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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2008-06-17PLANNING BOARD TOWN OF ITHACA REGULAR MEETING JUNE 17, 2008 FILE DATE -� Board Members Present: Rod Howe, Chair; George Conneman, Larry Thayer, Hollis Erb and Alternate, Kevin Talty Board Members Absent: Fred Wilcox and Susan Riha Staff Present: Paulette Neilsen, Deputy Town Clerk; Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town, Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; Susan Ritter, Assistant Director of Planning; Dan Walker, Town Engineer; Mike Smith, Environmental Planner, Darby Kiley, Planner; Christine Balestra, Planner Chairperson Howe opened the meeting at 7:04p.m. and stated for the record that the Public Hearing notices had been duly posted and publicized. Others: Melinda Staniszewska, Coddington Road Marin Clarkburg, Friends Meeting Ellen Bonn, 117 Penny Lane Cathy Webb, 1417 Slaterville Road Jeff Weiss, 1141 Slaterville Road Paul Chamandy, 100 Penny Lane Jim Catella, Catella Engineering, LLC Andy Sciaraba, TG Miller David Stipanuk, 116 Homestead Circle Don Rakow, Director, Cornell Plantations Jon Neuert, Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, Toronto, Canada Katherine Wolf, Trowbridge & Wolf Bill Wendt, Cornell Transportation Matt Grier, Morgan Alexeou Brison, Raleigh, North Carolina Persons to be Heard Chairperson Howe invited anyone wishing to address the Board on a topic or item not on the agenda to do so. Melinda Staniszewska, 220 Coddington Road The Planning Board's first duty and responsibility is to the tax - paying residents and decisions that consider the greater good. And I'm still asking for some sort of hold on progress on the Ithaca College path bypass of Coddington Road, or some engagement PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 2 of Ithaca College and continuing to participate in community and improve Coddington Road between Hudson Street and their entrance. Since they own 65% of the lots, part of that improvement regards the way they are maintaining their easement, which is not being maintained very well. All of us residents maintain the 15 -foot easement that the County owns and the College has not been doing do. And I just want to call your attention to those facts again this evening. Thank you. Chairperson Howe — Anyone else? Chairperson Howe announces the next agenda item. SEQR Determination & Public Hearing: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan_ Approval and Special Permit for the proposed Friends Meeting Retreat project located off Slaterville Road (NYS Route 79) behind (west) 1409 — 1415 Slaterville Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 58 -1- 14.22, Medium Density Residential and Conservation Zones. The project involves using the 8.3 +/- acre Property for picnics and multi -day retreats and could involve a large tent and portable toilets. The project also involves constructing a gravel entrance drive from Slaterville Road approximately 155 feet into the property for access. Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Owner /Applicant; Marin Clarkberg, Agent. Chairperson Howe — Is there someone representing the Meeting tonight? If you want to just give us brief overview, we have the paperwork. Ms. Clarkberg -- The nutshell is that the Quaker Meeting ... we also call ... the formal name is The Religious Society of Friends, and we are also called The Quakers ... the nutshell is that the Quaker Meeting is seeking your approval to use a parcel of land that is owned by the Quaker Meeting for some modest recreational purposes involving the members and attenders of the Quaker meeting. In fact, we have already used this parcel of land for this purpose, we have been using it for recreational purposes since 2003, but it was only last December that we learned that we had to submit a site plan to be in compliance with the Town Code. The context in which we learned of the need for a site plan is we were seeking approval to build a modest gravel road or driveway to facilitate safe access to our parcel of land. The gravel road where we propose in the materials you have moves less than 250 cubic yards of material and the primary aim of the driveway is to facilitate safe access onto and off of Route 79 for us. As it is now, those of us who have driven onto the land have gone directly from a roadway to a grassy slope and vice -versa and many feel that this is somewhat unsafe. Although in the past most of who have driven onto the land have used another access point, there are two possibilities than is proposed in the drawings here. We've proposed this location for the driveway for two reasons; first, the sightlines along Route 79 are better from this point than they are from the other possible entrances and second, this PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 3 access point is much closer to the place on the land that we actually use. So it struck us that it's a better option to disturb less land than more. We have mostly used the other entrance in the past because without any site preparation it's easier to drive over that entrance. I do have the NYS DOT permit for a driveway between 1415 and 1417 and just to say another closing word or two about the recreational use of the land...weIve used it basically as a retreat for the kids of our religious community. We sing songs, make crafts, hike through the woods and learn to identify birds and trees and we talk about what it means to be Quaker. We have about forty kids attending and perhaps twenty adult volunteers when we do this event. While we've had the occasional Unitarian show up, this is not an event that one would consider "open to the public really something we do for ourselves, so... Chairperson Howe — Why don't we just weave into questions and then we will deal with the SEAR. Any questions from the Board? Board Member Erb — I have a couple questions... When I walk down this entry, this proposed entryway, I noticed that there were several mature trees and your plan here says nothing about those trees. Would you comment now please. Ms. Clarkburg — Yeah, we would cut down the trees that are in the way. They are perhaps just over a foot in diameter and honey locust. Board Member Erb — And so are all of them disappearing? Only the ones in the way? Ms. Clarkburg — Only the ones in the way. Board Member Erb — Okay. Do you have a plan for trying to avoid them? Ms. Clarkburg — I think that avoiding ... I'm not sure, but I think that avoiding them wouldn't ... we would have to take out at least one or two and I don't think our goal is to clearcut the area, but... Board Member Erb — Okay, I wanted to hear that at least ... And how are the toilets serviced? A truck comes down that same gravel driveway? Ms. Clarkburg — Right. Right now the truck comes over the grass. Chairperson Howe — My question might be both for you and Susan ... in somebody's cover memo it says that typically it's only used for 14 events a year and I see we've put that in the proposed resolution. Do we really care if it's used more than 14 times a year? I mean, it just strikes me as ... I'm not even sure why we even say that... Ms. Ritter — It doesn't necessarily have to be in that. I didn't...Marin had put it in her letter that they had not used ... that she didn't think it was going to be used more than 14 PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 4 days, so that is why I put it in there just thinking ... for your consideration ... we don't have to leave it in there. Ms. Brock — I had actually talked to Sue about that this afternoon too, it seems to me if there is any type of problem with noise, the Town has a noise ordinance, and of course they are subject to that, but there are many other approvals that we give where we don't limit people to numbers of days. They have the right to use this, it's for church functions, churches are allowed in this zone. So I had also asked if we really needed to have that limitation in there. Board Member Erb — I was just going to comment that although we allow many uses in a conservation zone, it is a conservation zone, and maybe somewhat limiting the number of campouts wasn't necessarily a bad idea. But I am not going to fight for the limitations. Chairperson Howe — Is there a concern that that's ... from the Society of Friends, that that's in the resolution? Ms. Clarkburg — I don't think there is. That was a generous estimate. I don't think we've used it more than five or six days. Chairperson Howe — And besides, obviously cutting down some trees, do you know of any other environmental impacts? Ms. Clarkburg — Just moving the dirt. Chairperson Howe — This is a public hearing so I am going to also open it up. Why don't we ... should we take the vote on the SEQR or hear the public first? Board Member Thayer — I'll move the SEQR. Board Member Conneman — I'll second. Chairperson Howe — So, first by Larry, second by George, any discussion? Board Member Erb — Under item 10 on the first page of the SEQR....Present Land Use ... I certainly would have checked "other" and added church. With a church right across the street from this driveway. And I would also note that our Town's Grandview Park is essentially across from the driveway as well as the Six Mile Creek natural area. Chairperson Howe — Everyone comfortable adding Other... anything else? All those in favor... PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 5 ADOPTED RESOLUTION, PB Resolution No. 2008 - 054 SEAR Preliminary and Final Site Plan & Special Permit Friends Meeting Retreat & Group Events Tax Parcel No. 58 -1 -14.22 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, June 17, 2008 Motion made by Larry Thayer, seconded by George Conneman. WHEREAS. 