HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Packet 2024-03-21
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
215 N. Tioga St 14850
607.273.1747
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 at 3:00 P.M.
Meeting Location: Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street, Aurora Conference Room
(Enter from the rear entrance of Town Hall, adjacent employee parking lot.)
Members of the public may also join the meeting virtually via Zoom at
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6750593272.
AGENDA
1. Persons to be heard.
2. Committee announcements and concerns.
3. Consider approval of February meeting minutes.
4. Review transportation planning implementation matrix excerpted from Tompkins County
Joint Safety Action Plan Task 2: Document Review.
5. Continue discussion on implementation of NYS Cannabis Law – Adult-Use licenses.
6. Staff updates and reports.
7. Discuss next meeting date and upcoming agenda items.
A quorum of the Ithaca Town Board may be present, however,
no official Board business will be conducted.
1
Town of Ithaca Planning Committee
Thursday, February 15, 2024
(3:00 PM Aurora Conference Room and on Zoom)
Draft Minutes
Committee members: Rich DePaolo, Chair; Rod Howe
Committee member excused: Margaret Johnson
Board/Staff members: Director of Codes Marty Moseley; Senior Code Enforcement Officer Dana Magnuson;
Senior Planner Mike Smith; Civil Engineer Justin McNeal; Director of Engineering Dan Thaete. Director of
Planning C.J. Randall (Via Zoom)
Guests: Ryan and Laura via Zoom.
1. Persons to be heard: None. Two people joined mid-meeting via zoom and messaged they were just here to
listen.
2. Committee announcements and concerns: None
3. Approval of January meeting minutes: Rich moved; Rod seconded. The January 18, 2024, minutes were
approved as presented.
4. Discuss Sanitary Sewer Exemption process and potential modifications: Dan Thaete shared the memo
and maps on screen that he prepared which identified the current sewer connection exemption process, the
issues related to it and suggestions for potential updates. Some municipalities use a further distance in feet to
determine where an exemption is appropriate verses the requirement to connect to public sewer, and some use
the direct language from the NYS DEC sample sewer law with 100 feet. Examples of both were provided as
well as maps showing Town of Ithaca areas within 500 feet up to 1500 feet of a Gravity Sewer Main. Issues that
have come up with residents are that they are often unaware of the need to connect to the town sewer system
and frustrated by the need to provide rationale when they are constructing ½ mile or more from the Town’s
sewer main. Another issue is with existing failing on-site wastewater (septic) systems; the timing of the Town
Board process could take up to four weeks as well as building permit approvals before a remedy is permitted.
Financial hardship is often the main issue cited by applicants due to distance from the existing mains.
The proposal is to update The town law(s) to allow the Director of Engineering to approve sewer exemption
requests for one- or two-family structures if greater than a pre-set offset distance from the Town Sanitary
Sewer mains. All other construction types beyond a one- or two-family residential structure would follow the
existing exemption process. Engineering staff felt the 500 feet map showed too many gaps and the 1000 ft was
more practical.
C.J. added there may be value in developing a policy/administrative exemption for the failing on-site
wastewater treatment systems for them to be handled in a more efficient way and the exemptions for new
construction as a separate process similar to how it is currently handled in the town code. She encouraged
increased communication with TC Whole Health/Environmental division and possibly a process for the
approving of septic systems within the Town to avoid any unknown or last-minute issues where a connection or
exemption was required by the town code.
2
Rich suggested treating the failing systems (unless immediately adjacent to an existing main) and new
construction in a different way with more scrutiny. He encouraged the policy development to be done first to
address the failing systems and the town code update part to be developed and revisited by the Planning
Committee within the next year. He also noted that this language as proposed would not preclude anyone from
going through the exemption process who is not within the distance of the automatic exemption but may
prevent urban sprawl. An automatic exemption for them all within a certain distance would not encourage
hooking up to the Town line if close and the onsite system were failing or give the option.
Dan summarized the committees desire to have a two-tiered approach with a policy for replacement in kind
(unless fronting on a road with sewer main) of failing onsite wastewater systems which is more streamlined and
use the existing process for now for the new construction, possibly streamline with a set distance and bring back
to the committee in a year.
Rod suggested keeping track of the sewer exemption requests (failed and new construction, distance, details) for
the year and revisiting the changes to the proposed code for the new development. Policy language could be
drafted in the meantime to administratively address the failing systems.
