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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2012-12-18TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday. December 18. 2012 AGENDA 7:00 P.M. Persons to be heard (no more than five minutes). 7:05 P.M. SEQR Determination: Conversion of Ithaca College Terrace 13 Building, 130 Flora Brown Drive. 7;05 P.M. PUBLIC HF.ARTNG: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed alterations to the Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca College campus, 130 Flora Brown Drive, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is to convert the existing temporary dorm building into temporary office space, to be used through 2018. There are no exterior changes planned as part of the conversion. Ithaca College, Owner/Applicant; Robert J. O'Brien, AIA, Agent. 7:15 P.M. SEQR Determination: Fill Site, Danby Road (NYS Route 96B), south of Country Inn & Suites. 7; 15 F.M. PUBLIC HF.ARTNG: Consideration of Special Permit for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Inn and Suites property. Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The project involves bringing 12,000 +/- cubic yards of material to this property over the next year to be used to raise the grade up to approximately level with the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necessary throughout the project. Holly Creek Townhomes LLC, Owner; R. B. Robinson Contracting Inc., Applicant; Brad Robinson, Agent. 7:30 P.M. Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Plantations Botanical Gardens project located adjacent to the Plantations' Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center (124 Comstock Knoll), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67-1-6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the development of a 1 +/- acre Peony and Perennial Garden and a % +/- acre East Asian Garden around the Welcome Center. Associated with these new gardens are a small pedestrian bridge, stone seat walls, paths, courtyards, garden arbor, sculptural stone, bollard lighting, and modifications to the stormwater management plan for the site. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant; David M. Cutter, University Landscape Architect, Agent. 7. Consideration of approval of the 2013 Planning Board Meeting Schedule. 8. Consideration of a recommendation to the Town Board regarding the Chairperson of the Planning Board for 2013. 9. Approval of Minutes: December 4,2012. 10. Other Business: 11. Adjournment Susan Ritter Director of Planning 273-1747 NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE NOTIFY SANDY POLCE AT 273-1747. (A quorum of four (4) members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS Tuesday. December 18.2012 By direction of the Chairperson of the Planning Board, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Public Hearings will be held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y., at the following times and on the following matters: 7:05 P.M. Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed alterations to the Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca College campus, 130 Flora Brown Drive, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is to convert the existing temporary dorm building into temporary office space, to be used through 2018. There are no exterior changes planned as part of the conversion. Ithaca College, Owner/Applicant; Robert J. O'Brien, ALA, Agent. 7:15 P.M. Consideration of Special Permit for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Lm and Suites property, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The project involves bringing 12,000 +/- cubic yards of material to this property over the next year to be used to raise the grade up to approximately level with the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necessary throughout the project. Holly Creek Townhomes LLC, Owner; R. B. Robinson Contracting Inc., Applicant; Brad Robinson, 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 necessaiy, upon request. Persons desiring assistance must make such a request not less than 48 hours prior to the time of the public hearing. Susan Ritter Director of Planning 273-1747 Dated: Monday, December 10,2012 Publish: Wednesday, December 12,2012 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 bv the Town of Ithaca Planning Board in the Town of Ithaca Town Hall. 215 North Tioea Street, Ithaca. New York, on Tuesday. December 18. 2012 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: December 10, 2012 Date of Publication: December 12, 2012 Sandra Polce, Senior Typist Town of Ithaca STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12^*^ day of December 2012 -Notat7 PuDlic. State of New York - No. (BKE6025073 ■. ' Qualified tn Schuyier County.Commission Expires May 17, 20 / #r#E ITHACA JOURNAL i^|&N£SJ}Ay_, DECEMBER 12 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBUC 1, HEARINGS Tuesday. December 18, 20(2 - By direction of the Chair person of I'le Rannlng Board, NOTICE IS HEHEBy GIVEN that Public Hearings will be held by the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on Tuesday. December 18. 2012. at 215 North Tiogg Street. Ithaca, N.Y.. at the Mowing times arxf on the blowing matters: 7:05 P.M. Cortslderatlon of Prelimina ry and Final Site Plan.Ap proval and Special Permil for the proposed altera tions to the 'Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca Col lege campus, 130 Rora Brown Drive. Town of Itha- ta Tax Parcel No. 4l-i- 30.2. Medium Density Res idential Zone. The proposal is to convert the existing ,temporary dorm building In to temporary office space, to be used through 2018. There are no exterior changes planned es part of the conversloi^. Idiaca Cd- l^e. Owner/Appiicatil; Robert J. O'Brien. AIA. Agent. 