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Meeting Retreat and Group Events, located off Slaterville Road (NYS Route 79) behind (west) 1409, 1411, and 1415 Slaterville Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No, 58 -1- 14.22, Medium Density Residential and Conservation Zones. The project involves using the 8.3 +/- acre property for multi -day retreats, picnics, and family outings and could involve a large tent and portable toilets. The project also involves constructing a 16 foot wide by 155 foot long gravel entrance drive off Slaterville Road. Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Owner /Applicant; Marin Clarkberg, Agent, and 2. 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 June 17, 2008, 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, a drawing entitled "Topographic Survey Friends Meeting Retreat" originally prepared by Ernie Bayles, November 8, 2005 and modified by Marin Clarkberg, May 7, 2008 and other application materials, and 4. The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental significance with respect to the proposed Site Plan Approval and Special Permit; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes of environmental significance in accordance with Article Conservation Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617 New York Stal Review for the above referenced actions as proposed, based EAF Part I and for the reasons set forth in the EAF Part I Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. a 8 6e 0 I, negative determination of the Environmental Environmental Quality n the information in the and, therefore, a Draft PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 6 The vote on the motion was: Ayes: Howe, Conneman, Thayer, Talty and Erb Nays: None The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Howe — So if you will take a seat, we're going to open up the public hearing. This is a public hearing, if you would like to address the Board on this issue, please come forward. Ellen Bonn, 110 Penny Lane I have lived there since the Friends started using this property and I just wanted to thank them for being such fine neighbors. They always let us know when they are going to have an event, when the camp is going to take place. They leave behind no litter, unlike some of our other visitors along Penny Lane. And I wish them well. Board Member Erb — May I ask ... do you have an opinion about whether there should be any limitation to the number of events in a year? Ms. Bonn — I don't, not with those people. Board Member Erb — Thank you. Kathy Webb, 1417 Slaterville Road I am also a realtor ... I don't know if I have to disclose that. My concern ... the Friends have been wonderful; they tell us when things are happening and there's nice, noisy children back there now so that's a very nice when we do hear it. I do have some concerns about the driveway being ... I don't know if I want to say necessary ... an attractive nuisance perhaps, to college students... This is just. ..you know... I have had my own driveways used for students wanting to get to the reservoir a different way than further down Slaterville Road, past Pine Tree, and I'm just concerned that with a nice driveway being put in there, it's really on the bus route even.. that there could be some other, not the Friends using it, you know, but it's going to be there. And even now, if you go down through the field, that's one thing, but if you have a nice driveway taking you back that way ... I'm just concerned ... if it could have ... I hate to say chains, but, you know, just something ... I think it's going to be a nice way for people to get back there, to get closer to the reservoir. The other thing is, I was concerned about it being right across from Hillside Alliance Church and the park. There is a lot of traffic there and as you know, if you've been that way, the trucks do barrel along and I just wonder if it should be there or, like we were saying, there's another point where they do hit Slaterville Road further down towards Town, about three houses down, and I just wondered if there would be ... I just wonder about this driveway being across from the Hillside Alliance and the park driveway. Those are two more usage kinds of things. So those are my concerns. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 7 Board Member Erb — What days would you say the Hillside Alliance driveway has it's most use? Ms. Webb — Sunday. Board Member Erb — Okay. Ms. Webb — And there is the park too and I think there is even ... what do we call it now...Little League ... kids playing baseball and soccer...1 think they practice in that field. Board Member Erb — It is flat but it doesn't have any goals. Ms. Webb — No, but maybe it's ... I just know there are some times...l don't know what days, but as far as what the Friends are doing, I think that's fine but I am just worried about what's going to be there all the time. Jeff Weiss, 1141 Slaterville Road We have no opposition to the proposal. Everything has been fine. The times it's been used it's been used and we don't even notice that people are back there. One point that I would like to make is that we are pleased where the driveway is now in the proposal as opposed to the other option closer to Town. As the person from the Friends Society said, if they use the other entrance, then you are building a long driveway and you've got to have the cars drive all the way back behind all of the property and you create a much longer traffic flow that one will have aesthetic issues, but you also really create a traffic pattern that I would say is 4, 51 6, times longer than the one in the proposal. So we really think that does make more sense. As far as the number of days, as far as we know, it's usually used 4, 5, 6 -times a year. We were somewhat pleased to see the 14 days in the proposal, just because it gives all of us some scope of understanding how often it's going to be used, but we don't have any concern about how often it is used by the Society. Chairperson Howe — My guess is we will probably leave it in it since the applicant.... Board Member Thayer — Since there's no objection, I say we might as well leave it that way. Paul Chamandy, 100 Penny Lane No problem. I wish the Friends were my neighbors. Very quiet, no problem in the area. do understand the concern about parking for people going down to the gorge, because we have a major problem on Penny Lane as it stands right now with people going down to the gorge and I think it probably needs to be considered. Any encouragement for people to park there, to go down and swim illegally in the gorge is a problem and it's not the Friends. It's college students and other people coming from out of the area. Something that the residents of Penny Lane have addressed with the Town Council without much help. And it seems that the only thing that can be done is to call the PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 8 police and ticket the cars, so, if, and we strongly discourage them from parking on Penny Lane illegally which will mean it will drive them to wherever else they can get away parking. If no one is there calling the police they will probably shift to other locations. Thank you. Chairperson Howe — Anyone else? Person #5 — (spoke before she got to the mic.) After talking with Dan Walker this afternoon, I believe that the driveway is going to be put in very close to my property as opposed to being in the center of the piece of land that they own. I'm not very happy about this because I think it's 155 -foot driveway that's really a parking lot, that's going to come and is going to be used all year long, all year round, whether or not it's blocked off or not. I think that you could put up a chain and people are going to find a way to get through the chain. We're just creating a driveway that literally extends from the church, across the street and it's going to come straight down through. Not only do we have... there's also the concept of deer, you know, we have that big deer ... that big driveway across the street and you're going to put another one in and they already go through there, they're all over the place and we are just giving them a driveway right across a major highway. I just really think that this driveway...that they have access to the church across the street, they can use their parking lot. They have their other entrances. I just don't think that this is a good one. Chairperson Howe — Thank you. Anyone else? We will close the public hearing at 7:22 p.m. and bring the matter back to the Board. Do you want to come forward again. I don't want to speak for the Board but I think we would probably agree that the driveway is probably better where you put it than having to go behind a bunch of properties... (Board members agree) ...and I don't know if you've talked about trying to prevent access when the church isn't using it....Has that come up at all in your discussion? Ms. Clarkburg — I think it's a concern and it seems to me almost ... it's a difficult problem. I mean, if we had a good solution it would be implemented on Penny Lane, so, it's one that we struggle with. We, ..every year that we've done camp there we have had a tent and toilets and we've left materials out over night and they have never been disturbed. Right now, the traffic flow of pedestrians isn't through that area for the most part except for dog walkers, and that could change, but I don't have a good answer for that. Chairperson Howe — Any other questions for the applicant? Dan, you had a chance to look at the cut, any questions about the driveway? Mr. Walker — No, everything is good as far as the grading, minimal disturbance, it's less than 250 -yards of material. The one thing that would probably be a good idea for both the liability for the Friends and everything else too, is once you get the driveway there it probably would be good to put some kind of chain across with an indication that it's private property just for your own liability, to provide some level of legal protection. I PB 6.17.2008 Pg, 9 Chairperson Howe — Any other discussion... questions... would somebody like to move ... Moved by Kevin ... is there a second... seconded by Hollis ... Are there changes that we need to make to the resolution? Any further discussion?.. All those in favor... ADOPTED RESOLUTION. PB RESOLUTION NO. 2008 - 055 Preliminary and Final Site Plan & Special Permit Friends Meeting Retreat & Group Events Tax Parcel No. 58 -1 -14.22 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, June 17, 2008 Motion made by Kevin Talty, seconded by Hollis Erb. WHEREAS. 