HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-18 521
TOWN OF DANBY
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
FEBRUARY 18, 1998
7 : 00 P.M.
PRESENT :
Chairperson Arch Dotson
Planning Board Members : William Farrell , Laurene Gilbert, Robert Roe,
Olivia Vent, Nancy Weitzel
Others Present:
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Carol Sczepanski - Town Clerk
Rebecca Lubin - County Circuit Rider
Members of the Public :
Esther Dotson, Naomi Strichartz, Mary Oltz, Judy Bargher, Pat Woodworth
Chairperson Arch Dotson called the meeting to order at 7 : 05 P . M . and welcomed the newly
appointed members , Laurene Gilbert and Olivia Vent to the Planning Board .
Planning Board Goals :
Chairperson Dotson reported that tonight the Board will review the scope of work in regard to the
comprehensive plan. If any member has a particular interest in a particular topic in the
comprehensive plan it is important that we make terms for that particular goal so that there can be
a division of work . The basic collection of data must be done by professional staff but there are
many other things that can be done . Public opinion must be introduced as well and we must seek
guidance beforehand other than at public hearings . Additional suggestions are welcome .
Susan Beeners reported that all the members of the Board have received "A Practical Guide to
Comprehensive Planning" and the publication Short Course" has been ordered for the Planning
Board Members . She said that in the information transmitted to the Board she has included a copy
of information that was presented to the Town Board by Barbara Blanchard regarding the County
TCAD project materials and copies of a questionnaire .
Adult Entertainment and Cell Towers
The Town Board has referred materials related to Adult Entertainment Centers and Cell Towers to
the Planning Board to review . A Town cannot prohibit adult entertainment centers or cell towers ,
but it is possible to regulate them so that the impacts are minimized .
On Thursday February 26, 1998 at the Ithaca Holiday Inn at 6 : 30 the Tompkins County Federation
is holding a symposium workshop on adult entertainment centers . A meeting on cell towers is being
sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Monday, February 23 , 1998 at 7 : 30 P . M . at the
Women ' s Community Building . Laurene Gilbert said that she would go the meeting on Monday .
Susan reported that the townships of Caroline and Dryden have retained Monroe Telecom to prepare
a model ordinance for them and other townships are invited to join . . The more communities that are
involved reduces the expense . i . e for $ 1 , 500 for 2 , $ 1 , 100 for 3 , etc .
Olivia Vent said it sounds like were are in the information, correction and garnering stage and it
might be possible to talk with the people in Caroline and Dryden to find out why they chose to go
in that direction with Monroe Telecom, why they think this is a reputable firm and what are the
options for doing that. She would like to get in touch with some of the persons in Dryden and
Caroline regarding Monroe Telecom .
Robert Roe said that the only role of the Planning Board at this time in adult entertainment
businesses and cellular communication towers is to make a recommendation and propose to the
Town Board that they consider the enactment of a local law for moratorium . The moratoria buys
the Town time and that is what we need .
Susan reported to the Board that the Town has a process in place and a goal established by members
of the Board attending information meetings . There will sufficient information gathered and a draft
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February 18 , 1998
local law establishing moratoria prepared to refer to the Town Board in April . Complete draft local
laws will be available to the Planning Board at the May 1998 meeting .
RESOLUTION NO. 2 OF 1998
PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF
DANBY FOR MORATORIUM ON ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES
By Nancy Weitzel : Seconded by Robert Roe
WHEREAS , the Town of Danby Town Board has referred to the Planning Board the matter of
regulation of adult entertainment businesses ; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board will be studying the effects of adult entertainment businesses on
a community and the amount of regulation, if any needed to minimize potential adverse impacts from
such businesses on the community; and
WHEREAS , adequate time is needed for such study, and for the drafting and adoption of related
legislation; now, therefore, it is
RESOLVED, that the Town of Danby Planning Board recommends to the Town Board that a local
law be enacted, providing for a moratorium for the establishment of adult entertainment businesses
for a period of one hundred-eighty ( 180) days .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Farrell Aye
Gilbert Aye
Roe Aye
Vent Aye
Weitzel Aye
Dotson Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 3 OF 1998
PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN BOARD FOR A
MORATORIUM ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS
By Nancy Weitzel : Seconded by Laurene Gilbert
WHEREAS , the Town of Danby Town Board has referred to the Planning Board the matter of
regulations of telecommunications towers ; and
WHEREAS , the Planning Board will be studying the effects of telecommunications towers on a
community and the amount of regulation, if any needed to minimize potential adverse impacts from
such towers on the community ; and
WHEREAS , adequate time is needed for such study, and for the drafting and adoption of related
legislation ; now, therefore, it is
RESOLVED, that the Town of Danby Planning Board recommends to the Town Board that a local
law be enacted, providing for a moratorium for the establishment of telecommunications towers for
a period of one hundred-eighty ( 180) days .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Farrell Aye
Gilbert Aye
Roe Aye
Vent Aye
Weitzel Aye
Dotson Aye Carried Unanimously
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February 18 , 1998
Circuit Rider Planner - Tompkins County
Rebecca Lubin of Tompkins County Planning introduced herself to the new members of the Planning
Board and gave a brief description of the services provided by the circuit rider . She presently is
working with the Village of Lansing, Town of Danby and the Village of Freeville on comprehensive
planning. She said that she also served as staff to the Tompkins County Planning Federation.
