Talty, Board Member Thayer abstains. ADOPTED RESOLUTION. PB RESOLUTION No. 2007 - 044 Approval of the Minutes from April 3, 2007 Planning Board, May 1, 2007 Motion made by Fred Wilcox III, seconded by Kevin Talty. WHEREAS. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board has reviewed the draft minutes from April 3, 2007 and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board approves the minutes, with corrections, to be the final minutes of the meeting on April 3, 2007. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Conneman, Hoffmann, Howe, Talty, and Wilcox NAYS: None Abstentions: Thayer Absent: None The motion was carried unanimously. Chairperson Wilcox — I move approval of the minutes from April 17th ...seconded .... seconded by Larry Thayer... PB 5/1/07 . Pg 63 Board Member Hoffmann — You .know, I just realized that I would like it to say, when I have comments, which I seem to have all the time, corrections and typos ... I would like it to say "accepted as corrected" instead of just "accepted "... Chairperson Wilcox — I agree. Board Member Hoffmann — And I noticed that in these, which I just read, from April 17th, the ones for March 20th says approve the minutes to be the final minutes of the meeting but I think I would like it to say as corrected there, because I gave you some corrections for that meeting, and I would like it... Chairperson Wilcox -- ...As corrected... all those in favor... minutes are approved. ADOPTED RESOLUTION: PB RESOLUTION No. 2007 - 045 Approval of the Minutes from April 17, 2007 Planning Board, May 1, 2007 Motion made by Fred Wilcox III, seconded by Kevin Talty. WHEREAS: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board has reviewed the draft minutes from April 17, 2007 and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board approves the minutes, with corrections, to be the final minutes of the meeting on April 17, 2007. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Conneman, Hoffmann, Howe, Talty, Thayer, and Wilcox NAYS: None Abstentions: None Absent: None The motion was carried unanimously. PB 5/1/07 Pg 64 OTHER BUSINESS PLANNING BOARD VACANCY Chairperson Wilcox — Should. we start with Planning Board vacancy interviews... you can listen ... you don't have to leave ... I want to report to members of the Planning Board that we had 5 applicants, which is good, the interviews have been held, the interviewing Committee has reviewed the 5 candidates and 3 members of the Interviewing Committee expressed a preference for 1 candidate, one member of the Interviewing Committee expressed preference for a 2 "d candidate and one member of the Interviewing Committee, me, abstained, simply because I was unable to make 2 of the 5 interviews and I felt that it was inappropriate. that I express a preference having not ... I got called out of town and was unable ... My understanding is that the Town Board may take this up at their meeting next week ... is it on the Agenda? Mr. Kanter —Yes. Chairperson Wilcox — I will point out that of the 2 Town Board members on the Interviewing Committee, they split, in terms of who they preferred. ..So, I don't know what will happen once it gets to the Town Board. I think if they had both gone with the same candidate, it might have been a slam dunk, when it got to the Town Board, but they differed, so I don't know what's going to happen there, but the Interviewing Committee did express a distinct preference for 1 of the candidates. Board Member Talty — So Fred, on those 5 candidates, did they limit it. I Aid they make the cut ... or was it 5 .continuous ...you said there were 5 interviews... Chairperson Wilcox — There were 5 interviews and there were 5 people on the Interviewing Committee and all 5 of those candidates were interviewed... Board Member Talty — Once? Chairperson Wilcox -- ...once, yes. We didn't do all of them and then bring anybody back. PLANNING BOARD ALTERNATE MEMBERS I wanted to report that the Town Board did pass the enabling legislation, the law, which says that they can appoint alternates to this Board. You may remember that we discussed, at length, the language, I am not pleased to report that what they accepted for the Planning Board is the same language as for the Zoning Board, which means that... Board Member Hoffmann — They didn't like our changes? PB 5/1/07 Pg 65 Chairperson Wilcox — I don't know whether they liked them or not, I think they felt that consistency with what they had already done with the Zoning Board is more important. So the abstention phrase is in there. What I don't know is whether I "may" or "shall' appoint an alternate.... Board Member Conneman — Could we see that language, because if this means that they can appoint someone to change the results... Chairperson Wilcox — It's up to me, understand that it's up to me. And remember, the Planning Board sets the rules under which we operate. We may not like it....Town Board, I'm sorry ... the Town Board sets the rules under which we operate, we may not be happy with it, but that's part of their oversight. So having said that, there appears to have been some members, one or more members of the Town Board who thought maybe .we were not in favor of alternates... and I expressed the opinion that we are ... that I am certainly in favor of the alternates and I wanted