HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1967-06-29 TOWN OF ITHACA
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
. JUNE 29 , 196. 7
A regular meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board was held at the
Torr_ Offices , 108 East Green Street , Ithaca , New York , on June 29 , 1967
at 7 : 30 P . I .
Members of the Board present : Chairman Noel Desch , Elmer Phillips ,
James Lucy , Dan Baker , John Vasse and Secretary Cheryl S . Beninati .
Others present : Harry S . Hamilton , Attorney for Snyder Hill Community
Association ; Alan Berry , I1r . DeWynocki , Oliver Weinsheimer , Gertrude
O ' Brien , S . Goldberg , Lucille Opler , M . E . Opler , and Manley Thaler ,
representing the developer , James Belc. sco , and Mr . MacNeil .
EASTERN HEIGHTS , INC . - SNYDER HILL ROAD AREA
This Public Hearing was called to order at 7 : 45 P . M . by Chairman Noel
Desch .
Mr . MacNeil , the Engineer , prese. .. ted the final plan and explained it in
its entirety for the area residents who were not present at the prior
hearing on this ratter . The overall plan of the area includes the layout
of 167 lots acc:o ._di. ng to an R- 15 cone , the plan showing contours of the
area . Nr . ~MacNeil also presented the individual plan for Section I ,
• which involves 52 building lots and is the first phase of development ,
for which stage the developer is at this {Gime seeking final approval .
'b he general layout of the lots is shown an the plan , with the recreation
area for this stage of about -two acres . Mr . MacNeil_ also presented the
drainage and sewer pians for this particular stage of development .
The san :lta �:y sewer will connect with the sanitary sewer now being con
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struct.ed on Slatervill. e Road . Mr . Thaler stated that the final plans
for water have not yet been submitted to -the City of Ithaca .
Mr . Opler inquired if affirmative action were taken on this plan , does
this also give affirmative approval of the water system , to which he
was answered in the negative . This approval is conditioned on several
agencies approving the same - the City , Department of Audit and Control ,
etc . The Planning Board ' s final approval will be contingent on approval
of the several agencies . Mr . Thaler also stated that there is no expense
involved -to anyone who is not a resident of the distract .
Mr . DeWysocki stated that he is a member of the district . However , Mr .
Thaler explained to him that since he did not sign the petition , and
dial not appear at the Town Board meeting requesting to be included in
the district , this is not the case . Mr . Thaler pointed out that Eastern
Heights would not object to 14r . DeWysocki , along with any other residents
who wished -to do so , requesting an extension to this district .
At Mr . Opler ` s inquiry , Mr . Thaler explained the two recreational areas
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provlaed for this particula *• stage of c ave% lopment , which areas will be
deeded to the Town of Ithaca . Ars . Opler stated that she felt these areas
were not suitable fog play areas beca .�se of Q 1? e steep slope %J the land .
Howe e . Mr . Desch informed _Irs . Opler that the size of the lots enablee
E- lanni.ng board Minutes -- June 29 , 1967 Page 2
play areas in individual yards and that the size of the development. does
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not lend itself to play areas of the type Lirs . Opler thanks desirable .
1t ir'as also pointed out that John Marion ' s land , ad acent to the Eastern
Heights land , is bei .^.g developed , and this could be developed to coincide
with the play areas irn the Eastern Heights Subdivision ,
Mr . Opler also raises: a question as to the houses being so close together ,
Mr . Desch stated that ?- 15 zoning is not a small lot zone and that people
cannot afford to pay takes or. large tracts of land . Mr . Opler stated
that some of the land , that - s , more than presently planned , should be
preserved forrecreational purposes . He also stated that although this
is in the .Belle Sherman School District , as advertised in the paper ,
Belle Sherman: is already overcrowded . iter . Whaler pointed out that
the pepple involved with School District planning are aware of the pro-
posed development , and they have been aware of it for several months .
Mr . DeWysocki stated that there are several considerations which should
be looked into -- the school problem , the .recreational areas , the general
appearance of the area. ( realizing some changes have _ to be made ) - he
feels these requests are reasonable , He also stated that even if the
developer ' s plane have to be changed , in order to serve the best interest
of the corLgiunia,, , both Phys i. =- a1 and social , they should be so changed. .
Mr . Opler stated that if the plans anti. dated the decision on school
"narking , then these plans should have been made public at that time
If they had been , then people may have had different feelings about
• school building funds , etc . Now , the public has turned down plans to
enlarge schools and build new ones and yet this big development is planned
which constitutes a greater concentration sof children ( the foregoing being
Mr . Op tier ' s A. ema.rks ) ,
Mr . The ler states that this school situation should not be discussed ,
and that it should be discussed at a school district hearing rather than
a Planning Board heaFing .