Marty noted Town code section 214-6 would need to be modified if automatic exemption changes are proposed
to be in a policy, and then other changes would need to be made. That initial amendment would not need to
come back to the Planning Committee to begin the process for the policy language.
It was noted that the External Plumbing Permit application is currently being used in OpenGov for the Towns
sewer exemption process.
5. Review and consideration of appraisals for potential conservation easements for recommendation to
Town Board. Mike Smith followed up with the appraiser on the questions raised by the committee at the last
meeting. Tompkins County Assessment was asked for their opinion which was shared with the committee as
well.
Rich commented that answers did not clarify the density and zoning difference questions or change the numbers
given for the value estimate of the lands. Those values have already been shared with the property owners, so he
recommended that the Town require the appraisal company to consider the density requirements for the comps
used to determine the values of land in future appraisal requests. Mike stated he planned to give the property
owners another couple of weeks to respond, their initial feedback was positive. Donating a portion of the
proceeds back to the town was mentioned and talking with an accountant on their end was anticipated and the
other owner intended to offset additional lot sales if the Town proceeds. He stated he would ask the committee
for a formal recommendation to the Town Board in March and give any further updates when available.
6. Staff updates and reports. C.J. reported that the Safe Streets for All project is moving forward. The firm is
completing a full “document review” of plans and projects in each municipality. Seven public meetings are
anticipated, a few in person beginning this summer. A recent news article detailed the project and is posted at
the Town. Preliminary recommendations are anticipated in December of this year and a final plan by spring of
2025.
3
7. Next meeting date and upcoming agenda items: March 21, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
Agenda: final ag/conservation appraisal recommendation, possible sewer exemption policy for failing onsite
systems, NYS Cannabis law updates
The Town of Ithaca Planning Committee meeting concluded at 3:45 pm.
(b) The person shall, upon payment of the required civil penalty, be provided with
information related to the dangers of underage use of cannabis and information
related to cannabis use disorder by the office.
(c) The issuance and subsequent payment of such civil penalty shall in no way qualify
as a criminal accusation, admission of guilt, or a criminal conviction and shall in no
way operate as a disqualification of any such person from holding public office,
attaining public employment, or as a forfeiture of any right or privilege.
5. Cannabis recovered from individuals who are found to be in violation of this chapter may
after notice and opportunity for a hearing be considered a nuisance and shall be disposed of
or destroyed.
6 . Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, the board shall promulgate rules
and regulations providing for notice and opportunity to be heard, prior to the
imposition of any civil penalty under this section, except where such civil penalty is
being sought in an action or proceeding by the attorney general otherwise authorized
in this chapter, provided, further, nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from
suspending, revoking, or denying a license, permit, registration, or application in addition to
the penalties that may be assessed under this section.
7 . The penalties provided for in subdivision one of this section may be recovered by the
attorney general on behalf of the board or office in an action or proceeding brought
pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-a of this chapter.
8. Any person who knowingly and unlawfully sells, gives, or causes to be sold or given, any
cannabis or cannabis products for which the sale of such products requires a license,
permit, or registration under this chapter where such person owns and/or is principally
responsible for the operation of a business where such products were sold, given, or caused
to be sold or given without having obtained a valid license, permit or registration therefor
shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor . For the purposes of this section, “operation of a
business” shall mean engaging in the sale of, or otherwise offering for sale , goods and
services to the general public, including through indirect retail sales .
- 1 -
excerpted from Tompkins County Joint Safety Action Plan Task 2: Document Review (3/14/2024)
Table 1: Study Area Specific Documents
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
County and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Documents
Route 96 Corridor
Management
Study (2009)
Reduce speed limit within the
nodes
Provide pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure
Provide improvements at
intersections
Provide connections to existing
and proposed recreation trails
Adopt access management
guidelines
State Route 96 Narrow the width of
streets and flatten
steep grades
(challenge for
pedestrian and
bicycle
enhancements)
Improve and incorporate
bicycle and pedestrian
accommodations into all new
developments along Route 96
Incorporate multi-use trails to
internally connect to sidewalks
and bike lanes
Optimization of traffic signal
phasing/timing
Recommendation for a new
bridge connection between
Route 89 and Fulton St. at
Court St. to reduce congestion
at Route 89/Route 96
East Shore Drive
Pedestrian And
Bike Study
(ongoing)
Install bike and pedestrian
infrastructure
Provide connections to existing
and proposed recreation trails
East Shore Drive (NYS-
34) between Boynton
Middle School (N. Cayuga
Street) and the Ithaca
Youth Bureau (James L.