to get the sense of this Board that I think it would be appropriate to do what the Zoning Board does, which is to have one or more alternates who come to every meeting, they sit up here, as we do, they can not vote, unless they have been designated to fill in for a member who is unable to attend or is unable to vote, having recused themselves from a particular agenda item. Do we have any reason... Board Member Thayer — Do you think you can get an alternate to come to every meeting? Chairperson Wilcox — The Zoning Board has it right now, they have 2.... Mr. Kanter — They have 2 and they come more regularly than the regular members. Ms. Brock — And I would have to say, probably the last 6 or 7 meetings, they meet once a month, 1 or both of them have been participating and voting because other members have been gone. So they actually have been very active. And even if all the ZBA members, regular members, are there, they still hear all the information and they ask questions, they just don't get to vote/ Board Member Hoffmann — Do they get all of the papers ahead of time? Ms. Brock — Yes. Chairperson Wilcox — They're paid? Mr. Kanter — Yes, they get the same rate as a regular Board member. PB 5/1/07 Pg 66 Board Member Thayer — Okay, so then there wouldn't be any problem getting them to come. Mr. Kanter— So the reason that. Fred is asking, particularly now is with the 5 candidates that were interviewed, there are certainly some candidates, of those who aren't selected for the permanent position, look like they would be appropriate to appoint as alternates and this would be a good time to do it because it would be a shame to lose the good candidates that we do have. Board Member Howe — I think you're right. I don't think it was that we were opposed to the idea of alternates. Chairperson Wilcox.— Okay. So let me officially, to give the Town Board the appropriate... Let me move that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is in favor of the appointment of alternates to this Board. We'll let it go at that.:.Jonathan is that sufficient? Board Member Thayer — Is that alternates with an (s)? Chairperson Wilcox — How about one .or two alternates? Mr. Kanter — It can be up to 2 within the law. Chairperson Wilcox — It can be up to 2...do you want to just say that we are in favor of the Town Board appointing alternates? Board Member Conneman — We've operated for at least the 8 years that I've been on the Board without them... Chairperson Wilcox —At the last meeting we had 4 though... Board Member Conneman — That's true, but you made the point that we did not want to appoint someone just because we wanted a vote to go a certain way. That's what disturbs me. Ms. Brock — the revisions to the law, I believe Fred, say that the Planning Board Chair "shall" appoint an alternate if a regular member is unable to vote. So, there wouldn't be any manipulation of the system to get a vote to go one way or another. Board Member Conneman — Okay. That's in the minutes, right? Ms. Brock — That's in the law, it's in the law and if you have more than 1 appointed, the Chair has to alternate between which alternate votes based upon which alternated voted last so again, there's no manipulation of the system. PB 5/1/07 Pg 67 Board Member Conneman — Thank you. I wanted to be sure. Ms. Brock —That was something the COC was concerned about and we spent quite a bit of time... Chairperson Wilcox — I was concerned about... perception is reality and if it's perceived that I'm choosing a certain person because of howl think they may or may not vote, I don't want that, but the law forces me to choose alternates in a certain way. Board Member Thayer — So that means we will never have less than 7 members present? Ms. Brock — Not necessarily,... if an alternate doesn't come or... Chairperson Wilcox — We could have 9 people sitting here.... Board Member Talty — Are you going to have a pool to pick from? Chairperson Wilcox — As Jonathan said, of the 5 candidates that we interviewed, more than one candidate, in my opinion, would make, would be, there was more than one candidate who would be a suitable member of this Board. The fact that. the Committee voted 3 to 1 with 1 abstention indicating a preference of 1 person over another, does not mean that we did not have more than 1 qualified candidate for this Board, hence the issue or alternates came up and maybe it might be reasonable to appoint 1 person to fill the vacant position and appoint 1 person as an alternate. Board Member Talty — So there would not be a pool Chairperson Wilcox — No, there would not be a pool. These people are appointed, they should come to every meeting and if there is only one, obviously I would appoint that person to fill in if someone is not here or can not vote. If there are 2, the law prescribes the fact that I go back and forth between them, I can not manipulate the system by choosing someone that I think will vote in a manner that I think will vote in a manner that I think I would be comfortable with. And I thank you very much, I don't want that discretion. It leads to, it could lead to the perception that I'm doing something that I shouldn't be doing and certainly don't want to do. . Board Member Hoffmann — That's why it's good to have 2, because then you will alternate... Chairperson Wilcox — Well, I