HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-16 72 ?
1 Planning Board Public Hearing
Spencer VEN ETTEN Snowmobile Club
October 16, 2002
TOWN OF DANBY
PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
OCTOBER 16, 2002
SPENCER VAN ETTEN SNOWMOBILE CLUB
PRESENT :
Vice Chairperson - Robert Roe
Planning Board Members - William Farrell , Linda Hansen , Olivia Vent
ABSENT : (Excused)
Sarah Newman , Laurene Gilbert, David Hall
Others Present :
Carol Sczepanski - Secretary
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Sean Morris and Bob McFall - Applicants
Ed Marx - Tompkins County Planning
John Clancy - Forester with DEC
Members of the Public :
Naomi Strichartz, Ronda Roaring, Brian Eden, Jenny Ruhanen , Sander Targeson , Ted Jones
Public Hearing Declared Open :
Vice Chairperson Robert Roe declared the public hearing open at 7 : 15 p. m . and the following Notice
of Publication was read : "PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held by the
Planning Board of the Town of Danby on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 7 : 15 p. m. at 1830 Danby
Road, Ithaca, New York to consider Granting a Special Permit to the Spencer-Van Etten
Snowmobile club for designation and management of a snowmobile trail on part of the year-round
section of Heisey road, and on the former Eastman Hill Road (abandoned by the Town in 1993 ), on
Town of Danby Tax Parcel No . 13 . - 1 -22 . Sean Morris , President, Spencer-Van Etten Snowmobile
Club .
All interested persons will be heard either in person or in writing.
A Regular Meeting of the Planning Board will follow the public hearing .
By Order of the Planning Board
Carol W. Sczepanski , Town Clerk
Dated : October 8 , 2002
Published: October 10, 2002 "
Communications Received :
1 ) Memo from Steve Babcock
2 ) Tompkins County Planning Board Review
3 ) Affidavit of Neighbor Notification
Robert Roe stated : "Let me be clear about this that this is not a referendum on snowmobiles in the
State Forest. The Town does not have jurisdiction over the State Forest. If you wish to speak or
address the Board please understand that we are considering a special permit that refers to two (2)
sections of road, one abandoned and one seasonal . The total length of this road is approximately one
half mile on one and 260 feet on the other. "
Comments from Public :
Rhonda Roaring - South Danby Road - concerned that the Town Supervisor, Planning Board
Chairperson, Town Attorney and members of the Finger Lakes Trails Club were not in attendance
to address the issue of the rights-of-way on these roads . She read a portion of the NYS Law
'
e"
0 hr
2 Planning Board Public Hearing
Spencer VEN ETTEN Snowmobile Club
October 16 , 2002
regarding snowmobiles .
Brian Eden - lived adjacent to the Danby State Forest for thirty (30) years - just because a road is
not plowed does not mean that the Town no longer has legal responsibility for that road . Is
concerned that the trails are used by ATV ' s most of the year.
Jenny Ruhanen - asked that the Board take into consideration that trail is passing close to
Babcock ' s house .
(Rhonda Roaring interrupted the hearing and became very argumentive regarding the applications
of the snowmobile club members . )
Ted Jones - favors the issuance of a special permit.
Naomi Strichartz - is concerned that ATV ' s will use the trails .
John Clancy - Forester from NYS DEC - the Snowmobile Club has gone through all of the
requirements and the concerns of residents . The club cannot survive without working with land
owners . This trail is just as safe as any other trail .
Public Hearing Declared Closed :
Vice Chairperson Roe declared the public hearing closed at 8 : 03 p . m . and the Planning Board
entered into a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.
Respectfully submitted,
phm- snow . 02 arol W. Scze(2Lá/ 274L4L/a ecreta
p ry
aMMEMI
29
TOWN OF DANBY
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
OCTOBER 16, 2002
PRESENT :
Vice Chairperson - Robert Roe
Planning Board Members - William Farrell , Linda Hansen , Olivia Vent
ABSENT : (Excused)
Sarah Newman , Laurene Gilbert, David Hall
Others Present:
Carol Sczepanski - Secretary
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Sean Morris and Bob McFall - Applicants - Public Hearing - Spencer VanEtten Snowmobile Club
Ed Marx - Tompkins County Planning
John Clancy - Forester with DEC
Members of the Public :
Naomi Strichartz, Ronda Roaring, Brian Eden, Jenny Ruhanen, Sander Targeson , Ted Jones
Vice Chairperson Robert Roe called the meeting to order at 8 : 03 p . m . following a public hearing
regarding the Spencer VanEtten Snowmobile Club .
