HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2019-08-15Town of Ithaca Planning Committee
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Committee members: Rich DePaolo, Chair; Rod Howe, Pat Leary
Board/Staff members present: Bill Goodman, Town Supervisor; Sue Ritter; Bruce Bates
Others: None
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Committee announcements and concerns: none
3. Consider July meeting minutes: Rich moved minutes; Rod seconded. Minutes approved as
drafted.
4. Continue discussion of allowing landscaping services and tree-care services as a permitted use
in the Low Density Residential and Agriculture Zones with certain criteria:
The committee reviewed the revised draft language. They felt that the tentative language under
the noise standards pertaining to “pure tone, a discrete tone or impulsive sound” would be too
subjective and recommended removing it. A few clarifying edits were requested, such as adding
language to the criteria for new buildings that they are “associated with this use”.
The committee modified the roof pitch from 6 in 12 to 4 in 12, feeling that the lower angle
would still be adequate for aesthetic purposes.
The committee requested that vinyl and metal be added to the permitted exterior siding list,
with added criteria for vinyl (quality/thickness) as proposed in the town’s new form-based code
language.
Staff explained, and the committee discussed, that these uses would be allowed as a principal
use in the LDR and AG zones.
The committee agreed to keep all the same requirements for both LDR and Agricultural Zones.
The committee discussed whether to exempt new buildings from the criteria if they were
setback a certain distance from the right-of-way. After considering different setbacks, the
committee decided that a case by case determination by the Planning Board as to whether a
building will be visible from the right-of-way would be preferable.
The committee requested that the draft language be reviewed by Susan Brock and then go
directly to the Town Board for consideration.
5. Rental registry law modification
The committee reviewed a memo from Bruce Bates that proposed language exempting certain
situations from needing to obtain a rental operating permit, specifically:
1) residential dwelling and accessory dwellings under the control of a cooperative, where the
cooperative has oversight and ownership of the dwelling units, and
2) house sitting and pet sitting, where no physical rent is paid.
The committee felt that the house/pet sitting provision could pose a large loophole and
suggested continuing discussion at the next meeting and exploring how the definition of “rent”
might be applied. The committee asked staff to research and propose a definition for “rent” at
the next meeting.
6. Staff updates and reports: none
7. Discuss next meeting date and upcoming agenda items:
Next meeting is Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Topics for next meeting:
Continue consideration of rental registry law modification;
Consider modifications to Tompkins County Agricultural District #1