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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1972-10-23^3! TOWN ^ ITHACA ADJOURNED BOARD MEETING October 23, 1972 At an adjourned meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at 108 East Green Street^ Ithaca, New York, on the 23rd day of October, 1972, at 5j00 p.m,^ there Were w I i PRESENT; Walter J; Schwan, Supervisor Andhew Wi McElwee^ Councilman Noel Dedch, Councilman Victor Dei Rosso, Councilman I , r ABSENT: Robert Ni Powers, Councilman ALSO PRESENT: James V. Buyoubps, Town Attorney Mrb, Barbara Holcomb^ Chairman, Planning Board Reynolds!Metz. Assistant Zbning Officer Ben Boynton, Groff Associates S|tewart Knowlton, Limited Partner, Groff Associates Wilbur Tfaminell, Project Attorney, Groff Associates Other townspeople Members of Radio, TV, and Press Supervisor Schwan called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m, GROFF ASSOCIATES - ELDERLY HfUSING PROJECT n Supervisor Schwan read a prepared proposed resolution on Housing for Elderly F.H.A. Project No. €13-44031 LDC Ellis Hollow Road, Town of Ithaca. There was some discussion as to whether the Town wanted to go ahead with tax abatement without consulting the County. This pro ject is 100 units of one bedroom apartments which would be rented to people 62 years of age or older; 10% of the units could be rented to elderly on a rent supplement basis and 10% to elderly handicapped. The apartments, most of them, would rent for about $128.00. There was discussion of including in the resolution or the contract between the municipalities and the developer a provision for flat tax in the amount of $20,000.00 or 13.1?^ of total annual rentals, whichever is higher. This would mean a small built-in esclator to cover any future rent increase based on increased expenses. There was comment from the floor that Mr. Fred Morris, Senior Citizens, felt that all of his questions had not been answered. The Senior Citi zens did not feel that they could make themselves effectively heard at a Town Board meeting and they would prefer to submit written ques tions and get answers in writing. They did not want to be put on record as being in favor of this project until they have answers to questions about transportation, area facilities, and the like. Edward R. Ostrander, l46o Hanshaw Road, questioned whether there was a need for this housing. Supervisor Schwan said it had been represen ted to the Board by the developers that there is a need, based on a study done by HUD, and that the Board had had qualified support on this point from Mr. David Armstrong, Executive Director of Ithaca Housing Authority. Mr. Ostrander wanted to go on record that as a taxpayer he is against this project. There was a question as to how the $20,000.00 would be distributed between the Town of Ithaca, The County, and the School District. Supervisor Schwan said this would be on the basis of the present tax rates of the three taxing bodies, the percentage of each based on the total per thousand for the three combined. The pro-rating procedure would be part of the contract. Wp| r^- I i j - a - October 23, 1972 i Thomas tT. Kehoe, 1042 East Shore Drive., objected to the plan, as a resident of the Town of Ithaca and as a town taxpayer and Eede-ral taxpayefi on the following giroUnds; (1) There had been no demonstrated need for this type of housing. (2) No in-put,had been i*eceived from the Senior Citizens. (3) The Senior Citizens had been misrepresented; they are not in favof of the project. (4) The project is a low risk venture with high profit for the develbpers. Another town resident questioned building the project way out in the country, even though it is next td a shopping center. She said we are isolating the eldefly from the rest of the community and that Europe is far Ahead of the United States in keeping elderly people as part of the community. She said this project runs counter to that principle. She questioned what fabilities were available — churches, library, transportation; What sense of community in terms of health facilities. She said the question had to be looked at philosophically. Supervisor Schwan was at a loss to understand why there had been no in -put from the Senior Citizens in view of the nuimber of meetings held on this subject and the amount of publicity it had received. Mr. Kehoe said the Board should seek out the older citizens and hot wa.lt for them to come in. He said they are the Town's constituents and that . . . "we owe nothing to these investors." Mr. kehoe sug gested that the matter be tabled for further study. There was a suggestion from the floor that Groff Associates answer questions that the Senior Citizens have discussed among themselves, in writing or in person, so that the Senior Citizens may respond. The Senior Citizens feel they are being used as an instrument to be come proponents of this project, about which they don't have enough information. They want to submit questions in writing because they feel they would not be effective in an open meeting. Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilman Del Rosso, RESOLVED, that the Town Board refer Housing for Elderly P.H.A. Pro ject No. 013-44031 LDC, Ellis Hollow Road, Town of Ithaca, to the Planning Board for an in-depth study of the need for elderly housing in the Town of Ithaca, and further that the Planning Board make an analysis with respect to the appropriateness of this particular site for housing for the elderly. Unanimously carried. Mrs. Holcomb, Planning Board Chairman, anticipated that the Planning Board would not be able to make a recommendation to the Town Board until its December meeting. She said that although a public hearing is not required, the Planning Board would not like to make a recommen dation without one. She expected that there might be a public hearing on November l4, 1972. Mr. Trammell asked if it would be possible to include in the resolution that if the Planning Board were to report favorably with respect to need and the appropriateness of the site, the Town Board would approve the project. Councilman Desch said he felt the Board was obligated to think in terms of what future requests the Town will have for this kind of project. He said the Board owed it to themselves and the developers to have a position on the whole question of elderly housing. Mr. Desch said the Board, but particularly Groff Associates, had started the whole matter in reverse. Groff must convince the Planning Board of the need for this type of housing and the appropriateness of the site. They have not convinced the Town Board. The Board was not inclined to change the resolution in any way or make any additional resolution committing the Board in any way. - 3 - October' 23, 1972 EASTERN Heights imtersection lights Supervisbr Schwan reported to the Board information received from Mr. Messmer of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation. Two hun dred and twenty-five feet of trenching wire costs $690.00 and the light charge is still $45.00 per li^t per yekr. The $690^00 is a "one-shot deal to pay for the undeirground wiring. The Town has the option of paying 155^ 6f that annually^ or pay for it all at once. The annual chiirge> therefore, would be $105.06 jolus $45.00 per light. Supervisor Schwan saic( the Board mu^t make a decision on how to handle underground wiring in the future. He Suggested that in the future when these systems.kre designed they should be designed so that the wiring to the pole and light Should go in at the same time as the underground wiringi The powef Company puts the street light up and leaves it dark until such time €ls the intersection light is approved; The wiring froitt the end pole to the light will be paid for by the developer. Motion by Supervisor Schwdnj seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED> thet the Tdwn;6f Ithada contract with the New York State Electric & Gas Corporatioh for the installation of intersection lights at Eastern Heights Drive knd Shariene, Sharlene and Tudor, and Eastern Heights Drive and SkyVue^ the Town to make a lump sum payment for the wiring ahd trenching to hook up the lights, the lights to be on the same rentkl agreement aS heretofore, that is, $45^00 per light per year, and further that all future intersection lights shall be wired and installed at the time the subdivision wiring is beihg buried] that the wiring to the pole shall be paid for by the subdivider, the pole and light to come under the usual contract with the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, and further that since the light in all probability would be installed prior to the occupation of any housing units it should be left dark until such time as needed. Unanimously carried. Councilman Desch commented that the developer should be required to work with the utility company and incorporate these provisions with the request for subdivision approval. WONDERLAND MOTEL - BUILDING PERMIT Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that a building permit be issued to the Wonderland Motel for the addition of a gameroom, 30 x 30, and for the enclosure of the swimming pool, 37 x 66, all as shown on the application dated October 15, 1972. Unanimously carried. EASTWOOD COMMONS DEVELOPMENT Mr. Norbert Schickel made a progress report to the Board with respect to his proposed Eastwood Commons development, using illustrative pre liminary maps and plans. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk