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TOWN OF ITHACA
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
November 7 , 1972
A meeting of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals was held
on Tuesday , November 7 , 1972 , at 7 : 30 p . m . in the Town of Ithaca Offices ,
108 East Green Street , Ithaca , New York ,
PRESENT : Chairman David Powers , Loran Marion , Jack Hewett ,
David Cowan ( Zoning Officer) , Reynolds Metz (Assistant Zoning Officer) ,
Nancy Fuller ( Secretary) .
ALSO PRESENT : Mr . and Mrs . Maurice Marion .
This meeting was the second adjourned meeting of the Town of Ithaca
Zoning Board of Appeals on the Appeal of Maurice Marion , Appellant , from
the decision of the Zoning Officer denying permission for a greenhouse
at 1431 Slaterville Road . Permit was denied by the Zoning Officer under
Art . IV Sec . 12 of the Zoning Ordinance . The Public Hearing was held
in the Town Office on Wednesday August 2 , 1972 , and the first adjourned
meeting was held on August 9 , 1672 .
Mr . Cowan read Resolution 206 , from the Town ' Board Minutes of
April 8 , 1968 , as follows :
"Resolution 206 - Maurice Marion - Greenhouse
Upon Motion made by Councilman Mayer , seconded by Councilman Baker it
is resolved to authorize Maurice Marion , 1431 Slaterville Road to start
erecting a greenhouse on his property according to specified requirements
outlined by attorneys of both parties .
Requirements being namely :
1 ) stand not to be removed from present site
2 trees be planted to screen cooler
3 ) seed border area
4 ) put in blacktop to take care of immediate needs
( remainder to be completed after more urgent requirements
are taken care of)
5 ) Supervisor Kerr authorized to sign necessary documents
approval
6 ) opening of stand for business subject to Town Board approval
7 ) non- conforming use for Marion family operation only
( children of Mr . and Mrs . Marion may operate for 2 years
after death of parents ) "
There followed discussion of the lawsuit which has been settled
between Maurice Marion and the Town of Ithaca .
There was discussion of the foregoing Town Board Resolution 206
regarding the specific requirements . It was Mr . Cowan ' s opinion that
the Resolution was very poor in its wording .
Mr . Cowan then proceeded to outline the case as he saw it . He
stated that the cooler is virtually an extension of the building . The
cooler is screened . There are fir trees planted . There is a lattice
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Zoning Board of Appeals November 7 , 1972
screening which serves as a place for displaying merchandise . The fir
tree screening is not really adequate , the fir trees should be placed
alternately or staggered since it is possible to look right through them .
Mr . Cowan discussed with the Board members the various neighbors
and their problems . It was felt that one of the neighbors who lives
in the second house down could be viewed as being biased . It was felt
that the other neighbors were very reasonable . Mr . Loran Marion stated
that he would go along with any recommendations that the other two
neighbors who appeared at the Public Hearing might have .
Mr . Cowan stated that he had talked extensively with Mr . Maurice
Marion . He stated that he would go along with the erection of the
second greenhouse in spite of the lack of a permit due to Resolution
206 . He stated that from the center of the road there is a thirty
foot right of way . He stated further . that you then go back 200 feet
which , he thought , was the pipe line . The most Mr . Marion can get
back is 210 feet , and , according to the Ordinance , he must be back
250 feet . Mr . Cowan said that the City has said that Mr . Marion will
be back 210 feet from the highway , but he felt (Mr . Cowan) that the
City is in error . The main valve that Mr . Marion uses is exactly
250 feet back from the center of the highway . Mr . Marion is using
this as a reference point .
Mr . Powers asked about the sewer right of way . Mr . Maurice
Marion said that they have a ten foot permanent right of way . The
sewer line is 200 feet from the edge of the highway .
Mr . Loran Marion asked what the footage of the variance might be .
Mr . Cowan stated approximately 40 feet .
At this point the secretary read the Minutes of the Meeting of
August 2 , 1972 , to the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals . The
secretary read the original appeal .
Chairman Powers stated that the members of the Zoning Board of
Appeals must remember that Mr . Maurice Marion is just applying for a
permit to build a greenhouse . The talk was always about the general
appearance of the stand . We want to remember that these things come
out by saying that if this is granted certain other things might be
attended to . Mr . Powers said that there are a few things that could
be cleared up in order to help Mr . Marion out on the greenhouse
question . Mr . Powers asked Mr . Maurice Marion if he would not be
w illing to put in a few more trees in order to make a better buffer
zone . Mr . Powers asked Mr . Marion just how much it would cost to add
some trees . Mr . Marion thought it would be in the neighborhood of $ 200 .
Mr . Powers said that some of the neighbors do not ,think that the
stand is very attractive . He noted that the lattice work wall that Mr .
Marion put in to shield the cooler was being used for displays and for
showing more merchandise . Mr . Powers asked if Mr . Marion could not fix
that up a little . Mr . Powers continued by stating that he had even
heard it stated that the Marions could build a new stand . Perhaps a
rustic type stand could be built .
Mr . Maurice Marion stated that he had tried to build a new stand
at one time but the Town Board denied permission saying that he could
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not change the stand . Mr . Marion stated further that the cooler was
set up the way it is to conform to regulations . He said that they had
spent a lot of money to keep within regulations .
Mr . Loran Marion said that he felt that the stand is really not
that bad . He stated that he would be happy with just some staggered
trees .
MOTION by Mr . Jack Hewett :
I move that the Zoning Board of Appeals grant a forty foot
variance so that Mr . Maurice Marion can build his greenhouse back
of the one that is presently standing .
Seconded by David Powers . All members present were in favor .
The MOTION was carried .
Chairman Powers adjourned the meeting at 9 : 00 p . m .
Respectfully submitted ,
Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary ,
A agu u v
David Powers , Chairman
Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of
Appeals