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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1993-05-25� 3 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD MAY 25, 1993 FILED TOWN OF ITHACA Date �17/_Q, 814 Clerlt!�'J �`4 -- The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on Tuesday, May 25, 1993, in Town Hall, 126 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York, at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Chairperson Carolyn Grigorov, Robert Kenerson, Virginia Langhans, Candace Cornell, William Lesser, Stephen Smith, Herbert Finch, Floyd Forman (Town Planner) , Daniel Walker (Town Engineer). ALSO PRESENT: David Klein. Chairperson Grigorov declared the meeting duly opened. Chairperson Grigorov read the Fire Exit Regulations to those assembled, as required by the New York State Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control. AGENDA ITEM: PERSONS TO BE HEARD. There were no persons present to be heard. Chairperson Grigorov closed this segment of the meeting. AGENDA ITEM: WORKING SESSION, DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, Chairperson Grigorov declared the discussion in the above - noted matter duly opened and read aloud from the agenda as noted. Town Planner Floyd Forman addressed the Planning Board and stated that they would be reviewing Chapter 4 of the Town of Ithaca draft Comprehensive Plan at this meeting. Mr. Forman asked that the Board Members review the handout with regard to Minor Modifications. Mr. Forman stated that the Plan currently reads that changes made to the Plan would need to come before the Town Board for approval. Mr. Forman stated that minor changes such as typos and grammatical changes should not need to come before the Town Board. Mr. Forman had prepared the handout to add to the Plan so that minor changes could be completed without going through the Town Board. (Handout regarding Minor Changes attached hereto as Exhibit #1) The Planning Board discussed the handout and decided that it should read as follows: F. Minor Modifications After a Public Hearing, the Planning Board shall made minor changes it deems necessary to correct or modify the Comprehensive Plan. The Town Board shall be informed of all changes. Minor shall be those changes that the Planning Board determines shall not affect the overall direction of the Plan. Planning Board 2 May 25, 1993 Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that he summarized most of the letters of comments received from the public. Mr. Forman read his summaries of the above - mentioned letters and stated that Pete Scala wrote a letter expressing his concerns with tax exempt property and the cost of the plan. Judith Cone's letter was generally complimentary and she felt that it was a balanced Plan. Tim Joseph stated that he felt that the entire plan should not be held up while a few specifics were being debated. Sylvia Wall urges swift adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. John Babcock's comments were generally negative because he felt that the West Hill Meeting that was held on April 6, 1993, was orchestrated. Mr. Forman stated that Mr. Babcock felt that the Comprehensive Plan was suffocating and that the Residence Survey was arrogant and deceptive. Mr. Forman stated that Mr. Babcock was concerned about property owners rights. Myrtle Whitcomb wanted less development on West Hill. Mr. Forman stated that Mrs. Whitcomb felt that it was a common sense Plan. Chris Kail felt that agriculture provided benefits of open space without undue burden on taxpayers. Mr. Forman stated that Town Supervisor Shirley Raffensperger wrote a letter explaining why a Comprehensive Plan is necessary. Mr. Forman then read a portion of Supervisor Raffensperger's letter as follows: "During these meetings you have received many comments. I know you will make those changes you consider most important. I urge you not to tear apart and attempt to recreate this document. The document was arrived at by a diverse group with much public input. I believe this Plan represents a fragile consensus that if destroyed could not be readily recreated ". Mr. Forman stated that Jim Hilker felt that EPODs should be deleted, as well as the Future Land Use Patterns Map, Mr. Forman stated that the Forest Home Improvement Association would like the following language placed in the Plan: "The roads, bridges and intersections in Forest Home will not be made larger, wider, or straighter and the long range goal is to reduce the amount of traffic in the Forest Home community". Mr. Forman stated that a letter was received from Mike Stamm that suggested a revision of the language of the Comprehensive Plan because some of it was offensive. Mr. Forman stated that the Board had made the changes at an earlier meeting. Board Member Virginia Langhans addressed the Board and gave a quick summary of the comments made by the public at all of the public information meetings regarding the Comprehensive Plan. Chairperson Grigorov gave a synopsis of Noel Desch' s comments, Chairperson Grigorov stated that Mr. Desch felt that the Plan severely and strictly limits the number of people allowed to live and work in the Town of Ithaca, that the Plan would result in lost property value, and preservation of open space was a method to avoid spending taxpayers dollars to purchase it. 4 ti Planning Board 3 The Board discussed the comments received from the Board then went on to review Chapter 4 of the draft Comprehensive Plan. The Board also discussed Land Use Patterns Map, May 25, 1993 the public and Town of Ithaca the Anticipated Town Planner Floyd Forman stated that he would review comments and changes discussed at this meeting and incorporate them into Chapter 4 and bring it back to the Board for further review at a later date. There being no further discussion on the Town of Ithaca draft Comprehensive Plan, Chairperson Grigorov declared the matter of the Town. of Ithaca draft Comprehensive Plan duly closed. ADJOURNMENT Upon Motion, Chairperson Grigorov declared the May 25, 1993 meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned. Drafted 4/14/94. Respectfully submitted, StarrRae Hays, Recording Secretary, Town of Ithaca Planning Board,