HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1986-07-15 �F
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
JULY 15 , 1986
The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on
Tuesday, July 15 , 1986 , in Town Hall, 126 East Seneca Street, Ithaca,
New York, at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairman Montgomery May, Robert Kenerson, James Baker,
Carolyn Grigorov, David Klein, Virginia Langhans, Susan C.
Beeners (Town Planner) , Lawrence P. Fabbroni, P.E.
(Town Engineer) , John C. Barney (Town Attorney) , and Frank
Snapp (Temporary Secretary) .
ALSO PRESENT: Dooley Kiefer, Vivian Lee, Frank Liguori, Neil Weinberg,
Margaret Bartell, Allan Venooker, Debra I . Morse-Little,
Mary Beth Joseph, Susan Howser, Frank Smithson,
Geraldine Fisher, Stephen Parker.
Chairman May declared the meeting duly opened at 7: 30 p.m. and a
review of the minutes from June 24 and July 8 was conducted with
several changes made.
Chairman May requested the Town Engineer' s report.
LAWRENCE P. FABBRONI , P.E. , PRESENTED THE TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Mr. Fabbroni indicated that Burns Road is about to be approved for
the paving of the two segments that have been discussed over the past
two years.
Mr. Fabbroni said that the work that has been done in the past two
years is now showing some success and the State is pleased with what
has been accomplished.
The Park Lane project is pretty much on hold until a revised
understanding can be reached with the Town, NYSEG, and William Frandsen
over the higher costs, which none of the three really anticipated.
Other projects ongoing are primarily to do with Frank Liguori of
the Tompkins County Department of Planning in order to deal with such
issues as the hospital circulation/access road which is having
finishing touches in design worked on.
Mr. Fabbroni also stated that the hospital circulation road would
be partially built with some of the funds committed by the Professional
Building and the hospital expansion in part approved by the County in
the development of this area.
Mr. Fabbroni said that there has been a lot of field work done on
getting estimates from contractors because final designs have mostly
been reached.
Planning Board 2 July 15 , 1986
He said that they are well along in doing field work on potential
water and sewer extensions for the East Shore and West Shore, the area
north of the hospital that collectively takes up Indian Creek Road,
Duboise Road, Woolf Lane, Grove Road, and Trumansburg Road.
Mr. Fabbroni said that there will be feasibility studies to be
done simultaneous with their field work.
He said that they will begin repainting the Pine Tree Road and
Hungerford Hill tanks starting July 16.
Mr. Fabbroni stressed the need for these tanks as backup sources
of water in this area.
Mr. Fabbroni said that there is a lot of work going on out at the
Sewer Plant. He said that the work is nearing completion on the
exterior with most of the remaining work to be completed on the inside
of the buildings. He said that there also needs to be brickwork
completed .
The contract that puts the pipe through the golf course is
finished and the one that goes through the Lake is now in place and
these contracts are completed.
Mr. Fabbroni stated that the Town has about 70 per cent completed
the terms of a contract concerning metering stations involving the
City, Town, and Cornell University.
He said that problems have been discovered before and during the
course of construction in terms of design of the metering stations.
Some of the work on University Avenue had to be done twice due in part
to the construction going on at Cornell and also due to some problems
in some of the original design work completed in 1980.
Mr. Fabbroni said that the heating requirements for the Town Hall
are being reviewed. He also stated that there would be work done on
the Board room. He said that they have gotten to the point of looking
at the whole building to see the age of different parts of the building
and what can be expected to happen two years down the line.
He said that he has a student working on the overall drainage plan
for the Town.
Mr. Fabbroni stated that the work for him as Town Engineer and for
Susan Beeners as Town Planner has been non-stop since March, therefore,
comprehensive considerations concerning the drainage plan for the Town
will probably not be forthcoming until fall.
Chairman May thanked Mr. Fabbroni for his report. Chairman May
asked if anyone had any questions for Mr. Fabbroni concerning his
report. There were none.
Planning Board 3 July 15 , 1986
BUILDING INSPECTOR'S REPORT
A copy of the Report of Building Permits Issued for !LaZ and June,
1986 , (submitted by Lewis D. Cartee, (May, 1986) and submitted by Gary
L. Wood, (June, 1986) ) , was before the Board.
Chairman May said that the first thing he noticed about the
Building Inspector' s Report from Gary Wood, which consisted of the
Report of Building Permits issued for June 1986, was about 15
single-family homes. He stated that those numbers seemed like a lot.
ItChairman May asked Mrs. Grigorov if she had a report. She said,
no
Chairman May asked Ms. Beeners if she had a report and if she felt
that it was brief enough to open at that moment or more appropriate to
approach her report later on in the meeting.
SUSAN C. BEENERS PRESENTED THE TOWN PLANNER' S REPORT AS FOLLOWS:
Ms. Beeners spoke briefly about a Cornell Student who is her
planning aide for the summer. She said her planning aide has been
working on occupancy studies in preparation for a Town Board report
sometime this summer. She said that her aide has also been looking at
industrial sites, existing sites and potential new sites. In the Parks
department, there are about nine youths employed at the moment which
is, basically, the same number of youths that the Town will have
throughout the summer. She said that they are looking forward to
building a play structure at Hungerford Heights Park and also to
participating in the construction of the Pleasant Grove
walkway/bikeway. She is awaiting finalization of construction plans
and approval from the Village of Cayuga Heights on the Pleasant Grove
project.
Chairman May asked if there were any questions for Ms. Beeners.
There were none.
