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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1981-07-27 TOWN OF ITHACA . ADJOURNED BOARD MEETING July 27 , 1981 At an Adjourned Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , held at the Town Offices at 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , at 5 : 30 P . M . , on the 27th day of July , 1981 , there were PRESENT : Noel Desch , Supervisor George Kugler , Councilman Shirley Raffensperger , Councilwoman Henry McPeak , Councilman Victor . Del Rosso , Councilman Marc Cramer , Councilman Dooley Kiefer , Councilwoman ALSO PRESENT : R . James Miller , 319 N . Aurora Street David Sprague , 817 Elmira Road' Elsie Sheldrake , 806 Elmira Road Elsie Sturgeon , 718 Elmira Road Opal W . Sprague , 817 Elmira Road Alfred Eddy , R . D . # 5 Millard Brink , 706 Elmira Road Lucille Brink , 706 Elmira Road Robert Miller , 823 Elmira Road Elsie McMillian Peterson , 812 Elmira Road W . L . - Shipe , 235 Forest Home Drive Margery M . Shipe , 236 Forest Home Drive Bob Cowles , 143 Pine Tree Road Cecilia Cowles , 143 Pine Tree Road Bob Lillie , 203 Pine Tree Road Sarah Lillie , 203 Pine Tree Road C . W . Kelsey , 147 Pine Tree Road Helena P . Kelsey , 147 Pine Tree Road Craig McHenry , 137 Pine Tree Road Frances A . McHenry , 137 Pine Tree Road Elmer S . Phillips , 131 Pine Tree Road Janine Mazza , 146 Pine Tree Road Nancy L . Krook , 113 Pine Tree Road Ebba Mars , 111 Pine Tree Road Mary Margaret Carmichael , 122 Pine Tree Rd . Martha Turnbull , 118 Pine Tree Road Bruce Turnbull , 118 Pine Tree Road Ralph Tavelli , 120 Pine Tree Road Earle Butterfield , 124 Pine Tree Road Ann McAdams , 2 The Byway Peter A . Forlano , 136 Forest Home Drive W . L . Brittain , 135 Warren Road Ruth Mahr , 103 Judd Falls Road Bruce Brittain , 133 Warren Road Richard B . Fischer , 135 Pine Tree Road . Mary Margaret Fischer , 135 Pine Tree Road L . Bronfenbrenner , 108 McIntyre Road Margaret Hartman , 132 Pine Tree Road Ruth DeWire , 148 Pine Tree Road r Mrs . Lisle : Longsdorf , 1. 50 Pine Tree Road Ellen M . Armstrong , 151 Maple Avenue Eugenia Mitchell , 217 Maple Avenue Steven Soter , 143 Maple Avenue Edith Cassel , 152 Pine Tree Road Karen Herzog , 107 Pine Tree Road Beverly Livesay , 147 Snyder Hill Road John Mecenas , 105 Pine Tree Road Herrmogenes Mecenas , 105 Pine Tree Road Charles Mecenas , 105 Pine Tree Road John DeWire , . 148 Pine Tree Road Town Board Minutes - 2 - July 27 , 1981 Paul Hartman , 132 Pine Tree Road Howard Kramer , 202 Pine Tree Road E . A . Delwiche , 117 Pine Tree Road David Macklin , 1.33 Pine Tree Road Nelson Stilwell , 128 Honness Lane . Tom Niederkorn , 12 The Byway Representatives of the - Media : Don Ross , Ithaca Journal Mary Earle , WTKO Jane Waldman , WHCU R . Begman , WVBR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance . Supervisor Desch noted that the first item of business was the signing of two deeds , which have been in the works f_ or along time . . The first deed is for the parcel of property upon which the ' Bolton Point Treatment Plant sits . In the beginning , the Town of Ithaca was signator . ` The second deed is the agreement with the City of Ithaca on the Sheldon Road Tank transfer to the Commission . WATER TREATMENT PLANT RESOLUTION NO . 120 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Cramer , . RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby . authorizes the execution of the deed of all the tract or parcel of land situated in the Village of Lansing , Town of Lansing , County of Tompkins , State of New . York , being a part of Military Lot # 94 in the Town of Lansing , and being the same premises conveyed to the grantor herein together with .the same rights and subject to the same easements and restrictions as were contained in the deed from James S . Zifchock to - the Town of Ithaca dated April 3 , 1974 , recorded April 4 , 1974 , in the Tompkins County Clerk ' s Office in Liber 518 of Deeds at Page 6 . The entire description of the said premises contained in said deeds hereby incorporated herein by reference as if more fully set forth . ( De,sch , Kugler , ' Raffensperger , McPeak , Del Rosso , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . SHELDON ROAD STANDPIPE RESOLUTION N0 . 12l Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Kugler , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby authorize - the execution of the deed of all that certain plot , piece or parcel of land , with the buildings and improvements thereon erected , situate , lying and being in the Village of Cayuga Heights , Town of Ithaca , _ County of Tompkins , State of New York , being the same premises conveyed to the parties of the first part . by the City of Ithaca by deed dated April . 24 , 1978 , recorded in Liber 563 of Deeds at Page 1158 , which. deed ..