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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2006-10-17FILE DATE REGULAR MEETING TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2006 215 NORTH TIOGA STREET PRESENT: Fred Wilcox, Chairperson; Board Members - George Conneman, Tracy Mitrano (7:12), Larry Thayer, Rod Howe, Kevin Talty STAFF: Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; Daniel Walker, Director of Engineering (7:22); Mike Smith, Planner; Nicole Tedesco, Planner; Paulette Neilsen, Deputy Town Clerk EXCUSED: Eva Hoffmann OTHERS PRESENT: Peter Trowbridge and Kim Michaels, Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects; Bob O'Brien, and Grace Chang, Holt Architects; Sherry Coski, 579 Warren Road CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Wilcox declares the meeting duly opened at 7:06 p.m., and accepts for the record Secretary's Affidavit of Posting and Publication of the Notice of Public Hearings in Town Hall and the Ithaca Journal on October 6, 2006 and October 11, 2006, together with the properties under discussion, as appropriate, upon the Clerks of the City of Ithaca and the Town of Danby, 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 October 692006, Chairperson Wilcox states the Fire Exit Regulations to those assembled, as required by the New York State Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control. PERSONS TO BE HEARD At 7:06 p.m. Chairperson Wilcox invited any member of the audience wishing to address the Board on matters not on the agenda to come forward. There was no one present wishing to address the Board. Closed at 7:06 p.m. Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building located on the Ithaca College campus north of Dillingham Hall, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2 and 41 -1 -30.4, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is for a new 4- level, +/- 50,500 gross square foot building for the Office of Admissions, the Office of Human Resources and the College's executive offices. The proiect will also include new stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, landscaping, and changes to the adiacent parking area and walkways. Ithaca College, . Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent. Peter Trowbridge, 1001 West Seneca Street Mr. Trowbridge - What I would like to do is just briefly present our response to the several contingencies issues that where developed subsequent or during the preliminary site plan approval last time. The first one was to receive a height variance from the ZBA, which did occur. The second contingency was to provide floor plans for the building, and we have done that. The 800, 8019 802, 803 show the garden level first second and third floors of the building. The third contingency was to submit material size location design for signage. The only sign that will be developed other than things like stop signs and traffic control signage will be a sign on the circle that would direct visitors to campus to Admissions, to Central Administration or to Human Resources. It's standard Ithaca College signage in terms of font and color, while we didn't provide that sign, it is characteristic of directional signage on the Ithaca College Campus. The fourth contingency was record of application and proof of receipts for necessary permits. As you know, or if you have looked at the permitting, TG Miller's was responsible for most of the agency, or all of the agency permits and in terms of do diligence, they did, as a part of some minor paving reductions in one of the plazas, did due a new set of storm water calculation and subsequently provided an updated SWPPP, the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan which is also a part of the packet. I point that out so that there was not confusion, there was two of them, one done initially, and then one subsequently on September 29th. We also, as a part of the permitting process, wanted to be sure that Tom Parsons, the Fire Marshal, was able to weigh in on his observations regarding not just fire emergency access to this building, but also to Job Hall and Dillingham Hall, which was a concern of his. We met with Tom and I believe he e- mailed staff subsequently. We provided a summary of that meeting and then Tom followed up with a positive response to the proposal. I know that e-mail came in in the last couple of days but it was a positive response to navigating his vehicles on the new surfaces provided. The fifth contingency was to provide all plans CO's either by the engineer; TG Miller's, the architect; Holt Architects, and ourselves, Trowbridge & Wolf, and we provided those both at full size and 11 x 17. The final contingency was to make sure the elevations were fully labeled and we've provided those accordingly. 2 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 I think that covered all the contingencies that were listed and requested for response from the project team. We do have a site plan and we brought some additional information along that Bob O'Brien will speak about, in our sketch plan review and preliminary site plan review and environmental determination, we did have an aspect of the project which has been called a gallery which is a connection between Job Hall and Dillingham Hall. In this submission, eliminated it because it was not clear that the college, at this particular moment, wanted to move forward with that aspect of the project. Subsequently, the college has shown interest in doing that, so we would like to discuss with you how we incorporate that into the final site plan approval and Bob O'Brien can explain that a bit. Bob O'Brien, Holt Architects, Ithaca Mr. O'Brien — You may recall, this was the original image that we presented and the piece that we are talking about really runs here at the base of the fountains. There is (inaudible) stair that connects up to the fountain. In site plan, this was an earlier site plan, you can see here ... the project as it stands right now, has a bridge connecting across to Dillingham. This would bring a connection that runs under the stair route, we would actually tear the stair out and rebuild it to go over this connection, of this part of Job Hall and then connect in, and that enables people visiting this building, which is Admissions, so its really the initial point of contact for new, prospective students coming to the college, to go... to start ... to walk indoors all the way over to the campus center and we had talked about this from the very beginning of the project, other drawings that we have shown you, that we wouldn't include it in the project now for budgetary reasons, more recently the college has said let's put it in as an alternate and see if we can afford it. So we are coming back to the Board and saying can we provide you with more detailed drawing on that at a subsequent point and move forward with the project including the possibility of building that piece. Chairperson Wilcox - How is it that you want to proceed? Let me just ask that question. How do you want to proceed with this? Mr. O'Brien - What we will be doing is we will be trying to finish our documents by the end of the year, we are going to bid in January. We are incorporating this piece into the documents as a add /alternate. What we would like to do is get from you a site plan approval contingent on submitting those additional drawings to you. I think it is important, as Peter mentioned, that it was included in the SEAR, in the project, at the point that we did the SEQR determination. Chairperson Wilcox - I'll talk out loud... Board Member Thayer- You can think out loud. 3 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Chairperson Wilcox — On the surface, granting final with conditions for drawings that I haven't seen seems....seems to go against the grain, at least for me. I would probably be, speaking for myself, I'd probably be much happier if you came in with a revised site plan. I would not object to considering a review of what's in front of us this evening and potentially approving what you have and then you can come in with a modified plan to add that amenity and yes, if I remember right, it was included in the SEQR review, but I can't sit here and...l don't have the documentation that states that. Anyone else want to weigh in? Board Member Thayer -- I am curious at what Jonathan has to say. Mr. Kanter — Well Mike probably has a better feeling for what the earlier documents included. I don't remember myself whether the preliminary plans and the SEQR review included it but... Mr. Smith— Yes, it did. I talked to Peter on Monday and looked at the plans. It was shown ... the gallery wall and stuff, in the preliminary site plan material. I was looking at those sheets and it did include it on those. I know there wasn't an awful lot of discussion about it, but it was included on the plans. Chairperson Wilcox — Was it on the plans we... So if it was there when we did the environmental review, it would have been in front of us when we granted preliminary approval? Mr. Smith— Yes. It was on the same day. Mr. Kanter — So from a technical aspect with just legally with hearing notices and the SEQR review, you would be fine if you decided you wanted to move ahead and grant approval and condition it on submission of additional drawing of the bridge gallery for review and approval of the Planning Director, the Town Engineer or whatever, that's totally up to you guys, how you want to approach it. Board Member Thayer— It doesn't alter the footprint, it doesn't alter the square footage, I don't really have an objection to it. Board Member Conneman -- I don't either. Board Member Talty — It was part of the SEQR and the preliminary approval. Chairperson Wilcox — Okay, maybe I just feel "naked" that the plans aren't right here in front of me. Board Member Conneman — It is essentially going to be what you submitted... M Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Mr. O'Brien — That's right. Board Member Conneman — Condition that Jonathan approves... Chairperson Wilcox — And that they, that those revisions that are submitted are consistent with what was provided to us as part of the SEQR review and preliminary approval. Is the Board generally comfortable with that? I'm not, but if the Board is comfortable, that's fine. Susan, you want to start writing.... Ms. Brock — I am.... Chairperson Wilcox — Let's go back to what's in front of us. I want to thank the Assistant Fire Chief for putting his okay in his own words. I think that was important. We had your meeting notes, but to have his words say that access to both this site and the surrounding area, were sufficient. Porous pavement... there was something in the materials about...getting rid of the porous pavement... I thought I read that there was an issue with the ability for that porous pavement to hold the weight of emergency vehicles and therefore some of it was eliminated, to go that route. Mr. Trowbridge — There are two types of porous pavement. We have porous asphalt which is a part of the Admissions' parking lot and also, there's an asphalt sidewalk that rings the perimeter road that swings out around the building that exists now and so those asphalt surfaces will be porous. Previously, we didn't have the sidewalk as porous asphalt but the plaza that is closest to the fountain terrace, we did have as a porous material but because we have hook and ladder trucks turning around on that surface, it had to be a heavier duty surface. So we swapped one porous pavement area and included another that wasn't porous previously. Chairperson Wilcox — Questions at this point? Board Member Howe — Is this a LEAD certified building? I just don't remember. Mr. O'Brien — It's registered and we are going for LEAD Gold. Chairperson Wilcox — Gold is where on... Mr. O'Brien — Second highest. Chairperson Wilcox — Second highest... as opposed to the other building, the Business School, where you were going for the highest...You still going for the highest? 5 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Mr. O'Brien — That wasn't our project, so I can't really address that. That was another architect. Chairperson Wilcox — That's right, I apologize... I could maybe ask ... (comments from the audience which were inaudible) Chairperson Wilcox — If there are no more questions, I will give the public a chance to ask questions. Chairperson Wilcox opens the Public Hearing at 7:23 p.m. There being no one wishing to speak, Chairperson Wilcox closes the Public Hearing at 7:23 p.m. Motion is moved by Kevin Talty, seconded by George Conneman. Ms. Brock — I have several changes... On page 1, paragraph 4; the reference to Ithaca College School of Business should be changed to read Ithaca College Gateway Building. Page 2, Resolve clause 1a; delete the word approval and insert proof of receipt so. that it reads: submission of application for and proof of receipt of all necessary permits ... etc. Add a new Paragraph c; this will address the bridge gallery element that we were just discussing. Submission of revised drawings showing the bridge gallery that was shown on the approved preliminary site plan drawings, deleted from the drawings submitted for final approval, and... is now to be added back to the plans, subject to the approval of the Director of Planning and the Director of Engineering. Chairperson Wilcox — Are those changes acceptable, Kevin and George. (nods) My no vote will be procedural, just because I really wish they were here. Board votes. PB RESOLUTION NO. 2006- 106: Final Site Plan Approval, Ithaca College Gateway Building, Ithaca College Campus, North of Dillingham Hall, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 =1 =30.2 and 41 =1 =30.4 MOTION made by Board Member Talty, seconded by Board Member Conneman. 0 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 WHEREAS: 1. This action involves consideration of Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building located on the Ithaca College campus north of Dillingham Hall, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s41-1- 30.2 and 41 -1 -30.4, Medium Density Residential Zone. The. proposal is for a new 4- level, +/- 50,500 gross square foot building for the Office of Admissions, the Office of Human Resources and the College's executive offices. The project will also include new storm water facilities, outdoor lighting, landscaping, and changes to the adjacent parking area and walkways. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent, and 2. The proposed actions, which include site plan approval and special permit by the Planning Board and a height variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals, are Type I actions pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, 6 NYCRR Part 617, and Town of Ithaca Code, Chapter. 148, Environmental Quality Review, for which the Planning Board at its August 15, 2006 meeting issued a negative determination of environmental significance, and 3. The Planning Board, at a meeting on August 15, 2006, granted Preliminary Site Plan Approval with conditions and Special Permit for the proposal, and 4. The Zoning Board of Appeals, at their meeting on September 18, 2006, granted a height variance for the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building, and 5. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on October 17, 2006, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, plans entitled "Topographic Map" dated 6/12/06, prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., "Site Conditions Post- Business School Project" (C101), "Site Utility Demolition Plan (C201), "Site Utility Plan" (C301 and C302), "Erosion & Sediment Control Plan ". (C401), "Profiles" (C501), "Site Utility Details" (C601), "Erosion & Sediment Control Details" (C602), "Demolition Plan" (L101), "Site Layout Plan" (L201), "Site Plan Enlargements" (L202), "Grading Plan" (L301), "Planting Plan" (L401), "Site Details" (L501, L502, L503, and L504), dated October 2, 2006, prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., HOLT Architects, and Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, "Exterior Elevations" (A201 and A202), "Garden Level Furniture" (A800), "First Floor Furniture" (A801), "Second Floor Furniture" (A802), "Third Floor Furniture" (A803), dated September 29, 2006, prepared by HOLT Architects, and other application material, and 7 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. 1. That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Final Site Plan Approval for the construction of the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building located north of Dillingham Hall, as shown on the plans titled "Topographic Map" dated 6/12/06, prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., "Site Conditions Post - Business School Project" (C101), "Site Utility Demolition Plan" (C201), "Site Utility Plan" (C301 and C302), "Erosion & Sediment Control Plan" (C401), "Profiles" (C501), "Site Utility Details" (C601), "Erosion & Sediment Control Details" (C602), "Demolition Plan" (L101), "Site Layout Plan" (L201), "Site Plan Enlargements" (L202), "Grading Plan" (L301), "Planting Plan" (L401), "Site Details" (L501, L502, L503, and L504), dated October 2, 2006, prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., HOLT Architects, and Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, "Exterior Elevations" (A201 and A202), "Garden Level Furniture" (A800), "First Floor Furniture" (A801), "Second. Floor, Furniture" (A802), "Third Floor Furniture" (A803), dated September 29, 2006, prepared by HOLT Architects, subject to the following conditions: a. submission of application for and proof of receipt of all necessary permits from county, state, and /or federal agencies, and b, submission of a storm water "Operation, Maintenance, and Reporting Agreement" between the property owner and the Town of Ithaca, satisfactory to the Town Attorney and the Director of Engineering, prior to issuance of a building permit, C, submission of revised drawings showing the bridge gallery that was shown on the approved preliminary site plan drawings, deleted from the drawings submitted for final approval, and is now to be added back to the plans, subject to approval by the Director of Planning and the Director of Engineering. Vote on the motion was as follows: AYES — Board Members Conneman, Mitrano, Thayer, Howe and Talty NAYS — Chairperson Wilcox Motion was declared to be passed. Chairperson Wilcox announces the next Agenda item at 7:26 p.m. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed additions and renovations at the Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) located at 579 Warren Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 73-1 -1.4, Medium Density Residential Zone. Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 The proposal includes the construction of two additions totaling +/- 5,905 gross square feet, interior renovations to the existing building, and new landscaping, walkways, and lighting. Ithaca Community Childcare Center, Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent. Chairperson Wilcox — Before we get going, I will note, for the record, I will disclose that my daughter is currently an employee of IC3, though for not much longer, having disclosed it, I am not going to recuse myself. Peter Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects Grace Chang, Holt Architects, 217 North Aurora Street Mr. Smith— Let me start just orienting everyone... We have Triphammer Road out here ... this is the existing building that you see here in gray. This is the:structure that was build in 1988. This little dashed area here represents... there is actually two additions, as you mentioned... this is the larger of the two additions... Actually, this is the addition that is the 5000+ feet and this is an additional about 500 square feet. What we are really doing right now is kind of a little master plan /feasibility for the facility to help them identify additions as well as kind of maintenance work that they've been putting of that needs to be done for the project. We are really looking at a little list of shopping projects for them to look at. The two that really impact the exterior of the building are these two and then the third item would be a replacement of siding and roofing project so that would obviously have an exterior impact. The remaining sort of shopping list of items is all interior renovations. So, again, the goal, the primary goal of the project is to allow IC3 to bring the after school program onsite. They currently run that program. off-site and they would like to bring it. on -site. So this addition here is to house approximately 50 after school children and that would be from kindergarten to third grade. This is the program that they are running elsewhere now and they just ...they don't want to, ,actually, they can't rent the space that they currently have. and so they want to bring it here. So, that is the main impetuous of the project. This little addition here will actually not increase the enrollment at all, there's currently four infant rooms in this area and the way the building was originally designed, the rooms are graded in size with the idea that the youngest children would be in the smallest room and the oldest . and the oldest infants would be in the largest room. That really doesn't work for them functionally, what they really want to be able to do is have four rooms that are equal size. So all this addition does is allows a renovation project with a little addition that makes all those four rooms the same size. That's pretty much the building I think. 9 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Kim Michaels, Trowbridge & Wolf Most of the site work is really just associated with accommodating the new additions and pedestrian traffic flow. Most of the activity that happens surrounding the daycare center, it happens in the back of the property where there is a fenced in area and a large playground and any additions impact that area and that area will stay untouched. And so the goal really is to just make sure that pedestrians have safe travel through the site and that we regrade and reseed and replant the trees that need to be removed. So proposed is a pedestrian connection from the bus, the TCAT bus stop across with a crosswalk into the existing sidewalk and then this is the existing sidewalk entrance into the side door. The after school children... It is anticipated that they'll have their own entrance... This will be the after school children's' area...that they would have their own entrance into a gym space and so we'd put an additional walk across the front here so that they could get in to their space directly. Also, as you saw on the packet that you received, when the Center has large events, in the evenings and on the weekends, sometimes they host these kinds of family socials and invite all of the families in the Center at once, and so when all the parents and kids come and stay... cause usually drop -off happens over the course of an hour and hour and a half and families.are coming and going and the current parking lot accommodates that well, but when the entire population of the center arrives and stays, the parking lot doesn't always accommodate all of that traffic and so the Center has been having conversations with BOCES ... There is, a large parking lot under just several feet over a little grassy area directly south of their property and BOCES gets out at 2:15 ?... 2:00 ? ... 2:30... and this whole lot is empty in the afternoons and the evenings and so the Center has been talking to BOCES and has.received verbal approval to add a sidewalk connection stripe, a crosswalk, and make this formal crossing space so that people can use the overflow parking in the BOCES lot. We also understand that this afternoon the Tompkins County sent a letter regarding their concerns. The original concept was to have the school busses come in and drop the children, since there is already a bus stop here, drop the children at the TCAT sub stop and it is our understanding from the letter that we all received today that the County is really not interested in that option at all. So, Sherry Coski, Sherry Coski is here, she's the director of IC3, she talked to BOCES today about the possibility of having this parking lot be the area where the busses drop off the children and they are initially amenable to that, would like to talk about that, there is a meeting on Thursday to hash those kinds of issues out and they'll be providing a letter to us that we can provide to you... But it looks like that is a feasible option' for the Center so we can address the County's concerns in that way. Chairperson Wilcox — Questions. Board Member Mitrano — Was there any consideration given to opening up more than just a walkway between those two parking lots? In other words, if you are driving in, and you knew that you couldn't get into your parking lot, so you wanted to use the overflow parking lot, do you have to go in a different driveway? 10 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 You do ... you do ... and we haven't really thought through the possibility of opening that up in a vehicular way. You ... YOU 've talked to BOCES about that? Audience member — We have... Chairperson Wilcox — Hold on... Name and address please ... I will take a professional address. Sherry Coski, 579 Warren Road, Ithaca We have talked to BOCES about that and there is a series of, I believe it is pipe work, that runs under that grassy property between the two places so that we couldn't excavate to make that a drive through but they were willing to make it a walkway. There is the potential to look ... to see if we could get a driveway around the back of our building over to the medical site but there is a house between the two and then Cornell and BOCES so I think that would be more difficult than getting it in writing from BOCES that we could use their parking lot. Chairperson Wilcox — But Tracy, your point is well taken. They drive in, they don't find a parking spot, they gotta go back out on to Warren Road and then back to... yeah... absolutely. Ms. Michaels — That would really only occur, I think, during the all -site events, evening time. Chairperson Wilcox — That would certainly be the most prominent time. I have some experience living across the street from it as I do right now and also a couple of years ago, dropping my daughter off there at work, sometimes that parking lot can just be full. It is just timing, if everybody shows up at 5:29 to pick up their kids ... and sometimes it happens and it gets kind of congested in the parking lot but usually when I get there, there has been sufficient parking, not a lot but sufficient. Ms. Michaels — The after school program currently lets out at 5:45, so it is a bit staggered for parents who have multiple children and we are proposing to our Board that we extend that caring to 6:00 so that you do have more of a window for people to drop off so just extending that by 15 minutes might help a lot with parking as well. Chairperson Wilcox — My experience with child care, having raised two kids, is that if you extend it to 6:00, the parents will show up at 5:59, to get their kid but that's just the way we parents operate... .