ADJOURNED PUBLIC HEARING (from May 22 and June 24 , 1986) :
CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN BOARD WITH RESPECT TO THE
PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN LANDS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY, ALSO KNOWN AS
THE BIGGS COMPLEX, PRESENTLY ZONED RESIDENCE DISTRICT R-30 , AS A
SPECIAL LAND USE DISTRICT (LIMITED MIXED USE) , LOCATED AT 1283 AND 1287
TRUMANSBURG ROAD, TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL NO. 6-24-3-2 . 2. TOMPKINS
COUNTY, OWNER; FRANK R. LIGUORI, P.E. , TOMPKINS COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF
PLANNING, AGENT.
AND
ADJOURNED PUBLIC HEARING (from May 22 and June 24 , 1986) :
CONSIDERATION OF PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED
SUBDIVISION OF CERTAIN LANDS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY, LOCATED AT 1283 AND
1287 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL NO. 6-24-3-2.2.
TOMPKINS COUNTY, OWNER; FRANK R. LIGUORI, P.E. , TOMPKINS COUNTY
COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, AGENT.
Planning Board 4 July 15 , 1986
Chairman May declared the Public Hearing in the above-noted
matters duly opened at 7: 55 p.m. and read aloud from the Notice of
Public Hearings as posted and published and as noted above. Mr.
Liguori was present.
Chairman May asked Mr. Liguori to open the meeting with his
presentation.
The following documents and presentations were before the Board:
1 . A copy of the revised application to the Town of Ithaca by the
County of Tompkins to establish a limited-mixed-use special land
use district for certain lands and buildings, Biggs Complex, Town
of Ithaca. This application was revised May 22; accompanying
proposals were revised July, 1986, as signed by, Frank R. Liguori,
Commissioner of Planning, dated July 10 , 1986 .
2 . A copy of the Environmental Assessment Form, Part II, was
submitted to the Board.
3 . A submittal from Dooley Kiefer, 629 Highland Road, which consisted
of the above-mentioned application and EAF form with several
inscribed comments for discussion appearing directly on the
documents.
4. A presentation from Frank R. Liguori on use of land for parking at
the Biggs Complex as well as information presented on the employee
parking situation.
5 . A copy of Part II of the Environmental Assessment Form --
Responsibility of Lead Agency -- reviewing project impacts and
their magnitude concerning the Biggs Complex.
6 . A copy of the Environmental Assessment Form, Part III --
Reviewer' s Recommendations -- Biggs Complex, Susan C. Beeners,
Town Planner, dated July 15 , 1986.
Mr. Frank R. Liguori , Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning,
opened by stating that since the last meeting he has, in cooperation
with Susan Beeners, revised the application forms and the assessment
forms pertaining to the reduction of acreage, mentioned in the initial
consideration of this hearing, from 47.6 acres to 22.2 acres which now
include only that land which is necessary to operate and maintain the
two buildings, the old hospital building and the nearby "H" building,
which are now being called Biggs Center A and Biggs Center B,
respectively. Mr. Liguori stated that they have revised the assessment
forms and all the other documents and have submitted these forms to Ms.
Beeners.
Mr. Liguori said that he has made a reassessment of the parking
situation and also stated that his secretary inadvertently omitted a
statement on parking, which he said basically indicates that, by their
determination, the maximum number of employees next year would be
somewhere around three hundred and twenty nine parking employees. Mr.
Planning Board 5 July 15 , 1986
Liguori said that there are 341 paved parking spots . He also said that
there are 40 unpaved parking spots to handle overflow from the other
lots. He has plans to build an additional parking area similar to the
one next to the Hospital that has just been constructed by the Hospital
Corporation and these additional parking spaces will be added as the
need arises. Additionally, as the need arises he will submit plans to
the Planning Board for review. The study of the need for additional
parking spaces will depend heavily on the amount of use of public
transportation, according to Mr. Liguori. Mr. Liguori stated that the
Hospital Corporation and the County are committed to provide whatever
spaces are needed to meet the needs of the entire complex. Mr. Liguori
then finished his report by opening up for questions.
Chairman May stated that this was a Public Hearing and asked the
floor if there were any questions.
Mrs . Dooley Kiefer, of 629 Highland Road, at this point in the
meeting presented her copy of the Land Use application and EAF to the
Board for review of her comments written on these documents .
Chairman May suggested that Ms. Beeners would be the best one to
review the comments that Mrs. Kiefer made on the revision. Chairman
May thanked Mrs. Kiefer for her submittal.
Ms. Beeners and Mr. Fabbroni then began to review Mrs . Kiefer's
submittal.
Reference was first made as to an acreage that was listed on a
short EAF form submitted in October of 1985 , which has nothing to do
with the Town. Mr. Liguori stated that the land referred to is a
County holding of 100 acres. Mr. Fabbroni stated, as an editorial
comment, that this fulfills the obligation as specified and it should
be complete as far as we are concerned. Mr. Fabbroni said that at this
point it is pending the Town Board review of the EAF.
Ms. Beeners said that she had a note questioning whether or not
the incubator space for fledgling enterprises is no longer proposed.
Ms. Beener' s feeling was that the proposed uses have been revised so
that all of them would be permitted under the proposed rezoning with
the exception of such uses that might involve assembly of products.
For that one exception which would probably require a variance, all
other uses would be permitted within the special land use district.
Mr. Liguori stated that they were no longer proposing the
incubator space because there seems to be a demand for that space for
County or County-related uses.
