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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1975-12-02 TOTV OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD a ' DECEMBER 2r 1975 The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street , ( second floor ) , Ithaca , N . Y . , at 7 : 30 p . m . on Tuesday , December 2 , 1975 . PRESENT : Chairman Barbara Holcomb , Maurice Harris , Richard Black , Daniel Baker , Liese Bronfenbrenner , David Martin , Lawrence Fabbroni ( Planning Engineer/Building Inspector ) , Robert Bonnell ( Assistant Engineer ) . ABSENT : Sam Slack , Robert Christianson , ALSO PRESENT : Mr . and Mrs . Sanford Reuninq , Mrs . Jean Angell . The Meeting was opened by the Chair at 7 : 40 p . m . APPROVAL OF MINUTES Upon Motion by Mr . Richard Black , duly seconded by Mr . Maurice Harris , and an proved. by unanimous vote , the Minutes of the Planning Board Meeting of October 21 , 1975 , were approved as submitted . REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR Mr . Fabbroni reported that permits were issued for one new home and three additions for a total of 551 , 000000 . November was a fairly slow month , but this is usual . REPORT OF THE PLANNING ENGINEER Mr . Fabbroni reported that he is trvinq to gather in the easements for the five seyg7er extensions with a projected date of February 1 , 1976 , for letting the contract out to bid . Mr . Fabbroni reported that stop signs were but up on Mitchell St . that drew quite a bit of controversy . He stated that he will do a follow-up on that matter . A discussion of the Mitchell Street stop signs followed . Mr . Fabbroni noted that some negative comments were received from citizens and some positive comments from citizens , particularly those citizens with children . Mr . Fabbroni , reported that he is continuing work on the addition to the Town Highwav Barn , Mr . Fabbroni reported that Mr . Bonnell has been working on the signs existing in the Tolim , which matter will be taken up later . DISCUSSION OF SIGN APPLICATION FOR JUDD FALLS WINE AND SPIRITS IN THE EAST HILL PLAZA , Mrs . Jean Angell was present and presented an application for a sign permit for a sign to he erected at Judd Falls T'tline and Spirits in the East Hill Plaza . The sign is to read - - " Liquor " . The sign is Proposed to be 81 x 2 - 1 / 21 . The front of the store onto which the sign is to he affixed is 201 long . Mr . Black asked what color the sign will be . Mrs . Angell replied Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 2 - December 2 , 1975 that the letters will be black outlined in yellow and placed on wood . Mr . Black asked if there would be any lighting of the sign . Mrs . Angell stated that there will be three lights mounted on the building shining upwards onto the letters very much like the " What ' s Your Beef ? " sign . Mrs . Holcomb asked if there were any problems that anyone could see with this proposal . Mr . Fabbroni stated that it meets the require - ments of the Sign Ordinance to a " T " and that he could see no problems in approving this sign since it is a 20 sq . ft . sign on a 201 building . MOTION by Mr . Richard Black , seconded by Mrs . Liese Bronfenbrenner : RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca recommend and hereby does recommend to the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that approval he granted to Mrs . Jean Angell for the sign " Liquor " for the Judd Falls Wine and Spirits store at East Hill Plaza on Judd Falls Rd . and Ellis Hollow Rd . There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Aye - Holcomb , Harris , Black , Baker , Bronfenbrenner - - Mr . Martin had not yet arrived at the meeting , Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously . ADJOURNED DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED REUNING MUSIC SCHOOL AND VIOLIN REPAIR • SHOP AT 929 - 931 DANBY ROAD Mrs . Holcomb noted that this discussion was tabled from the last Planning Board meeting , November 25 , 1975 . She stated that a site plan analysis has been requested by the Zoning Board of Appeals , said Board being required under the Zoning Ordinance to give special approval to private schools . The Board discussed the Memorandum prepared by Mr . Fabbroni and sent to the members of the Planning Board on this matter . ( See attach- ment ) . Item # 5 was discussed as follows ,* the present owner ( Brewster ) occupies the main house including the third floor apartment in the main house , and he rents the third apartment . Mr . Fabbroni noted that if all three units were occupied , it would be an illegal use . He stated that a general opinion is needed from the Zoning Board of Appeals with regard to the owneis and renting . He noted that it is strictly an interpre - tation matter . Mrs . Holcomb stated that in this case the Planning Board can simply note this question and recognize that this interpretation is a Zoning Board of Appeals matter . Mr . Martin said that the Planning Board may be in a position that they should not be in to . Mr . Fabbroni stated that that is why this Board is being asked for a site analysis and ther interpretation will be up to the Zoning Board , Mrs . Holcomb referred to item # 4 with reference to exits from the first floor . Mr . Fabbroni stated that that will probably be resolved as a matter of practicality in setting the building up as a Town of Ithaca Planning Board ® 3 - December 2 , 1975 school , but he wanted it as a matter of record . Mr . Fabbroni referred to Item 43 which refers to a walkout exit from the third floor as a second exit to the second floor . He said that this comes out of the Building Code really , but it is an interpre ® tation on his part as to how to enforce it . Mrs . Holcomb stated that it should also be stated that if at any time the 15 parking spaces are not enough for the school , additional parking ,paces must be provided . There must not be any parking on the road or even off the road . Mr . Reuning presented a rough