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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Packet 2024-04-18 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING 215 N. Tioga St 14850 607.273.1747 www.town.ithaca.ny.us TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING COMMITTEE THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 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 March meeting minutes. 4. Continue review and consider appraisals for two potential conservation easements (282 Hayts Road and Hayts/Sheffield/Bundy Rds) and recommendation to the Town Board. 5. Continue discussion of potential historic preservation program implementation. 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. A TOWN OF ITHACA NEW YORK•i w 18 21 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING 215 N. Tioga St 14850 607.273.1747 www.town.ithaca.ny.us TO: PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM: MICHAEL SMITH, SENIOR PLANNER DATE: JANUARY 11, 2024 RE: AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT – APPRAISALS - C. DENISE SCOTT-POKORNEY (282 HAYTS ROAD) - JULIA P. HOLMES (HAYTS / SHEFFIELD / BUNDY ROADS) As you know, in March 2023 the Planning Committee reviewed two new applications (Pokorney & Holmes) to potentially participate in the Town’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program. The Planning Committee reviewed the applications along with materials provided by Planning Staff and made a recommendation to the Town Board that formal appraisals be prepared for the properties. In April 2023 the Town Board authorized the hiring of North East Appraisal & Management Co. Inc. to prepare the appraisals. As you can see from the attached appraisals, the cost of the agricultural conservation easement for the Holmes property is $260,000 and the cost for the Pokorney easement is $127,000. If the Town decides to move forward with either or both of the easements, the funds will most likely come from the Town’s Open Space Reserve Account. This account currently has a balance of approximately $1,100,000. In reviewing the appraisals, the Planning Committee will need to consider if the Town should move forward with either or both easements and potentially make a recommendation to the Town Board. Assuming the landowners are comfortable with the appraisals and still want to move forward, the next step would be to draft a purchase offer and start drafting the easement language and a preliminary site plan for each property. The Town would also have to authorize a survey of each property, which would include use areas designated in the easement. I will provide copies of the appraisals to the landowners. Attached is an updated location map with a new aerial image from spring 2023. Please let me know if you have any questions prior to the meeting. a TOWN OF ITHACA NEW YORKIII71 NYS ITS Geospatial Services ´ Map Produced January 11, 2024 Aerial Image Taken Spring 2023 H a yt s R dSheffield Rd0 500 1,000250 Feet Town of Ithaca - Agricultural Purchase of Development Rights Pokorney & Holmes Properties Location Map Town of IthacaTown of EnfieldPokorney Bun d y R d Holmes Trumansburg RdFLLT Ag Easement FLLT Ag Easement Town Ag Easement TOWNOFITHACANEWYORKPlanningCommitteemembersC.J.Randall,DirectorofPlanningApril10,2024historicpreservationprogram-implementationupdateTo:From:Date:Subject:SummaryTheoverarchingobjectiveofahistoricpreservationprogramistoensurethathistoricresourcescontinuetohaveanactiveusewithinacommunitywhileretainingtheirhistoricandarchitecturalintegrity.TheTownofIthacaishometomanybuildingsandpropertieswitharcheologicalandhistoricalsignificance.ThankstoassistancefromTompkinsCountyDepartmentofPlanning-aswellasseveralhistoricsurveyclassesintheHistoricPreservationPlanningprogramatCornellUniversitysincetheearly1990's-theTown'sPlanningDepartmenthasamassedasizableanddetailedinventoryoftheseproperties.However,noneofthesehistoricassetsarecurrentlyprotectedbytheTownofIthaca;themerelistingofapropertyontheStateandNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesisanhonorarydesignationanddoesnotplaceregulatoryrestrictionsonaproperty.Onlylocalhistoricdesignationsresultintheregulationofexterioralterationsbyaqualifiedpreservationreviewcommission.TheTownofIthacadoesnothavealocallandmarksordinanceand,therefore,cannotlocallydesignatehistoricresources.Aslocallawsarethestrongestlegalprotectionagainstinappropriateexteriorremodeling,newconstruction,ordemolitionofhistoricstructures,theTown'sPlanningDepartmenthasbeenworkinginearnestwiththeCityofIthacaPlanning,Building,Zoning,&EconomicDevelopmentDepartmentsincethemostrecentupdatetothiscommittee(onNovember16,2023)tofinalizetheframeworkforajointCity/TownIthacaLandmarksPreservationCommission.NextSteps1.LandmarksOrdinance/LawAdoption(City/Town)-anticipatedQ32024(City/Town)adoptordinance/lawestablishingapreservationprogramintheTownandcreatingtheJointCommissionoPublicoutreachandeducationfornew/revisedordinance/lawoRevisedlawreviewbyPlanningCommitteeandTownBoard(concurrentparallelprocessintheCity)oIdentifyandcoordinateappointmentofTownCommissionmembersoCoordinateNewYorkStateHistoricPreservationOffice(SHPO)reviewofrevisedLandmarksOrdinanceasrequiredbyCertifiedLocalGovernment(CLG)program•CertifiedLocalGovernmentApplication(Townonly)-anticipatedQ42024CoordinatetheTown'sapplicationtobecomeaCertifiedLocalGovernmentoCompleteapplicationandcollectdocumentationoSubmitapplicationtoSHPOforreviewandapproval AdditionalCodeConsiderationsInadditiontoanewChaptertotheTownofIthacaCode(https://ecode360.conn/IT1944)titled'LandmarksPreservation,'Townstaffrecommendcommitteeconsiderationofthefollowingadditionalprovisions:•Chapter125:BuildingConstructionandFirePreventionoAdddefinitionsfromthe(draft)proposedLandmarksLawto§125-3:Definitions.oAmend§125-5Atoadd:"Abuildingpermitisrequiredforanyexteriorworkonabuildingorstructuredesignatedasalandmarkstructureoronabuildingorstructurelocatedwithinanhistoricdistrict."•Chapter270:ZoningoAdddefinitionsfromthe(draft)proposedLandmarksLawto§270-5:Definitions.oAddnew§270-216:Landmarks,(replacingsectioncurrentlymarked'Reserved'):oIntegratenewprocessforofficiallydesignatedlandmarksorlandmarkdistrictsto§270-233:Permittobuild.FurtherInformationHistoricPreservationWebinarpresentedonOctober14,2021,byCityofIthacaHistoricPreservationPlannerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSEAJKIiNwUPleasecontactmewithanyquestionsorconcernsatcirandall(5)town.ithaca.nv.usor607-882-2474.###2 1 Town of Ithaca Planning Committee Thursday, March 21, 2024 (3:00 PM Aurora Conference Room and on Zoom) Draft Minutes Committee members: Rich DePaolo, Chair; Rod Howe & Margaret Johnson. Board/Staff members: Director of Planning C.J. Randall; Senior Code Enforcement Officer Dana Magnuson; Civil Engineer Justin McNeal. Guests: None 1. Persons to be heard: None. 2. Committee announcements and concerns: None 3. Approval of February meeting minutes: Rod moved; Rich seconded. The February 15, 2024, minutes were approved with non-substantive changes. 2-ayes, 1-abstention. 4. Reviewed transportation planning implementation matrix excerpted from Tompkins County Joint Safety Action Plan Task 2: Document Review. C.J. reviewed the 9/15/2022 Planning Committee meeting recording and minutes, respectively, on transportation priorities based on the Town’s 2007 Transportation Plan Pedestrian and Bicycle Corridor Needs maps. Those notes were transposed into the document review for the current, larger multi-jurisdictional Safe Streets 4 All (SS4A) project. She asked if the items were still an accurate reflection of the committee and if there were any exclusions or other priority projects that needed to be included? Tompkins County and Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC, the MPO for the Ithaca region) documents as well as City and Town of Ithaca plans were included in the excerpt for reference. She noted the Inlet Valley area (NYS-13) will need to be called to the attention of NYS DOT again as well. The next steps in the project are multi-jurisdictional meetings, advisory groups (Cornell, DOT, IC, law enforcement, municipalities, etc.), public meetings and online tools such as a (forthcoming) interactive map for the public to give feedback. A preliminary report and recommendation are anticipated by the end of 2025. Margaret suggested that recent accident data be included and considered as well as extending the sidewalk beyond where the Cornell/Judd Falls multiuse path ends along Pine Tree Road all the way to Rt. 79/Slaterville Road. C.J. mentioned the City may include the Floral Ave as part of their Better Bike Network project. Rich mentioned the goal to have a walkway from Juniper drive to the back entrance of Ithaca College and the right-of-way issues on Coddington Road that may prohibit that. Going directly across Juniper Drive to the IC Woods without the County Road right-of-way issues and other size/length impediments could be easier. C.J. mentioned the Town has completed standalone studies for a portion of East Shore Drive; NYS-96; and NYS-96B; those projects are the most likely to advance to the preliminary stage if funding becomes available. The sections the committee members highlighted were listed in the essential and recommended projects under the Transportation Plan and this overall project will also help inform the town’s Capital Improvement Plan. 2 Rod mentioned the next phase will have public input; the priorities will be aggregated along with recommendations by the consultants (Cambridge Systematics). 