(laughter). Ms. Brock — No, it's 6:02.... (laughter) 11 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Chairperson Wilcox — Good day care centers nab you for like $20 or $25 dollars if you are 2 minutes late and boy that discourages that real quickly I'll tell you that. Any other questions? Board Member Talty — The way that you had outlined where the bus comes in, would that mean, I know you maybe haven't thought everything through yet,., but it looked as though the children had to get off the bus and go across the crosswalk. Is that correct or will the bus come all the way around as if it was going to exit so they could be dropped on the school side of the... Ms. Michaels — The bus will come in to the BOCES lot children and the counselors, the teachers, will be waiting then they will all cross together but they will have to proposing striping out the parking spaces and striping parking lot which is not striped in that way now, but teachers. and stop here and unload to receive the children and cross the lot but we are a full crosswalk along the they will be escorted by Board Member Talty — So there is no way, currently, that you could have the bus come in and ... Ms. Michaels — Come in to the existing parking lot... Board Member Talty -.... come in to the existing parking lot... right... Ms. Michaels —,,.and turn around? It's a very tight space. Board Member Talty — I am just thinking winter. You know, its fine during the fall or spring but during the winter when there is snow, you won't be able. to see the striped walk ... things of that sort. .that is my concern. Ms. Michaels — That is a concern and I think the maintenance of the parking lot and the plowing of the parking lot and keeping those sidewalks clean will be part of mitigating that and having a child at IC3 for many, many years, they are very good at keeping their property clean and clear of snow and ice and I think that you will be able to see the markings on the walk and manage that without danger to the children. Especially if they are escorted by teachers. Chairperson Wilcox — I missed something. Did you say that the bus will not be able to pull in and turn around and therefore face the road when they drop the children off? Is that what you said? Board Member Talty — That's correct. Chairperson Wilcox — So let's make sure we are clear here... 12 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Ms. Michaels — The bus will be coming in to the BOCES lot and letting the children... Chairperson Wilcox — And it will be facing east ... when it comes in to the lot... right? When it enters the lot from Warren Road... Ms. Michaels — It'll be facing west. Chairperson Wilcox — Not when it comes on to Warren Road. Ms. Michaels — Well it comes in ... actually the entrance is down here so it will loop around BOCES and then pull up here. Chairperson Wilcox And then it will be facing west and let the kids out. Ms. Michaels — Yes, correct. Chairperson Wilcox — Which is what you wanted. Just prefer... Board Member Talty — Well what I really want... I prefer them not to go across that walk way... Chairperson Wilcox — Agreed... but at least the bus will be facing west, so they get out on the right side and they don't have to cross in front or behind... Ms. Michaels — That is correct. Chairperson Wilcox — I was confused because I was thinking if the bus doesn't change its direction then the bus has to turn around and school busses don't back- up, that is just one of the things they don't do, they don't want to back up. And how will the bus exist when it is... I know we are getting ahead of ourselves here... but how would the bus exit... Ms. Michaels — Right now the busses do use that area for mail drop off or something. There is something that the busses do there in the afternoons so we know that it is possible for that to happen. I don't have full mapping of that lot yet, but I know it works. We will work that out before our next submission. Chairperson Wilcox - Speaking for the Board, we saw the 239 review letter when we got here, you saw it earlier today, I appreciate the fact that you acted upon it with such short notice, to recognize that the County would prefer the school busses not stop on the road. 13 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Ms. Brock — A letter from BOCES would be fine, I am sure, to start the preliminary site plan approval process but for final approval, we'll be looking for something that is more binding on BOCES such as an easement, right -of -way agreement. Chairperson Wilcox — Make work activity for the lawyers,.. Ms. Brock — Any extra work now will save everybody a lot of work and headaches down the road. Board Member Conneman — Amen. Chairperson Wilcox — Is there anything else you need from us? We haven't provided much feedback, other than dealing with the parking and the circulation. Obviously the circulation... so you're all set for now... Ms. Michaels — I guess so. We will be submitting a regular preliminary package unless you have any further questions. Chairperson Wilcox — With the solution for the drop off and the busses and as Susan said, for preliminary, a letter from BOCES will be sufficient and if we get through the environmental and preliminary, we would want a legal document of some sort. Mr. Smith— I just want to mention one thing that was in the memo about the phasing part of it. that needs to be clear. In the drawings as we go along, the phasing and what parts of the project and which phase, because the way it was written up and talked about over several years and if one part of the building gets built, we would like to be about to do the final certificate of occupancy for it and being able to know which parking lot, parts or walk ways or site elements go with which phase, so we would be able to do co's for different phases rather than holding it up for one at the very end. Chairperson Wilcox — Coming around is an aerial. (discussion by the Board on how the picture is made) Chairperson Wilcox — So at least it appears possible that a bus could come into BOCES, go around and drop the kids off into this lot and then circle back around and back out. A bit circuitous but it would get the busses off of Warren Road when dropping the kids. Thank you very much. Chairperson Wilcox announces the next item on the Agenda. 14 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 PRESENTATION - DRAFT TOWN OF ITHACA TRANSPORTATION PLAN Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning and Nicole Tedesco, Planner give a Power Point presentation to the Board. (Attachment 1) Introduction by Mr. Kanter: As you know this is something that we've been working on for several years now through the Town of Ithaca Transportation Committee and the Honorable George Conneman is a member of the Transportation Committee along with a number of other Town officials. That committee actually evolved from the earlier Town of Ithaca /Cornell University Transportation Committee that was set up shortly after the generic environmental impact statement for the Precinct 7 area and then the special land use district for that Precinct 7 area was done and it was largely ... It had Forest Home people it had Cornell people, it had Town officials and that committee met for several years and then a decision was made by that committee and the Town Board to pursue an actual Transportation Plan which had been recommended by the Comprehensive Plan from 1993. So when that decision was made, the Transportation Committee was really reconstituted into the Town Zone Committee with the specific purpose of pursuing this Transportation Plan. We began work really earnestly in 2003. Nicole has been spearheading the effort for the plan, taking quite a bit of time and effort on the part of a lot of people. We have already had three public information meetings and some of you have been to those. In 2004 we had the first of the public information meetings and that one dealt with the goals of the plan, then in 2005 we had the second meeting and that dealt with the inventory and analysis and then earlier this year, we had the third meeting which dealt with issues, problems and preliminary recommendations. The documents that you have, there is quite a good selection of things here ranging from a one page flyer which can give you a pretty good idea of what is in the plan, at a glance, to the Executive Summary, which is a 20 some odd page version of the Plan Summary which really has the meat of the Plan in it. If you really wanted to get a good idea of what was in the plan without spending a lot of time, you could look at this. Then there is this here which is Volumes I, II and III, which is the full Plan text and all the Appendixes. Really a lot of information in there. Nicole is going to give a quick overview. Where we are now is this has gone to the Town Board, the Town Board has referred this officially to the Planning Board for a recommendation and we wanted to give this quick presentation tonight and then set the Public Hearing for the recommendation for the next meeting. Power Point Presentation 15 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 -- Question and Answers -- Board Member Mitrano — I am delighted to hear that you are considering walkways on Coddington. Is there any thought about up 9613? Ms. Tedesco — That's included on that walkway map. In particular, from Ithaca College to the City line, there is a really great need there. (off mic discussion about the hazards of that area) Ms. Tedesco — The, thing that those maps do not get into is what type of facility because on State roads it is going to be a little more difficult for the Town to do something. It might be appropriate for a multi -use trail there whereas a Town road, we can do our own walkway or sidewalk or whatever. Board Member Mitrano — So a trail might not be something immediately adjacent to the street? Ms. Tedesco — As long as it was well maintained, clearly delineated, students knew to take it, that could be a possibility and actually the design guidelines go through a whole range of options that you can use. On the small subdivision streets you can just have pedestrians right in the road; that's appropriate all the way through to a separate trail. Board Member. Thayer— So basically it is around the lake that... It's a little difficult on the city streets going out like Cliff Street. Beautiful sidewalk on Cliff Street and many times