Sean Morris reviewed the trail with the Planning Board members .
RESOLUTION NO. 12 OF 2002
SEQR SPECIAL PERMIT, SPENCER-VAN ETTEN SNOWMOBILE CLUB TRAIL
By : Olivia Vent : Seconded by William Farrell
WHEREAS, this action is to Consider Granting a Special Permit to the Spencer-Van Etten
Snowmobile Club for designation and management of a snowmobile trail on part of the year-round
section of Heisey Road, and on the former Eastman Hill Road (abandoned by the Town in 1993 ) ,
on Town of Danby Tax Parcel No . 13 . - 1 -22 ; Sean Morris, President, Spencer-Van Etten Snowmobile
Club, agent, and
WHEREAS, this is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Danby Planning Board is Lead
Agency in environmental review, with the Tompkins County Depai tnient of Planning, the N.Y. State
Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Bureau of Marine and Recreational Vehicles,
and the N .Y . State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests
having been notified for purposes of coordinated review; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has reviewed the Short Environmental Assessment form and the
recommendation of the Code Enforcement Officer that a negative determination of environmental
significance be made, conditional on certain provisions which are recommended to be incorporated
into any Special Permit grant; now, therefore , it is
RESOLVED , that the Town of Danby Planning Board makes a negative determination of
environmental significance for this action, conditional upon the following :
1 . The Special Permit, if granted, shall apply only as long as the Spencer-Van Etten
Snowmobile Club ' s management of the subject routes is under the auspices of the State
Snowmobile Trail Grant-in Aid Program as sponsored by the Tompkins County Department
of Planning, unless further application is made to and granted by the Town of Danby
Planning Board .
2 . Snowmobile use shall be confined to the designated route .
3 . Agreement as to the final location of the route along the year-round part of Heisey Road near
the residence on Tax Parcel 21 . - 1 - 16 . 3 must be obtained between the owner of that parcel
730
2 Planning Board Resolution No . 12
October 16, 2002
and the Club and a final site plan for such shall be subject to approval by the Planning Board.
4 . Signage shall be posted by the club indicating "Slow" where the trail is located within 400
feet of any adjacent residence, most particularly, with respect to the proposed trail relocation
on Heisey Road, near the residence on Tax Parcel 21 . - 1 - 16 . 3 .
5 . No snowmobile use of the trail sections shall occur between the hours of 11 : 00 p. m. and 7 : 30
a. m .
6 . No parking of vehicles related to snowmobile use shall be permitted within the Town year-
round portion of Heisey road, where such parking would interfere with traffic and with snow
removal .
7 . Signage for the route along former Eastman Hill Road shall include signage noting that no
all-terrain vehicles or trail bikes are permitted on the designated snowmobile trail .
8 . The Club shall repair an eroded section of former Eastman Hill Road to remove potential
hazards to snowmobile users .