Mr. Fabbroni referred to a statement on page four of the revision
w "No development of vacant land will be undertaken until a
development plan is filed with and approved by the Town of Ithaca. " He
said that he thought that statement was included to assure the Town
Board that there was no suggestion that such a development within the
rezoned area could go on without a site plan approval. He then
referred to Mrs. Kiefer' s comment -- "For a SEgR review there must be a
Planning Board 6 July 15 , 1986
plan for this vacant land with estimates of size and type (s) of development
(more than one scenario is possible) , so that the required EAF
analysis* is possible -- *e.g. , " . Mr. Fabbroni, commenting that she
does not seem to finish her thought, asked Mr. Liguori if there was
anything entertained at this time. Mr. Liguori replied that there was
absolutely nothing being planned by the County or by his Planning
Board. Mr. Liguori then went on to comment that this is not to say
that within a week from July 15 , 1986 they might not get a proposal.
Mr. Liguori stated that if a proposal were received it would, "of
course, " then be submitted to the Board for approval. Mrs. Langhans
asked Mr. Liguori whether he would then have a new EAF anyway --- he
replied, "sure. "
Mr. Fabbroni suggested going over the comments on the attached EAF
form and wondered whether or not Chairman May would lake to do this
simultaneously with his review of the same EAF.
Chairman May opened discussion of the Environmental Assessment
Form of 7/86. Chairman May asked if anyone had any questions or
comments on page one. When there was no response, Chairman May then
asked Mr. Fabbroni if he would like to go over Mrs . Kiefer' s comments
on the 7/86 EAF.
Mr. Fabbroni stated that he questioned the accuracy of the
information, referring to Mrs. Kiefer's reference to the accuracy of
the 'construction dates, in question five on the first page of the EAF.
Mr. Fabbroni referred to Mrs. Kiefer' s question of whether or not
the asbestos had been completely removed. Mr. Liguori replied that as
far as he knew all asbestos has been removed. He said that all
asbestos that wasn't needed has been removed. He said that all
asbestos around the dishwashing area in the hospital has also been
removed and as far as he knows all requirements regarding asbestos have
been met. Mr. Liguori also stated that he could not guarantee,
however, that all asbestos had been removed. Mr. Fabbroni then asked
Mr. Liguori whether the asbestos issue was professionally evaluated --
Mr. Liguori said, "yes. "
Chairman May asked if there were anyone who had any questions
about the EAF either with or without reference to Mrs. Kiefer's
comments.
Mr. Fabbroni then referred to Ms. Kiefer' s comment half way down
the second page of her copy which asked, "Are no additional roads or
parking or paving a part of the land use plan (if any to be added show
the figures here) . " Mr. Fabbroni stated that he didn 't know of any
roads except for those which they are jointly working on. Mr. Liguori
then stated that their next extension to parking would be directly
behind the old hospital. Mr. Liguori said this area has been used
before as unpaved parking and that it is available for parking now. He
said if it is needed in the future, it will be paved. It is adjacent
to a new parking area behind the Physicians' Office Building where
there are 60 paved parking spaces.
Planning Board 7 July 15 , 1986
Mr. Fabbroni referred to the next comment which had to do with the
number of buildings proposed in the new land use area. He said that
there is some belief that there are additional buildings proposed with
this comment. Mrs . Kiefer ' s comment further asserts that if additional
buildings were proposed a SEQR analysis would not be possible without
estimates . Mr. Fabbroni stated that he didn't think that plans for
additional buildings were being made.
Mr. Fabbroni referred to Mrs . Kiefer' s question about the Town
zoning requirement concerning the number of parking spaces required in
question 12 (after asterisk) on page two of the EAF. He said that he
wasn't sure that the statement after the asterisk was accurate. He
said that he thought what Mr. Liguori was proposing is more accurate in
the assessment of needs for parking because there is a lot of dead
square footage which is hard to account for, therefore, in a sense, you
are almost weighing the requirement with an understanding of what Mr.
Liguori has presented.
Mr. Fabbroni reiterated Mrs . Kiefer' s questions as follows: "Are
any hazardous or toxic materials other than asbestos to be disposed of?
Are any hazardous or toxic or flammable materials to be used? (e.g. ,
in proposed R + D or assembly or lab uses?) Are light electronic units
016) the only contemplated light industrial products?" Mr. Liguori
said that he is not proposing any light industrial operations. Mr.
Liguori said that toxic materials will be used in cleaning agents . He
also said that these materials would be washed down the pipes to be
disposed of. He said that he knows of no unusual toxic materials that
would be used outside of those used in an average office building. Mr.
Fabbroni reminded Mr. Liguori of the Sewer Use Law which controls the
strength/toxicity of any substance flushed down the drain and that
substance ' s effects upon the environment. Mr. Liguori offered that
there is possibly an exception to that law in the case of light
laboratory usage.
Chairman May asked whether or not anyone had any questions on the
above referred to issues.
Mr. Fabbroni said that the comments on page three of Mrs . Kiefer' s
copy of the EAF seemed to be editorial, judgmental to the facts, and
that the comments should be taken at face value. For instance, her
referral to negotiations not materializing, in question 17 , as not
being true is probably erroneous even though negotiations occurred over
a period of several years. Mr. Fabbroni then read the following
comment by Mrs . Kiefer: "The County has been taken to Court in a SEQR
complaint dealing with the February, 1986 , decision to move out of the
City. No ruling yet. " He then said that there is controversial
litigation which has been pretty well published.