I have waited behind a bicyclist going down in the road instead of on the sidewalk. Is there any way to distinguish that sidewalk as a bicycle route or is that not in the plan? Ms. Tedesco — I think that is kind of tricky in particular because there is really, really limited right of way and your talking within the City .... What this map does show is the improvements in the section that I think you are talking about which is from Vinegar Hill Road up to the Town Line, but again, it really doesn't get into what should be done there. And a complicating issue there is not only is it a state owned road, but its within the City so I think there is no easy answer for that location. But it is shown on the map as something that the Town should keep in mind for the future. Chairperson Wilcox — I remember reading about only three new roads are planned in the Town other than what new roads may be created as part of subdivision, but I don't remember reading anything about dangerous intersections in the Town that may need to be reconfigured. Did I miss something...) am thinking of Burns Road and Coddington Road for example, where I believe there has been discussion for probably decades at this point, of reconfiguring that intersection. K Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Ms. Tedesco — I would take a look at the crash data section in the Inventory and Analysis and then also the Transportation Committee had hired a consultant, Fisher and Associates, and they analyzed various intersections and road segments for safety hazards and George and Jon ... do you remember if... . Mr. Kanter — I think Burns Road was one of them but more recently that has been the focus of attention of the County's Coddington Road Improvement Project and it turns out that that's probably going to be one of the initial places that the Project will address because the County has told us that they don't have sufficient money to do the whole stretch of the road from the city line and out ... But the Burns Road area is the one that they are going to focus on first and they have been looking at the intersection alignment and trying to figure out how... Chairperson Wilcox — That is a bad intersection because of the dip in the road and the fact that you have an off -set intersection with King Road... Mr. Kanter — They have even talked about things like a round -about which I am not sure about how realistic that is for that kind of intersection out in a. rural area, but ... They are looking at a number of realignments that might help that. (Board off mic discussion about dangerous intersections) Mr. Kanter — The Plan does talk, about the multi - jurisdictional aspects of many of these problems. In many cases this is not something that the Town can solve by itself. Fortunately we have the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council as a coordinating regional agency that is already very active that does address those kinds of things, so using that kind of a forum will help. Board Member Mitrano — I should say, I think it is terrific what you guys are doing. Chairperson Wilcox — Has anybody looked at the cost for putting the recommendations... Ms. Tedesco — With the recommendations, one of the positives and one of the negatives about it is there is so much stuff in there that not everything can be done. So it really gives the Town Board the flexibility to set their own priorities and the financial aspects will influence their priorities. For some of the newer physical capital improvements, for example, traffic calming, the design guidelines do include cost estimates. So that way if someone brings up what about the idea of a raised crosswalk, what would that set us back, you can find the answer there. So for specific things like that, there are cost estimates. Board Member Conneman — You can't do a project until you have a proposal on it anyway so this at least identifies the types of things that the Town wants you to think about. 17 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Mr. Kanter — Also, it recommends continuing to use the Town's Capital Improvement Program and capital budgeting process to look at long -term costs of these kinds of improvements. We have actually already incorporated a couple of these recommendations in. There was the Hanshaw Road walkway, which will be part of the County Road Project. We also put in some for the Coddington Road Walkway even though that is somewhat less clear exactly what that walkway will be and then we included the Honness Lane walkway from Recreation Way down to Slaterville Road, which is a fairly easy connection to make. So those are actually proposed to be put in the Capital Budget for this upcoming round. So those are the types of things that can help turn the proposal into specific projects and that's where the cost figures will come in. Board Member Mitrano — do the large non -tax paying entities that benefit from these improvements, and right now I am thinking about Ithaca College, ever contribute in ways ...Is that ever a factor as to what might make a project happen sooner rather than later...do those negotiations ever occur between the Town and the entity? Mr. Kanter — We wish they would occur more often but they do and Coddington Road is a good example because there is a possibility of including some of the walkway on Ithaca College property. Board Member Conneman — The other thing is that Volume III has a lot of good stuff in it that would be helpful to us in the work that we do. Ms. Tedesco — I have been drawing up a checklist of the greatest hits, the things that when something comes before you, if you are going to keep 10 things about bicycle and transportation in your mind, these are the 10 that you have to hit. I am hoping that since there is a lot of detail in the design guidelines, I am hoping that this will help keep our minds focused on that goal. There is still a lot of work to go into that, so it is not ready yet. Board Member Howe — What happens next? Mr. Kanter — The Town Board has referred to the Planning Board for a recommendation and we are hoping to set a Public Hearing for the November 21St meeting to officially allow the public to come in and comment on the plan. We do plan to publicize it more. Then the next step would be to actually send a recommendation to the Town Board. In that process we are hoping that the Planning Board as a whole as well as individual members send us comments on the Plan. Let Nicole know specific comments or concerns that you might have. This process is a little different than adopting a Local Law, for instance, where you basically have a law and you are reacting to that specific law and the wording in it and then sending your recommendation to the Board on that. In this case, this is more of a living, evolving document and although there is a current version before you, I am sure there are going to be further changes to it before it is adopted by the Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Town Board and it may take a couple of additional meetings and hearings with the Town Board to get through that process. So at this point, don't consider it a completed, finished document and we are really interested in hearing specific comments or general ones from you. We are hoping that either at or shortly after the November 21St Planning Board meeting you would be able to send a recommendation to the Town Board and then start the more formal Town Board adoption process. Board Member Howe — Just remind me, who is on the Town of Ithaca Transportation Committee? Is it just Town Board members and Planning Board members and some staff or are there stakeholders? Ms. Tedesco — There is a pretty good mix. Our Town Board representatives ... our current Chair is Will Burbank, and Pat Leary is also on the Committee as well as Cathy. George is our Planning Board liaison. There is staff; John, myself, Dan and Fernando de Aragon also attends the meetings sometimes and there are a few Cornell representatives; John Gutenberger, Andrea Easlick, and Bill Lamp and then Fred. Everyone has been... it has been really good to have a diverse ... and Tom Niederkorn, a former Town Board member...and it has been really good to have eyes looking at the problem from different locations. You get some interesting discussions and comments going on. Board Member Howe — So it would be before the November 21St meeting that you would send it to Forest Home Improvement Association and groups like that? Mr. Kanter -- Yes, we are hoping to get those out pretty soon. Board Member Conneman — They had seen various versions several times. Mr. Kanter — This version already has a lot of Forrest Home input in it. The other thing we will be working on is the Environmental Quality Review which Nicole has already put together a Long Environmental Assessment Form. We will have to get Susan's input on the whole SEQR aspect but that will be a Town Board responsibility. It's a very generic kind of a document. There are a lot of recommendations in it but there are no actual projects that will result specifically from the plan. It is an enabling document, but not an implementation document in itself. In fact, the implementation aspect of this is going to be an ongoing thing after the Plan is adopted. So, the SEQR is going to be fairly general. We are not sure at this point whether it will be a Type I or an Unlisted Action but it does have a Long Environmental Form that has already been drafted by Nicole and if anyone is interested in taking a look at that, we can provide that to you as well. Chairperson Wilcox — You should be very proud of this document. 