HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1993-06-01TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD
JUNE 11 1993
FILED
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The Town of Ithaca Planning Board met in regular session on
Tuesday, June 1, 1993, in the Town Hall, 126 East Seneca Street,
Ithaca, New York, at 7 :30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairperson Carolyn Grigorov, Robert Kenerson, Virginia
Langhans, Herbert Finch, James Ainslie, Candace Cornell,
Stephen Smith, William Lesser, Floyd Forman (Town
Planner), George Frantz (Assistant Town Planner), Daniel
Walker (Town Engineer), John Barney (Town Attorney).
ALSO PRESENT: Lewis Roscoe, Nancy Goody, William Albern, Paul
Jacobs, Ben Minteer, John Gutenberger, Dave Auble.
Chairperson Grigorov declared the meeting duly opened at 7:38
p.m. and accepted for the records the Clerk's Affidavit of Posting
and Publication of the Notice of Public Hearings in Town Hall and
the Ithaca Journal on May 24, 1993, and May 27, 1993, respectively,
together with the Secretary's Affidavit of Service by Mail of said
Notice upon the various neighbors of each of the properties under
discussion, as appropriate, upon the Clerks of the City of Ithaca
and Town of Ithaca, upon the Tompkins County Commissioner of
Planning, upon the Tompkins County Commissioner of Public Works,
and upon the applicants and /or agents, as appropriate, on May 28,
1994.
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: CONSIDERATION OF A DETERMINATION TO ACCEPT AS
COMPLETE THE DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DGEIS)
PREPARED BY CORNELL UNIVERSITY WITH RESPECT TO ITS SCOPE, CONTENT
AND ADEQUACY FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMENCING PUBLIC REVIEW. THE
DGEIS HAD BEEN PREPARED IN ORDER TO EVALUATE POTENTIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF A PROPOSED REZONING AND POSSIBLE CAMPUS
DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS FOR A PORTION OF AN 826 -ACRE TRACT OF LAND
BOUNDED BY ROUTE 366 AND SNYDER HILL ROAD, GAME FARM ROAD, AND JUDD
FALLS ROAD, RESIDENCE DISTRICT R -30. NANCY GOODY, PROJECT MANAGER.
Chairperson Grigorov declared the discussion in the above -
noted matter duly opened at 7:40 p.m.
Planning Board 2 June 1, 1993
Town Planner Floyd Forman addressed the Board and introduced
Starr Hays as the new Planning Board Recording Secretary who will
begin after the departure of Wilma Hornbeck, who will be missed
greatly. Mr. Forman stated that the Planning Department staff's
recommendation to the Planning Board regarding the GEIS was that it
should be considered complete. Mr. Forman stated that there were
a couple of minor comments relating to the GEIS. Mr. Forman stated
that Cornell needed to look into how the appendices would be
incorporated into the document. Mr. Forman then asked why all of
the performance standards were written at the boundaries, Mr.
Forman felt that they needed to be incorporated into Volumes 2 and
3, and referenced accordingly in the text. Mr. Forman stated that
in earlier discussions of the GEIS there was supposed to be access
from 366 both from Tower Road and Caldwell Road, and in the revised
draft there is no access from Caldwell Road. Mr. Forman asked if
that was an oversight or an intentional change. Mr. Forman stated
that, the staff's recommendation was that the document be considered
complete as submitted.
There being no further discussion, the Chair asked if anyone
were prepared to offer a motion.
MOTION by Candace Cornell, seconded by Herbert Finch:
WHEREAS, Cornell University ( "Cornell ") has requested the Town
of Ithaca to consider rezoning certain lands of Cornell in the
"Precinct 7" area off of Route 366 from Residence District R -30 to
a Special Land Use District or similar district; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Ithaca Planning Board has been designated
lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and
related local provisions and regulations; and
WHEREAS, Cornell offered to submit a Generic Environmental
Impact Statement ( "GEIS ") in view of all of the activity previously
undertaken, tentatively planned, and considered in the future in
and around the area proposed for rezoning, and the Planning Board,
with the consent and active encouragement of Cornell, has found
that the all of such activity warrants the preparation and
submission of a GEIS; and
WHEREAS,
on May
19, 1992,
Cornell
submitted a Draft Generic
Environmental
Impact
Statement
(" DGEIS"):
and
WHEREAS, there has been intense review by the Town's staff and
Planning Consultant of the DGEIS pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617 (the
"SEAR Regulations "), and particularly Sections 617.8, 617.14, and
617.15 of the SEQR Regulations to determine its scope, content, and
adequacy for the purpose of commencing public review; and
WHEREAS, this Board by resolutions adopted on August 18, 1992,
Planning Board 3 June 1, 1993
and further on March 30, 1993, determined that the DGEIS was not
yet adequate for submission to the public for review and enumerated
the reasons for these determinations; and
WHEREAS,
Cornell
has
revised the DGEIS and resubmitted same to
this Board on
May 18,
1993;
and
WHEREAS, there has been further review by the Town's staff and
planning consultant resulting in recommendations regarding the
adequacy of the DGEIS for public review, and
WHEREAS, Cornell and the Town have agreed that the time for
public review of the DGEIS may be extended beyond the dates that
would otherwise be normally required, and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has further reviewed the DGEIS and
reached a conclusion as to the adequacy of the DGEIS for submission
to the public review;
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED, that at this time the Planning Board
finds that the DGEIS is satisfactory with respect to its scope,
content, and adequacy, for the purpose of commencing public reviews
and
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED, that as consented to by Cornell, the
time for public review and related public hearings be extended to
dates tentatively established as target dates by mutual agreement
between the Town and Cornell with the understanding that such
target dates may be altered as circumstances by hereafter
determine, and with the further understanding that the extensions
alone shall not be a basis for requiring updating of data in the
DGEIS.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Grigorov, Kenerson, Langhans, Finch, Ainslie, Smith, Cornell,
Lesser.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
Nancy Goody, Project Manager for Cornell University GEIS,
stated that Cornell's target dates regarding the GEIS were to print
it around July 15, 1993, distribute it around August 2, 1993, which
would give an ample amount of time for public review prior to a
target date of September 15, 1993 for the Public Hearing.
