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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2021-06-15 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD Shirley A. Raffensperger Board Room, Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 Because of the Novel Coronavirus(COVID-19),the Town of Ithaca Planning Board Meeting scheduled for June 15,2021 will be held electronically via Zoom, instead of a public meeting open for the public to attend in person. Members of the public may listen to(call in on cell or landline: (929)436-2866 and enter the Meeting ID: 675 059 3272)or view(by computer go to haps://zoom.us/i/6750593272) the Board meeting through Zoom. AGENDA 7:00 P.M. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University New Hoy Baseball Field project located near the corner of Ellis Hollow Road and Game Farm Road,Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 62.-2-3, 62.-2-4, 62.-2-5, and 62.-2-6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the construction of a new baseball field facility,consisting of a stadium with a synthetic turf field,dugouts, scoreboard, and bleachers with a 500-seat capacity. The project will also include a 15,160+/- square foot support building(team rooms, team locker room bathrooms,a coach's office and locker, showers, an umpire's room,storage, batting cages,and a press box),a 590+/- square foot building with spectator bathrooms, 80 parking spaces, an access drive from Ellis Hollow Road,and stormwater facilities. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant; Michael Mantell, PE, Civil Engineer, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 2. Persons to be heard. 3. Approval of Minutes: May 4, 2021, May 18, 2021,and June I, 2021 4. Other Business 5. Adjournment Susan Ritter Director of Planning 273-1747 NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND,PLEASE NOTIFY SANDY POLCE AT 273-1747 or SPOLCEOTOWN.ITHACA.NY.US. (A quorum of four(4)members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) Accessing Meeting Materials Online Site Plan and Subdivision applications and associated project materials are accessible electronically on the Town's website under"Planning Board"on the"Meeting Agendas"page(http://www.town.ithaca.nv.us/meeting-agendasl. TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD Tuesday,June 15, 2021 Minutes The meeting was held via the ZOOM, following the extension of Governor Cuomo's Executive Order(s) regarding health and safety precautions and the lifting of certain requirements of Open Meetings Law. Board Members Present: Members Liebe Meier Swain,Chair; Fred Wilcox, Yvonne Fogarty,Greg Lindquist, Jamie Vanucchi, Cindy Kaufman, Ariel Casper, and Margaret Johnson Town Staff: Chris Balestra, Planner; Marty Moseley, Director of Codes; Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; David O'Shea, Engineer; Susan Ritter, Director of Planning; and Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk Ms. Meier Swain opened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. 1. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University New Hoy Baseball Field project located near the corner of Ellis Hollow Road and Game Farm Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 62.-2-3, 62.-24, 62.-2-5, and 62.-2-6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the construction of a new baseball field facility, consisting of a stadium with a synthetic turf field, dugouts, scoreboard, and bleachers with a 500-seat capacity. The project will also include a 15,160 +/-square foot support building(team rooms, team locker room bathrooms, a coach's office and locker, showers, an umpire's room, storage, batting cages, and a press box), a 590 +/- square foot building with spectator bathrooms, 80 parking spaces, an access drive from Ellis Hollow Road, and stormwater facilities. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant; Michael Mantell, PE, Civil Engineer, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. Leslie Schill, Director of Campus Planning and David Vanderpoorten, Project Manager were present to give a presentation and answer questions. Mr. Vanderpoorten gave an overview. He started by saying that the Game Farm Road location has been envisioned for a future athletic complex since 2008 and currently the practice soccer fields and field house are sited on the NE corner. He introduced the rest of the team working on the project and noted that engineering, traffic analysis and archeological resource analysis are represented. Ms. Schill went through the presentation and noted that this will be a collegiate level field with artificial turf and support facilities. NCAA requires certain aspects, including a support facility, and indoor hitting facility, lockers and restrooms and office and team room. In addition to those, there will be 500 seat bleachers with press box included in it and the scoreboard which will may be the existing one being reused. The plan is for 80 parking spaces and a new access drive. PB 2021-06-15 (Filed 6.`18) Pg. l The parcel is almost 100 acres and this location was chosen because athletic venues need large spaces and there is a synergy with the current athletic land use of soccer fields. It is adjacent to East Hill Plaza and supported by the Cornell Master Plan adopted in 2008 and the Game Farm Rd Master Plan. Ms. Schill added that this use seems to match the town's Comp Plan and will suite this area as it will become built out according to the Game Farm plan that was developed. The entire area is commonly referred to as the Game Farm site by the college. Ms. Schill showed the Game Farm Athletic Plan and noted that one thing the Plan did not take into consideration is the NYSEG ROW, which still exists and although they are high up it does have a 225' foot easement which is a site constraint as well as a water line that supplies Cornell and some stormwater infrastructure, and the natural area and East Hill Rec Way. The existing topography provides long views west and we are looking to work with the topography to address some of the site considerations. Some initial considerations are infrastructure, transportation and previous Game farm Road site parameters dealing with