7:15 P.M. Consideration of Spetid Permrt for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Inn and Suites property, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-MO,* Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The projecl Involves bringing 12.000 -r/- cubic yards of material to this property over the next year to be used to raise the grade up to ^proxlmately level wllh the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necesaary ihrougfiout the project. Holly Creek Townhomes LLC. Owrw: R. B. Robinson Contracting Inc.. Applicpnt: Bred Robin son, Agent. Said Planning Board will at said times and said d^ce hear ail persons In support of such matters or ot^ec- lions Ifiereto. Persons rn^ appear by agent or in per son. Individuals with visual impairments, hearing impairments or other spe cial needs, will be proviiied with asslstarice as neces sary, upon request. Per sons ^siring assistance rripst make such a request not less Man 48 hours prior tq- the time of the public hearing. Siisan Ritter Director of Ranning 273-1747 Dqted: Mtyiday. December 10.2012 12/iaA»12 Town of Ithaca Planning Board 215 North Tioga Street December 18,2012 7:00 p.m. PLEASE SIGN-EM Please Print Clearly. Thank You Name Address TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD MEETING Tuesday, December 18, 2012 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 Board Members Present: Fred Wilcox (Chair), Linda Collins, George Conneman, John Beach, Jon Bosak, Hollis Erb Staff Present: Sue Ritter, Director of Planning;Chris Balestra, Planner; Mike Smith, Planner; Bruce Bates, Director of Code Enforcement; Creig Hebdon, Civil Engineer; Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; Deb DeAugistine, Deputy Town Clerk Call to Order Mr. Wilcox called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and accepted the secretary’s posting of the public hearing notices. AGENDA ITEM Persons to be heard – No one came forward to address the Board. AGENDA ITEM SEQR Determination: Conversion of Ithaca College Terrace 13 Building, 130 Flora Brown Drive Rick Couture, IC, and Robert O’Brien, AIA, were present. Mr. Couture explained that they’ve de- termined they don’t need Terrace 13, but they do have a great need for office space, and this would provide an interim solution. The need is growing, not in terms of enrollment, but in terms of services. The IT support people who don’t need to be in the center of campus would use this office space. IC is asking for an extension of the occupancy permit from next June to 2018, which is when the annex permit expires. The administration feels comfortable getting a new building in place by then. It’s a partial change in use since there wouldn’t be offices on the second floor; that could be used for stu- dent housing in the first part of the year. Ms. Erb stated that the materials in front of her indicated the second floor was going to be vacant. Now she hears they want the possibility for dormitory use on the second floor. She wondered whether the materials would have to be modified. Ms. Brock responded that the materials said they would convert the first floor to office use. Ms. Erb and Ms. Beach inferred that the second floor would re- main empty. They’re fine with using it. Mr. Bosak asked why the Board required the removal of the building in the first place: Board mem- bers at the time were very careful to say that students needed to be out of there by 2013. Mr. Bates said he had the same question. He thought it was suggested because of the resale value. He asked why the Board mandated that they take down a perfectly good structure. Ms. Erb agreed, adding that they would replace it with a parking lot. Mr. Bates said that any changes they make to the outside have to come back in front of this Board anyway. Mr. Hebdon said the building has a limited life span and the Town didn’t want it to be like to Cornell U Halls, which are still there, and they are not perfectly good structures anymore. Mr. Bates said that state law requires that all buildings be inspected every three years and dorms, every year. Part of the building code requires that a building be in good repair. Ms. Erb responded that if it’s being inspected every year, she’s comfortable, and that the least desira- Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 2 of 8 ble thing to have up there is a parking lot. Mr. Bosak suggested that if it were called a modular struc- ture, the Board might not be having this discussion in the first place. Mr. Couture said that when they were in front of the Board four years ago, they didn’t know they would be in such need of office space. Likewise, they have no idea what they’ll need in 2018, so flexi- bility would be a good thing. Mr. Bates noted that the building is also not on a public way – it’s on the college’s own inner proper- ty. Even if they decide to demolish it some time down the road, they’ll have to come before this Board because the Town will want to know what they’re going to put in its place. Ms. Erb said that requiring them to come back would just make busy work for the Board. Mr. Con- neman stated that the students thought it was a nice building and were sad to have to move. PB Resolution No. 2012-085: SEQR, Preliminary and Final Site Plan & Special Permit, Ithaca College – Terrace 13 – Conversion to Office Space, Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2 Moved by Hollis Erb; seconded by John Beach WHEREAS: 1.This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed alterations to the Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca College campus, 