5. Continued discussion of implementation of NYS Cannabis Law-Adult Use License. C.J. distributed the regulations adopted by NYS in 2023 regarding definitions, preemptions, prohibitions and municipal rulemaking, authorizations, and other applicable section pursuant to the Cannabis law. The committee reviewed the state regulations to determine to what extent the Town needs to or can regulate the businesses who receive the NYS Adult Use License. There are distances required between other facilities, churches, schools, timing and hours of operation restriction as well as many other details that the cannabis board considers for each license granted. Two applications are still pending in the Inlet Valley area on Elmira Road; Dana added that those respective locations are approximately 2500 feet apart. NYS just issued a data viewer map of locations from the dataset of applicants and licensees who have obtained proximity protection for proposed or existing adult-use retail and medical dispensaries. C.J. will share that information with the committee after the meeting. The committee did not identify any specific areas of concern within the NYS Regulations; however, Margaret noted the Inlet Valley area being the gateway to the Town and asked if it was allowed within the new zoning overlay? C.J. said it depends on where and what type of license, Ag & Markets was referenced and various types of possible licenses. A retail operation would likely be subject to Site Plan Review as well as Inlet Valley design standards and other regulations. Rod did not see a big disconnect with the economic development vision of the area and the potential adult use cannabis license being woven into an existing location and business. 6. Staff updates and reports. C.J. updated about the SS4A project one-on-one meeting with the consultants and town staff (just prior to this meeting) to focus on the areas highlighted in the Transportation Plan as well as other areas of improvement. Next steps of project, public input, etc, proposed preliminary recommendation by December 2025. Initial discussions have begun for future expansion of the Maplewood complex. The team intends to develop a new Planned Development Zone (PDZ), which will ultimately need town board approval as part of the overall project. C.J. asked if the committee would like an overview of the proposed project at the April meeting or if a full town board introduction first? The committee agreed that the initial project can be informally presented on the committee level with an update to the town board as the planning board review process progresses. Again, noted the new PDZ would be town board action with recommendation by committee and staff. Town staff developed the PDZ 15 language; consultants will prepare new PDZ for this project rather than an amendment to the existing PDZ 15, geographical and environmental; therefore a draft will be presented by the applicant team. Third-party review may be needed in areas and the initial water and sewer availability consideration is being reviewed by town engineering and public works committee, however important to also be introduced early to this committee as well. Draft schedules have been prepared along with detailed consideration of staff capacity as well as required board and committee meeting deadlines. Whitham Planning and Design, CBT Architects, and T.G. Miller Engineers are the design team for the project so far. South Hill TND development plan continues to coalesce before the GEIS process begins. RaNic (Country Club of Ithaca) still for sale as well as Strawberry Hill. No communications on either. 3 Conifer is beginning to show interest in the West Hill property/project they own, north of Linderman Creek Apartments. Interest has been communicated about a large parcel on the city line and Westhaven Road although there are no known projects or plans. The SouthWorks design team is moving forward as a potential project though Maplewood II is likely the next area in the town slated for development review. The costs of materials are beginning to stabilize, so the market may open up for development. 7. Next meeting date and upcoming agenda items: April 18, 2024, 3:00 p.m. Agenda: Potential Maplewood II overview presentation by the project’s design team. The Town of Ithaca Planning Committee meeting concluded at 3:51 pm.