Chairman May said that almost everyone is aware that there is
litigation going on. He then asked if there was anything else that
needed to be addressed.
Mr. Fabbroni said that Mrs . Kiefer ' s comments on Indian Creek
really had nothing to do with the area in question.
Planning Board B July 15 , 1986
Chairman May asked the Board members if they had any other
questions. He also reiterated that this was a Public Hearing and asked
if anyone on the floor had any questions.
Referring to Mrs. Kiefer' s comment on question 43 of the EAF, Mr.
Fabbroni said that if there is a substantive difference in the impact
of use other than what has been generally indicated in association with
light assembly, research, and so on, then it' s something that should be
brought before the Board of Appeals anyway. He also stated that at
this point the question is too speculative to be approached
realistically.
Miss Beeners said that, in addition to what Mr. Fabbroni stated,
there was a statement which prefaced what was in question 43 , that
stated that no uses with such hazards would be permitted.
Mr. Fabbroni referred to the comment on question #53 , "It is not
anticipated that the use of the Biggs Center for County government and
private sector uses will spur significant growth or have significant
impact on the West Hill community. If any significant growth were to
occur, the existing complexes which are greater than what is proposed
with the occupancy of primarily the Biggs Center Building A, would have
already been provided for. . . . " He then read further in comment #53 --
"However, as a result of moving several County departments to the Biggs
Center and renting a portion of the building for research/development,
business or commercial ventures, the Biggs Center will become active
and have some limited environmental impact on the area. . . . " Mr.
Fabbroni asked Mr. Liguori what the sentence in question meant. Mr.
Liguori replied that an associate of his (Harry Missirian) wrote the
sentence. Mr. Liguori stated that it was not his intention to promote
new growth because they have some County offices up there. Mr. Liguori
paraphrased his associate' s sentence by saying that his associate meant
to say that if new growth were going to have occurred, it would have
already. Mr. Liguori said that public transportation would provide
better access to the facility.
Mr. Fabbroni referred to the comments in #53 concerning traffic.
He answered a question about AADT (averaged annual daily trips) by
saying that the traffic was "two way. "
Mr. Fabbroni went on to address Mrs . Kiefer ' s concern over the
enforcement of the Uniform Building Code. Mr. Fabbroni said that the
Town does not require a State building permit for a building owned by
the County. He also said that, theoretically and as a matter of fact,
the County issues their own building permit and does their own
construction from the standpoint of the Uniform Building Code because
they own the building.
Chairman May asked that the Minutes show that Mrs . Kiefer' s
concerns had been reviewed by the Board. Chairman May then asked if
the Board had any questions. He also asked if the public had any
questions.
Chairman May closed the Public Hearing at 8 :45 p.m.
Planning Board 9 July 15 , 1985
Frank Smithson, Attorney for Tompkins Community Daycare Service,
asked whose proposal was being currently considered by the Board.
Chairman May replied that the proposal was a County proposal for a
Mixed Land Use.
Chairman May asked if anyone would like to make a Motion.
Ms. Beeners requested that consideration be given to a couple of
corrections needed on the Environmental Assessment Form. First,
referring to number 12, having to do with parking, on page two of the
EAF, she requested that the asterisked statement, "326 divided by 3
spaces" , be deleted. Chairman May asked if Ms. Beeners requested
deletion because the material in question was incorrect -- she said,
"yes . " Chairman May asked Mr. Liguori whether or not he would accept
the change and Mr. Liguori replied that he would.
The second concern had to do with her research of the Lake Shore
West proposal described in number 17. They had applied for limited
mixed use and received preliminary approval for multiple residence
district. Mr. Fabbroni commented that a rezoning change never got to
the last step of final approval. It was decided that the word
"Preliminary" would be added to line four of number 17 of the EAF
between the words "received" and "approval" . The word "Zone" was also
struck from the beginning of line five. Chairman May asked Mr. Liguori
if he would accept the changes. Mr. Liguori replied, "yes. "
Mr. Fabbroni said that a Light Industrial use would have to be
worked out using variances somehow.
Ms. Beeners referred to a concern she had on number 46 of the EAF
regarding the minimum number of 250 (for up to five years) and maximum
number of 400 employees going from short-range to long-range. She
asked if 329 would be a more appropriate number for the short-range
projection as they had discussed at the outset of the meeting. Mr.
Liguori reasoned that there is talk about a Cooperative Extension
office, EOC, a nutrition center, and he can 't predict which of these
are going to be approved of. He then said that trying to project a
definite number now, in his opinion, does not make a bit of difference.
Mr. Barney said to Mr. Liguori that he wouldn't want a comment like
that to come back and haunt him. Mr. Liguori said he would like to see
the figure for employees be higher than at the low end. Mr. Barney
went on to say that it would be better to stay at the high end of the
estimate. Mrs. Grigorov asked why distinguish between long-range and
short-range proposed numbers. Chairman May suggested taking out the
short-range estimate. Chairman May asked Ms. Beeners if the proposed
change was acceptable to her. She accepted the change.
Ms. Beeners had a question on the permit page, under the heading,
County of Tompkins, where she felt that on the line labeled "Other"
there was an omission of the statement "County Building Permits. "
Mr. Fabbroni then asked Mr. Liguori whether or not the County
accepts the Building Code. Mr. Liguori replied, "yes. "
Planning Board 10 July 15 , 1986
Chairman May asked if anyone wanted to make a Motion.
Chairman May asked what area was specifically under consideration
pertaining to planned access road construction under the draft
resolution presently before the Board.