19 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Ms. Tedesco — Yes I. am. But at this point I have been working on it for a very long time, I can recite some parts verbatim so this is where it is particularly important that I get input from other people, especially the people who are going to have to live with the implications of this such as Planning Board members. So, read it through and even if you have something off the top of your head, don't hesitate to call me. From here, once all the Public Hearings are done and the final draft is completed. The Town Board will adopt it ...will. hopefully adopt it...and then from there, because there are so many recommendations ... there is a lot of flexibility to pick and choose what needs to be done first. The draft recommendations have priorities identified, so that way, that will give them something to start off with and then, after several years, depending on how the plan is working, if there are things that work well, that's great, if there are things that don't work well then that will be a chance to review and update the Plan. Chairperson Wilcox - Don't forget to look at the Appendices... there are some great maps and so much information. Mr. Kanter — So should we set the Public Hearing for the recommendation for the November 21St meeting? Chairperson Wilcox —Why not on the 7cn? Chairperson Wilcox — Do we want to meet on Election Day? And if we do meet on Election Day, do we want to have a Public Hearing on that day? The Board seems to prefer a Public Hearing on the 21St. Because of Election Day, we seem to be willing to meet on Election Day but we will hold the Public Hearing on the 21St since we may not get some people here who we would like to hear their comments. Ms. Tedesco — Our draft distribution list has over 50 recipients on it so I personally don't have a problem with a couple of extra weeks to get those out. Mr. Kanter — We are working with the Town Board on extending Nicole's position into at least the first 3 months of 2007. Her position was actually set to expire at the end of this year but because there will still be some work on the Transportation Plan and implementation and things like that... it looks good for something like that. Chairperson Wilcox — That's the problem with Town Board Agendas is they're cryptic sometimes and you can ... there was something about ... there was an agenda item about a planner position but you don't, you can't get a sense just looking at the agenda. Chairperson Wilcox — Your position is partly funded by Cornell University Right? Ms. Tedesco — I think it is entirely... Pill Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Mr. Kanter — Not directly. Chairperson Wilcox — Wasn't part of the TGEIS money ... Mr. Kanter — Basically, Cornell is paying the Town a certain amount of money that was agreed to, basically to pay for Cathy and my time that we are spending on the generic GEIS and because of the, time that we are spending on that, we have hired Nicole to do, mainly Transportation Plan work, thanks to that money from Cornell but it is not directly paying for Nicole's salary. Chairperson Wilcox Thank you very much. Feedback taken by email, voice mail, phone calls... APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES I hereby move approval of the minutes from September 5th , and October 3`d Seconded by Rod Howe. Board Member Conneman — I have one correction... it says I personally fell instead of felt on page... whatever it is ... of the October 3rd minutes. Chairperson Wilcox — With that change... Board votes. Board approves the minutes of September 5, 2006 and October 3, 2006. OTHER BUSINESS Rite Aid Chairperson Wilcox — I want to talk about Rite Aid. Board Member Conneman — I do too. Chairperson Wilcox — They look like they are getting ready to open. Board Member Conneman — I went by. Chairperson Wilcox — Anybody else gone by? It looks like we've all driven by. Mr. Kanter — They look like they are getting ready to open. They have a number of things still to complete. Some of you might have noticed the chain -link fence around the storm water pond, which was not part of the approved site plan. They feel they need it, I've told them it doesn't look very good, the way they did it and that they will need to submit a site plan modification request to the Board if they want to keep it in one form or another. They are is the process of putting that together. I think they understand that in order to keep it they are going to have to do 21 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 something with it ... either some additional screening or adding green slatted or mesh to the fence to... Chairperson .Wilcox = Hold on... (reporter had her tape going which was interrupting Jon) You can't do that... (the reporter shut it off). Mr. Kanter — So there's the fence and there's the crosswalk, which, I don't know if any of you have looked at but I would encourage you to look at it the next time you go there. It's there. It's kind of an odd material. It's not raised but it is textured. It is kind of a combination of black asphalt with colorized material interwoven in it and it does have white stripes around the outside of the crosswalk but ... This is supposedly what the County approved, we are trying to get confirmation of that, am not, personally, happy with it. I don't think it is very visible and it is not very well lighted where the crosswalk goes across Pine Tree Road. So, if any of you have an opportunity to go out and look at it, especially in dark hours, I would recommend it because we may be having to deal with that issue as well. Chairperson Wilcox — I remember coming up the hill from 366 and you just don't see it. It is just suddenly there. That has something to do with the elevation but... Mr. Kanter — It is not a very flat area so a raised crosswalk would have been good but the County didn't want to do that. Chairperson Wilcox — Did you ask about the signage? Mr. Kanter — The signage... Everything supposedly is going to conform to the zoning requirements. There's going to be some future sign things coming to this Board and the Zoning Board for variances and that will be up to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board to decide whether you want to stick with your guns with what you told them before which is basically you have to conform to the zoning or not. Board Member Conneman — They have not conformed ... Mr. Kanter — Well, what they have there now and what they will have when they open will conform to zoning. They will not need any variances for it but that is not all they want to do. So they may be coming back in with some additional proposals. It actually turned out ... You know how the Rite Aid lettering was going to go on both facades but the pharmacy over the entrance over the middle of the building ... It was determined that that actually would not be consistent with the sign law requirements so what they are proposing to do is put only the Rite Aid wording on the Pine Tree facade, putting the pharmacy wording over the entrance and not putting anything else on the Mitchell Street facade so it will be kind of A- symmetrical and what they want to do is come back in and request to add the Rite Aid part on the Mitchell Street facade which would exceed the wall sign amounts that are allowed on the sign law. 22 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Chairperson Wilcox — What they could do is take the signage on the Pine Tree side and make it smaller. And then they could put Rite Aid on both sides. Mr. Kanter — They could. Chairperson Wilcox — Absolutely. Mr. Kanter — But you know, these standardized sign lettering and everything... Board Member Conneman — That is not the truth. Big corporations have different plans, a, b, and c and they don't tell you about b and c. Mr. Kanter — We don't have to approve anything beyond the zoning. So, basically we are going to have to check everything very carefully but they probably are going to. be requesting to open very soon. Board Member Talty — So do they have a CO to open? Mr. Kanter — No they don't, not yet. There are a number of issues still remaining and one of them actually has something to do with the sprinkler system inside the building. That's a code issue that they are still trying to work out, and until they do that, they won't get approval for a CO. Board Member Talty — So they have to come back in, front of the Board before they can get a CO, right? Mr. Kanter — Well, not necessarily. The fence issue, yes. We have told them that if we receive an application for the fence and if we got confirmation from the County that the crosswalk is okay, that we, based at least on those two things at least from our end, recommend issuance of a temporary CO. But the sprinkler thing is actually a bigger issue which may hold them up even further, so they are working on that right now. Chairperson Wilcox — Pressure problems? Mr. Kanter — Yes, exactly. Agenda for the November 7cn Meeting Mr. Kanter — We do have two items that are tentatively scheduled for November 7 th There's a simple two -lot subdivision that's not so simple, as these things always tend to be not so simple. And there's the Overlook at West Hill. There's a modification of the building light fixtures that has been submitted. The light fixtures have actually been installed and they are different from what the Board approved and they are not shielded so there are some things that we are going to have to look at there. 