Gibbs Dr.)
Multiple parties with
jurisdiction: City of
Ithaca, Town of
Ithaca, and
NYSDOT
High speeds and
traffic volumes as
James L. Gibbs
drive complicated
design for safe
bike/pedestrian
crossing
Limited Funding
Improve the safety for
pedestrians and bicyclists on
East Shore Drive
Develop designs to link existing
multi-use trail infrastructure on
approximately 700’ of East
Shore Drive (NYS-34) between
Boynton Middle School (N.
Cayuga Street) and the Ithaca
Youth Bureau (James L. Gibbs
Dr.)
- 2 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
Black Diamond
Trail Final Master
Plan/
Environmental
Impact Statement
(2009)
Build a multi-use trail connecting
four state parks in the Town of
Ulysses, Town of Ithaca and City
of Ithaca
Trail street crossings Limited funding
Need to define
route at southern
end
Design of trail in
floodplain area
None
ITCTC 2040 Long
Range
Transportation
Plan (LRTP)
(2019)
Reduce motorized and non-
motorized fatal and serious injury
crashes
Promote safe streets and safe
freight movement
Provide cost-effective solutions
for active transportation modes
Promote educational outreach
activities
Promote Safe Routes to School
and Complete Streets principles
Tompkins County Limited funding
Challenge to shift
from single
occupancy vehicles
to active and shared
modes
Traffic Signal Upgrade
Program for Downtown City of
Ithaca
State Route 13 Signal
Management Program
All other projects to be
implemented county-wide
ITCTC 2040 LRTP
Projects for
Implementation
(2019)
Promote safety education,
including for bicycling and
pedestrians
Provide pedestrian and bicycle
facility improvements
Improve safety through transit
infrastructure and passenger
facilities
Build Complete Streets network
Traffic signal system
improvements
Across Tompkins County
– the only specific
locations are State Route
13 Corridor and
Downtown City of Ithaca
Not Applicable Safety Education, 1-5 year
implementation
Bicycle Promotions (including
safety), 1-5 year
implementation
Pedestrian Promotions
(including safety), 1-5 year
implementation
Bicycling Facilities Planning
and Improvements, 5-10 year
implementation
Pedestrian Facilities Planning
and Improvements, 5-10 year
implementation
Transit Infrastructure and
Capital Needs (including
- 3 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
safety), 5-10 year
implementation
Passenger Facilities
Improvements (including
safety), 5-10 year
implementation
Complete Streets Network, 10-
20 year implementation
State Route 13 Corridor Study,
1-5 year implementation
Traffic Signal Upgrade
Program for Downtown City of
Ithaca, 5-10 year
implementation
State Route 13 Signal
Management Program, 1-5
year implementation
ITCTC Draft
Complete Streets
Network Map
(2020)
Complete Streets definition:
o Sidewalk on at least one side
of the street
o Marked Bicycle Lane, Wide
Road Shoulder, or Bicycle
Boulevard
Within 1/4 mile of hourly
(minimum) bus service
Map of Tompkins County Not Applicable None
Map of Multi-Use
Trails in City of
Ithaca (2023)
Multi-use trail status Map of the City of Ithaca Not Applicable Black Diamond Trail (Urban
Section) is in progress
Portions of the Gateway Trail
are proposed
- 4 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
Map of Multi-Use
Trails in Tompkins
County (2023)
Multi-use trail status Map of Tompkins County Not Applicable Dryden Rail Trail bridge over
Route 13 is in progress
Proposed portions of trails:
o Black Diamond Trail
o East South Trail
o Coddington Trail
o Dryden Trail
Ithaca & Tompkins
County Bicycle
Map (2022)
Suitability ratings of roads in
Tompkins County
Bicycling rules of the road
Traffic volume rankings
Bicycle facility types
Bicycling map of
Tompkins County, City of
Ithaca, and of several
other specific bike rides
Not Applicable None
ITCTC 2023-2027
Transportation
Improvement
Program (TIP)
(Approved 2022,
Updated 2023)
Set statewide safety targets by
the NYSDOT HSIP and SHSP
Safety is a primary consideration
in the selection of projects to be
included in the TIP, as it is a goal
in the ITCTC’s LRTP
Transit safety targets set by
Tompkins Consolidated Area
Transit (TCAT) in 2020 and is
focused on replacing older transit
equipment and vehicles
Throughout Tompkins
County
Not Applicable Rt 96 Repaving and Safety
Improvements, Village of
Trumansburg South Village
Line to North Village Line
MbC Route 13/34/96, Elmira
Road to North Ithaca City Line
State St. Mill and Repave from
East Green St./Seneca Way to
Michell St. (replace sidewalk)
Hector Street Culvert
Rehabilitation (adding a
sidewalk)
Ithaca Active Transportation
Network
Walking Safe Cayuga Heights
Dryden Rail Trail Phase 2
Black Diamond Trail Connector
Cayuga Heights: Sidewalk
Connections
Several transit vehicle and
equipment improvements
- 5 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
ITCTC 2024-2025
Simplified
Statement of Work
(Unified Planning
Work Program)