Mr. Fabbroni stated that, as he described in his report, from
where the private construction ends to approximately the southeast
corner of Parcel P-3, as you see it on the map, is new construction,
and, what is proposed, as part of this resolution, is what the County
has committed itself to in order to improve the circulation that would
go from approximately the halfway point of P-4 where station 10+00
would resume. The intention is to connect that terminus to the
existing driveway that comes in from Indian Creek Road and goes to
about the southeast corner of P-3. Mr. Fabbroni then referred to the
lack of paving with the road in question. Mr. Liguori said that this
may be done in phases. Mr. Fabbroni then stated that the Board has not
had a chance to look into the finer details of this subject. Mr.
Fabbroni, suggested that one of the reasons for doing the paving in one
phase is that there are wooded landscape features that need to be
preserved at the site. Chairman May asked if this needed to be done as
well to open up the parking places for the new professional building
next to the hospital. Mr. Fabbroni replied that this would be
irrespective of what Chairman May was looking at. He said that this
would happen with the construction up to 10+00 . Mr. Fabbroni said
another of the considerations is that there be an uninterrupted Town
highway from Rt . 96 to the Indian Creek Road, and that, what this
problem actually comes down to is the quibbling over not much more than
100 feet of roadway. Mr. Liguori replied that this matter would be
taken care of now during the early stages of the project. He said that
the important thing is to make the new road function and all the County
has to do is bring it back to the existing road at some key point of
access, such as, the front entrance to the old hospital. Mr. Fabbroni
said that the date for completion of this phase is August, 1987 . Mr.
Liguori said that they haven't worked out the agreement to go all the
way to the Indian Creek Road yet. Mrs. Grigorov suggested that maybe
Mr. Liguori should seek to extend the date of completion on the access
road in question. Chairman May suggested that Mr. Fabbroni would like
the date of completion left as is. Mr. Fabbroni replied that all
negotiations before on this issue gave the clear impression of there
being no problem and that "all of a sudden" there is now a problem. He
said that the way he feels about it is that it makes it easier for Mr.
Liguori to go back and tell the County that they have to do it, rather
than to have nothing in there and still be "walking on water. "
Chairman May asked if anyone wanted to make a Motion. Mrs.
Langhans responded. Chairman May asked that she read the "Resolved"
portion.
Mrs . Virginia Langhans MOVED the Draft Resolution.
Mr. Barney suggested that to clarify paragraph l .a. he would add,
after the word "requirements", the phrase, "relating to any proposed
use, " .
Planning Board 11 July 15 , 1986
Mr. Fabbroni said that you could also say "except as otherwise
specified by this amendment or . . . " .
Mr. Fabbroni asked Mr. Liguori whether or not they obtained a
variance on the old hospital --- Building C wing and Building D wing,
eliminated? Mr. Liguori replied that they had. Mr. Fabbroni said that
there is an existing variance on one of the property lines.
Mr. Barney said that once that variance is granted then it would
still pertain.
Chairman May asked if there were any questions on the revised
draft resolution.
Mr. Barney read his suggested modifications of paragraph "a. " at
the bottom half of page two of the draft resolution.
Mrs . Langhans asked that Mr. Barney read paragraph "1 .a. " at the
bottom half of page two of the draft resolution, including the
suggested modifications. Mr. Barney read the paragraph.
Chairman May asked if the modifications were understood and
accepted. They were accepted.
Mr. Barney asked if a condition should be made which addressed the
issue of construction on vacant land as an additional paragraph.
Mr. Liguori brought up the point that the County has the right to
put up a new building but would need to present plans for approval.
Mr. Barney read the paragraph that he proposed as an addition to the
resolution on rezoning. Mr. Liguori stated at this point that he has
no right to give away County rights. Mr. Barney said that the two
additions at the end of the rezoning resolution would mean that if plan
approval for new construction was not pursued then construction could
not begin, or, the Town could bring suit if it were. Mr. Barney then
suggested that the word "if" be inserted on the third line down in the
last paragraph on page two of the resolution for rezoning. He then
read the paragraph for clarity.
Ms. Beeners asked if something could be added, such as, "that the
adequacy of parking shall be reviewed on an annual basis. " She
explained that in the zoning ordinance there are certain parking
requirements and it is her opinion that what is proposed by the County,
which is generally a one space employee, is appropriate. She said that
there is bus service. She said that when you take into consideration
the parking requirements that pertain to the special land use district
and those are applied it becomes rather prohibitive to even consider
those parking requirements. For instance, under one of these
requirements there could be 870 parking spaces. She also stated that
the adequacy of the parking should be reviewed annually by the Town
Building Inspector.
All three of the amendments to the Draft Resolution were accepted
by the Board.
Planning Board 12 July 15 , 1986
Mr. James Baker SECONDED the MOTION which is hereinafter set
forth.
WHEREAS:
1 . This project is a proposal for the rezoning of 22.2 acres of the
lands of Tompkins County, also known as the Biggs Complex,
presently zoned Residence District R-30 , as a Special Land Use
District (Limited Mixed Use) , located at 1283 and 1287 Trumansburg
Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 6-24-3-2 . 2.
2 . This project is a Type I action for which the Town Board has been
legislatively determined to act as Lead Agency for environmental
review.
3 . The Planning Board has reviewed this project at Public Hearings on
May 22 , 1986 , as adjourned to June 24 and July 15 , 1986 .