Mr . Hamilton , representing the Snyder Hill Community Association , re-
quested Mr . MacNeil to show the surface drainage plans , which Mr . MacNeil
dial. , shoeing the three drainage courses at the same time explaining that
itwild be the responsibil -Aty of the developer to keep these drainage
streams clear until the development is coz-tipl eted . At this point , Mr .
Desch informed the area residents present -that he had personally gone
over the plan for drainage , of by lot , iaarking one set of plans how
each lot is to be drained , and each lot was reviewed with respective
drainage and changes wenre made where required . Mr . Desch pointed out
that- the area along Pine Tree goad wi ? be improved with respect to
drainage as a result of this plan . The largest point of con�:A4.ifn is during
the construction phase , and the engineer has been very cooperative ,
and the engineer and the developer have agreed to place a storm sewer
along the main road in order to avoid thedeep ditch problem . Mr .
Desch also; pointed out that Ln erior sot drainage does not involve the
Town of Ithaca , but rather is the responsibility of the developer to make
ceect.ain that these interior to tca are d.rct t :. satisfactorilyR
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planning Board Minutes - dune 29 , 1967 Page 3
looked into the possibility of making a larger right of way , and that
the Board is concerned about the fact that the existing stream, will be
diverted for the purpose of one lot - it will be the responsibility of
the owner of that particular lot to keep it clear .
There is a 20 - foot easement which will be conveyed to the Town or reserved
as a drainage easement maintained by the adjacent property owners .
Mr . Hamilton also stated that he is concerned about the trees along
Snyder Bill Road which may be removed due to sewer , to which Mr . Thaler
stated the developer is not going to remove these trees , but tplh, e Town
may tame some down when they put the sewer in . Mr . Thaler also pointed
out to Mr . Iinmilton that each lot will have its own landscaping at the
developer ' s expense , with trees every 33 = eet along the interior roads
of the subdivision .
Mr . Hamilton asked if the Board would put a restriction on set- back when
any lot does not have a 100a- foot frontage , but Mr . Thaler pointed out
that this restriction is already shown on the plans submitted .
Mr . Hamilton stated that the Snyder Hill Road Community Association is
not opposed to this development , but that he requests a copy of the
letter from Mr . DeWyeocki , as President of the Association , be included
in the minutes of this meeting , which letter is hereby incorporated in
and made a part of these minutes as if more fully set forth herein .
Mr . Alan Berry asked about the proposed storm sewer going down to
Slaterville Road which was discussed at the last hearing on this matter .
However , Mr . MacNeil pointed out that this is not shown on this particu-
lar stage of development , but will be incorporated in stage two of the
development .
It was suggested that the Association , the developer , and Mrs . Harding ,
a member of the Board of Education and G . I . R . P . B . , meet to try to reach
a solation to the school problem . Mr . Desch stated that he would also
like to attend such meeting .
Mr . Cpler raised a question as to whowould be responsible for restoring
Snyder Bill Road which is being torn up by heavy equipment . Mr . Desch
stated that it would be the Town ' s responsibility to restore the road
when the sewer is installed .
Mr . Desch pointed out that th(:v interior road has been laid out in such
a way as it might connect with a future goad connecting with Slaterville
Road . This has been taken into consideration by the Board .
This public hea, ing was closed at 9 : 00 P . M . , and the members of the
Board went into executive session .
After discussion and review of the plan , the following motion was made
by Mr . Elmer Phillips : That the Board accept the plan with altered drain®
age , roads and landscape plan and sidewalk on the east side of Park Lane
Road , over the prelmi ;ary Man as requested with the exception of the
road t� lacement between Lots 6 and l at the northwest end of the Park Lane
right of way . The road irate se ct. on with the property line should be
moved no less than 10 feet south to form a smooth transition between
Planning Board Minutes _ June 29 , 1967 Page 4
Eastern Heights property and a future road in the John Marion develop - '
ment . The above motion was seconded by John Vasse and carried by
unanimous vote .
Upon motion by .Mr . Phillips , seconded by Mr . Vasse and carried by unanimous
vote , it was moved the Town Planning Board ask the Town Attorney to clarifz
the position of the Town Planning Board , the Town , and prospective owners
with respect to drainage .
This meeting was adjourned at 10 : 00 P . M .
Respectfully submitted ,
Cheryl S . Beninati
Secretary