(2024)
“Safe and Accessible
Transportation” is a 2.5% set
aside policy
Complete Streets is a FHWA
Planning Emphasis Area
Advance racial equity in
transportation planning
Improve active transportation
City of Ithaca Reduced ridership,
supply chain delays
and costs, and
staffing challenges
have affected public
transportation
providers- TCAT
and Gadabout
transportation
service
CLEAR Safety Management
Data System Transfer
Expansion of bike parking
survey in the City of Ithaca
Implementation and updating
of the priority trails strategy
Tompkins
County
Economic
Recovery
Strategy
Document
(2021)
Expand transit service in rural
areas
Integrating micro-mobility modes
with rideshare services
Tompkins County Uncertainty in
transit funding
Route 13 west end 3-way 5th
street intersection
improvements
Enhancement of Micro-mobility
(bike share)
City and Town of Ithaca Plans (Comprehensive Plans, Transportation Plans, etc.)
City of Ithaca
Comprehensive
Plan (2015)
Enhance and expand bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure
Provide educational programs to
address distracted driving and
other safety issues
Introduce traffic calming
measures and ITS technologies
Adopt Complete Streets
principles
Increase multi-modal connectivity
Promote Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) strategies
West State/MLK Street
Corridor
West End
Collegetown
Southwest Ithaca
Undeveloped West Hill
Land
Emerson
Waterfront
NY State Route 13, State
Route 79, and Route
96/96B
Environmental
challenges such as
topography and
poor soil condition
Sensitivity of new
development to
adjacent
neighborhoods
A number of state
highways and
railroad separating
the neighborhoods
Provision of sidewalks in
central core of Collegetown
and Ithaca Commons
Providing alternative
transportation options for
Route 79
Converting Route-13 into a
Complete Street
Development of new
intersection at Carpenter
Business Park
- 6 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
City of Ithaca Draft
Transportation
Safety Action Plan
(2022)
Reduce crashes, especially
serious injury crashes and
fatalities
Build Complete Streets
Provide safe streets with
adequate pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure
Provide organized parking areas,
marked crosswalks, designated
transit stops, and speed limiting
features
Entire City of Ithaca is
declared as safety priority
Environmental
challenges such as
topography and
Ithaca’s snowy
winters
Multi-site Traffic Calming
Project for school safety
Cayuga Street/Ithaca High
School Transportation Safety
Project
University Avenue
Reconstruction
Proposal for Six Corners
Roundabout
Cherry St. Industrial Park Area
Transportation Improvements
Elm and Chestnut Safety
Improvements
Stewart Avenue
Reconstruction
Spencer Road Sidewalk
Project
Citywide Intersection
Improvements – Video
Detection and Transit Signal
Priority
“Tuning Fork” Intersection
Reconstruction
Ithaca Commons Pedestrian
and Truck Safety Project
Multi-modal Safety
Improvements (Various
Locations Citywide)
Infrastructure Support for TCAT
TDP Plan (Multi-site)
Route 34 and E. Shore Drive
Area Safety Improvements
Ithaca Road Safety
Improvements
- 7 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
High Friction Roadway
Resurfacing (Various Locations
Citywide)
Proposed “Better Bike
Network”
Town of Ithaca
Comprehensive
Plan (2014)
Improve safety of active
transportation users by providing
additional pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure
Promote Complete Streets
Reduce the use of single-
occupancy vehicle and
encourage walking and biking
Maintain crash database
Petition the County and State for
speed limit reductions
Adopt access management
requirements to control access
points to the Town's streets
Warren and Hanshaw
Road (safety issue for
bicycles)
South Hill, West Hill, and
East Hill neighborhood
Insufficient
regulation limiting
the creation of
streets for all users
Individual driveways
create conflict
points for
pedestrians and
cyclists
Inadequate design
standards
None
Town of Ithaca’s
Transportation
Plan (2007)
Provide solutions for motorized
and non-motorized safety
Reduce speed limits on certain
roads
Implement a transportation safety
program that includes three Es:
Education, Enforcement, and
Engineering
Map 11: Prioritized
Pedestrian Needs
Map 12: Prioritized
Bicycle Corridor Needs
West Hill priority
segments
Forest Home
neighborhood
Ithaca College and South
Hill neighborhood
Northeast neighborhood
(Safe Routes to School
Warren Road Walkway
completed in 2010)
Existing cul-de-sacs
restricting the
movement of
bicycle users and
pedestrians
Essential non-motorized projects:
NYS Route 96 (Trumansburg
Rd.) from Dates Dr. to City Line
NYS Route 79 (Mecklenburg
Rd.) City Line to Westhaven
Rd; ~500 ft. from City to
Linderman Cr. walking path
completed in 2020)
NYS Route 96B (Danby Rd)
second phase from IC to King
Rd.