4 . The Planning Board on July 15, 1986 has reviewed a revised
proposal and SEAR Long Environmental Assessment Form for the
project, and recommends to the Town Board, based on these
submittals and other documentation, that information be considered
complete for the environmental review of the project, and that the
site plan for the project be considered not to have a significant
adverse impact on the environment.
5 . The Planning Board has found that:
a. There is a need for the proposed use in the proposed location
in order to adaptively reuse the former Biggs Memorial
Hospital Complex in a manner that serves the community. The
proposed mixture of land uses, if limited to those compatible
to a mixed use situation, will complement existing
non-agricultural uses such as professional offices, health
care, day care, and education. Such limited mixed land uses
will serve adjacent residential neighborhoods as well as the
general Ithaca area.
h . The existing and probable future character of the
neighborhood will not be adversely affected. The proposal as
presented does not represent a substantial change in use.
Existing and planned transportation facilities are adequate
to serve the proposed use. The campus setting with its
interior road system contains the site complex and is
compatible with adjacent lands. Any development of vacant
land would be subject to further review for its consistency
with neighborhood character.
c . The proposed change is in accordance with a comprehensive
plan of development of the Town. The proposal conforms to
applicable zoning requirements . The proposal has been
preceded by similar approvals and development which have
proven compatible with existing land use and neighborhood
character. The limited mixed use plan has been submitted by
Planning Board 13 July 15 , 1986
the County as specified in an earlier variance condition for
the leasing of professional office space in the site complex.
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED:
1 . That the Planning Board recommend and hereby does recommend
approval of the general site plan for the proposed District.
2. That the Planning Board recommend and hereby does recommend to the
Town Board that the Town Board resolve to amend the Zoning
Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca to add to the list of permitted
Districts a Special Land Use District (Limited Mixed Use) , such
District consisting of 22.2 acres of the lands of Tompkins County,
also known as the Biggs Complex, 1283 and 1287 Trumansburg Road,
Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 6-24-3-2.2, as described in the
project submittals reviewed by the Planning Board on July 15,
1986 , including a site plan adapted from "Subdivision Map of Lands
of the County of Tompkins, Route 96 , Trumansburg Road, Town of
Ithaca" , T.G. Miller Associates, August 1 , 1984 , amended April 24,
1985 , and with the proposed District to include the parcels
identified on this map as P3 , P4 , P6 , P7A, PBA, and P9 .
FURTHER, IT IS RESOLVED.-
1 .
ESOLVED:1 . That the Planning Board recommend and hereby does recommend to the
Town Board the following as conditions to the above approvals:
a. That the underlying zoning designation of the land shall be
changed from Residence District R-30 to Special Land Use
District (Limited Mixed Use) , and all yard, lot, and area
requirements relating to any proposed use, except as
heretofore modified or otherwise modified by this resolution,
shall pertain.
b. That uses permitted in this Special Land Use District shall
be as permitted in Local Law No. 2 , 1984 , such being any use
permitted in a residential or agricultural district and in
Business Districts A, B, and E, and with all uses that
propose to involve product assembly to be subject to
application for a variance of Local Law No. 2, 1984 to allow
such a use. That specific uses , renovation, and construction
must comply with all applicable laws , codes , ordinances,
rules, and regulations. That no uses will be allowed if they
produce offensive noise, odors, smoke, fumes, vibration,
glare, electronic interference, radiation, or if the use of
substances or devices may cause harm due to their hazardous
nature.
C. That the new access roadway be built by Tompkins County by
August, 1987 from station 10+00 west of and through parcel P4
to connect to the two-way driveway presently extending from
the southeast corner of parcel P3 to Indian Creek Road
according to a mutually agreeable location and specifications
acceptable to the Town, and that utility easements to serve
Planning Board 14 July 15 , 1986
properties to the north and west of County lands be granted
for water and sewer extensions from existing on-site utility
locations and more specifically to the former Gilcher
property and to Indian Creek Road.
d. That no new construction on any existing vacant land shall
occur without receiving appropriate site plan approval from
the Planning Board and/or Town Board.
e. That if the parking as set forth in the general site plan
proves inadequate, the Developer will provide such additional
spaces as may be required by the Planning Board up to the maximum
required by the applicable ordinance.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a vote.
Aye - May, Kenerson, Baker, Grigorov, Klein, Langhans.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
Chairman May now opened discussion on the second of the two
Adjourned Public Hearings.
ADJOURNED PUBLIC HEARING (FROM MAY 22 AND JUNE 24 , 1986) --
CONSIDERATION OF PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED
SUBDIVISION OF CERTAIN LANDS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY, LOCATED AT 1283 AND
1287 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL NO. 6-24-3-2 .2.
TOMPKINS COUNTY, OWNER; FRANK R. LIGUORI, P .E. , TOMPKINS COUNTY
COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, AGENT.
The following documents were before the Board:
1 . Short Environmental Assessment Form.
2 . "Subdivision Map of Lands of the County of Tompkins, N.Y.S. Route
96" , dated August 1 , 1984 , amended April 24 , 1985 , by T. G. Miller
Associates.
Chairman May asked the Board and floor if there were any comments
or questions on the Public Hearing issue. There were none.
The Planning Board discussed with Mr. Liguori the pertinence of
discussing subdividing if he were not planning on selling land or
buildings right away on the land in question.
Chairman May asked if the Board would like to vote on withdrawal
of the above-noted Adjourned Public Hearing, and Mr. Liguori was asked
whether he would accept this action. He did.
THE WHOLE DRAFT RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO SUBDIVISION WAS VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY WITHDRAWN.