9 . The Club shall coordinate its activities with the Finger Lakes Trail Club with respect to
prohibiting snowmobiles and wheeled vehicles from using sections of the Finger Lakes Trail
near former Eastman Hill Road that are not within the designated snowmobile route .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
(Planning Board Members Gilbert, Hall , Newman-excused)
Farrell Aye
Hansen Aye
Vent Aye
Roe Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 13 OF 2002
SPECIAL PERMIT. SPENCER-VAN ETTEN SNOWMOBILE CLUB TRAIL
By Olivia Hansen : Seconded by William Farrell
WHEREAS, this action is to Consider Granting a Special Permit to the Spencer-Van Etten Club for
designation and management of a snowmobile trail on part of the year-round section of Heisey Road,
and on the former Eastman Hill Road (abandoned by the Town in 1993 ) , on Town of Danby Tax
Parcel 13 . - 1 -22 ; Sean Morris, President, Spencer-Van Etten Snowmobile Club, agent, and
WHEREAS, this is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Danby Planning Board, acting as
Lead Agency in environmental review, on October 16 , 2002 has made a negative determination with
certain conditions, and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has held a public hearing on October 16, 2002 to hear all persons
with respect to this mater; now, therefore , it is
RESOLVED, that the Town of Danby Planning Board grants a Preliminary Special Permit to the
Spencer-Van Etten Snowmobile Club for designation and management of a snowmobile trail on part
of the year-round section of Heisey Road , and on the former Eastman Hill Road (abandoned by the
Town in 1993 ) , on Town of Danby Tax Parcel No . 13 . - 1 -22, subject to the following conditions :
1 . The Special Permit shall apply only as long as the Spencer- Van Etten Snowmobile Club ' s
management of the subject trail routes is under the auspices of the State Snowmobile Trail
Grant-in Aid Program as sponsored by the Tompkins County Department of Planning, unless
further application is made to and granted by the Town of Danby Planning Board .
2 . Snowmobile use shall be confined to the designated route.
31
Planning Board Resolution No . 13
October 16 , 2002
3 . Agreement as to the final location of the route along the year-round part of Heisey Road near
the residence on Tax Parcel 21 . - 1 - 16 . 3 must be obtained between the owner of that parcel
and the Club and a final site plan for such shall be subject to approval by the Planning Board.
4 . That the Spencer-Van Etten Snowmobile Club must demonstrate to the Planning Board that
they have considered all possible options for siting the route .
5 . No snowmobile use of the trail sections shall occur between the hours of 11 : 00 p . m . and 7 : 30
a . m.
6 . No parking of vehicles related to snowmobile use shall be permitted within the Town year-
round portion of Heisey Road, where such parking would interfere with traffic and with snow
removal .
7 . Signage for the route along former Eastman Hill Road shall include signage noting that no
all-terrain vehicles or trail bikes are permitted on the designated snowmobile trail .
8 . The Club shall repair an eroded section of former Eastman Hill Road to remove potential
hazards to snowmobile users .
9 . The Club shall coordinate its activities with the Finger Lakes Trail Club , with respect to
prohibiting snowmobiles and wheeled vehicles from using sections of the Finger Lakes Trail
near former Eastman Hill Road that are not within the designated snowmobile route .
10 . The Town of Danby shall provide an indemnification agreement indemnifying and holding
harmless the Town for activities related to this special permit in a form and substance
satisfactory to the Town Attorney .
Discussion :
Susan Beeners reminded the Planning Board about an e-mail from Laurene Gilbert.
Olivia Vent said that many of the issues raised by Laurene Gilbert were addressed in the public
hearing and every effort has been made to address those concerns .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
(Absent : Planning Board Members Gilbert, Hall , Newman)
Farrell Aye
Hansen Aye
Vent Aye
Roe Aye Carried Unanimously
Preliminary Sketch Plan Review - Proposed Palmer Subdivision(Muzzy Road)
Vice Chair Roe reported to the Board that this review is for a subdivision proposal with insufficient
frontage . He suggested that the Planning Board refer this to the Board of Zoning Appeals for its
decision If there is no variance granted then we would be wasting our time with a Sketch Plan
Review .
Susan Beeners reported that a public hearing is scheduled to be held by the Board of Zoning Appeals
for variance of the road frontage on October 24 , 2002 at 7 : 00 p . m .
NRCS of Tompkins County
Vice Chair Bob Roe reported that Tompkins County is now part of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 . It is now the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program which is under a ten ( 10)
year agreement with State support for restoring songbird supporting grasslands and the NRCS of
Tompkins County is running the program .
Olivia Vent asked that Bob Roe send information of the program to the Danby Area News .
732
Planning Board Resolution No . 1. 3
October 16, 2002
ADJOURNMENT :
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9 : 03 .
(44J/ Jt! f/4,7444)
Carol W. Sczepa a , Town Clerk
min- 10- 16 . 02