Pine Tree Road (Slaterville Rd
to Honness Ln)
Recommended non-motorized
projects:
- 8 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
Forest Home Dr (sidewalks
between bridges)
Warren Road (from Hanshaw
Rd south)
Elm St. Ext (City line to Valley
View Rd. to West Haven
Preserve)
Danby Road (Alumni Circle/IC
entrance to King Road)
Juniper Dr to back entrance of
IC
Slaterville Road (City line to
Pine Tree Rd)
Snyder Hill Road (Pine Tree
Rd to Dove Dr.)
Forest Home Dr (~1000 ft
section along residents
towards Flat Rock)
Murial St. (Hanshaw to Rose
Hill Rd)
Town of Ithaca
Complete Streets
Policy (2015)
Pursue a safe, reliable, efficient,
integrated and connected
multimodal transportation system
Promote accessibility, mobility
and health for all road users
including pedestrians, bicyclists,
transit users, people of all ages
and abilities, motorists,
emergency responders, freight
providers and adjacent
landowners
Town 2007 Transportation
Plan Map 11: Prioritized
Pedestrian Needs
Town 2007 Transportation
Plan Map 12: Prioritized
Bicycle Corridor Needs
Selecting and
retrofitting priority
Complete Streets
segments for Town
CIP (Capital
Improvement Plan)
thoroughfares
None
Better Bike
Network Routes &
Projects (website)
Provide connected, convenient,
comfortable, and safe bike
networks in Tompkins County
None Not Applicable Proposal of six Better Bike
routes in Ithaca- Fall Creeker,
Waterfront Connector,
Northside-Southside, Hill-to-
- 9 -
Name of
Document (Year
Published)
Safety Priority Topics Safety Priority Locations Challenges in
Implementation Proposed Projects
Hill, Six Mile Creek Trail, and
Southwest Shopper
NYS Route 96 /
Trumansburg
Road Pedestrian
Corridor Study
Project (2020)
Provide sidewalks along the
corridor
Pedestrian and Bicyclist safety,
particularly after fatal crashes
Reduce crashes involving
animals
NYS Route 96
(Pedestrian safety)
Drainage
Inability to
successfully petition
for lower speed
limits (as of 2022)
Two alternatives proposed for
corridor: First Alternative
includes provision of sidewalk
on the east side of
Trumansburg Road. Second
Alternative includes provision
of sidewalks on both sides of
the roadway The first
alternative is at the highest
priority
NYS Route 96B
(Danby Road)
Pedestrian Study
(2017)
Lower speed limit
Enhance pedestrian
infrastructure
Improve traffic signals at the
intersections
Phase 2 implementation:
sidewalks on east side of
NYS Route 96B from King
Road north to current
terminus at IC entrance
(Phase 1 completed in
2020 of construction of
sidewalks from IC
entrance on east side of
NYS Route 96B north to
the City of Ithaca/Town of
Ithaca Municipal Line.)
Not Applicable Provide sidewalks along NYS
Route 96B
Update traffic signals at the
intersection of NYS Route 96B
and Ithaca College main
entrance and at the
intersection of NYS Route 96B
and the South Hill Business
Campus driveway
Install a new mid-block
crossing on NYS Route 96B
Install pedestrian signals at the
NYS Route 96B/King Road
intersection
Reduce speed limit of NYS
Route 96B