130 Flora Brown Drive, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is to convert the first floor of the existing dorm building into office space and to retain the second floor use as a dormitory. There are no exterior changes planned as part of the conver- sion. Ithaca College, Owner/Applicant; Robert J. O’Brien, AIA, Agent, and 2.This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is acting as Lead Agency in environmental review with respect to Site Plan Approval and Special Permit, and 3.The Planning Board, on December 18, 2012, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short En- vironmental Assessment Form (EAF) Part I, submitted by the applicant, and Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, a packet of material including a “Project Description”, “Project location”, and “Floor Plan”, date stamped November 15, 2012, prepared by Chiang O’Brien Architects, and other application materials, and has considered project clarifications and modifications discussed at its December 18, 2012 meeting, and 4.The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental signifi- cance with respect to the proposed Site Plan Approval and Special Permit; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination of environmental significance in accordance with Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617 New York State Environmental Quality Review for the above referenced actions as proposed, Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 3 of 8 based on the information in the EAF Part I and for the reasons set forth in the EAF Part II, and, therefore, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. Vote: Ayes – Wilcox, Collins, Conneman, Beach, Bosak, Erb AGENDA ITEM Public Hearing: Consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed alterations to the Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca College campus, 130 Flora Brown Drive, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is to convert the existing temporary dorm building into temporary office space, to be used through 2018. There are no exterior changes planned as part of the conversion. Ithaca College, Own- er/Applicant; Robert J. O’Brien, AIA, Agent Mr. Wilcox opened the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. and closed the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. PB Resolution No. 2012-086: Preliminary and Final Site Plan & Special Permit, Ithaca College – Terrace 13 – Conversion to Office Space, Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2 Moved by John Beach; seconded by Hollis Erb WHEREAS: 1.This action is consideration of Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval and Special Permit for the proposed alterations to the Terrace 13 building on the Ithaca College campus, 130 Flora Brown Drive, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 41-1-30.2, Medium Density Residential Zone. The proposal is to convert the first floor of the existing dorm building into office space and to retain the second floor use as a dormitory. There are no exterior changes planned as part of the conver- sion. Ithaca College, Owner/Applicant; Robert J. O’Brien, AIA, Agent, and 2.This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as lead agency in environmental review with respect to the project has, on December 18, 2012, made a negative de- termination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and a Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, and 3.The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on December 18, 2012, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, a packet of material including a “Project Description”, “Project location”, and “Floor Plan”, date stamped November 15, 2012, prepared by Chiang O’Brien Architects, and other ap- plication materials; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed Ithaca College Office Space (Terrace 13) project finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270-200, Subsections A – L, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 4 of 8 1.That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby waives certain requirements for Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval, as shown on the Preliminary and Final Site Plan Checklists, having de- termined from the materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a significant altera- tion of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town Board, and 2.That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby grants Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the proposed Ithaca College Office Space in the Terrace 13 building, located on the Ithaca College campus at 130 Flora Brown Drive, as described in a packet of material including a “Pro- ject Description”, “Project location”, and “Floor Plan”, date stamped November 15, 2012, pre- pared by Chiang O’Brien Architects, and 3.The Planning Board rescinds the condition in its June 2009 resolution requiring removal of the building by June 30, 2013. Vote: Ayes – Wilcox, Collins, Conneman, Beach, Bosak, Erb AGENDA ITEM SEQR Determination: Fill Site, Danby Road (NYS Route 96B), south of Country Inn & Suites Brad Robinson gave a brief overview. There’s an existing dump site south of the hotel that contractors have been dumping in for around 10 years. Erosion control measures for the proposed site have been reviewed as has been traffic. Mr. Bosak stated that he would not have any questions if it were not for Mr. Marx’s letter. Mr. Heb- don said the only thing that might be impacted is the type of building that can go on the fill site. If demolition from housing is put there, it’s different than just dirt and gravel. Mr. Bosak said