light and sound as well as zoning considerations for a special use permit and a possible sign permit and variances. Ms. Schill stated that they have begun discussions regarding the access road, intersection and emergency services access with the Town and we have these infrastructure developments in mind. We are proposing to use Cornell water and tying into Cornell IT and developing onsite access and sidewalks as well as the existing lights and sound parameters from the original approvals of McGovern Field. The Hoy field project is approximately 15 acres of the entire site disturbed as shown. The field is at the bottom of a downhill slope so it is tucked in, with a new access road from Ellis Hollow Rd with a loop access for emergency services and parking. Ms. Schill added that a traffic impact analysis has been done indicating about 50 additional trips. TCAT serves the area and we have begun discussions with them to have them come right to the field. We do anticipate students carpooling, and, games are held on weekends during the day. An archaeological analysis is underway and just as in 2003 when artifacts were discovered and handed over to the appropriate people, if anything is found, it will go to the appropriate person. Next steps are to continue discussions with Mr. Thaete on water and sewer infrastructure and stormwater mitigations. Mr. Vanderpoorten went through the proposed schedule of the project, with complete designs completed by October 2021 and approval processes and out to bid by the end of the year, with completion by the start of the 2023 baseball season. Questions PB 2021-06-15 (Filed 6.-A 8) Vg. 2 Someone from the public asked if they could speak and it was explained to her that this is not a public hearing, but if there was time remaining, she would consider letting the public speak. Ms. Kaufman asked to look at the Master Plan slide, saying this looks very different. Ms. Schill responded that the Master Plan originally showed buried NYSEG power lines but no costing analysis was done at that time and we have been told a round number would be $l OM - $20M and they would come back up at the corners and that cost is not feasible, so we are working around the easement and power lines. Ms. Kaufman asked if there were plans for other buildings at this time and Ms. Schill responded that there was not. Mr. Lindquist said the Master Plan and what is being requested here are significantly different. and with the soccer fields being put in before the Master Plan was approved by Cornell, he asked if there was an internal approval that needs to happen with the change to the Plan and if there is not going to be additional development to the site, he would like to see some improvements to the soccer fields, including roads to them and piles of debris that are there. He said if we are looking at this as a total complex site, we should have more information on the cleaning up of the entire complex and improvements as well as how this field will interact with the soccer fields. He thought the Board should be assured that no other plans are in the works and if so, we should have those details to avoid segmentation of the complex and not piecemeal. Ms. Schill thanked him for his comments and assured him they would be addressed in final site plan. Mr. Casper said he was curious about Ariel said he was curious about East Hill Plaza access and if the thought was that people would really walk there to get refreshments or parking there for events. Ms. Schill responded that she can't imagine people walking to the Plaza but she could imagine people biking to the field on the improved Rec Way and maybe patronizing the businesses at the Plaza before or after going to the field. She added that the maximum attendance for baseball games historically has been 100 people and she is not anticipating a great increase. Mr. Casper responded that then what you are saying is the 500 seats is a NCAA requirement? Ms. Schill responded that it was, and that is not the usual attendance. Ms. Meier Swain asked about bus parking for visiting teams. Ms. Schill said that was a great question, and we can come back with that area identified during the approval process. Ms. Meier Swain said this keeps being referred to as a complex, which makes it sound as more than one event could be happening at a time, and this may be short sighted to think of this as accommodating only one event at a time, knowing that interior campus is running out of room and you are going to have to look outside for space. PB 2021-06-15(Filed 6/18) Pg. 3 Ms. Schill responded that competition soccer happens elsewhere on main campus and that is not projected to go anywhere at this time and this area is for these four fields. The soccer infrastructure has gotten a facelift recently, but this is for practices, not games, and no busses come out here for soccer. Ms. Kaufman asked about tournament games that would increase attendance and Ms. Schill responded that those are not projected at this time and if they were to be considered, we would have to evaluate the site to see if it would accommodate them. Mr. Lindquist turned back to the Master Plan that showed some buffer zones and if those are going to be incorporated. Ms. Schill responded that the site itself, in sheer size, doesn't come across on paper. The park is taking advantage of a slope and will be largely hidden from site and there will be a berm to allow people to picnic but the field is very far off the road and the neighborhoods. Mr. Lindquist responded that the Master Plan has been released and out in the public for a long time now, and this project doesn't match that plan. Greg— 1 did go look a couple days ago but the master plan has been out for years to the public, and this doesn't resemble this plan and people have seen these buffers and aesthetic landscaping. Ms. Schill said those are great comments and we will address those in site plan. Ms. Kaufman returned to the games during the day but asked if practices would be at night and then lighting would be needed. Ms. Schill responded that the plan is to have them practice after classes and then inside. Ms. Meier Swain asked if the field would be eligible for use by local high schools. Ms. Schill