think it's better to have 1, that way there's no manipulation, that person serves, it's not like I am trying to do anything that I shouldn't be. PB 5/1/07 Pg 68 I have a motion which says that we are in favor of the appointment of alternates. Can I have a second... seconded by Larry Thayer....discussion... Board Member Thayer — We did... Chairperson Wilcox — All those in favor... ADOPTED RESOLUTION PB RESOLUTION NO. 2007 — 043 Appointment of Alternate Members Town of Ithaca Planning Board May 1, 2007 Motion made by Chairperson Wilcox, seconded by Board Member Thayer. RESOLVED that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is in favor of the appointment of Alternate Members_of the Planning Board. A vote on the motion was as follows: AYES: Fred T. Wilcox III, Eva Hoffmann, George Conneman, Larry Thayer, Rod Howe, Kevin Talty. NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: None The motion was passed unanimously. CAREMOORE SITE VISIT Chairperson Wilcox — Caremoore site visit is Thursday at 5:OOp.m. This is the John Rancich proposal for condominiums etc, etc. I haven't seen much because he's been dealing directly with the Town Board first with regard to, I assume, a zoning change, but there is a site visit at 5:00... Mr. Kanter —Five o'clock.. or if you want to carpool, meet here at the parking lot here at 4:45. Chairperson Wilcox — We'll find someplace to park on or near Mecklenburg Road along the highway... Mr. Kanter — Could I just mention the Transportation Plan. We have the fully revised Transportation Plan which is up for public hearing at the May 7t' meeting. So it's been fairly widely distributed. We didn't give you a copy of the new one because it's not that different from the one you saw previously, but, I do have some extra copies here if anyone wants a copy. But we just wanted to bring you up to date on the process on this. So, hopefully, if all goes well, the Town Board will consider approving the Transportation Plan next week. PB 5/1/07 Pg 69 AGENDA Mr. Kanter— May 15th, Ithaca College.will be back, hopefully. I think we will have the Cornell childcare Center in for site plan and special permit. Chairperson Wilcox — Preliminary and final? Mr. Kanter — Yeah, because it's a sidewalk and underground utilities. And I think, from what I have heard, that they may be adding a low fence around Pleasant Grove Road, which we haven't seen yet. Chairperson Wilcox— Because of our input! It must have been Eva... Mr. Kanter — No, it's not because of your input, it's because of the concern of a childcare center having children playing outdoor with a busy road there. They're talking about a 3400t high fence, nothing that big. And I do understand that Cayuga Heights issued their negative declaration of environmental significance so we will be getting a copy of that and that will be our SEQR determination as well. There's a fairly large subdivision over in Eastern Heights, the remainder of the Frandsen subdivision off of Park Lane. Twenty -three additional lots to basically complete their development that's been going on for how many years now.. ..so, it would be the completion of the 2 remaining dead -end roads off of Park Lane ... a total of 23 new lots. Chairperson Wilcox — Park Lane is the road off of Slaterville Road? Mr. Kanter — Yes, it's the new road. Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, this is the road that has the...what are the easements along that road? There's funny easements along that road that the Town has for.. Js this fall zones for....we have some unique easements along there. This is before my time on the Board, even, that's how far this goes back. Mr. Kanter — So they've been working on their plans and they finally have something ready to bring back in for preliminary subdivision. And then a couple of little things....La Tourelle coming back for some additional modifications and then the Cornell Moakley House,, .the golf course snack bar, having some exterior modifications. Chairperson Wilcox — Okay. That's a full agenda. Board Member Talty — I will not be here on the 16th PB 5/1/07 Pg 70 Board Member Conneman — I will not be here. Chairperson Wilcox — This is why.we need alternates. Board Member Hoffmann — By then we would have a new member? Chairperson Wilcox — That leaves us with 4 for the next meeting. That's tough, that's really tough with 4. Maybe we'll have a new member by then. Board Member Talty — I have something to bring up ... I just scanned through the minutes from the last meeting, I wasn't here,. but, was there any discussion with regards to the e-mail that was sent out? [no] Okay, any discussion to be had, tonight, on the subject? Board Member Hoffmann — I actually asked if we were going to discuss it but since you weren't here Rod, and you had sent the letter... Chairperson Wilcox — What I said, I can't remember if I said it at the. meeting or after the meeting, I had ... Andrea had called me right after. ..the next day after the meeting, expressing her concerns and then she followed that up with the letter that she wrote to Cathy and Susan and the Members....) know that Cathy, when she came back from vacation, did respond... Board Member Talty — I did not see that response, and I would like to see that. If I was copied on the e-mail, I want to see the email response. I think that that's totally appropriate. Mr. Kanter — You'll have to call Cathy, I have not seen it either. Board Member Talty — I think that I am going to call her and I think that each individual should see the response to that. Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, I talked to her about it, I know what she told me she said, which is, Thank you very much, but the Planning Board is independent. And I said to her, what do you want me to respond and she said, well, if Andrea wants you to and she hasn't asked. I did run into Andrea subsequent to .the meeting in the grocery store, and she expressed her concerns again, but she was very polite. Board Member Talty — I'd like to express my concern. My concern is this is America and it's great and everybody has their own opinion, but anytime that there are suggestions that the reason that she bit her lip, in the back of the room, is that there may be some kind of negative determination against her project in the future, because she came up and identified concerns that she had, I have a real issue with that. Because I think this Board is deft enough to take each PB 5/1/07 Pg 71 occasion or application that comes in front of it and merits, back and forth, the positives and the negatives, and I found personal offensive from that, that it would cloud our judgment in the future, with regards to Ithaca Montessorri. Chairperson Wilcox — Which is fine. And she took personal offense at the process that ... Board Member Talty —That's fine... Chairperson Wilcox -- ....she watched unfold in front of her and as long as it's professional and not personal... Board Member Talty — It was personal Fred, oh yeah, ....there weren't names in there, but it was personalized, oh yeah it was. Board Member Hoffmann — Well, ... Chairperson Wilcox — I think some of us took personal offense, but I would simply ask that you shine your suit of armor and... Board Member Talty — No question about it... Chairperson Wilcox -- ....and Board Member Talty — And we'll move on. That's why I didn't respond, because usually when I respond, and I hit reply all, you don't want to see it, and so.... Chairperson Wilcox — And I thank members of this Board, first of all, for not getting into emailing each other about this. That runs us up against the open meeting regulations, and, in fact, Andrea, when she first. called me, wanted us to get together, and Rod wanted to discuss it and I said if we discuss it, we do it in open, because if 4 of us get together and discuss, you know ... that's business, that's Board business ... if we discuss it at the bowling alley or out to dinner, then that's a violation of the open meeting laws, and frankly, to me, it's also a violation if Rod e- mails with me and then he calls me and then he a -mails to one other member of the Board and then he's e- mailing with another, a fourth member of the Board ... so, though the 4 of us aren't getting together, we are in fact communicating as if we were. Ms. Brock — Actually that's okay. Chairperson Wilcox — Nope, I just saw something in the Association of Town thing that was in my packet, which I didn't bring, there was an opinion ... was it an opinion ... I don't know if it was an opinion on open meetings, that that would not be appropriate. . PB 5/1/07 Pg 72 Ms. Brock —Well, Robert Freeman has issued opinions in the past saying that as long as decisions are not being made via e-mail, it's fine to communicate with each other about various issues. Chairperson Wilcox — We can communicate with each other but, one, I ask that we don't...the fact that this Board does everything in public and, frankly, sometimes we look so inefficient because we don't talk about these things before we get here. Now I don't know if 2 people are talking or e- mailing or not, but the sense is that we get together and discuss these things for the first time while we're here, unless we've been. on a site visit. I like that, we keep the. publics' trust, there is no sense that we come in, having talked about this, and already know what our decision is, and I would prefer that people stay away from em mailing each other about Board business that should be discussed in public. Board Member Conneman — Is there a difference betweening e= mailing and talking to someone? Chairperson Wilcox — No, I mean, talking is the same thing as e- mailing. But you can talk... Board Member Conneman — I can't talk to Rod Howe... Chairperson Wilcox — You can talk to Rod Howe, absolutely you can talk to Rod Howe. The question is, is it Planning Board business.. and you can talk to him about Planning Board business, there's no law that precludes two people from talking about Planning Board business, okay, and I can't prevent that. But I think it's better if that is done in public. I think that it is better that if you have knowledge that you are sharing with Rod, that we all have that knowledge, that we all share in that opinion. Board Member Conneman — Is knowledge concern? Chairperson Wilcox — Knowledge is concern, that's an opinion. I think that it would be good if we all hear it. Board Member Conneman —Then we can't talk to each other and we can't e-mail each other. Chairperson Wilcox — You can talk and e-mail to each other, you can't.... Board Member Conneman — That's pretty tough. Chairperson Wilcox — The law