that’s not what Mr. Marx is raising: he’s talking about siting and access that can impact the highway and adja- cent properties. Ms. Erb thought it would be unwarranted to require a detailed plan for a simple request for fill. Ms. Brock pointed out that construction demolition debris is not the kind of fill contemplated by Town code; it would be considered land filling. Mr. Robinson addressed her concern by explaining that there will be no construction demolition waste, no woody debris or large chunks of anything; it will be rocks, soil, potentially some ground black top, and small pieces of concrete. Mr. Bates clarified that this is not a dump site, but a fill site. He would classify the concrete as fill material. They eventually have to show the Town how they’re going to build on that site. Ms. Brock explained that the Town doesn’t allow landfills. The code defines fill broadly as “including but not limited to soil, sod, loam, sand, gravel, stone, and similar materials.” Mr. Hebdon stated that concrete from broken up sidewalk is okay, but not big chunks of basement. He understands the intent of what they’re using it for. Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 5 of 8 When asked about truck traffic, Mr. Robinson said that most of the fill will arrive within the next two years. Right now, they have projects at IC, Longview, and the Terrace on State Street – all local pro- jects. On certain days there will be 50 loads, so at times, there will be a concentration of trucks. He explained that when they are hauling out, they want the production rate to be as high as it can be. He estimated three to four trucks steadily. Mr. Hebdon said the number of available dump sites is very small in the City and Town. There’s no need to import fill since there are enough local projects that need that site. PB Resolution No. 2012-087: SEQR, Special Permit, Auble Fill Permit Project, Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Town of Ithaca Planning Board, December 18, 2012 Moved by George Conneman; seconded by Linda Collins WHEREAS: 1.This action is Consideration of Special Permit for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Inn and Suites property, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The project involves bringing 12,000+/- cubic yards of material to the property over the next year, to raise the grade up to be approximately level with the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necessary throughout the project. Hol- ly Creek Townhomes LLC, Owner; R.B. Robinson Contracting Inc., Applicant; Brad Robinson, Agent, and 2.This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board is the lead agency in the environmental review with respect to Special Permit, and 3.The Planning Board, on December 18, 2012, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short En- vironmental Assessment Form (EAF) Part I, submitted by the applicant, and Part II prepared by Town Planning staff, a drawing titled “Site Plan– Proposed Fill Portion of Lands of David C. Au- ble, Danby Road– N.Y.S. Route 96B, Town of Ithaca- County of Tiompkins [sic], State of New York, Tax Map No. 37.1-1-10,” dated Oct. 30, 2012, prepared by Klumpp Land Surveying, and other application materials, and 4.The Town Planning staff has recommended a negative determination of environmental signifi- cance with respect to the proposed Special Permit; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination of environmental significance in accordance with Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617 New York State Environmental Quality Review for the above referenced actions as proposed, based on the information in the EAF Part I and for the reasons set forth in the EAF Part II, and, therefore, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. Vote: Ayes – Wilcox, Collins, Conneman, Beach, Bosak, Erb Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 6 of 8 AGENDA ITEM Public Hearing: Consideration of Special Permit for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Inn and Suites property, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The project involves bringing 12,000 +/- cubic yards of material to this property over the next year to be used to raise the grade up to approximately level with the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necessary throughout the project. Holly Creek Townhomes LLC, Owner; R. B. Robinson Contracting Inc., Applicant; Brad Robinson, Agent Mr. Wilcox opened the public hearing at 7:55 p.m. and closed the public hearing at 7:56 p.m. PB Resolution No. 2012-088: Special Permit, Auble Fill Permit Project, Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Town of Ithaca Planning Board, December 18, 2012 Moved by Hollis Erb; seconded by George Conneman WHEREAS: 1.This action is Consideration of Special Permit for the proposed fill site located on Danby Road (NYS Route 96B) to the south of the Country Inn and Suites property, Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 37.1-1-10, Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The project involves bringing 12,000+/- cubic yards of material to the property over the next year, to raise the grade up to be approximately level with the road. The fill site would be graded and seeded as necessary throughout the project. Hol- ly Creek Townhomes LLC, Owner; R.B. Robinson Contracting Inc., Applicant; Brad Robinson, Agent, and 2.This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, acting as lead agency in the environmental review with respect to the project, has, on December 18, 2012, made a nega- tive determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate a Short Environmental Assessment Form Part I, submitted