-was corrected by deed of correction dated May 31 , 1978 , recorded November 5 , 1980 in the Tompkins County Clerk ' s Office in Liber - 580 of Deeds at Page 348 . . The description in which deed of correction is incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference as if more fully set forth herein . Together with and subject to the right of way for vehicles , pedestrians , pipes , conduits , wires and similar L 1P _ Town Board Minutes - 3 - July 27 , 1981 purposes fifty feet in width as set for in the original deed to the parties of the first part recorded in Liber 563 of Deeds at Page . 1158 and as originally set forth in the deed from the Village of Cayuga Heights to the City of Ithaca dated November 22 , 1932 , recorded in Liber 231 of Deeds at Page 464 . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak , Del Rosso , Cramer and Kiefer . * . voting Aye . Nays - none ) . . DEREGULATION OF NATURAL GAS RESOLUTION N0 . 122 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by , Councilman Cramer , WHEREAS , the Federal government is considering the immediate removal of price controls on natural gas utilized for domestic heating , and WHEREAS , a plan is already in place to remove such controls in an orderly way over a 5 year period ending 1985 , and WHEREAS , the recent price increases for imported natural gas have already spurred sufficient exploration to assure adequate supplies without further price increases , and WHEREAS , the price increase of 50 % which is anticipated as the - immediate result of total deregulation will be a severe burden on the consumer .in the Northeast , particularly persons on .fixed. income , and WHEREAS , such increases will be inflationary and counterproductive to the program of enhancing the economic growth , NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , by this resolution , states for the record its opposition to the plan for immediate decontrol and authorizes the Supervisor to forward a copy of this resolution to Senators "l-lo:linihan : aria . ,D.e Mato and Congressmen ., Matthew McHugh and Gary Lee and urge their support to oppose the plan for immediate deregulation . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak , Del Rosso , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . ALFRED EDDY REZONING REQUEST Councilman Kugler stated that he felt Mr . Eddy request for rezoning wasafoot in the door zoning and he had very negative feeling on, the foot in the door approach . Supervisor Desch stated that a considerable amount of time has been spent on the zoning map and , therefore , the Board felt that they were not infavor of rezoning . RESOLUTION N0 , 123 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger , WHEREAS , the Town Board at a regular meeting held on July 13 , 1981 , considered the rezoning :t_ equest of Mr . Alfred Eddy pertaining to a portion of Tax Parcel 6 - 35 - 1 - 10 . 7_ from R- 30 to Business , during a Public Hearing duly opened by the Town Supervisor at - 7 : 00 P . M . , following proper publication and posting of the notice of the Public Hearing , and WHEREAS , all persons wishing to speak for or against the rezoning request were given the opportunity to address the Town Board and. thereupon the Public Hearing was closed by the Supervisor , and WHEREAS , the Town Planning Board following a Public Hearing held . on June 16 recommended , by unanimous vote , a resolution that the Town Board Minutes - 4 - July 27 , 1981 request be denied on the following basis : ( 1 ) There is no need for the proposed business use in the proposed location . ( 2 ) The existing and probable future character of the neighborhood , in which the rezoning has been requested , may be adversely affected . ( 3 ) The proposed rezoning of said 300 ' x 500 ' portion of the Eddy lands is not in accordance with the comprehensive plan of , development of the Town of Ithaca . and , WHEREAS , the Town Board in . its comprehensive review of the zoning map during its current deliberations on the adoption of a new zoning law have designated that this parcel be an R- 30 zone , . NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the request by Alfred Eddy to rezone a portion of the lands contained in ' Tax Parcel 6 - 35 - 1 - 10 . 1 from R- 30 to Business is hereby denied , and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board has determined from the Environmental Assessment Form and all pertinent information , that the above mentioned action will not significantly impact the environment and , therefore , will not require further environmental review . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak , Del Rosso , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . TOWN OF ITHACA OBJECTIVES FOR 1982 Supervisor Desch stated that he felt a sensible approach to staffing was needed for the year 1982 , Councilwoman Kiefer asked if the Northeast Bikeway design was ready ? Town Engineer Fabbroni answered , no . Councilwoman Kiefer asked if it doesn ' t mean then , that only the Town is undertaking the project ? Supervisor Desch answered that it could be Town or Town and County , time could change the concept . Councilwoman Kiefer asked it the bikeway was to have been designed this year and built next year ? Supervisor Desch answered yes . Councilwoman Kiefer stated that she had seen no final definition of a family inregard to the zoning ordinance . Town Attorney Buyoucos stated that he had asked the Board for their written comments which he will incorporate into the proposal , as 1 11 soon as he receives any written comments : Councilwoman Kiefer noted that she felt the problem of Solar Access was only half addressed in the proposed Zoning Law , Councilwoman Kiefer wondered why the Fire Protection Code was slated to be considered after the Zoning Law was passed . , She said it'- was not clear to her why after the zoning law . Supervisor Desch stated that the priorities were set by the Board . It was felt the Zoning Law was more critical than the Fire Code . Town Board Minutes - 5 - July 27 , 1981 The Supervisor further stated that if the Board wanted three large projects going at the same time , more legal services will have to be obtained . The Town Attorney noted that he had the Benefit Formula in front of him now , which has top priority . Councilwoman Raffensperger asked about the Highway Survey ? Town Engineer Fabbroni stated that the report will be ready before the August meeting . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that would be alright , just so the Board can have it before the Budget meeting , so that the information could be utilized in the budget process : Councilman McPaek asked if we are planning on going with an in - house computer ? Supervisor Desch responded . that a report will be. available soon with options . The Staff is spending a lot of time to define the functions that the computer will serve . Perhaps we coul. d . go in with . the County , but we do not want to wait three years . The Supervisor stated that the Elmira Road Drainage depends upon arrange = ments with the City and N . Y . State Parks Department on the abandoned railroad . Burns Road . The Supervisor noted that the County was in the process of declassifying the bridge from seven tons to three tons . . He noted that the Town Engineer has a good plan for realignment . Councilwoman Raffensperger asked if the Board would be looking at the design and cost of the project ? Supervisor Desch answered , yes . Supervisor Desch stated that the hospital sewer line proposal was expected by the August meeting . The conceptual agreement on the Wastewater Treatment Facility is nearing completion and . the full Board would soon be reviewing this . Councilwoman Raffensperger noted that sometime ago , a series of meetings were held with the Planning Board to discuss long term priorities and to set up a schematic drawing 'of how we wished to have staff added . Councilwoman Kiefer asked how long ago ? Councilwoman Raffensperger said about three or four years ago . Mrs . Raffensperger went on to say that she felt the Board had a responsibility to meet the needs of the people of the Town . Supervisor Desch stated that he remembered how difficult it was ten. years ago to convince the Town Board to create the position of engineer and then to have the money appropriated in the budget . Councilwoman Kiefer stated that planning type work for wetlands. , etc . , was not included in the 1982 Objectives . Funding should be researched on the possibility of the Town taking over doing their own census . Councilwoman Raffensperger felt these were important part of the Comprehensive Plan , Councilman McPeak stated that the State Disaster Plans call for the relocation of many people in this area . , Should the Town have some means of planning for this relocation ? ' Supervisor Desch stated that he felt this could best be done at the County level with input from our staff and policy makers . . Town Board Minutes - 6 - July 27 , 1981 Supervisor Desch asked the Board for their opinion on the legal support . ' The' Board members present all seemed satisfied with . the present amount of legal support . , Councilman Cramer noted that he was not happy with the cost of the legal support , however , he was happy with the legal support . Councilwoman Kiefer asked the Town Engineer about SEQR and the grandfather clause . The Town Engineer responded , that the rule of thumb is that municipalities can adopt their own , but it can not be less than the State regulations . Councilwoman Raffensperger noted that the Town had had two SEQR law , both with grandfather clauses . RESOLUTION NO . 124 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and conduct a public hearing - at 7 : 30 p . m . , on August 10 , 1981 , to consider the adoption of proposed amendments to' the Zoning Law . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak, Del Rosso , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . RESOLUTION NO . 