allows you to do it, but doing it in public, I think, keeps the publics' trust. PB 5/1/07 Pg 73 Board Member Talty — Fred, you don't ask a whole lot, I have to say, seven years later, this is my 7th year, and I think just out of respect for the Chair, and the position you hold, I don't think that that's too... Chairperson Wilcox — And again, it's public business, the fact that ...are you going to the meeting tomorrow ... I don't care about that, that's not public business, public business is discussing an agenda item or how you might vote, or expressing an opinion on something. If you have an opinion, I want to hear it too, if I have an opinion, I want everyone to hear about it... Board Member Conneman — Then let us e-mail you. Chairperson Wilcox — No, I want it done here, right here, so we all hear it, that the staff hears it that the public hears it. Board Member Talty — Well, my opinion about a -mails is, you have to be so well written, because there's no tone, there's no inflection, in e- mails, and unless you are just unbelievable in communication and the English language, written, that I've seen more a -mails twisted inside and out, that people just take ... they assume, they don't hear, I'd rather be on a conference call, to be honest, so I have no issues at all in supporting that decision about e- mails. Chairperson Wilcox — Ever have anybody come up to you in a grocery store and want to talk about an agenda item or something like that, coming up? Board Member Talty — Never. Chairperson Wilcox — It hasn't happened to you yet? Board Member Talty — Never. Chairperson Wilcox — It's happened to me, where people want to talk to me, usually in WegmanIs, because Wegman's is a very social place, people come up to me and want to talk to me about either something that is on the agenda or will be on the agenda, and I cut them right off... Board Member Conneman — You mean you can't talk to constituents? Chairperson Wilcox — No ... I can talk to them, but I ask that they share their opinions to every member of the Board at the same time. I do not want to come in here with knowledge that you do not have. I want them to write a letter, show up, okay, so I ask them politely to share their opinion, share their knowledge to every member of the Board and not just me, and that's what I always do. Board Member Conneman — I agree with that. When I see Bruce, or I often see Doug and they say something I.say, well, are you going to come to the meeting. That's right, but I can't talk to them? PB 5/1/07 Pg 74 Chairperson Wilcox — No, legally you can talk to them. Legally we can all go out to dinner. Board Member Conneman — Legally is not the issue, it's what you should do. Chairperson Wilcox — That's right. Legally we can all go out to dinner, as long as we don't discuss Board business. Board Member Talty — Do we have all that much in common ... (laughter) Board Member Talty — I just thought that it was appropriate to bring that up, and I'm glad we did, and like you said Fred, we all have the microphones in front of us, we can all talk, so if nobody shares what they are thinking at this time, then we are moving on. Board Member Conneman — We certainly have demonstrated overtime that we vote differently on different issues. And I think that we don't always vote the same way and there is evidence of .that. Chairperson Wilcox — Rod, your still bothered. Board Member Howe — Well I think what Andrea was...Andrea had a perception that we treated a certain group of people differently, and I think that is what her concern was, and, I don't know if she said this to you, but she almost wrote to the Ithaca Journal, and I'm just glad that she did not, but she was bothered, because I saw her a couple of more times, and she had not heard from Cathy. And I am glad that Cathy's responded because I think that this really sat very heavily on her. Chairperson Wilcox — Cathy was on vacation, and I told Andrea that the response might be delayed. I don't ... that's all I'll say at the moment. Mr. Kanter — And then, not to mention our e-mail system problem where it may have been further delayed. Board Member Hoffmann Well, I would just like to say that the reason I took personal offense by Andrea's e-mail was, she said that some of the comments bordered on racism, and I personally felt that somebody saying that, and I don't know who she said it about, but I take it personally, and if somebody who doesn't know me says that about me, I can not let it go without saying that she picked on the wrong person, and that's all I'll say for now. Fred knows.. Chairperson Wilcox — You and I had a conversation. PB 5/1/07 Pg 75 Board Member Talty — And that's true and the other thing is, she hasn't sat here for 7 years, at least the time that I've been here, and that's, and a lot of times things can be misconstrued, because I'm tough on a lot of people, and so is Eva, and so is Fred, and Rod and just because we are tough on a gate that's 30 -feet from the road doesn't mean that I am out to get the Tibetan monks. Board Member Conneman — Kevin, it was the language that was used and one particular word that I think she objected to, so let's call this off. Board Member Thayer — And I was in Florida... Chairperson Wilcox — And you couldn't read the minutes... Board Member Thayer — I couldn't read the minutes... Chairperson Wilcox — Thanks to our outstanding assistant. ..