responded that this would be our NCAA field and associated upkeep and would not be available for non-collegiate athletes. Mr. Wilcox stated that back in 2003, when the soccer fields were approved, Cornell floated the idea of putting them where the horse pastures are, and that didn't work out very well for various reasons, but one of the reasons, in my opinion, is that Cornell Athletics was not very straight forward with the town and the public about why they wanted to put them there. He said he brings that up because in the cover letter from Mr. Martel, he stated that the University needs an upgraded facility more in line with other Division One programs to be competitive in recruiting efforts, yet in the Staff memo, it says,Cornell has indicated that the field is being moved to make room for construction of another building. That's two reasons. He urged the University to be forthcoming and upfront about what is needed and why so we can speak in one voice and we don't have conflicting reasons why things are being done. Mr. Wilcox asked for evidence that the 500 seat capacity is required and Ms. Schill responded she would check on that. PB 2021-06-15 (Filed&18) Pg. 4 He said his other comments have been covered,but he would like to know what is going to happen to the existing turf and burying the utilities would of course be best and he also would like to see what else could be moved out to that location given the loss of other spaces in center campus. Other sports have been moved off-campus and he thought additional fields would be moved off- campus at some point and he would like to see that plan. Ms. Schill stated that they will address those points. Ms. Meier Swain allowed the lady from the public to make her statement. Kyra Stephenoff spoke, saying she lives just off of Fox Hollow Rd near the corner of Game Farm Rd and she is concerned about the noise that will be coming from the filed because she hears the soccer games as it is and they are further. She also said this doesn't seem to take into consideration the wind because that area is very windy. As a resident, she doesn't like the fact that that many people will be on site and lighting and noise. She said it would be better to rotate the stadium so the noise was projected to the northwest and would help with the wind and foul balls. Ms. Meier Swain thanked her for her comments and explained that the Board is simply commenting on the project at this time and the applicants will come back with responses to the comments and concerns. There were no other comments from the Board and Ms. Meier Swain turned to the draft resolution for designating Lead Agency. PB Resolution 2021-015: Lead Agency—Declaration of Intent CU Hoy Baseball Field Project Tax Parcel No.'s 62.-2-3,62.-24, 62.-2-5, 62.-2-6 Ellis Hollow Road June 15, 2021 Whereas: 1. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board, at its meeting on June 15, 2021,considered a Sketch Plan for the proposed Cornell University New Hoy Baseball Field project located near the corner of Ellis Hollow Road and Game Farm Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 62.-2-3, 62.-24, 62.-2-5, and 62.-2-6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the construction of a new baseball field facility,consisting of a stadium with a synthetic turf field, dugouts, scoreboard, and bleachers with a 500-seat capacity. The project will also include a 15,160 +- square foot support building(team rooms, team locker room bathrooms, a coach's office and locker, showers,an umpire's room, storage,batting cages, and a press box), a 590 3 l- square foot building with spectator bathrooms, 80 parking spaces, an access drive from Ellis Hollow Road,and stormwater facilities. Cornell University,Owner/Applicant; Michael Mantell, PE, Civil Engineer, Stantec Consulting Services Inc., and PB 2021-06-15 (Filed 6118) Pg. 5 2. The proposed project, which requires site plan approval and special permit by the Planning Board and potentially a sign variance from the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals, is a Type I action pursuant to Chapter 148 of the Town of Ithaca Code regarding Environmental Quality Review, because it involves the physical alteration of more than ten acres for a non- residential facility (§148-5.0 (1)); now, therefore, be it resolved: That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby proposes to establish itself as lead agency to coordinate the environmental review of the proposed actions, as described above,and be it further Resolved,That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby requests the concurrence of all involved agencies on this proposed lead agency designation, said concurrence to be received by the Town of Ithaca Planning Department within thirty days from the date of notification to the involved agencies. Moved: Mr. Wilcox Seconded: Ms. Meier Swain Vote: ayes— Wilcox, Meier Swain, Fogarty, Casper, Lindquist, Vanucci and Kaufman 2. Persons to be Heard None 3. Approval of Minutes —None 4. Other Business Ms. Ritter noted the letter from the Belle Sherman HOA with a complaint about parties and noise. The Board discussed the letter and felt this was not a Planning Board issue or purview and in future, there should be some type of verification that correspondence come from the majority of the HOA and not one person and that although the Board acknowledges receipt of it, it is not in the Board's purview. Jeremy Thomas, CU Real Estate joined the conversation and said he talked to Greystar who immediately reached out to the tenants and added that they do have a fine structure in place to help with enforcement and mitigating issues of this type. Ms. Ritter said Planning has a lot of subdivisions and projects in the wings and it is shaping up as a busy summer. Meetings are planned to move toward a hybrid of in person and virtual, depending on State legislation. She explained the added technology for the boardroom and that the town is working on improving the system. Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m., upon a motion made by Mr. Wilcox, seconded by Ms. Meier Swain, unanimous. SubmittW by Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk PB 2021-06-15 (Filed 6118) Ing. 6