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Meeting Retreat and Group Events, located off Slaterville Road (NYS Route 79) behind (west) 1409, 1411, and 1415 Slaterville Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No, 58-1- 14.22, Medium Density Residential and Conservation Zones. The project involves using the 8.3 +/- acre property for multi -day retreats, picnics, and family outings and could involve a large tent and portable toilets. The project also involves constructing a 16 foot wide by 155 foot long gravel entrance drive off Slaterville Road, Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Owner /Applicant; Marin Clarkberg, 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 June 17, 2008, made a negative determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and a Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on June 17, 2008, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a drawing entitled "Topographic Survey Friends Meeting Retreat" originally prepared by Ernie Bayles, November 8, 2005 and modified by Marin Clarkberg, May 7, 2008 and other application materials, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed Friends Meeting Retreat finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270 -200, Subsections A — L, have been meet, PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 10 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 Friend Meeting Retreat, as shown on the drawing entitled "Topographic Survey Friends Meeting Retreat" originally prepared by Ernie Bayles, November 8, 2005 and modified by Marin Clarkberg, May 7, 20082 subject to the following conditions: a, obtaining a building permit from the Town of Ithaca Building Department for the installation of any temporary event tent that is larger than 120 square feet or is intended to hold more than 10 people, and b. submission of approval for a driveway /curb cut from the NYS Department of Transportation, and c. approval is granted for a maximum of fourteen group events per year. The vote on the motion was: Ayes: Howe, Conneman, Thayer, Talty and Erb Nays: None The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Howe announces the next agenda item. SEAR Determination and Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a Field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the Town and city of Ithaca Chairperson Howe — Who's representing this proposal tonight? Jim Catella, Catella Engineering, LLC Jim Catella - Good evening. My name's Jim Catella. I'm a licensed professional engineer with Catella Engineering, LLC, in Clark Companies. Thank you for the opportunity of appearing here this evening. With me is Andy Scriabba, with TG Miller Associates. Also representing Cornell, Pat Graham, Steve Verber, and Paul Billings. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 11 Chairperson Howe — Do you want to just give us a very brief overview and then we may have some questions? Mr. Catella — I will try to make it a very brief overview because the information you've been given gives a pretty good outline and its well organized. Basically at a location that is now called Robinson Alumni Fields, which is adjacent to the existing varsity track, right off of Campus Road, we are proposing to replace the existing natural grass fields there with a synthetic turf field hockey field. Basically this will require stripping of about 6 inches of topsoil, re- grading the area slightly ... not a major change in grade at all, the addition of an under drain system, porous stone, a geo- textile and then a shock pad, and Astroturf. (They brought a sample) It's Astroturf'"', the old style Astroturf. Field hockey are the ones that still like Astroturf; none of the other sports do, but field hockey does. Board Member Erb — Why? Mr. Catella — The ball roll on this type of turf is preferred. Board Member Thayer — Is that what's on Schoellkopf? Mr. Catella — It is what was on Schoellkopf until two weeks ago. Board Member Thayer — Oh, really. Board Member Erb — And if I poured a glass of water in the middle of that... Mr. Catella — It would pour straight through it, which is one of the advantages. Chairperson Howe — Should we test that? Board Member Erb — We could. Mr. Catella — That is one of the advantages of this in that what we have out there now is a natural grass field. Topsoil when it gets saturated it sheet drains. What we're going to have underneath this is a porous stone layer and an under drain system so what we're going to have is 40% voids in that porous stone. We'll have retention storage capacity. We've designed an outlet structure, which will choke off and hold back stormwater. Now this stormwater is going to be very clean stormwater. It is going to be filtered through this stone, but we'll still be able to outlet it into their existing system in a controlled fashion, not uncontrolled sheet drainage, but a controlled fashion. So we think that is an advantage of what we're doing there. Board Member Thayer — What is that material on the bottom? It looks like a charcoal or something. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 12 Mr. Catella – It is the shock pad and it's made up of urethane and rubber granules. Then it was what was under the stadium football field —been used since the late 1980s on Astroturf fields. Basically we have a boundary between the Town and the City that splits the middle of this field. The City has not required any approval review. We have received or we've had our final Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan reviewed and approved and we are anticipating approval of a building permit if we get Planning Board approval. So we filed for the building permit pending approval here. The only thing that we are doing with the existing lighting fixtures is we may do a little bit of aiming of the existing fixtures. No new fixtures. No new lighting. We may just re -aim, if necessary, to get better uniformity on the field and focus the light where it needs to be. Chairperson Howe – We were probably hoping that you were going to replace them .with ... but anyway, so the re- aiming is to just ... will that help with less spill...? Mr. Catella – We certainly won't do any re- aiming that's going to make more spill. Our goal is going to be to focus the light onto this new field. Right now it's kind of lighting the whole area and we want to just re -aim to focus the light on the synthetic turf portion of the field. Alternate Member Talty – Can you do that with the current fixtures? Mr. Catella – We are going to do it with the current fixtures, yes. We don't know that we'll improve it an awful lot, but that's our intent. We are not going to add any fixtures or change the lighting at all other than to try and focus what is there now. Board Member Thayer – We don't have a time limit as to when the old lights have to come into compliance with our new law? Mr. Kanter – Mike's our expert. Mr. Smith – Not for this type of lighting. No. Board Member Thayer – Really? Mr. Smith – No. There's a couple types of lights that did have to come into conformance within one year, but the field type lights did not have to. And there is a section in there if the lights were being replaced or moved or that type of thing, but that isn't the case here so they're allowed to remain. Board Member Erb – May I ask ... you mentioned bringing the practice, the game and practice venue up to Division I NCAA standards. Are you not at standards now? Are we going for a higher level of competition than we've currently been doing? Mr. Catella – I would say, I won't speak for Cornell, but I believe... maybe Steve should address that. I think we were at standards, but... PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 13 Mr. Verber — The standards will be the same. What we are doing is moving the existing playing and practice surface for field hockey, which was the Schoellkopf surface just to another area. So its not...l mean it is a newer iteration of this product, but its not an upgrade. Board Member Erb — And so it also means we are not changing competition numbers or traffic coming to campus or anything like that? Mr. Verber — Not at all. No changes what -so -ever. Chairperson -Howe — Kevin, did you have any questions? Alternate Member Talty — Yeah. I have a question with regard to the Astroturf. Are the players protected on their knees and elbows? Like, I thought that that was an abrasive surface. Mr. Catella — I think that one of the reasons that none of the other sports really care for Astroturf any more is because many of the sports they are making contact with what is considered a more abrasive, less player- friendly surface. Field hockey players, though, that isn't the case. They are not making contact with the surface. The ball and the sticks are, but typically the players are not. Alternate Member Talty — I see. Mr. Catella — Most all Division I field hockey programs are played on Astroturf. Chairperson Howe — Any other questions, Kevin? Alternate Member Talty — The topsoil topsoil? What plans do you have for the six inches of Mr. Catella — Our plans changed slightly. We are going to keep all the topsoil on site. There is a slope between this field, an existing slope, its about three foot high between this field and the varsity track. We're going to make that a less steep slope and blend the topsoil into that rather than remove it from the site. Mr. Smith — You should have had a new plan on your desk that showed your grading. Board Member Erb — We should have maybe, but we don't. Mr. Catella — It is something you would have to look pretty hard to tell the difference. It's a very subtle change. There's spread over the length of the field, we're talking about maybe 800 to 900 yards that we are just going to blend into that slope. So the changes he's talking are very subtle and difficult for me to pick up. When we drew it didn't jump right out at you. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 14 Chairperson Howe – Kevin, are you all set? Alternate Member Talty – I'm set. Board Member Conneman – I'm not an expert on lights, but Ithaca College and others have been upgrading their lights, which means they are better, but they have less glare. You're arguing that these lights are okay for field hockey Division I? Mr. Catella – These lights —we took existing light levels out there and with slight re- aiming they will meet the minimum requirements to —field hockey doesn't have —its got a small ball, but the ball is on the ground so its not like baseball and lacrosse where you have to have higher light levels. So with some re- aiming, we believe they will meet the minimum requirements that the NCAA puts forth for them to be able to practice and play field hockey. Mr. Verber – We also don't plan to play any night games. We will play all our games in daylight. Chairperson Howe – But do you have night practices? Mr. Verber – Occasionally. Chairperson Howe – George, are you all set? Board Member Conneman – I'm set. Chairperson Howe – Larry? Anything else? Mike stepped out. The SWPPP plan —no questions about the SWPPP plan from an engineer's perspective. Board Member Erb – I have one little thing. Item 7 on the short environmental assessment form, I think the current answer is unresponsive and it should be low density residential. Chairperson Howe – Oh, okay. Its on the official copy. Its not on our printed copy, but it got hand written in on the official copy. Board Member Erb – Oh, okay. Chairperson Howe – So you must have sent that comment, perhaps, previous to Mike? Board Member Erb – No, I failed to do so. Chairperson Howe – Or Mike picked up on it. So all this new document is really just showing us that the topsoil is... PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 15 Mr. Smith – Yeah —the grading and the right hand side where the bleachers are, you can see the couple of notes there about removing the fence to the top of the slope and then the couple of topo lines along that side. Board Member Erb – Okay. Thanks, Mike. Chairperson Howe – Would someone like to move the SEAR? Hollis? Board Member Erb – So moved. Chairperson Howe – Second? Second by Larry. Any further discussion? Any changes to the SEQR? All those in favor? Board vote – carried unanimously. ADOPTED RESOLUTION PB Resolution No. 2008 – 056 SEQR Preliminary & Final Site Plan & Special Permit Cornell Univ. Field Hockey Game & Practice Venue, Tax Parcel No 67 =1 -13.2 June 17, 2008 Motion made by Hollis Erb, seconded by Larry Thayer, WHEREAS: 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the Town and City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No, 67 -1 -13.2, Low Density Residential Zone. The project involves replacing the existing natural grass practice area at Robinson Alumni Fields with a new synthetic turf (Astroturf) playing field. The project also includes new stormwater facilities and a small asphalt pad which will allow portable bleachers to be brought in to accommodate spectators at games. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Robb Champlin, Clark Companies, Agent, and 2. 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 June 17, 2008, 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 included in a packet titled "Site Plan Review – Design /Construction of Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Tompkins County", dated 5/20/08, prepared by Clark Companies, and other application materials, and PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 16 4. The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental significance with respect to the proposed Site Plan Approval and Special Permit; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 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, 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. The vote on the motion was: Ayes: Howe, Conneman, Thayer, Talty and Erb Nays: None The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Howe -- If you'll have a seat, we're going to open it up for public comment. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the. Town and City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67 -1 -13.2, Low Density Residential Zone. The proiect involves replacing the existing natural grass practice area at Robinson Alumni Fields with a new synthetic turf (Astroturf) playing field. The proiect also includes new stormwater facilities and a small asphalt pad which will allow portable bleachers to be brought in to accommodate spectators at games. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Robb Champlin, Clark Companies, Agent. Chairperson Howe — This is a public hearing, if there is anyone who would like to comment on it, please come forward. Open the public hearing at 7:35p.m. David Stipanuk, 116 Homestead Circle My remarks related to the proposed project are really...I encourage the Board to look a bit more broadly at all of the things that have been happening at Cornell and how this particular project fits into that broader picture. Within the last year, or last two years, Hoy Field on the campus was converted from an all -grass surface to an artificial surface. So we have associated with that space tens if not hundreds of thousands of square feet of artificial turf which has been introduced on the campus. We now have what I am guessing is over, or on the order of, if not tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of more artificial turf that will be introduced on the campus. There are a lot of implications of this when we begin to look at what's happening PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 17 elsewhere with buildings and other areas replacing permeable, natural, or at least other types of surfaces with hardened surfaces on the campus. I think the SEQR process really does not allow for those issues to be brought forward. I reviewed the documents, they're really not coming forward in that process. We heard, you know, things about permeability of the site and some things like that, but I see no data there of any type that talks about what exactly is happening with regard to stormwater over periods of time and particularly under periods of heavy rain instances. I think we're sensitive to those right now because, you know, all we have to do is look at the Midwest and see the type of flooding that's going on in that area ... we don't really have ... I don't see any data in the information that I was able to review that helped me to understand how this was going to happen. What we have with the document is a loss of what I call any level of real green" at Cornell. Cornell has purported sustainability concerns... they're putting on postage stamp green roofs on buildings and in the process, tearing up 100,000 or 150,000 square feet of actual green on the Campus. I think as you're reviewing future activities, I think you need to balance this and take a look at those and say "wait a minute you know, a 10,000 square feet of green roof and a 100,000 loss square feet of actual green on campus is a problem. 21 I'm concerned a bit about the kind of conditions that are going to be present. My research on the web talks about 30degree temperature rises on artificial turf versus that which is present on natural turf, so we are enhancing the heat - island issues that are associated with things around the Campus. Hoy Field, you know, there is a given. I think the construction impact needs to be taken a look at. I was personally have observed what went on at Hoy Field. There was a tremendous amount of construction equipment and activity that was engaged in there and I think that, you know, the information as presented, you know, really doesn't capture what that construction activity is going to be. If it's going to resemble anything like Hoy Field and Hoy Field was arguably already existing athletic surface. Fairly flat. Did not require a lot of site work and things like that. Astroturf itself. We're dealing with what I am going to guess is probably an oil -based product. So we are looking at replacing, if you will, something that we can grow locally, grass, with a product that comes in from, you know, I don't know where, but it's certainly not a local product. And right now, Schoellkopf had its field replaced. I have no idea where the stuff that comes off these fields goes. We're complaining about people here hauling their waste through our county to go to landfills. I'd like to know, and the SEQR process doesn't reveal that, what's the frequency for the replacement for this type of surface and where is it going to go when it's replaced? What are we going to do with this product? I don't think that there's really been any compelling need set forward. It sounds to me like what we want to do is move from Schoellkopf to this field. And put an artificial surface on this field area. I've seen the field hockey played at Schoellkopf. It seems to me it could remain at Schoellkopf. I think one of the compelling features here may well be the fact that this is a more intimate venue that can be created for the playing of field hockey because the turnouts at Schoellkopf are not all that great. I just don't see a compelling need to approve the project given all the other things that seem to be associated with it. Thank you very much. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 18 Chairperson Howe — Anyone else would like to address the Board? I will close the public hearing at 7:42 and as the gentlemen to come back up. I think it would be good just to get a clarification on a couple of points that were raised. Just for our sake as well. Board Member Thayer — So the main concern on that was drainage... what about that Dan? Mr. Walker — Well... Board Member Thayer — The drainage is better now isn't it? Mr. Walker — You reduce the peak flow because they are using an artificial gravel filter and a permeable surface filter. It's not...there's no soil running off of this other than what the birds and the wind blows in I suppose. So from a standpoint of it generating sendiment like a grass field when it gets chewed up will generate some sediment but this particular product... actually, they are reducing the peak volume slightly with the new product because they have that layer of gravel that's 40% voids that will hold the water and release it slowly into the storm drainage system. From a water quality standpoint, filtration systems similar to this are what we do recommend on small sites where there isn't enough space to put in a larger grass filter or something like that. Chairperson Howe — the other two issues that I heard that would be interesting to comment is the temperature issue...and then just replacement. How often you would have to replace something like this. Mr. Catella — I'll address those two issues I guess. Temperature issue.. it's very true that for the infill type turfs, and I didn't bring a sample of that, the type of field that's at Hoy Field is an infill type and it has black rubber granules in it and those black rubber granules do tend to absorb heat and the temperatures on those synthetic surfaces do tend to be greater than that of natural grass. The Astroturf surface does get a little warmer, but it isn't like those infill synthetic type surfaces which is what the majority of these new synthetic turf surfaces are, are the infill type, where they put rubber granules in there and they're exposed and they absorb heat. Those are the ones that get considerably warmer. Warmer than the Astroturf type does. As far as replacement... Board Member Talty — Before you get on to the replacement part ... What are we talking about...degrees of temperature? Because I heard what you were saying, but I didn't hear any specifics. So, for example, if I'm out playing in the grass and it's an 85 degree day and let's say 95 degrees on the field, what are we talking about percentage of increase on Astroturf versus even the other turf? Mr. Catella — And I'm just going to give you some ballpark parameters because a lot depends on sun, wind, humidity, those types of things, but, for an infill type field, the PB 6o 17.2008 Pg. 19 temperature can be 30 degrees warmer ... over the natural grass...for the Astroturf type, I'm going to tell you it'll be approximately 10 degrees warmer ... right on the surface ... not just above it, but right on the surface, if you were to lay surface thermometers on it. Now, this is what I, this is all we do ... Design and build outdoor athletic fields. Both natural grass and synthetic. Those are broad generalizations but they're pretty close, based on my experience and having similar questions before. Mr. Kanter — What time of year is field hockey normally played on, not being a field hockey player, I don't really know. Mr. Catella — It's a Fall sport. A Fall Varsity sport. Board Member Erb — And replacements? Mr. Catella— Replacement. All of the astro-type...all synthetic turfs that we are involved in the removal of, get recycled. We've removed, so far this spring, I believe six synthetic turf fields throughout the Northeast. Every bit of it has been sent to be recycled. It's sent to Dalton, Georgia where they rehabilitate it, I should say refurbish not rehabilitate, refurbish it...l knew that didn't sound right...and sell it for batting cages and other uses so that we...At the stadium football field, that was an old Astroturf field ... we rolled that up,,, it takes more time to recycle it, but we recycle all of the ones that we're involved with and trucked it to a facility in Georgia. Chairperson Howe — And did you say how long it typically lasts? Mr. Catella — The warranty is 8 years but typically they last, in the Northeast, 12 years. Sun degrades, ultraviolet light degrades it. They've gotten better that they have inhibitors now, but typically around 12 years in the Northeast they're starting to get worn. Board Member Talty — Do you cover the fields in the winter? Mr. Catella — No. Board Member Talty — Okay, so it's exposed. Year- round. Board Member Erb — And how many times is a grass field like this mown by Cornell under normal circumstances? When it's natural grass? Pat Graham, Athletics — We mow our fields, right now, because of the weather, they are being mowed once a week, but if we weren't into this extreme heat, those fields would be mowed twice a week for probably until the end of June then they are generally cut back to once a week, but our fields are always mowed at least once a week. Board Member Erb — Thank you. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 20 Mr. Catella — We don't need any fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides for this synthetic turf which you do need for the natural grass. Board Member Thayer -- Do you know if Schoellkopf was recycled? Mr. Catella — It absolutely was. I was there when we took it up. We sent it to Georgia. I've talked with them. They liked the turf. There was a pad attached to it. Board Member Thayer — Was it trucked out of Town? Mr. Catella — It was. ..1 loaded 5 tractor trailers ... 4 tractor trailers. Board Member Thayer — Too bad you couldn't roll it up and use it yourself for the other field. Chairperson Howe — Any other questions? Anything else from Staff? Anyone like to move the resolution? Board Member Erb — Wait a minute. We got this new sheet. Does that have to be fitted into the resolution? Chairperson Howe — It's probably a reference in the final.. ,do we have to... Mr. Smith — This plan came in after the resolution was drafted, so. .,lt just has a revision 8 on it that probably could be added. Chairperson Howe — So while she's looking at what change might be made... Board Member Erb — I will move it.... Chairperson Howe — Hollis... second by Kevin... Changes? Ms. Brock — In paragraph three of the whereas clauses after the date 5/20108, add the words "and 6/16/08" that will then encompass this revised document. And we need to do the same change on the resolved clause, paragraph number two, after the date 5/20/08, add the words "and 6/16/08 ". Chairperson Howe — Any other changes? Mr. Kanter — Could we say "revised 6/16/08 "? 1 think that's a little clearer. Ms. Brock — Yes, that'd be good. So that change should happen in both places. Chairperson Howe — All those in favor...lt's unanimous. Thank you. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 21 ADOPTED RESOLUTION. PB RESOLUTION NO. 2008 - 057 Preliminary and Final Site Plan & Special Permit Cornell University Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue Tax Parcel No. 67 -1 -13.2 Town of Ithaca Planning Board, June 17, 2008 Motion made by Hollis Erb, seconded by Kevin Talty, WHEREAS. 1. This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the Town and City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67 -1 -13.2, Low Density Residential Zone. The project involves replacing the existing, natural grass practice area at Robinson Alumni Fields with a new synthetic turf (Astroturf) playing field. The project also includes new stormwater facilities and a small asphalt pad which will allow portable bleachers to be brought in to accommodate spectators at games. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Robb Champlin, Clark Companies, 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 the project has, on June 17, 2008, made a negative determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and a Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, and 3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on June 17, 2008, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, drawings included in a packet titled titled "Site Plan Review — Design /Construction of Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Tompkins County", dated 5/20/08 and revised 6/16/08, prepared by Clark Companies, and other application materials, and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed Cornell University Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue project finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270 -200, Subsections A — L, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met, PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 22 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 Cornell University Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue located on the Robinson Alumni Fields, as described in the packet of drawings titled "Site Plan Review — Design /Construction of Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Tompkins County", dated 5/20/08 and revised 6/16/08, prepared by Clark Companies, subject to the following conditions: a, submission of record of application for and proof of receipt of all necessary permits from county, state, and /or federal agencies, and b, the project will require obtaining a building permit from the Town of Ithaca Building Department. The vote on the motion was: Ayes: Howe, Conneman, Thayer, Talty and Erb Nays: None The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Howe announces the next agenda item. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Plantations Welcome Center located on Plantations Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67-1- 6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the construction of a 6,000 +/- square foot Welcome Center which will include a visitor lobby and exhibit area, multi - purpose room, a conference room, and other visitor amenities. The proiect will also include a 44 space parking lot and visitor arrival area, new stormwater facilities, and a new combined pedestrian pathway and roadway to connect the protect. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant, Christine Carstensen, Agent. Chairperson Howe — Looks like we have lots of visuals. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 23 Don Rakow, Director, Cornell Plantations I very much appreciate this opportunity to introduce this project to the Town Planning Board. Cornell Plantations, as I think many of you are familiar, is a very popular site, both for the members of the Cornell community as well as for members of the broader community. We constitute the Arboretum and Botanical Garden and natural areas of Cornell and the project that we'll be discussing today would be located within the Botanical Garden. In way of introduction, I would say that Cornell Plantations has focused, over the past several decades, on the development of our horticultural collections, on the acquisition and stewardship of our 4,000 acres of natural areas, and on the development of our diverse educational programs. In more recent years we have renovated a number of staff - serving buildings and have come before this Planning Board relative to a number of those projects. Now the time has really come for us to address our visiting public. We are well aware, I would say painfully aware of how inadequate our visitor services are. So while we know people enjoy visiting our gardens and other collections, we feel that the visitor experience has been severely compromised. So, the focus of this project is to better serve the needs of visitors by providing a consolidated and well marked parking area. A clearly delineated pedestrian pathway from a formal arrival plaza adjacent to that parking area, to the welcome center itself. The welcome center will combine a combination of visitor orientation, interpretation and visitor amenity needs. We feel that people don't necessarily understand how best to navigate around the botanical gardens, so within the welcome center there will be signage explaining the various gardens and how one might walk around them. There will be interpretation that talks about some of the major themes at Cornell Plantations including our sustainability commitment. There will be a small gift shop featuring articles featuring our mission. A small food dispensary with basic beverage and prepared food items and there will be adequate restrooms which is something to not minimize. To better meet our goals of educating our audience, there with up to 100 seats and a separate 10 -seat conferern welcome center plus, the changes in the botanical garden meeting the needs of our visiting public, not only when hopefully, and confidently for many years into the future. plan, we've asked Jon Neuert, from Baird, Sampson Canada to go into the particulars. will be a multi - purpose room fe room. We feel that the itself will prepare us well for the building is finished, but So to provide details on the Neuert Architects, Toronto, Jon Neuert, Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, Toronto, Canada Thank you Don. The drawing that's being projected over here to my right reflects the concept planning materials that we've worked with, actually for quite some time now, with Plantations and as kind of a ... I am going to try and focus on the kind of generative ideas that went into developing the site plan itself which I understand is really the focus of today's session. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 24 The two primary parts of the project consist of a new parking facility and the welcome center itself and connecting these two major elements is a new roadway which is kind of a limited access connector between the main point of arrival for visitors and of course, one of the destinations within the gardens, which is the welcome center itself. There's an existing parking facility located immediately south of the Lewis Building, and maybe I should provide a general orientation for people here; Tower Road of the Campus is just off the screen, Judd Falls Road is running along this edge, Plantations Road is running along here and Forest Home Drive and Beebee Lake is just off to the left hand side of the drawing. So basically, the north -south orientation is in this direction here. The existing Lewis Education Building, as I was saying, is serviced by a parking lot that is currently located within this open -space area of the site and one of the first site planning criteria was to find a suitable location for the parking facility. So we proposed to consolidate the parking along Plantations Road within a kind of established area of wooded vegetation on the west -side of the site to basically compartmentalize the parking and to organize it in a way that respects and responds to the shape of this, the bowl landscape form that kind of characterizes the space of the knoll and the botanical garden itself. The parking lot is organized to literally respond to the shape of the Plantation Road and the bowl. And at the west -end of the parking facility is a consolidated arrival facility which is a small terrace where bus drop -off, there's a bicycle storage facility beside it, and which 'is intended to be a kind of destination for people arriving, getting out of cars, which will then serve as a kind of springboard point into the site. The welcome center itself was proposed to be located as a destination within the garden rather than a kind of facility that you move through in order to experience the garden and it's organized to create an ensemble of buildings within the center of the site to create a locus of activity between Lewis Building and the welcome center itself. It's organized on two levels, the kind of white area of the plan is essentially proposed as a visitor services zone basically. So all the primary visitor services of gift shop, washroom facilities, food service components and of course the welcome desk itself is located within a kind of terrace that connects to the landscape. The second floor of the facility, the multi - purpose room is organized to address a plateau which exists on the mound of the knoll which kind of characterizes the landscape of the botanical garden. Connecting these two elements is this limited- access roadway which provides emergency vehicle access and provides access for visitors with special needs and there's a barrier -free parking facility located close to the welcome center. This would be signed at this location to identify this as a special zone for vehicular access and there's currently a roadway that runs around the back of the knoll that's essentially being proposed to be downgraded as kind of a pedestrian only zone and for Plantation's utility vehicles for maintenance access for the botanical garden planting collection. The building itself is proposed to exceed the Cornell standards in terms of sustainability criteria which are benchmarked at a LEED Silver standing. We're well on our way to exceeding that level. The building itself will be provided with a green roof to respond to PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 25 the significant views that you get from Tower Road down onto the top of the building and the parking facility is also proposed to have developed adjoining it a rain - garden bio -swale feature that will deal with the stormwater management issues that. are generated by the parking facility. This system is intended to demarcate the old route of the river that ... (inaudible) ... so that this swale is organized to extend to that and actually formally engage the water outfall point on this location of the site which discharges into Beebee Lake. This facility will be designed to exceed the NYS standards for stormwater remediation. I think that summarizes the key aspects of the project. Thank you. Chairperson Howe — The parking lot, would that be: you enter it one way and enter it another way? Or would it be ... How are you viewing the traffic for the parking lot? Mr. Neuert — The parking lot has been designed in response to design criteria that have been given by Cornell University's Transportation Planning Department and this is basically a two -way system in and out on both sides that facilitates looping of both emergency vehicles, busses and vehicles. Chairperson Howe — We are glad to hear about the LEED designation. Mr. Rakow — We're very excited about it. We are confident of attaining the Silver certification level and hope for more. Chairperson Howe — So questions... this is a sketch plan so it's just to give feedback and comments. Board Member Erb — You said bicycle parking will be on what's sort of the north -west part of the little terraced.. Mr. Neuert — We have a significant bicycle storage facility in this location here yes. Board Member Erb — Okay, covered or uncovered? Mr. Neuert — Uncovered. Okay. And you said the bus drop -off is there also. Where will busses then...if this is a group ... if this is a bus that brought a group to an event, where will that bus then wait? Mr. Rakow — I can address that. The busses will wait off -site away from the botanical garden and we are currently exploring other sites within Cornell -owned land where that bus waiting zone can be. The bus - driver will then be telephoned when the group is ready to be picked up. Board Member Erb — I'm a little sad to see the road around the knoll go away because it's been a road that I've looked forward to driving every year, multiple times, just to admire the hellebore and the hosta and the azaleas and the rhododendrons in bloom and I can't walk it. I'm not capable of it. declaration. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 26 So, I'm sad for that, I'm just making that Mr. Rakow — Well, related to that Hollis, part of our goal is to eliminate the pedestrian - vehicular conflicts that have existed for a very long time. I frankly can't believe that in the 12 years I've been Director we have not had an accident there. It constantly worries me. Our longer term plan is to try to change the surface of that loop so that it would be available for anyone in a wheelchair to use as well as those who are walking. Board Member Erb — Little donkey carts or something... Board Member Talty — I was thinking golf carts... Board Member Thayer — Yeah, right... Board Member Conneman — I'm curious... Plantations Road will stay the same from Beebee Lake all the way onto the Plantations? Mr. Neuert — With the exception of these new driveways which are being generated to accommodate the parking facility, yes. Chairperson Howe — I take it the one driveway is basically where the existing driveway is already... Mr. Neuert — Correct. The existing driveway is more or less right there, so it's slightly farther to the west. And that's to allow for the connection of a pedestrian pathway down through here and to address the major sightline from this location here towards the facility. Board Member Erb — And is there going to be much disturbance then of the lovely peonies gardens? Mr. Rakow — Sadly, yes, Hollis. This is the price of progress. Board Member Erb — But they're tubers ... you can pick them up and move them... Mr. Rakow — That's right and in fact we do plan to hold all of the peonies that are disturbed in our holding beds in the New Plant Production facility and they will then be reincorporated into new gardens that we'll be designing and developing for the center of the site. So they will not be lost. Chairperson Howe — And is that true for some of the garden plots that you have off the existing small parkway, that, a variety of things get grown there in the summer...they'll be moved also... Mr. Rakow — I'm not sure where you're... PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 27 Chairperson Howe — I know sometimes you have corn grown there or.. .a variety of things. Mr. Rakow — So the International Crops Garden and the Weed Garden and the Corn Demonstration Area will all return in newly designed configurations once this infrastructure is in place. Chairperson Howe — And I think I read that the Lewis Building will continue to be used by Plantations. Mr. Rakow — That's correct. We are currently in the process of renovating the interior and bringing an old building up to coed. That project will be done by later this summer and that building will be a staff- serving building only for our education staff. So one of the reasons for the proximity between the Lewis Building and the welcome center is so that the education staff can move easily from one building to the other. Board Member Erb — First of all, it looks to me on your proposed site plan that you have a lot of brown circles in the parking lot that I presume to be trees. Mr. Neuert — Yes, there is a new alley of trees that is proposed as part of a filter strip between the parking facility and the bio -swale proper and one of the roles of those trees is to create a sense of basically an arrival court for people coming out of their cars and also to screen the parking from the gardens in general. So there is a row of trees here and then in this area is a kind of orchard like bosque that's providing some overhead shading for a terrace where we see this as kind of a major arrival place where people are coming off busses, people are waiting for busses, so this is kind of a hard - surface urban terrace to accommodate that. Board Member Erb — Do you see these trees as all one species or as a display variety? Will they be native to New York? Are they evergreens? Are they deciduous? Are you also adding some trees here along Plantations Road to screen the parking lot from... Mr. Neuert — There's been, as you can imagine ... I am dealing with a client such as Plantations... an extraordinary discourse on the types and variety of vegetation so I will turn this one over to Don... Mr. Rakow — Just to respond to that last question Hollis, there will, in addition, be extensive new plantings of trees in what we are calling for now, for lack of a better term, the "island planting ". So the best way to respond to your question is to expand on what Jon was saying; that we are in extended conversations about which tree species would be best to use and have not resolved those questions yet. Chairperson Howe — But the right group of people are having those discussions... Board Member Erb — You think! PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 28 Mr. Rakow — Needless to say, there are many options. Chairperson Howe — What happens..] am following the trail through the swale, that it just ends, and then it doesn't connect with another path through the,. ,right there. Mr. Neuert — Okay, well, we've developed this armature to respond to the concave shape of this bowl -like landform and we've noticed that there's kind of a pattern of a kind of a spiraling of pathways that kind of wind its way down here and to kind of join up the kind of othaganal geometry of the formal garden system that's on the east side of the Lewis Building with this kind of sinuous unfolding coil, we've kind of wrapped this thing around as a loop to kind of link the geometry of this formal garden center with the irregular naturalization of the knoll and so this is kind of a way of bringing people down through the formal garden system and then linking through to this area here. The reason why we didn't physically extend the pathway through here was to try and actually create a physical break and to create a lawn area here. So this actually improvement is not formally part of our project but it was identified as a desirable goal to create a formal garden room that responds to the formal sequence of garden spaces here and to organize it in an ellipse that responded again to the turning geometry of Plantations Road which then can then lead into this system of expansion here. So this was really to provide a natural literal break between this system and this kind of garden room. Mr. Rakow — And we are in the process of designing that ellipse that would terminate the southern end of those gardens, currently. Board Member Thayer — I would agree that there definitely is a need and this fulfills that for sure. Much, much needed. It looks good. Board Member Erb — I have another question still ... Is this going to be the more prominent destination for group events? Is that your goal? And if so, that leads into eventually some traffic and neighborhood noise questions. Mr. Rakow — Right. Well, let me start to respond to that question, Hollis, by saying that the number of parking spaces that have been designated are the same number of parking spaces that currently exist on the site. Partly that's to control the amount of traffic there, partly it's because in keeping with our sustainability goals, we want people to be arriving by other means; by bus, by bicycle, on foot etc. Certainly the building will lend itself to use by different groups, whether they're community groups or affiliated groups with Plantations as well as events that Plantations itself might have. But given the limited amount of parking spaces, that is to a certain degree, going to restrict the amount of traffic that can occur there. We are currently exploring how we really would like to see the building best be used and I don't think we have conclusive answers on that yet. Board Member Erb — I see that you have a limited amount of parking spaces, but you bring in a couple of busses or you bring in 2 -3 people for each of 40 cars and you start PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 29 having numerous evening events and it might get to be something that we would have to think about. If the events were simply to make use of the big rooms and had nice patio areas for the event as opposed to really making use of the Plantations and I'm just wondering about that. Because the Judd Falls Road neighborhood is not very far away. Mr. Rakow — That's certainly true. It's something we're certainly very both aware of and sensitive to. I would say at this point that the first and foremost role of the educational space in the welcome center is to serve the educational needs of Plantations and the University and we will have more definitive information regarding secondary uses of that space when we return for site plan review. Chairperson Howe — And when, what timeline do you see for coming back here with preliminary site plan? Mr. Rakow — Later in the summer. Chairperson Howe — Obviously there stormwater issues that will have to be generation will certainly be an issue, so, add? are some things that we didn't talk about... addressed in the preliminary site plan ... traffic those are sort of givens. Anything you want to Mr. Kanter — Staff actually did more specifically mention a request for a parking needs analysis to sort of pickup on what Hollis was asking which might actually be good to look at surrounding areas and where other existing lots are and how timing of events would fit in with that availability. Chairperson Howe — But I agree with Larry, this looks like a nice addition to the Plantations. Board Member Erb — Yeah, some of the facilities that are there right now are kind of ratty looking.... Mr. Rakow — I would disagree with you if I felt I could. Chairperson Howe — Anything else? Okay. Thank you very much. Mr. Rakow — Thank you, I look forward to seeing you again shortly. Chairperson Howe announces the next agenda item. Chairperson Howe — So our next agenda item is picking up on our big notebooks here.... PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 30 Consideration of the draft Cornell Transportation - focused Impact Statement (T- GEIS). Katherine Wolf, Trowbridge & Wolf Matt Grier, Martin, Alexio, Brison, North Carolina Chairperson Howe — So this is an ongoing conversation and some of us may have had a little bit more time to dig into the materials. Summary Ms. Wolf passed out "Talking Points" and used those to I through the TGEIS notebooks. Special attention was again differentiating between the expected growth and the impact of Wolf explained different diagrams that show where people travel to campus and their destination is determined by where not necessarily where they ultimately end up. ielp the Board navigate given to the concept of the growth number. Ms, were originating from to they will park on campus Mr. Grier explained how the traffic analysis' were done in detail stressing that they were done when school was in session and mid week to get the most accurate and realistic numbers. He explained some of the charts and diagrams. The Board felt some numbers were misleading and he explained that the norm is a 1 -hour average so sometimes a fifteen minute portion of the hour can be really bad but the rest of the hour is not. These idiosyncrasies were detailed in the written sections. They both took questions from the Board throughout the presentation. Committee Updates Codes & Ordinances — Meeting on June 18th to continue discussion of the Wind Energy law that the Town Board discussed and held a public hearing on. The Board asked the Committee to look at a couple of possible revisions; one of which dealt with the noise thresholds. The Lakefront Residential Zone amendments were also referred on to Zoning, Conservation and Planning Boards for recommendations. The Committee is also working on the stream setback law. Comprehensive Plan — No meeting held. Scheduled for next week. Planning Committee — The meeting was not held due to reorganization. Inter - Municipal Meeting - Chairperson Howe reported that there was an Inter - Municipal meeting held concerning the issues around Coddington Road and Ithaca College. There seems to be an agreement to keep the discussion moving forward. He felt there was a consensus that there will be that path on the Ithaca College property but it would also be nice to have a sidewalk linking up to it. He asked Jon to add to his summary. Mr. Kanter reported that it was called by Ithaca College because Ed Marx and the County had some follow -up concerns on some of the comments they sent to the PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 31 Planning Board. The discussion addressed the intervening gap going toward the City on Hudson where there is no sidewalk. Ithaca College indicated that they are willing to cooperate with the City in providing some funding. Chairperson Howe stated that there was an opening on the Planning Board was agreement to ask the Town Board to pass a resolution of appreciation many years of service. Other ideas were also discussed. Agenda TGEIS Recommendation on the Lakefront Zoning Amendment 2 -Lot subdivision that was previously approved but has expired. Approval of Minutes: May 20, 2008 and June 3, 2008 ADOPTED RESOLUTION: PB RESOLUTION NO. 2008 = 058 Approval of Minutes May 20, 2008 & June 3, 2008 Town of Ithaca Planning Board June 17, 2008 MOTION made by Hollis Erb, seconded by Larry Thayer. and there for Eva's WHEREAS: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board has reviewed the draft minutes from the meetings on May 20, 2008 and June 3, 2008, and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Town of Ithaca Planning Board approves the minutes, with corrections, to be the final minutes of the meetings on May 20, 2008 and June 3, 2008. The vote on the motion was: Ayes: Howe, Conneman, Thayer, and Erb Nays: None Abstention: Talty The motion passed. Other Business Board Member Conneman had a comment about the ad for Conifer Village. It did not appear to be for seniors of limited income residents. Mr. Kanter was not sure on the ratio, but found it interesting. PB 6.17.2008 Pg. 32 Adjournment Meeting adjourned upon motion at 9:42 p.m. Deputy.Town Clerk TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday June 17, 2008 AGENDA 7:00 P.M. Persons to be heard (no more than five minutes). 7:05 P.M. SEQR Determination: Friends Meeting Retreat, Behind 1409 — 1415 Slaterville Road. 7 :05 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed Friends Meeting Retreat project located off Slaterville Road (NYS Route 79) behind (west) 1409 — 1415 Slaterville Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 58 -1- 14.22, Medium Density Residential and Conservation Zones. The project involves using the 8.3 +/- acre property for picnics and multi -day retreats and could involve a large tent and portable toilets. The project also involves constructing a gravel entrance drive from Slaterville Road approximately 155 feet into the property for access. Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Owner /Applicant; Marin Clarkberg, Agent, 7:15 P.M. SEQR Determination: Cornell University Field Hockey Game and Practice Venue, Campus Road at Robinson Alumni Fields. 7:15 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the Town and City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67 -1- 13.2, Low Density Residential Zone. The project involves replacing the existing natural grass practice area at Robinson Alumni Fields with a new synthetic turf (Astroturf) playing field. The project also includes new stormwater facilities and a small asphalt pad which will allow portable bleachers to be brought in to accommodate spectators at games. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Robb Champlin, Clark Companies, Agent, 7:30 P.M. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Plantations Welcome Center located on Plantations Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67 -1 -6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the construction of a. 6,000 +/- square foot Welcome Center which will include a visitor lobby and exhibit area, multi - purpose room, a conference room, and other visitor amenities. The project will also include a 44 space parking lot and visitor arrival area, new stormwater facilities, and a new combined pedestrian pathway and roadway to connect the project. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Christine Carstensen, Agent. 8:00 P.M. Discussion regarding the draft Cornell Transportation- focused Generic Environmental Impact Statement (T- GEIS). 8. Approval of Minutes: May 20, 2008 and June 3, 2008, 9, Other Business: 10, Adjournment. Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE NOTIFY SANDY POLCE AT 273 -1747. (A quorum of four (4) members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday June 17, 2008 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, June 17, 2008, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at the following times and on the following matters: 7:05 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed Friends Meeting Retreat project located off Slaterville Road (NYS Route 79) behind (west) 1409 — 1415 Slaterville Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 58- 1- 14.22, Medium Density Residential and Conservation Zones. The project involves using the 8.3 +/- acre property for picnics and multi -day retreats and could involve a large tent and portable toilets. The project also involves constructing a gravel entrance drive from Slaterville Road approximately 155 feet into the property for access. Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Owner /Applicant; Marin Clarkberg, Agent. 7:15 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed construction of a field hockey game and practice venue located on Campus Road at the Robinson Alumni Fields in both the Town and City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67 -1 -13.2, Low Density Residential Zone. The project involves replacing the existing natural grass practice area at Robinson Alumni Fields with a new synthetic turf (Astroturf) playing field. The project also includes new stormwater facilities and a small asphalt pad which will allow portable bleachers to be brought in to accommodate spectators at games. Cornell University, Owner /Applicant; Robb Champlin, Clark Companies, 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, June 9, 2008 Publish: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 a Wedeesday J07 e I1; 2008 THE;ITHACA`JOURNAL Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga . Street June 17, 2008 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN -IN Please Print Clearly, Thank You Name y �}e /Ao ►� 1 ke 1�irs x\ � tic savt o j O .; j1W0 64 vMfty �. ��✓ dL Address C Olz."'e e. G /-9;r /� &e 7�1 C-s G ,, °I Ot D U I% 1 .6. s� I to (1 19 ��NN y li A,✓2 �ltI/ w e RAl coq "3� 3t 2 Z o- Cod4l4v- Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga Street June 17, 2008 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN -IN Please Print Clearly, Thank You Name Address • e � I ��n No .r 9Y 100 M 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. vi 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: June 6, 2008 June 11, 2008 Sandra Polce, Polce, Senior Typist Town of Ithaca STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11`h day of June 2008. Notary Public CONNIE F. CLARK Notary Public, State of New York No. 01CL6052878 Qualified in Tompkins County J Commission Expires December 26, 20