(laughter),.I Board Member Talty — I have to say, when I read that, I was like, "oh my god, of all the ones ".... Upon motion, meeting adjourned at 10:18 p.m. erk TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday, May 1, 2007 AGENDA 7:00 P.M. Persons to be heard (no more than five minutes). 7:05 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of extending the time period for the Wedemeyer Equestrian Center project to submit a complete final site plan application for the project located between 1456 and 1460 Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 24 -1- 19.12, Agricultural Zone. Section 270 -194 of the Town Code requires final site plan material to be submitted within 18 months of the preliminary site plan approval, but allows the Planning Board to extend the time period if needed. Preliminary site plan approval was granted on November 15, 2005, and the applicant is requesting an 18 month time extension. Robert & Paula Wedemeyer, Owners /Applicants. 7:10 P.M. SEQR Determination: Namgyal Monastery Entrance Gate, 100 Tibet Drive. 7:10 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for a modification to the Namgyal Monastery project located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road across from Sesame Street), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10, Medium Density Residential Zone. The modification includes constructing a +/- 20 foot high open ornate archway - like structure (entrance gate) over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way (105' from the edge of the pavement). Namgyal Monastery, Owner /Applicant; Scott Tobey, Agent. 7:15 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed improvements and modifications to the Cornell University Utilities Department Service Yard located between Maple Avenue and Dryden Road (NYS Route 366) around the Central Heating Plant, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 63- 1 -8.1, 63 -1 -8.2 and 63 -1 -5, Light Industrial and Low Density Residential Zones. The proposal involves improving an existing oil tank, installation of a new fuel off - loading station and oil fuel piping, expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Cornell Maple Avenue substation, replacement of the existing coal conveyor with a new covered coal conveyor, and the reconfiguration and upgrading of the existing service roadways. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; James R. Adams, Agent. 7 :30 P.M. PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: The purpose of the Public Scoping Meeting is to consider public comments on the Draft Scoping Document (dated March 7, 2007, Revised April 6, 2007) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared regarding the proposed Ithaca College Athletic and Events Center located on the eastern side of the Ithaca College campus near the Coddington Road campus entrance, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2, 41 -1 -24, and 42- 1 -9.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal includes the construction of a +/- 300,000 square foot field house building (containing a 200M track, indoor field for practices and games, seating and floor space for large events, Olympic size pool and diving well, indoor tennis courts, rowing center, strength and conditioning center, etc.) an outdoor - lighted artificial turf field and 400M track, and the creation of 1015 +/- parking spaces (553 existing parking spaces moved and 462 new parking spaces). The project is proposed in several phases and will also include new walkways; access roads, stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Richard Couture, Agent. Copies of the Draft Scoping Document are available at the Town of Ithaca Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY (607- 273 - 1747), or on the Town's website: www.town.ithaca.ny.us. TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday May 1, 2007 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 1, 2007, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at the following times and on the following matters: 7:05 P.M. Consideration of extending the time period for the Wedemeyer Equestrian Center project to submit a complete final site plan application for the project located between 1456 and 1460 Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 24 -1- 19.12, Agricultural Zone. Section 270 -194 of the Town Code requires final site plan material to be submitted within 18 months of the preliminary site plan approval, but allows the Planning Board to extend the time period if needed. Preliminary site plan approval was granted on November 15, 2005, and the applicant is requesting an 18 month time extension. Robert & Paula Wedemeyer, Owners /Applicants. 7:10 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for a modification to the Namgyal Monastery project located at 100 Tibet Drive (off Danby Road across from Sesame Street), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 43 -2 -10, Medium Density Residential Zone. The modification includes constructing a +/- 20 foot high open ornate archway -like structure (entrance gate) over the main drive approximately 70 feet east of the Danby Road right -of -way (105' from the edge of the pavement). Namgyal Monastery, Owner /Applicant; Scott Tobey, Agent. 