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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA Minutes 1960-10-24 ' Minutes of Meeting 13 -3 of -t Zoning Board of Appeals of Town of Ithaca October 24 , 1960 . Mr . & Mrs . H . S . Eighmey - Applicants , d b a Gables Restaurant - Ashland Oil and Refining; Company , by McPherson Builders - Applicant . The adjourned meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals - of the . Town of Ithaca was held on October 24 , 1960 at 7 : 30 P . M . .at the Town Highway Barn , 343 Elmira Road , Ithaca , New York , as adver - tised in the ITHACA JOURNAL on October 13 , 1960 . Members present were . William Rolston , chairman , David Powers ; Robert Powers ; . and Constance E . Cook , secretary . Also present were : Robert J . Wells , Zoning Officer of the Town of Ithaca ; Mr . and Mrs . H . S . Eighmey ; Andrew McPherson , Builder and Agent ; Gilbert M . . Ellis , Manager of Ashland Applicant ; Zane Meek , Ashland Plant Manager in Ithaca ; and Paul Moyer , Ashland District Salesman . The chairman , Mr . Rolston , called the meeting to order and stated that the first item of business was to consider the application of Mr . and Mrs . H . S . Eighmey , d/b/a The Gables - Res - - taurant , for special approval of an extension - of- a nori- conforming use . Appeal is from a decision of the Zoning Officer under Arti - cle XII , Section 54 of the Zoning Ordinance , denying an applica- tion to erect signs which. did not conform to requirements of Permit #387 issued December 4 , 1959 . The premises affected are at 919 Elmira Road , The Gables Restaurant . The proposed change is to erect two signs , each sixty sq . ft . , instead of the 12 sq . ft . now permitted . 1? easons in support of the proposed change were stated . Customers have said they could not find the restaurant . There is another sign in the neighborhood approximately the same size as the proposed sign . A letter in support of the application stating additional reasons and containing a sketch of the proposed sign was read and filed . No objections were expressed to the proposed change . Discussion about the proposed change ensued . Mr . Powers asked about the - supporting structure . Mr . Eighmey stated that X34 two 6 ' x 6 ' posts ' would support it . He submitted a sketch for the Board ' s consideration . Mrs . Cook asked what color the sign would be . Mr . Eighmey replied that it would be predomi - nantly black and white , with some outline iYl color needed be - cause of the snowy weather . No flourescent paint would be . used on it . Mr . Powers asked whether the sign would be close to the ground ; Mr . Eighmey answered that it would be about the same ' height as the present signs . The Board dedided to adjourn consideration of the ap - plication of Mr . and Mrs . H . S . Eighmey to October 25 , 1960 at 5 : 15 P . M . , at which time they would view the site of the proposed signs . The chairman stated that the next order of business was to consider ,the application of the Ashland Oil and Refining Coopany , filed by McPherson Builders , for special approval of an extension of a non- conforming uses i . e . construction of a- commercial building in a residential zone . Permit to construct the building had been denied by the Zoning Officer under Arti - cle. XII , Section 54 of: the Zoning Ordinance . The ? remises affected are at the site of the former Hurst Bulk Gas Plant on the Nest Danby Road , Ithaca , New York . Specifically , the premises are a 100 ` x 200 ' plot leased from the H . E . Babcock Estate ; and bounded on the east by the Le - high Valley railroad , on the north by a private road. owned by the Babcock estate which also owns the farmland on the south and west . Across the private road is a cement block 'Plant . The nearest public highway is the West Danbyy Road , nearly 200 feet away . There are , ° presently , on the premises a bottling plant and warehouse and six storage tanks containinc; liquified petroleum gas . There is also a small building , approximately 8 ' x 8 ' on the premises which will be replaced by the p _roxoosed building . Mr . Gilbert M . Ellis , Manager for the applicant , testi - fied that the application was authorized bF the Ashland Oil Company and that McPherson Builders had made the application on° the company ' s behalf . The proposed change is the construction of an office and warehouse building , 20 , 4 x 441 , Armco Steelox . A sketch of the proposed building and? site was attached to the appli - cation . Reasons for the proposed change were stated . The present downtown office has been leased temporarily , and the real estate if. now for sale . It would be more economical and convenient to operate from one location , and it would effect better super- vision to the existing facilities . This supervision would assure additional protection to the public against explosions . Additional discussion ensued . It was noted that fencing of the area is required by lease and by Federal regulations . The side yard will be 2 feet to the leased lot line . The lessor owns the entire area from the railroad to the West Danby road . It was pointed out that neither flammable nor explosive material would be stored in the proposed new warehouse . The lessor has consented to the building of the proposed plant . A letter from the attor ney for the landlord was submitted and filed . It was noted by Mr . Wells that it is one full mile or better to the nearest residence , and over 500 feet to the Robert Treman State Park . It was further noted that no signs were requested on the application , and therefore , if the application is granted , none will be permitted . The plant will have three employees , with amply parking available . The proposed building , will not increase any hazard for the area . No objections to the proposed change were stated . It was moved by Mr . Powers , and seconded by Mrs . Cook to adjourn the meeting to October 25 , 1960 at 5 : 30 P . M . to the Ashland premises to view the site of the proposed construction . Respectfully submitted , j ' Constance E . Cook , Secretary