23 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Chairperson Wilcox — We had the architect here too. Mr. Kanter — So we have those two items still, even if we move the Transportation Plan to the 21St, which we said we would do. Actually those are two pretty quick items. Chairperson Wilcox— We could move those to the 21St too. Mr. Kanter — If we do move those to the 21St and then we also have the Transportation Plan on the 21St, we have two other items for the 21St, one of which has been confirmed. It is a two -lot subdivision land going to the City watershed which we have seen a couple of those, so that is pretty basic but then we are also expecting the Longview Special Care Facility addition to be coming in for preliminary approval and that one is going to be a bigger one so...Starting to add on a number of items to that may ... Chairperson Wilcox — I hate to meet for an hour but I don't want a jam - packed 21St either. So we will keep it as it is and we'll be able to get out of here at a decent hour on election night and go home and turn on the tv or go to your favorite republican or democratic party meeting area. Mr. Kanter — Keeping those two items for the 7tn? Chairperson Wilcox — Yeah, let's keep those two items for the 7th and maybe we could talk about training law or something like that. Mr. Kanter — Did you find out if the Governor actually signed that? Chairperson Wilcox — Yes it is signed. Mr. Kanter — So you could tell us more about that. Chairperson Wilcox — What did I hear on the news this morning about our pay raise here, for Board members it's going to be like 4% or something. Mr. Kanter -- 4.6 Chairperson Wilcox — Four point six is what they agreed on? I heard one councilperson on the radio and I heard the newscast about what happened. I was in a session at the Planning Federation last week and they just asked by a show of hands which Planning Boards where paid and which ones weren't, and most of them were paid, and then they asked what people were paid and there were a lot of 25, 50 and this one town where the chair got $200 a meeting and the Board members got $100 a meeting. For the record, I believe I get $2 more a meeting than the rest of you. It's roughly that, I don't know what it is actually. I didn't ask OZAI Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 whether it was a town or village where they don't have a professional staff, and when you don't have a professional planning staff available to you, what planning board members have to do is significantly more than what we have to do. I don't know.if the City pays their board members yet, they didn't used to. Anything else, Jon, in your other business? Mr. Kanter — Have any of you heard about ... this is actually the Ithaca College Events and Athletic Center? They are sending around notice to neighbors and the Coddington Road area, inviting people to a very early meeting to present the idea of this Center. Some of us, Mike and I, have already seen some early presentations on it ... It's really quite a... Board Member Conneman — They announced it at the kick -off to their fundraiser. Chairperson Wilcox — So that is supposed to be on what I would call the Raponi property or at least on the other side of campus, away form the existing athletic facility. Mr. Kanter — Yes and that is why they are setting up a meeting on Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Emerson Suites at Ithaca College. They are sending these invitations around to all the Coddington Road residents and a number of others just to have an early kind of neighborhood meeting type. Chairperson Wilcox — Without pre judging the application, I can just think of the traffic issues along Coddington Road for example. Mr. Smith— The County has also been involved... Chairperson Wilcox — We also know that that part of Coddington Road is narrow, the right -of -way is narrow ... One of the reasons I think Ithaca College may allow a walkway along their property is it is going to be difficult to find a place next to the road to put a sidewalk, it is just so narrow down through there and as someone said before, I've seen the college students walking up the middle of the road at 1:00 1:15 in the morning but they come up Hudson Street on the sidewalk and then it seems like when they get to the Town limit, they start walking up the middle of Coddington Road. It's scary sometimes, on a warm spring night.... They have been talking about this for maybe five years so.... Other Business from Board Members? Ms. Brock — The Town Board did a few things that you may be interested in last night. They enacted the Town Lighting Law and the Solar Collector Law. So those will both become effective as soon as they are published and filed with the Secretary of State. 25 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Chairperson Wilcox — Nice compromise on the front yard usage of the solar panels, I like the compromise that was included in the local law. Not by right in the front yard. Ms. Brock — Right. They are allowed as of right in rear and side yards, you would need a variance if you wanted to place it in the front yard. Chairperson Wilcox — Did they decide it was a variance, ZBA, or come to the Planning Board for site review? Ms. Brock — It doesn't say, they just say that they're allow as of right in the side or rear yards which means that the default will be that they need to get a variance from the ZBA. In terms of the size, they opted for the larger sizes, a 1000 square feet for ground or pole mounted and the height at 20 feet at maximize tilt. So the compromise really was really they went for the larger sizes in height but then they did not allow it in the front yard where it would be perhaps more intrusive. Also... Board Member Talty — Can I interrupt for a minute ... The reason they went for 1000 square feet... is that to mount it to the roof? Ms. Brock — No. Actually this law allows any amount to be mounted to the roof without limitation. The 1000 square feet is only a limit on what's not on the roof. That would be ... or not on a building... that would be on a pole or on the ground. Board Member Talty — That's a lot of square feet. Ms. Brock That is a lot but they really felt that the Town should be encouraging the use of solar energy and some of the installers indicated that that amount might be necessary for certain applications. There was a philosophical discussion... Also, a number of people talked to the Town Board during the Persons to be Heard portion about Sapsucker Woods. Opposed to the development and raising issues about this Board's process in the SEQR review and approval, preliminary site plan approval, also raising concerns about drainage and other issues... Asking the Town Board, I think, to take these concerns into consideration as the Town Board will eventually be looking at pieces of this project for approval. Such as acceptance of roads that might, proposed to be, dedicated to the Town or acceptance of other facilities. So Cathy Valentino proposed that there be a public meeting, perhaps at the Northeast Elementary School, in the neighborhood so people could come and raise their concerns and... Chairperson Wilcox — About the existing drainage. Ms. Brock — I think that was the primary issue she was thinking of but I would assume that other issues might be raised too. Then people wanted the chance to 26 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 address the Town Board again in more detail at a later Town Board meeting because in addition to those people who where here, each person was limited to 3 minutes, there were also quite a few people, Ithaca College students and South Hill residents who also addressed the Board during the Persons to be Heard portion, about the noise ordinance. The students saying the ordinance is vague, it doesn't give them fair notice about what constitutes a violation and that the sheriff is selectively enforcing the ordinance. The neighbors saying that the ordinance is working, hold firm ... that type of thing. So I don't remember actually how long this whole public comment period went on, and hour an hour and a half, but I think the Sapsucker Woods people felt that because of their limit on how long they could speak, they wanted to come back and speak more fully with the Town Board at a later meeting and Cathy thought that that would be appropriate once the Town Board had more information in hand, namely from the public information meeting that will be held. So I just wanted to give you a heads -up that that is going on too. Chairperson Wilcox — What's happening on October 29th? Mr. Kanter — October 29th or November 29th Chairperson Wilcox — I don't know. I have it as October 29th ... I'm speaking of the Department of State coming. Mr. Kanter — That's November. Chairperson Wilcox — That's November 29th... anyway... what's going on there? Mr. Kanter — It's a Department of State discussion at the Town Boards request of the Town Board's role in the planning and zoning process and that's going to be November 29th which is a Wednesday, at 7:00p.m. We are actually looking for a location because this room is probably not available. We will let people know but