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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2010-07-20FILE DATE N OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD MEETING Tuesday, July 20, 2010 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 Board Members Present: Fred Wilcox, chair; Rod .Howe; Jon Bosak; John Beach Staff Present: Bruce Bates, Director of Code Enforcement; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; Darby Kiley, Planner; Debra DeAugistine, Deputy Town Clerk Call to Order Mr. Wilcox declared, the meeting duly opened at 7:07 p.m. AGENDA ITEM Persons to be hea Joel Harlen, Newfield, thinks growth is inevitable and desirable. AGENDA ITEM Consideration of a revised sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) project located north of the Pine Tree Road and Dryden Road (NYS Route 366) intersection, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 63- 1 -8.2, 63- 1 -2.2, 63 -1 -12, 63 -1 -3.1 and 63 -1- 3.3, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves construction of an underground accelerator tunnel (14ifoot diameter and +/- 1 km long), a cryogenic facility, and an extension to the existing Wilson Laboratory ( +/- 185,000 gross square feet of building space). The project will also involve new stormwater facilities, parking, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. The Planning Board may also discuss the draft scoping document for the Environmental Impact Statement. Cornell University, Owner; Steve Beyers, P.E., Engineering Services Leader, Agent. Don Bilderback, Cornell, gave a presentation on the project. They presented the project to the Planning Board two years ago and have done some value engineering since then. This is an upgrade of their existing facility at Wilson Lab, where they do accelerator -based x -ray science work, to a new class of Imachine called the Energy Recovery Linac. It will provide a new and more powerful and focused source of x -rays, which will allow scientist to find out a lot about the structure of things. The new machine is so powerful that it will put enough x -ray intensity onto a nanoparticle that you can study one of them rather than the aggregate of millions and millions of them. It will enable experiments that cannot be done by any existing x -ray source now. It will help scientists further develop lifesaving drugs, smart electronics, and new materials. This machine will attract outstanding students and visiting scientists from around the world. This is a new type of machine, unlike any other that has been made. It will be a high - quality x -ray source, not available anywhere else, a frontier leader, the first of its kind, and a game- changing or transformational machine for this area of x -ray science. Mr. Bilderback went on to describe the project elements and how the machine works. The ERL will use more energy than the machine does now. The size of the project is 260,000 square feet for all the buildings. He mentioned that they will eventually eliminate the creek -side modular buildings. All this has been incorporated into the Cornell Master Plan. Parking: the present Wilson lot has room for 120 cars; it gets full occasionally. The new building eats into the parking lot 'and leaves only 40 spots. They want to establish a pedestrian bridge across the creek to handle a fire truck. Visual impacts: Wi lower level will be of green to harmor least LEED Silver office, university ai structures are app move forward with Project benefits: the pi new and advanced re; preserve 200 existing many as 20 new full -tii failing behind. Without estimated that the faci period. Schedule: The facility PB Minutes 07 -20 -2010 Page 2 of 3 T1 lot, and utilize 53 spots; they really need 77. The bridge will be able to t end of the lot is not used much. There are four spots by the cryo plant. Lab has brown brick on it now; the extension will be slightly different. The and the upper level will be glass and metal of various shades and textures with the gorge setting. It's been designed for sustainable structures with at fication and broad energy reuse. They've worked with the campus planning act, Cornell Plantations, utilities, and others to make sure the plans and ately placed, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally sound. They will imunity awareness in the fall. Mr. Bosak is very conc representatives that in will be equivalent to th, obligations, the Plannir review. When it comes increase in greenhous( emissions for all the co reduce their greenhow Mr. Beach is Mr. Howe remarked noted that he is glad ject will renew and sustain the accelerator and the x -ray facility, generate larch, train students, continue scientific leadership and excellence, and gh -tech jobs in upstate New York. The facility will ultimately support as e positions. Compared to other storage rings in the country, Cornell is enewing the facility with an ERL, they eventually won't be competitive. It is y will inject $1 billion into the local and regional economy over a 15 -year be in fully operational in 6 to 7 years. rued about the energy impact of the project; he reminded the Cornell December of 2008 he pointed out that the energy needed to run the facility required to power 4,000- 11,000 houses. In order to discharge their 1 Board will need to look at this issue when they get to environmental o scoping, Mr. Bosak said that he does not just want to see an estimated gas emissions annually. He will want to know the greenhouse gas struction. He will want to know how they will mitigate it. How will Cornell gases to 0 as they have claimed they will? about the carbon footprint of the project. he hopes they will have a strong public education component. He also in the new plan they're keeping one lane open on Judd Falls Road. Mr. Wilcox wondered how many truck trips it would take to haul away 225,000 cubic yards of fill and what roads will be 1 sed. He commented that 5 years is a lot of construction; a lot of noise. Mr. Bilderback: responded that heavy construction won't go on for 5 years; more like 3. Mr. Howe noted that another Cornell project is planned on East Hill and if they move forward, the Board will need to talk about phasing; there will be more challenges for noise and construction if both projects are in the same general area. Risks and safety were discussed, and it was agreed that the public education process is needed to alleviate fears and misconceptions. Jon Kanter noted that Public Works will be interested in the impacts on Judd Falls Road during construction and rebuilding it to the condition it was in before the project started, in addition to any lane closures and detouring plans. The state and county will also be concerned about the wear and tear on the roads and guarantees of road rebuilds. Ms. Kiley will arrange a tour of the facility for new board members. AGENDA ITEM Other Business Conifer recap es Agenda items for tI • Draft scopin • Cleveland E • South Hill Bi • Vine Street i Adjournment Upon motion by Mr Respectfully subm PB Minutes 07 -20 -2010 Page 3of3 ially park and ride lot August 3rd meeting: document for the Cornell University Energy Recovery Linac ates preliminary subdivision approval iness Campus Not subdivision )ttages sketch plan review each, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. bra DeAugistfael ;t- Deputy Town Clerk 7:00 P.M. Persons 7:05 P.M. Conside Recove (NYS F 12,63- constru cryoger square i parking draft sc Owner; 3. Armrov 4. 5. Other B NOTE: IF ANY (A TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday, July 20, 2010 AGENDA to be heard (no more than five minutes). ation of a revised sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Energy Linac (ERL) project located north of the Pine Tree Road and Dryden Road me 366) intersection, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.'s 63- 1 -8.2, 63- 1 -2.2, 63 -1- •3.1 and 63- 1 -3.3, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves :ion of an underground accelerator tunnel (14 -foot diameter and +/- 1 km long), a c facility, and an extension to the existing Wilson Laboratory ( +/- 185,000 gross et of building space). The project will also involve new ston-nwater facilities, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. The Planning Board may also discuss the ping document for the Environmental Impact Statement. Cornell University, 'teve Beyers, P.E., Engineering Services Leader, Agent. of Minutes: July 6, 2010. Jonathan Kanter, AICP Director of Planning 273 -1747 ,ER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE NOTIFY SANDY POLCE AT 273 -1747. of four (4) members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) n Namee / I Do P ,fit, UDt� Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga Street July 20, 2010 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN -IN lease Print Clearly, Thank You Address Y 1 `i$8_3 Ck Sa.