sketch of the parking plan , a plan of the first floor and also the second floor and the third floor . Mr . Black commented that he thought he remembered from the last meeting that Mr . Reuning had said that there was sinoke detection equipment in the building . Mr . Reuning said that there was such equipment . Mr . Reuning noted that the building contains three stories in the front and two stories in the back . Mrs . Holcomb stated that this is a matter which is a permissible use in an R- 15 zone a the music school , that is , by special approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals , but the Zoning Ordinance requires a site analysis from the Planning Board . Mrs . Holcomb noted that the only physical addition to the land will be the proposed parking . She stated that the widening of the entrance way from Danby Road requires permission from the NYS D . O . T . M.r . Fabbroni asked Mr . Reuning to describe the retail shops . Mr . Reuning said that the violin shop and the early instrument business carried on by his partner , Mr . Butler , is almost 100 % mail order . I MOTION by Mrs . Barbara Holcomb , seconded by Mr . Maurice Harris ; RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca generally approves the sitam plan for the proposed Center for Early Education , Music and the Arts , as presented by Sanford and Joan Reuning , with the following condition5o 1 . That the entrance drive from Danby Road should be no less than 151 with radius of curvature at throat sufficient to allow smooth access and egress to and from Danby Road , 2 . That the parking area for 15 cars should be clearly laid out on the site plan with dimensions and spaces shown . It should be further noted that if in the future 15 spaces is not adequate for the clientele and personnel of the school that additional spaces should be added . 3 . The second exit from the third floor apartment should be a walk -out type exit to the second floor roof with a suitable walkway to a stair way leading from the second floor roof to the ground . 3 . All exits from the first floor should be developed so as to provide unimpeded egress from. the building . The Planning Board takes cognizance of the fact that the mixed occupancy of two dwelling units and a private school with related work- shop is within the province of the Zoning Board of Appeals . Town of Ithaca Planning Board - 4 - December 2 , 1975 There being no further discussion , the Chair called for a vote . Aye - Holcomb , Harris , Black , Baker , Bronfenbrenner , Martin . Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously . DISCUSSION OF TOWNOF ITHACA PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLAN Mrs . Holcomb stated that the Planning Board tabled a formal acceptance of this plan from the last meeting when a quorum was not present . Those members present at the November 25th meeting accepted the Park and Open Space Plan . The Board discussed the Plan again . Mrs , Holcomb stated that an acceptance of the Park and Open Space Plan is necessary for any grant application . Mr ® Black noted that school census .figures can be used to help show any need discussed in the document , It was the consensus of the Planning Board that this Plan would be a working document or base from which to develop certain options . MOTION by Mrs . Barbara Holcomb , seconded by Mrs . Liese Bronfen - brenner : RESOLVED , that the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca accept and hereby does accept as a working document the Park - and Open Space Plan as prepared by Ms . Susan Blumenthal under date of November 1975 . There being no further discussion on the Motion , the Chair called • for a vote . Aye - Holcomb , Harris , Black , Baker , Bronfenbrenner , Martin . Nay - None . The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously , Mr . Martin suggested that the Planning Board send out a letter to various civic associations , other Planning Boards , various officials , etc . , informing them of the acceptance of such a Park and Open Space Plan as a working document and inviting them to review it . EXECUTIVE SESSION - SIGN ORDINANCE ( 9 : 15 p . m , ) The Planning Board members discussed the sign ordinance at length . ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion the meeting was adjourned at 10 : 05 p . m . NEXT MEETING DATE The next meeting date of the Planning Board will be January 6 , 1976 , Respectfully submitted Nancy M . Fuller , Secretary M E M O R A N D U M TO : Members of the Planning Board . FROM : Larry Fabbroni RE : REUNING - 929 - 931 Danby Road ( 6 - 41 - 1 - 2 , 6 - 41 - 1 - 3 ) DATE : December 2 , 1975 Upon inspecting premises proposed for Music School , the following information should be provided or issues answered : 1 . Entrance drive from Danby Road should be no less than 15 feet with radius of curvature at throat sufficient to allow smooth access and egress to and from Danby Road . Such -- driveway - wili •allow a - car to pull off Danby Road without having to wait ' "for a car to exit , as is now the case with the oneJlane' drive . Any driveway change. must also be approved by the N . Y . S . D . O . T . 2 . Parking area for 15 spaces should be clearly laid out on the site plan with dimensions and spaces shown . • 3 . The second exit from "the third floor apartment kitchen should be a walk-out type exit to second floor roof with a stable walkway , to a stairway leading from the second floor roof to the ground . This walkout -doorway exit in conjunction with the existing open stairwell will provide . a sufficient life - safety assurance for third floor occupants . 4 . All exits from first floor should be developed so as to provide unimpeded egress from the building , a situation not existing at present . 5 . An opinion from the Board of Appeals on the mixed occupancy of two dwelling units and a private school with a workshop related thereto is required . At present owners occupy main home and renters occupy apartment added around 1962 .