Mr. Liguori introduced both the West Hill Daycare Center' s and
Planning Board 15 July 15 , 1986
the Tompkins Community Daycare Services ' proposals.
PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ZONING BOARD
OF APPEALS WITH RESPECT TO REQUEST FOR SPECIAL APPROVAL OF A NURSERY
SCHOOL USE, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V, SECTION 18 , PARAGRAPH 4 , OF THE TOWN
OF ITHACA ZONING ORDINANCE, FOR THE LOCATION OF THE WEST HILL DAY CARE
CENTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF BIGGS CENTER, BUILDING B ("H" BUILDING) ,
AT 1287 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, TOWN OF ITHACA TAX PARCEL NO. 6-24-3-2 .2.
COUNTY OF TOMPKINS , OWNER; FRANK R. LIGUORI, P.E. , COMMISSIONER OF
PLANNING, AGENT.
AND ALSO
PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ZONING BOARD
OF APPEALS WITH RESPECT TO THE TOMPKINS COMMUNITY DAY CARE SERVICE
(LOCATED IN THE FORMER BIGGS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS ' RESIDENCE)
REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF A SPECIAL APPROVAL GRANTED AUGUST 22 , 1984 , FOR A
NURSERY SCHOOL USE, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V, SECTION 18 , PARAGRAPH 4 , OF
THE TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING ORDINANCE, AND, REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED
EXPANSION OF SAID FACILITY. 1285 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, TOWN OF ITHACA TAX
PARCEL NO. 6-24-3-2.1 . TOMPKINS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, OWNER; GERRI
FISHER, AGENT.
Chairman May declared the Public Hearings in the above-noted
matters duly opened at 9 :15 p.m. and read aloud from the Notice of
Public Hearings as posted and published and as noted above.
The following documents were submitted for West Hill Day Care
Center:
1 . Copy of Needs Assessment For Daycare in Tompkins County. The form
shows census figures of women with children in different age
categories and shows percentages of children living in single
family homes and gives information on the amount of spaces
available to various age groups of children and infants . The form
also attempts to make correlations between the number of referral
calls related to daycare in Ithaca and surrounding areas.
2 . Copy of the Short Environmental Assessment Form as completed,
signed, and submitted by Mary G. Call, Chairman, Tompkins County
Board of Representatives, under date of July 8 , 1986 (Part I , 1
page) , and as reviewed by the Town Planner, Susan C. Beeners,
(Part II, 1 page on reverse of Part I) , under date of July 10 ,
1986 .
3 . Copy of the APPEAL to the Building Inspector and Zoning Board of
Appeals of the Town of Ithaca. Also attached is a reduced copy of
Site Plan for Biggs Center, which includes the Site Plan for
Building B.
4. Draft Resolution with respect to a recommendation to the Zoning
Board of Appeals.
The following documents were submitted for Tompkins Community Day
Planning Board 16 July 15 , 1985
Care Service:
1. Copy of the APPEAL to the Building Inspector and Zoning Board of
Appeals of the Town of Ithaca. A copy of a reduced Site Plan is
attached.
2 . Copy of the Short Environmental Assessment Form as completed,
signed, and submitted by Geraldine Fisher, under date of July 7,
1985 , (Part I, Page 1) , and as reviewed by the Town Planner, Susan
C. Beeners, (Part II, 1 page on reverse of Part I) , under date of
July 10, 1986 .
3 . Copy of the Code Enforcement Officer's Report, completed and
signed by Gary L. Wood, Town of Ithaca Building Inspector/CEO,
dated July 3 , 1986 .
4 . Copy of the Minutes of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals
Meeting of August 22 , 1984 , concerning an Adjourned Appeal (from
July 25, 1984) of Tompkins Community Day Care Service, Inc. ,
Appellant, William Tucker Dean, Esq . , as Agent, in re permission
to operate a "Family Day Care Center" at 1285 Trumansburg Road .
Tompkins Community Day Care Service ' s attorney, Frank Smithson,
had a concern about the financial outlook of both daycare facilities
should the proposed expansion of West Hill Daycare Center occur.
Mr. Liguori expressed a desire for cooperation in reaching an
agreement between the two facilities.
Mr. Barney asked what the number of children to be serviced was.
Mr. Liguori said that West Hill Daycare Center cannot expand in
its current facilities.
Mary Beth Joseph and her assistant, of West Hill Daycare Center,
illustrated the non-redundancy of the groups that both they and
Tompkins Community Daycare Service provide care for. Only West Hill
Daycare Center provides care for infants and there is a waiting list
with 15 - 20 children listed. They currently provide 24 children with
daycare services. West Hill Daycare Center would also like to provide
more spaces for children and infants listed as follows: 18 spots for 3
yrs.+, 10 spots for toddlers, and 12 spots for infants. Tompkins
Community Daycare Service currently provides daycare for 12 -- 13
children and no infants. Tompkins Community Daycare Service would like
to care for 22 more children -- they already have 15 on a waiting list.
The following table will help to clarify the question of community need
for the expansion of both facilities :
TCDCS WHDC TOTALS
No. of children already cared for 13 24 37
No. of children wanted for expansion 22 34 56
(non-infant)
Actual waiting list figures 15 20 35
Planning Board 17 July 15 , 1986
No. of children wanted above the number
of children on waiting lasts 21
Gerri Fisher requested an extension and expansion.
Allan Venooker, Vice President of West Hill Daycare Center, made a
verbal presentation reiterating everything that was in the submittal
from WHDC. He stressed the validity of the Center' s findings.
Through discussion with staff from both facilities and review of
the submittal from West Hill Day Care Center, the Board came to the
general opinion that there is a need for both facilities; both serve
not only local but also area needs.
Chairman May asked if there were anyone from the public who wished
to speak to the matters of the daycare expansions. No one spoke.
Chairman May closed the the Public Hearings at 9: 55 p.m.
Chairman May asked if anyone would like to make a Motion.
MOTIONS by Mrs . Carolyn Grigorov, seconded by Robert Kenerson:
WHEREAS:
1 . This action is a request for Special Approval of a Nursery School
Use, pursuant to Article V, Section 18 , Paragraph 4 , of the Town
of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance, for the location of the West Hill Day
Care Center on the ground floor of Biggs Center, Building B ("H"
Building) , at 1287 Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.
6--24-3-2.2 , County of Tompkins, Owner.
2 . This project is an Unlisted Action for which the Zoning Board of
Appeals has been legislatively determined to act as Lead Agency.
New York State Department of Social Services is a potentially
involved agency which is to be notified of any determination.
3 . The following materials have been included in the review of this
project by the Planning Board at a Public Hearing on July 15 ,
1986 :
a. "Site Plan, Biggs Complex" (Excerpt) ;
b. "Biggs Complex, Building B, Ground Floor, Tompkins County
Planning Department, January, 1986";
C. Short Environmental Assessment Form dated July 8 , 1986;
d. Application to the Zoning Board of Appeals dated July 3,
1986 .
4 . A negative declaration of environmental significance has been
recommended by the Town Planner conditioned upon the following:
the compliance of the facility with all necessary codes and
regulations.
5. The Planning Board finds that there is a need for the proposed use
in this location on the grounds that:
Planning Board 1B July 15 , 1986
a. day care centers fulfill a community need as demonstrated by
the area demand for such;
b. such a facility would complement existing and potential land
uses on West Hill.
6 . The Planning Board finds that the existing and probable future
character of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected on
the grounds that:
a. the facility would be located in an existing building that
was originally constructed for institutional use, and,
subject to code compliance, is suitable for the proposed use;
b. the facility would be located in a campus-like setting which
is suitable for the proposed use.
7 . The Planning Board finds that the proposed use is in accordance
with a comprehensive plan of development of the Town on the
grounds that:
a. project is consistent with zoning regulations;
b. project would make adaptive reuse of building space;
C . project would assist in filling a community need for day
care.
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED:
That the Planning Board recommend and hereby does recommend to the
Zoning Board of Appeals that a negative declaration of environmental
significance be made and that the application for Special Approval be
granted, conditioned upon the following: the compliance of the
facility with all necessary codes and regulations.
AND ALSO
WHEREAS:
1 . This action is a request for Review of a Special Approval
granted to the Tompkins Community Day Care Service on August 22,
1984 , for a Nursery School Use, pursuant to Article V, Section 18 ,
Paragraph 4 , of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance, and, for
Review of the proposed expansion of said facility. Said facility
is located in the former Bigg' s Memorial Hospital Physicians'
Residence, 1285 Trumansburg Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.
6-24-3-2.1 , Tompkins Community Hospital, Owner.
2. This project is an Unlisted Action for which the Zoning Board of
Appeals has been legislatively determined to act as Lead Agency.
New York State Department of Social Services is a potentially
involved agency which is to be notified of any determination.
3 . The following materials have been included in the review of this
project by the Planning Board at a Public Hearing on July 15 ,
19 86 :
Planning Board 19 July 15 , 1986
a. Short Environmental Assessment Form, July 7, 1986 ;
b. Application to the Zoning Board of Appeals, July 7, 1986 ;
C. Site plan (undated) .
4 . A negative declaration of environmental significance has been
recommended by the Town Planner conditioned upon the following:
the compliance of the facility with all necessary codes and
regulations.
5 . The Planning Board finds that there is a need for the proposed use
in this location on the grounds that:
a. day care centers fulfill a community need as demonstrated by
the area demand for such. Since its initial approval , the
facility has proven to assist in filling this need.
b. such a facility, as expanded, would complement existing and
potential land uses on West Hill .
6 _ The Planning Board finds that the existing and probable future
character of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected on
the grounds that:
a. the building, subject to code compliance, is suitable for the
proposed use;
b. the facility is located in a campus--like setting which is
suitable for the proposed use.
7 . The Planning Board finds that the proposed use is in accordance
with a comprehensive plan of development on the grounds that:
a. project is consistent with zoning regulations;
b. facility has proven to, and as expanded would, assist in
filling a community need for day care.
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED:
That the Planning Board recommend and hereby does recommend to the
Zoning Board of Appeals that a negative declaration of environmental
significance be made and that the application for continuance of the
Special Approval and expansion of the nursery school as presented be
granted, conditioned upon the following: the compliance of the
facility with all necessary codes and regulations .
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a vote.
Aye - May, Grigorov, Klein, Langhans, Baker, Kenerson.
Nay - None.
The MOTIONS were declared to be carried unanimously.
Chairman May declared the matters of the Recommendations in re
West Hill Daycare Center and Tompkins Community Day Care Service duly
closed at 10 :00 p.m.
Planning Board 20 July 15 , 1985
The Board briefly discussed what some of the topics of the August
5th Planning Board Meeting would center on.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon Motion, Chairman May declared the July 15, 1986 , meeting of
the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Snapp, Temporary Secretary,
Town of Ithaca Planning Board.
0