Review of Scope of Work and Summary of Work in Progress
Susan Beeners said that for the Planning Board and the benefit of the new members referred to the
January 21 , 1998 Planning Board Minutes starting on Page 5 the sununary of the Scope of Work and
other materials that were transmitted to the Town Board . The materials were transmitted to the
Board at their February meeting. The information shows the gathering of information, holding
public information meetings , and that there will be a fairly simple document with an appendices so
that the document does not have to be very long . She said that she sees this as a giant work
comprehensive plan that would lead into work in subsequent years . Probably it will take between
18 months to two (2) years to complete this comprehensive plan update . What extends the time
frame is proposed under topics as having possible representatives from other agencies attend a forum
which would be open to the public and inviting residents to attend . Scheduling on the work scope
does have to be worked out . There are many agencies who are doing various types of plans and who
could provide beneficial planning with programs to Danby . We could try to network with various
agencies .
The Town will be receiving a Agriculture and Farmland Board report soon and it will be distributed
to the Planning Board to review and Community Council is analyzing the Needs Survey .
She has met with Jacquie Bow from County Planning. Jackie has produced a draft land use map of
Danby and will be the only color map in the final comprehensive plan . The County GIS mapping
system can be useful for many other needs in the Code Enforcement Office for site plan review and
street addressing, and the Highway Department
Nancy Weitzel reminded Susan that we have not received the maps that were to be produced by
Tompkins County for the Bicentennial Activities at the Danby Field Days in July of 1997 .
Susan presented the Board with a scope of services with an estimated budget for Tompkins County
services that Rebecca has provided. She explained that this budget projection is an estimate for an
18 month to two (2) year project . The $ 6 ,460 . 00 is what is proposed for County Planning Circuit
Rider and mapping services. If the work that has been indicated is not completed by December that
the contract would be rewritten to carry it on. She said that she has looked at what other costs might
be involved, such as copies, additional map drafts, public information, and the cost of the final
comprehensive plan document including public hearing costs . She estimates that would be an
additional $ 1 , 500 to $2 , 000 over a two (2) year period .
Susan said that the Board will be welcoming public involvement at all times so that it does not
become driven by the Town or the Planning Board . A priority for the next month or so is to organize
some basic background information and summary information to give the public some context i . e .
what Danby is and to give some structure to the material .
Chairperson Dotson asked the Board members to think about the topics in which they have a special
interest to help with the division of work We do not have to rely on just information that is fed to
us . Members of the Board should be involved in networking, talking to others , collecting
information, getting feed back and reporting it to the Board .
Proposal for a Public Survey :
Chairperson Dotson said that we need to know the opinions and reactions of the residents of the
Town related to the comprehensive plan . An comprehensive method of assessment is needed .
Robert Roe said that there has been some debate over a considerable period of time about how we
approach the public and receive their input into the comprehensive plan . He said that he would like
to propose to the Town Board that we take a thought at seriously proposing an adequate survey . Pole
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February 18 , 1998
the Town on a representative basis for determining what type of Town that they want. What features
they want to preserve, what they would like to see changed and what their priorities for the next five
(5) years are . What he is proposing is a survey and could be possibly a telephone survey. He said
he would propose a sampling design that is a probability sample that could take several different
forms . Ultimately the results of a survey comes down to the adequacy of the sampling frame that we
have . We need to know what error rate we are willing to accept. Accuracy in survey comes at a
cost. The simplest type of survey would be a random survey . It will be a seven (7) part process :
1 ) what information we want (questions)
2 ) sampling design
3 ) sampling plan (how ) probability or non probability sample ( suggested telephone
survey but that would assume there was no bias for unlisted telephone numbers)
4) data techniques (highest quality of information - face-to-face --shortcomings of mail
surveys (Community Council Survey an example)
5 ) unit of analysis - household or individual
6) questionnaire for interview schedule - survey execution - training for interviewers
etc .
7) Data analysis
Laurene Gilbert said that she thinks a survey is a good idea but she would like to see the Planning
Board explore some of these issues and identify some of the options to present to the public and then
get some feedback from them .
Olivia Vent said that the Board needs to look at some of these issues that have been outlined and
identified where there might be potential diversions .
Bob Roe said that this would get a lot of members of the members of the community involved in the
process .
Rebecca said that she thinks a survey was a good idea and can go on while background information
work is going on . It is important to provide the public with every opportunity to have input and it
is good to provide something to react to -- getting the public involved in ways you want to get them
involved and when you want to get them involved.
Correction to Minutes - January 21 , 1998
Page 3 - delete ( 1998 plan) insert 1997p1an
Approval of January 21 , 1998 Minutes :
A motion was made by Nancy Weitzel and seconded by William Farrell to approve the January 21 ,
1998 Planning Board Minutes as corrected .
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT :
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9 : 00 P . M .
Carol W . Sski, Secretary p ry