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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-17 505 Planning Board Minutes I December 17 , 1997 TOWN OF DANBY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 17, 1997 7 : 00 P.M. Regular Meeting PRESENT : Chairperson Horst Planning Board Members : Gerald Catlin, Arch Dotson, William Farrell , Linda Hansen, Robert Roe, Nancy Weitzel Others Present: Carol Sczepanski - Secretary County Circuit Rider - Rebecca Lubin Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer Naomi Strichartz The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Kenneth Horst at 7 : 07 P . M . He reported to the Board that the main item on the Agenda was to continue with the comprehensive planning . Rebecca Lubin reported that at the last couple of meetings the Planning Board discussed revising the different subject areas developing a goal for each one of those areas . She and Sue have worked together and have worked on what they are calling a draft outline for the comprehensive plan. She wants to have some goals with next steps so that the Board can really begin working on this next year. Some of the information on the on the draft are items and information the Board had seen before. She asked if there was anything to be added, clarified or changed so that it can be presented to the Town Board early next year to show them as an update as to what is going on with the comprehensive plan, Susan Beeners said that what they wanted the Planning Board to do was spend a couple of minutes reading the outline . She said that maybe the goals appear to be accurate ones that they could support and maybe they would like to add things in the background or issues information. Some of the goals may seem simplistic or general . The purpose of having general goals is to start out with something that everybody can come to an agreement on . Robert Roe made the following comments on section related to the natural resources section : 1 ) We will now have to interface with the New York State Open Spaces Plan that has just been issued . He has a copy of the document if anyone is interested in looking at it. The section on Tompkins County was very short because the County was not very active and only two sites were mentioned but has since been expanded to seven (7) . Two of those sites are located in the Town of Danby -- The Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby and the other is the area to the far end of Jennings Pond that leaches into State Forest area in Michigan Hollow. Apparently there is going to be an increase in the project funding budget from $250 , 000 to $ 3 , 000 , 000 so there may actually be money to do something with this plan . He said we should remember that decisions of what gets protected and what does not has absolutely nothing to do with biodiversity or anything else as most of the items and sites that are on that plan are there due to political lobbying . He said that most of the monies available are for acquisition . The present administration has stated that they will not use the power of eminent domain to take land . Rebecca Lubin said that under the Natural Resources Section of goals the natural resources issues to be addressed will be Danby sites posted in New York State Open Space Plan and then under background research a review of the New York State Open Space Plan . Chairperson Horst suggested that in each section it might be of help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Town. 506 Planning Board Minutes 2 December 17 , 1997 Discussion : -- Define what economic character we want to enhance character that we want to enhance ; - Allow and encourage economic opportunities that are consistent with the character of the Town ; Study released on income in the State and disparity between rich families and poor increasing; -- Inter connectiveness of this form will change ; -- This is a system and there is interaction between each of these groups . -- Inviting speakers from TCAD , H & E and Angelheart concerning development, has it hindered their efforts or helped in growing ; - - having all speakers at one meeting -- discussed at length with many different views from Board members ; -- Keeping a realistic timetable for goals when obtaining input from public and every point of view and what is the best time to get input from different groups ; Rebecca Lubin said that it is great that you want to involve the community and to pinpoint crucial members of the community and to definitely get a chance to review this . To open it up to the public, you have to decide that at what point it is going to be beneficial and at what point it is going to hurt the process or slow the process down . Chairperson Horst said that you have to remember that the people are part of the Town. This is their Town . -- background information such as census figures, plans that are already in place etc . placed in a form before public input; -- public input important early in process ; -- public participation when needed before the plan is developed ; -- A speaker from TCAD -- Encourage viable agricultural uses ; -- Ways to ensure that the document is understandable , does not alienate older long term residents who do not like zoning, and does not look like it is preservationist in any fashion; -- Providing affordable housing for Danby residents ; -- The design of subdivisions and the other housing maintenance . How to encourage sensible growth ; -- Restrictions on what buildings should look like ; -- A comprehensive plan that would improve the appearance of our downtown . -- Ways to improve the appearance of views and existing natural areas . -- Housing rehabilitation programs that are coming into the area; adding something under housing such as available housing programs or local mechanisms to improve maintenance and safety . -- Improve communication between municipal boards and the public . Process to proceed discussed : Susan suggested the following : 1 ) A first chapter might be the background information -- Here ' s where we are , this is Danby . It doesn ' t have to be terribly long . A lot of data could be summarized in that first section and could be included in the Appendix . 2) Analysis as a second chapter -- what Danby is and what it might become -- where there would be more identification of the issues that we have addressed . What really are the opportunities, problems, alternative possibilities . Danby could become a built out suburb of Ithaca or a somewhat behind the times impoverished rural community as another extreme or here ' s what we want or here ' s what we want or suggest is a place where rural character is preserved . Robert Roe suggested an information gathering meeting . The way opinions and aspirations go he 50 7 Planning Board Minutes December 17 , 1997 would feel more comfortable being in the role of asking the public for suggestions and incorporating that into a plan rather than developing a plan then asking for their feedback . One of the biggest criticisms we get is that the Town Boards act like they have already made their minds up and he would like to avoid that criticism . Arch Dotson said that the public needs something to react to . Rebecca said that she thinks it is a given that the public is going to be brought in . It should be done at a point when it is most beneficial to the Board and to them . Susan Beeners that we will have an environmental map that shows environmental constraints , with development constraints and development suitability . Most of the comprehensive plan should be more of an outline with a list of overall goals or objectives , what approaches we want to take and what tasks we are going to do . She said that the most successful thing to have this plan be essentially a plan where we can identify what she has presented for short and long range planning and also our annual or semi -annual work plans . Susan said that she would like the Board to consider and think about whether they will be ready to pass on the draft comprehensive plan format of goals and objectives to the Town Board . She said that she is suggesting the format with three chapters and an appendix and that is how most comprehensive plans are organized . The steps to complete the comprehensive plan will be a to produce a draft working outline with the goals and other things to be transmitted to the Town Board for their February meeting . Then we should concentrate on gathering background information . Other Business : Approval of October 15 , 1997 Planning Board Minutes A motion was made by Nancy Weitzel and seconded by William Farrell to approve the October 15 , 1997 Planning Board Minutes as published . Carried Unanimously Approval of October 1 , 1997 Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Nancy Weitzel and seconded by Arch Dotson to approve the October 1 , 1997 Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes as published . Carried Unanimously Approval of the November 19 , 1997 Planning Board Minutes A motion was made by Robert Roe and seconded by Arch Dotson to approve the November 19 , 1997 Planning Board Minutes as published . Carried Unanimously Recommendation by Planning Board to Town Board - Planning Board Chair A motion was made by Robert Roe and seconded by William Farrell that the Planning Board of the Town of Danby recommend to the Town of Danby Town Board the appointment of Arch Dotson as Chair of the Planning Board . Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT : On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9 : 25 P . M . aetgal a adt Carol W . Scze} f��ici , Secretary min- 12 - 17 . 97