7:15 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed improvements and modifications to the Cornell University Utilities Department Service Yard located between Maple Avenue and Dryden Road (NYS Route 366) around the Central Heating Plant, .Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 63- 1 -8.1, 63 -1 -8.2 and 63 -1 -5, Light Industrial and Low Density Residential Zones. The proposal involves improving an existing oil tank, installation of a new fuel off - loading station and oil fuel piping, expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Cornell Maple Avenue substation, replacement of the existing coal conveyor with a new covered coal conveyor, and the reconfiguration and upgrading of the existing service roadways. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; James R. Adams, Agent. Said Planning Board will at said time and said place hear all persons in support of such matter 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 hearing. Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 Dated: Monday, April 23, 2007 Publish: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 4 Wednesday, April, ;2 07 l THEITHACA JOURNAL _ ° Ws jai 4 `. Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga Street May 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN-IN Please Print Clearly, Thank You /csCJ rj G A'5 " 10; � 11M7 U Cvtz^%C6C Address AE7C 01 CE (/NVC gezNlcE Y -CD J:fic.P, CC� 0� , &t�f-c� 16 Lj Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga Street May 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN4N Please Print Clearly, Thank You `, �(LV)kt4�sE u.4' Address 53 Cc� 144 'bu T� n (� :Z A �� <p` 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. Notice of Public Hearings to be held by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board in the Town of Ithaca Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca New York on Tuesday May 1 2007 commencing at 7:00 P.M., as per attached. Location of Sign Board used for Posting: Town Clerk Sign Board — 215 North Tioga Street. Date of Posting: Date of Publication: April 23, 2007 April 25, 2007 � Qokce� Sandra Polce, Senior Typist Town of Ithaca STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25`h day of April 2007, Notary Public Dan] L. Hotford Notary Public, State Ot New York No. 01H06052879 Seneca County My Commission Expires Dec. 26, ry TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING Tuesday, May 1, 2007 By direction of the Chairperson of the Planning Board, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Scoping Meeting, pursuant to 6. NYCRR Part 617, also known as the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, will be held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at the following time and on the following matter: 7:30 P.M. The purpose of the Public Scoping Meeting is to consider public comments on the Draft Scoping Document (dated March 7, 2007, Revised April 6, 2007) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared regarding the proposed Ithaca College Athletic and Events Center located on the eastern side of the Ithaca College campus near the Coddington Road campus entrance, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2, 41 -1 -24, and 424-9.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal includes the construction of a +/- 300,000 square foot field house building (containing a 200M track, indoor field for practices and games, seating and floor space for large events, Olympic size pool and diving well, indoor tennis courts, rowing center, strength and conditioning center, etc.) an outdoor - lighted artificial turf field and 400M track, and the creation of 1015 +/- parking spaces (553 existing parking spaces moved and 462 new parking spaces). The project is proposed in several phases and will also include new walkways, access roads, stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Richard Couture, Agent. Copies of the Draft Scoping Document are available at the Town of Ithaca Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY (607- 273 - 1747), or on the Town's website: www.town.ithaca.ny.us. Said Planning Board will at said time and said place hear all persons who are interested in commenting on this matter. 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 scoping meeting. Written comments on the Draft Scoping Document will also be accepted through May 1, 2007, Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 Dated: Thursday, April 19, 2007 Publish: Saturday, April 21, 2007 - u rday, April 21, 2007F1 THE ITHACA JOURNAL_' 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. Notice of Public Hearings to be held by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board in the Town of Ithaca Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca New York on Tuesday MU 1, 2007 commencing at 7:00 P.M., as per attached. Location of Sign Board used for Posting: Town Clerk Sign Board — 215 North Tioga Street. Date of Posting: Date of Publication April 19, 2007 April 21, 2007 a,( 7-ec.e� Sandra Polce, Senior Typist Town of Ithaca STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 201h day of April 2007. Danl L. Hoi(ord Noffiry Public, State 01 New York Ho eneca Count 9 My commission Expires Dec. 26, r cQ