Mr. Forman stated, for the record, that this Planning Board
meeting was very productive and Cornell University has been very
cooperative on this issue.
Planning Board
There
discussion
7:48 p.m.
0
June 1, 1993
being no
further
discussion, the Chair
closed
the
regarding
the
Draft
one
Environmental
was
Impact
a motion.
Statement
at
PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN
BOARD WITH RESPECT TO A PROPOSAL TO REZONE TOWN OF ITHACA TAX
PARCEL 33 -3 -1.2 AS FOLLOWS: 6 +/- ACRES FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO R-
30, 2.5 +/- ACRES FROM BUSINESS C TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AND 3.5 +/-
ACRES FROM R -30 TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. TOTAL AREA OF TAX PARCEL IS
81 +/- ACRES. PROPERTY IS BOUNDED BY SEVEN MILE DRIVE, BOSTWICK
ROAD, TAX PARCEL 33 -3 -2.2 AND HAS 300 FEET +/- FRONTAGE ALONG
ELMIRA ROAD. ALFRED EDDY, STEPHEN EDDY, PAUL JACOBS, AND BENJAMIN
MINTEER, OWNERS; WILLIAM ALBERN, APPLICANT.
Chairperson Grigorov declared
noted matter duly opened at 7:50
Notice of Public Hearings as pos
above.
Chairperson Grigorov stated
Planning Board Members viewed the
the Public Hearing in the above -
p.m. and read aloud from the
ted and published and as noted
for the record, that four
site.
Bill Albern addressed the Board and stated that two of the
owners of the property in questions were present; Paul Jacobs and
Benjamin Minteer. Mr. Albern stated that the owners would like to
use the stream and wooded area as a natural buffer between a
residential area and an industrial /commercial area. Mr. Albern
stated that everything south of the stream would be Light
Industrial, everything north of the stream would be residential.
Mr. Albern stated that he was before the Board to get a formal
agreement as to the zoning and an indication of what the Board
would like his clients to do for a park. Mr. Albern stated that
the property would be developed in three phases, which could
include three small parks or one large park which would satisfy the
Town's set aside requirements for all three stages of development.
(Rezoning maps are attached hereto as Exhibits #1 and #2)
After
minimal
discussion,
no
the Planning Board came to a
consensus
that
one
park
was
sufficient.
a motion.
There
appearing to
be
no
further discussion, the Chair asked
if anyone
were prepared
to
offer
a motion.
MOTION by Virginia Langhans, seconded by William Lesser.
ma
_ wz4_
10 The Town Board has received an application to rezone a portion
Planning Board 5 June 1, 1993
of Town of Ithaca Tax
from Light Industrial
to Light Industrial
Industrial; total are
bounded by Seven Mile
2.2 and has 300 feet
Parcel 33 -3 -1.2 as follows: 6 +/- acres
to R -30, 295 +/- acres from Business C
and 3.5 +/- acres from R -30 to Light
a of Tax Parcel is 81 +/- acres, and is
Drive, Bostwick Road, tax parcel 33 -3-
+/- frontage along Elmira Road, and
29 That Town of Ithaca Town Board on May 10, 1993 referred said
application to the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for their
recommendation pursuant to Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance,
Article IX, Section 46, no. 1, and
3. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on June 1, 1993
has reviewed the Long Environmental Assessment Form Part I
prepared by the applicant, a letter to Supervisor Shirley
Raffensperger requesting the zone changes and a map
entitled "Seven Mile Drive Subdivision Requested Zoning Sketch
B" dated 5/13/93, and other application materials, and
4. The Planning Board finds that the proposed zoning changes
would be compatible with adjacent land uses and zoning
districts.
NOW,, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, pursuant to Article IX,
Section 46, no.2 of the Town Zoning Ordinance, hereby recommends
that the Town of Ithaca Town Board approve the zoning changes as
described in the proposed sketches A & B presented to this Board on
June 1, 1993, dated May 5, 1993, provided that there is submitted
to the Town Board an accurate survey showing.
a. Metes and bounds descriptions of each area to be rezoned.
b. That the alteration of the zone boundaries will not create
non - conforming conditions or inadequate buffers on adjacent
lands.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Grigorov, Kenerson, Langhans, Finch, Ainslie, Cornell, Smith,
Lesser.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
(The maps referred to in the above resolution are hereto attached
as Exhibits #1 & #2.)