125 v Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Kugler , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and conduct a public hearing on September 8 , 1981 , at 7 : 30 p . m . , to consider the . proposed use of Revenue Sharing Funds , and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of- the Town -of - Ithaca will meet on . September 24 , 1981 to consider the Town of Ithaca Tentative Budget and the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission . Tentative Budget , and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet on November. 5 , 1981 , to adopt the final budget for the Town of Ithaca and the final budget for the Southern. Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission . ( Desch , Ku gler , , Raffensperger , McPeak , Del Rosso , Cramer. and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays none ) . PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL HEARING TO CONSIDER THE . EAST ITHACA CIRCULATION STUDY Proof of posting and publication notice of a Informational_ Public Hearing to consider the East Ithaca Circulation Study having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor opened the Informational Public Hearing , Supervisor Desch stated that the idea of a circulation improvement has been talked about for a long time , In 1959 , the Board tried to find a route around the Forest Home area . Also , in 1968 , this Board established a corridor on the Official Town Highway Hap , However , not much has been accomplished for the last thirteen years . ' A year ago , the Town , County and Cornell engaged consultants to pull together a statement of the problems and present alternative solutions . A tremendous amount . of work was Town Board . Minutes - 7 - July 27 , 1981 involved in putting this report together , which is now ready for public review . The plan does not offer a pure solution . It shoes the neighborhood and Town concerns . ( Copy attached to official minutes ) . Town Engineer Fabbroni noted that the basic idea was to solve the traffic problems using existing roads and not cutting into neighbor - hoods . He went on to say that Pine Tree Road had not reached its capacity in traffic that the road was able to handle . Minor improvements would be needed at the intersection of . Routes 79 and Pine Tree Road . The new corridor to Route 366 generally follows the 1968 Master Highway Plan . Traffic . on Warren Road would pick up as the Industrial Park was developed . Mrs . Ruth Mahr , President of the Forest Home Improvement Association read a statement to the Town Board . ( Copy of statement attached s to the official minutes ) . Robert Spaulding congratulated the people in the Forest Home area . , He noted that the traffic count was now 3 , 500 with a projected capacity of 5 , 200 . He stated that he .felt it was a: irresponsible act to funnel. all this traffic . through Pine Tree Road , saying there was lots of land through the sheep pastures . He went on to ask if a study had been done on where the traffic comes from and where it is going ? Supervisor Desch stated that Brooktondale area was the origin with Cornell the destination . A man in attendance stated that every fourth truck was a Besemer dump truck . He felt an earlier cut off on Route 79 might be appropriate . . Supervisor Desch felt that every truck using this route was a localized truck . Mrs . Richard Fischer stated that she felt the status quo- plan was not taking into account mass transit . She felt people might change their working hours instead of all working from 9 to 5 or 8 to 4 . Howard Kramer asked what was the projected growth of the State route to the Auburn area ? Town Engineer Fabbroni noted that a certain amount of additional traffic would be generated . C . W . Kelsey noted that , he felt the Pine Tree Road would. only make it easier for traffic to get from Route 79 to Route 13 . He further stated that he felt the area ; was getting more thru . truck traffic . Nancy Krook stated that she wanted to remind the Board that a neighbor was killed and ' a school bus was hit- last year . They have a big traffic count on Pine Tree Road with no police protection . , She went on to say that trucks using the road have no mufflers and are over weight . She asked why degrade Pine Tree Road to benefit Forest Home and ' the Plantations . Richard Fischer asked , why with East Ithaca Transit and TOMTRAM are we freezing ourselves into a situation like this ? He stated . that he would like to seer = a tznffic ':co- of �iehicles ahat were not coming from Pine Tree Road . The Town Engineer stated that the count was 7000 cars a day from JiMd ' Falls to Route 366 ; 5000 from Pine Tree to Ellis Hollow Road and 2150 for Snyder Hill , Dr . Fischer asked what would generate more traffic ? Town Board Minutes - 8 - July 27 , 1981 The Town Engineer answered , entire empty parcels being developed would generate . traffic . 