basically, it could cover any number of things ranging from what do you think a comprehensive plan is about anyway. That to me is the number one thing that the Town Board should be focusing on. What's the role of a Comprehensive Plan, is our Plan out of date, do we need to review and update it... is the Plan doing, setting the basis for growth that we really want it to do ... That's the Town Board's primary role in planning and zoning and of course zoning itself, which we just went through a substantial revision... Chairperson Wilcox — You don't bring the Department of State in to talk about updating your Comprehensive Plan do you? Mr. Kanter — Oh sure we do, if you ask them. Actually it's probably a very good idea because it is good to have a third party, an independent agent, discuss these things from a very, from a legal, from a practical standpoint. It's also going to be good because we are going to invite Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board members from all around the County so although it sort of started as a desire by 27 Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 some of our Town Board members to do it, it is going to end up being, hopefully, a very large event. It is probably going to be co- sponsored with Cortland County and the Tompkins County Planning Department is also co- sponsoring it with us. So it really is, I am looking at it as an educational program and a good opportunity for people to learn something, but there will be other elements of it. For instance, questions have come up about how can the Town Board have more communication with the Planning Board and vice versa ... That's pretty obvious ... you can have a liaison appointed by the Town Board to send to the Planning Board meetings and vice versa. The City does that, a number of other communities do that ... Some of these things are not rocket science you need to just,.. Chairperson Wilcox — Other than the two unofficial liaisons that we have, Susan and yourself. Board Member Conneman — At the Town Board meeting where they approved referring the Transportation Plan to the Planning Board, there was one councilman who thought that maybe that meant that we were going to pass ... that all the power of the Town Board was going to pass to the Planning Board ... you can read the minutes if you want to know who, but which I thought was an interesting comment, and he finally voted for ... I don't know if he finally voted against it or for it but anyway .... I came to that meeting because I was representing the Transportation Committee so... Mr. Kanter — He voted for it. He was reassured that, in the case of the Transportation Plan, that was a function solely, totally under the jurisdiction of the Town Board, Board Member Conneman — I just wanted to mention that because I think that is perhaps leading to the Department of State. Mr. Kanter — He did refer back to, I think he even mentioned the specific example, most recently of the Overlook development where it was a rezoning, it was a site plan, it was a subdivision, the Town Board has the responsibility for the rezoning the Planning Board has the responsibility for the site plan and subdivision... somebody has to be the lead agency for the environmental review... traditionally the Town Board has always asked the Planning Board to do that because this is where all the detail review takes place. Perhaps there has been some hesitation in recent years that maybe that's not the way the Town Board wants to do it, I don't know. So that's probably a question they can ask the Department of State, What are other communities doing in that situation.... so there are probably some very specific, focused questions that people will have for the Department of State people and when we send out invitations, hopefully many of you can come and participate in it and if you have questions or comments that you want to make, certainly do it. Planning Board- Final October 17, 2006 Board Member Mitrano — Can that be taped? Videotaped? Mr. Kanter — I think Lisa might be able to do it but that depends on where we end up being able to hold it also, but that is something we are thinking about. Ms. Brock — And actually that meeting was mentioned to these people who came and talked about Sapsucker Woods ... that Cathy felt that it would be better to wait for. this State meeting so that the Town Board members had a better idea about their role in this whole process. They could get that information first and then they would be more informed when they then met again with the neighbors or had the neighbors come back and talk at a future Town Board meeting. So she really wanted the future communication to be after this November 29th meeting with the Department of State. Chairperson Wilcox — Anything else? ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Chairperson Wilcox, seconded by Board Member George Conneman. Passed. Meting adjourned at 8:53p.m. Ily Submitted: Paulette Neilsen Deputy Town Clerk 29 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday, October 17, 2006 AGENDA 7:00 P.M. Persons to be heard (no more than five minutes). 7 :05 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building located on the Ithaca College campus north of Dillingham Hall, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2 and 41 -1 -30.4, Medium Density Residential. Zone. The proposal is for a new 4- level, +/- 50,500 gross square foot building for the Office of Admissions, the Office of Human Resources and the College's executive offices. The project will also. include new stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, landscaping, and changes to the adjacent parking area and walkways. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent. 7:20 P.M. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed additions and renovations at the Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) located at 579 Warren Road, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 73- 1 -1.4, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal includes the construction of two additions totaling +/- 5,905 gross square feet, interior renovations to the existing building, and new landscaping, walkways, and lighting. Ithaca Community Childcare Center, Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent. 7:40 P.M. Presentation of the draft Town of Ithaca Transportation Plan. 5. Persons to be heard (continued from beginning of meeting if necessary). 6. Approval of Minutes: September 5, 2006 and October 3, 2006, 7, Other Business: 8. Adjournment. Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE NOTIFY SANDY POLCE AT 273 -17470 (A quorum of four (4) members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, October 17, 2006 By direction of the Chairperson of the Planning Board, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at the following time and on the following matter: 7:05 P.M. Consideration of Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed Ithaca College Gateway Building located on the Ithaca College campus north of Dillingham Hall, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 41 -1 -30.2 and 41 -1 -30.4, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is for a new 4- level, +/- 50,500 gross square foot building for the Office. of Admissions, the Office of Human Resources and the College's executive offices. The project will also include new stormwater facilities, outdoor lighting, landscaping, and changes to the adjacent parking area and walkways. Ithaca College, Owner /Applicant; Peter J. Trowbridge, Trowbridge & Wolf, LLP, Agent, Said Planning Board will at said times and said place hear all persons in support of such matters or objections thereto. Persons may appear by agent or in person. Individuals with visual impairments, hearing impairments or other special needs, will be provided with assistance as necessary, upon request. Persons desiring assistance must make such a request not less than 48 hours prior to the time of the public hearings. Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 Dated: Friday, October 6, 2006 Publish: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 7 � Y J y Wednesday October 11, 2006' THE ITHACA JOURNAL t Name Fe.4t� �e SA �VP� �ow��SorJ Town of Ithaca Planning Board October 17, 2006 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN4N Address X014- 4�0 c4c 4 6/06 ( � � fCzu � l TTK�aCa Cv�� 1:�- T Aim 9 TOWN OF ITHACA AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION I, Sandra Polce, being duly sworn, depose and say that I am a Senior Typist for the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York; that the following Notice has been duly posted on the sign board of the Town of Ithaca and that said Notice has been duly published in the local newspaper, The Ithaca Journal Notice of Public Hearings to be held by Town of Ithaca Planniny, Board in the Town of Ithaca Town Hall 215 North Tioyza Street Ithaca New York on Tuesday October 17, 2006 commencing at 7:00 P.M., as per attached. Location of Sign Board used for Posting: Town Clerk Sign Board — 215 North Tioga Street. Date of Posting: Date of Publication: October 6, 2006 October 11, 2006 Sandra Polce, Senior Typist Town of Ithaca STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of October 2006. Notary Public CONNIE F. CLARK Notary Public, State of New York No. 01 CL6052878 Qualified. in Tompkins County Commission Expires December 26, 20 ��