Planning Board 6 June 1, 1993
There being no further discussion, the Chair declared the
Public Hearing regarding Seven Mile Drive to be duly closed at
8:15 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF TOWN BOARD'S REQUEST WITH RESPECT
TO THE CONSERVATION BOARD'S PROPOSED POLICY ON WETLANDS.
Chairperson Grigorov declared the above -noted matter to be
duly opened at 8 :17 p.m.
Board Member Candace Cornell stated that on January 11, 1993
the Town Board had asked the Conservation Advisory Council to
investigate and develop a wetland management policy for the Town of
Ithaca. Ms. Cornell stated that the policy gives a brief overview
of the functions of local freshwater wetlands and outlines the
current State and Federal regulations concerning those wetlands.
Ms. Cornell stated that the purpose of the guidelines were to
assist the decision making Boards and the Town staff, to prevent
and reduce conflict with applicants.
Board Member William Lesser stated that there was no
definition of a wetland indicator in the proposed Wetland
Guidelines.
Board Member Candace Cornell responded that there was a formal
definition on Page 19, under Wetlands.
There being
no
further
discussion, the Chair asked if anyone
were prepared
to
offer
a motion.
MOTION by William Lesser, seconded by Herbert Finch:
WHEREAS.
1. The Town of Ithaca Conservation Board has prepared a Proposed
Town of Ithaca Wetland Guidelines for the Town of Ithaca, and
2. The Conservation Board presented these Proposed Wetland
Guidelines to the Town Board and their consideration at the
5/10/93 Town Board Meeting, and
3. The Town Board directed the Town Attorney and Town Planner to
make appropriate language changes, and
4. The Town Board requested that the Town Planning Board review
and make recommendations on the Proposed Guidelines.
RESOLVED:
That; the Town Planning Board recommends that the Town Board adopt
the proposed Town of Ithaca Wetland Guidelines and it is further
Planning Board 7 June 1, 1993
resolved that the Town Board allocate such resources (such as
designating one individual or hiring additional staff) as may be
necessary to implement the Guidelines.
There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a
vote.
Aye - Grigorov, Kenerson, Langhans, Finch, Ainslie, Cornell, Smith,
Lesser.
Nay - None.
The MOTION was declared to be carried unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM: REPORT OF THE TOWN PLANNER.
Town Planner Floyd Forman address(
he wanted the Board to view the map for
had a letter that he had received from
with recommendations for the Comprehens
the Board the colored blobby map and
thoughts.
ad the
their
Board
ive P1
asked
Board and stated that
approval, and that he
Member William Lesser
an. Mr. Forman showed
the Board for their
Board Member William Lesser asked Mr. Forman what the purpose
of the colored map was.
Mr. Forman responded that it was a conceptual map to give a
generalized idea of what the land could conceivably look like in 10
to 20 years.
AGENDA ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS.
David Auble addressed the Board and asked about
use possibilities were determined in respect to the
Plan.
how the land
Comprehensive
Mr. Forman stated that the colors were to differentiate
between the different land uses that could occur within the Town of
Ithaca within the next 10 to 20 years and that since no one can
foretell what is going to happen in the future, the map was
intentionally made with blobby borders to avoid any specific use
for any specific piece of land.
Planning Board 8
ADJOURNMENT
Upon Motion, Chairperson Grigorov declared the
meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly
10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
June 1, 1993
June 1, 1993
adjourned at
"4 a4"' 4--LL"e
StarrRae Hays, Recording Secretary
Town of Ithaca Planning Board
1
•
Town of Ithaca Planning
Board, Notice of Public
Hearings, Tuesday, June
1, 1993
By direction of the Chairman I,
of the Planning Board NO-
TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that
Public Hearing will be held I
by the Planning Board of the
Town of Ithaca on Tuesday
June 1 1993, in Town Hall,
126 tast Seneca Street, ,
Ithaca, N.Y. at the following
times and on the following
matters:
7:45 P.M. Consideraton of
a Recommendation to the
Town Board with respect to a
proposal to rezone a portion I
of Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel
33 -3 -1.2 as follows: 6 +/-
acres from Light Industrial to
R -30, 2.5 +/• acres from Busi-
ness C to Light Industrial and I
15 +/. acres from R -30 to
Light Industrial. Total area of
Tax Parcel is 81 +/- acres.
Property is bounded by
Seven Mile Drive, .Bostwick'
Rd., tax parcel 33.3.2.2 and
has 300 feet +/- frontagel
along Elmira Road. Alfred
Eddy, Stephen Eddy, Paul Ja-
cobs and Benjamin Minteer,
Owners. William Albern, Ap-
plicant.
Said Plainning Board will at
said times and said place
hear all persons in support of
such matter or objections
thereto. Persons may appeari
by agent or in person.
Jcan L. Noteboom
Town Clerk
273. 1721
May 27, 1993