01 John DeWire stated that another problem that could change the traffic picture would be the City banning truck traffic on State Street . A man in attendance stated that the Town could say no truck traffic on Pine Tree Road , also . Supervisor Desch stated that the likelihood of trucks being banned on State Street is infinitesimal because the City accepted State and Federal Aid to construct the tuning fork . The Supervisor went on to say that the Town did not want to pit Pine Tree Road against Forest Home , Lambert Brittain asked why the second_ phase of the project could not be completed before the first phase . Supervisor Desch felt . there was an urgency to complete the project as one . Cecilia Cowles questioned the proposed Cornell warehouse project . Supervisor Desch stated that the project has been discussed for a long time , now it looks like the the . project may materalize . Therefore , the growth .of the orchard area , traffic wise , must be taken into account . Craig McHenry asked what would be the calamity if the roads were . left as is ? Supervisor Desch stated that Cornell had been very disinterested , however , pressure had been put on Cornell because of the increase in traffic that will be generated when the Research Park project _ is completed . If the improvements are not made , Forest Home will become . a disaster area . Sarah Lillie stated that she felt the Pine Tree Road problems were caused by a - lack of planning fifteen years ago . The projected growth of the Brooktondale area should be considered this time . Supervisor Desch stated . that he felt the Brooktondale area would not grow because the area has no water or sewer . He _ asked the residents of Pine Tree Road if they did not know that Pine Tree Road was a County road when - they bought their property . He stated that he felt the Town should have .required a bigger setback when the road was developed . Ruth DeWire stated that she knew Pine Tree Road was a County road when they purchased their property . However , she . was _ essentially ob.Jecting to more improvements . for County residents . She could not see why the Town of Ithaca taxpayers would want to make things worse for the Town of Ithaca residents and better for the County residents . She further noted that she was against any improvements to the intersection of Pine Tree Road and Route 79 . Frank Shipe asked why more consideration has not been given to the Game Farm Road . The Game Farm Road . has a solid road bed and could easily be developed . Using this road , would make it less inviting to use Pine Tree Road , Craig McHenry stated that he felt improving this section of the road would increase speeding . David Macklin - stated that he felt the placement of a truck terminal at the airport would control truck traffic . Janine Massa suggested the Town consider a road to the east , before Pine Tree Road , as a cross over road . Elmer Phillips asked what month of what year were the destination studies made ? Town Board Minutes - 9 - July 27 , 1981 Town Engineer Fabbroni stated that -the studies were made in February of 1977 and October of 1980 . Tom Wolski stated that he felt the dates of the studies should be included in the report . He also questioned how many accidents occurred and what justifys improving intersections . Ruth Mahr stated that she had . a personal objection to the Caldwell Road realignment . Bruce Trumbull stated that he felt there could be a problem with long distance trucks . He questioned the continuation of truck traffic going to Morse Chain taking the short cut through Pine Tree Road , Tom Engineer Fabbroni stated that Pine Tree Road was not a short cut . ` for long distance trucks , only those making local. deliveries . ' Harry Ellsworth felt there was n-ow. a reinforced concern over truck traffic in the area . There is a major concern because of . the pick up of school children on Honness Lane and Pine Tree Road , Mr . Ellsworth asked what impact will the hearing have on the proposal ? What will come of concerns voiced by residents this evening ? Supervisor Desch stated that he did not know what the Board will decide , . but that the comments have. provided very useful input . John DeWire asked if the Town was looking to getoState support ? Supervisor Desch answered no , the project is not eligible for State money . Nancy Krook asked if there was any connection with the connector and the garbage burning project ? . Supervisor Desch answered that depends : on where the garbage burning project is located . Dr . Fischer asked when would the Board come to a decision ? Supervisor Desch answered that the Board would determine their feelings inregard to the engineering design , then more public hearings would be scheduled . He went on to say it was a challenge to the Board to solve the traffic problem . Mr . Brittain ask what the total construction cost would be ? Supervisor Desch s'ta'ted that the report shows a cost of about four million dollars . l Dr . Fischer thanked the Board for listening to the residents concerns ., ADJOURNMENT The Meeting was duly adjourned . at : t- T Clerk