by the applicant, and a Part II pre- pared by Town Planning staff, and 3.The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on December 18, 2012, has reviewed and accepted as adequate, a drawing titled “Site Plan– Proposed Fill Portion of Lands of David C. Auble, Dan- by Road– N.Y.S. Route 96B, Town of Ithaca- County of Tiompkins [sic], State of New York, Tax Map No. 37.1-1-10,” dated Oct. 30, 2012, prepared by Klumpp Land Surveying, and other appli- cation materials, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed Auble Fill Site project, find- ing that the plan adequately protects the property and surrounding properties from significant ad- verse consequences, including drainage, erosion, and visual or other adverse impacts (Section 270-217 E of the Town of Ithaca Code), and finding that the standards of Article XXIV Section 270-200, Sub- sections A – L, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met. Such approval is conditioned on the following: Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 7 of 8 a.submission of one set of the final drawings on mylar, vellum, or paper, signed and sealed by the registered land surveyor, engineer, architect, or landscape architect who prepared the ma- terial, prior to any work occurring on site, and b.no construction and demolition debris shall be placed on the site, and c.applicant shall install a gate or other security measures to prevent unauthorized dumping. Vote: Ayes – Wilcox, Collins, Conneman, Beach, Bosak, Erb AGENDA ITEM Consideration of a sketch plan for the proposed Cornell University Plantations Botanical Gardens project located adjacent to the Plantations’ Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center (124 Comstock Knoll), Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No. 67-1-6, Low Density Residential Zone. The proposal involves the de- velopment of a 1 +/- acre Peony and Perennial Garden and a ¼ +/- acre East Asian Garden around the Welcome Center. Associated with these new gardens are a small pedestrian bridge, stone seat walls, paths, courtyards, garden arbor, sculptural stone, bollard lighting, and modifications to the stormwater management plan for the site. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant; David M. Cutter, University Landscape Architect, Agent Mr. Cutter stated that he wanted provide a look at their vision for the next several years. He described a series of gardens and primary access paths and secondary stone dust paths connecting each other and the Nevins Welcome Center. He described the lighting they would install, probably the same low bollard lighting they have now. They will extend the existing bioswale. They will be using porous con- crete to minimize the runoff and build on the environmental sustainability of the Welcome Center. Mr. Bates said that he’d have to see the specs because he wasn’t sure it would meet the lighting re- quirement. Ms. Erb didn’t understand the need for lighting since the plantations closes at dusk. Mr. Cutter re- sponded that they have evening events. They would be lighting just the walkway. It would be con- trolled from inside the building and would not need to be on most of the time. Ms. Erb would like the entire lower part to be wheelchair accessible. Ms. Erb was not pleased with the proposed height of the walls. Mr. Wilcox said it’s important to keep in mind what is within the Board’s jurisdiction and what is not. Ms. Erb said she was making the ar- gument on the basis of public safely. With a single entrance, you walk in and you don’t know who or what is in there. Ms. Brock asked how this is any different from a space hidden by tall hedges, and pointed out that it won’t be open at night. Mr. Cutter pointed out that there’s a continuous wall all around the garden and it will be closed off at night anyway. Ms. Balestra stated that if this is several different projects, she would be concerned about several dif- ferent phases coming in. She suggested they get approval for the whole plan and then build it in phases. Mr. Wilcox agreed, adding that the Board could then deal with the environmental review all at once. Ms. Balestra also noted that they have to pay fees each time they come before a board. Planning Board Minutes 12-18-2012 Page 8 of 8 AGENDA ITEM PB Resolution No. 2012-089:Town of Ithaca Planning Board, Schedule of Meetings for 2013 Moved by Hollis Erb; seconded by John Beach RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board hereby adopts the following as its schedule of Regular Meetings for the Year 2013. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month, commencing at 7;00 p.m. and ending by 10:00 p.m. HRST MEETING OF THE MONTH No Meeting February 5, 2013 March 5, 2013 April 2, 2013 May 7, 2013 June 4, 2013 July 2, 2013 August 6, 2013 September 3, 2013 October 1, 2013 November 5, 2013 December 3, 2013 SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH January 15, 2013 February 19, 2013 March 19, 2013 April 16, 2013 May 21, 2013 June 18, 2013 July 16, 2013 August 20, 2013 September 17, 2013 October 15, 2013 November 19, 2013 December 17, 2013 Vote: Ayes - Wilcox, Collins, Conneman, Beach, Bosak, Erb AGENDA ITEM Consideration of a recommendation to the Town Board regarding the Planning Board Chairperson for 2013 Ms Erb made a motion, and Ms. Collins seconded, recommending that Mr. Wilcox be reappointed chairperson of the Planning Board for 2013. The motion passed, with Mr. Wilcox abstaining. AGENDA ITEM Resolution of appreciation for George Conneman from the Town Board Mr. Wilcox read the resolution. AGENDA ITEM Adjournment Upon a motion by George Conneman, the meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Respectfully submitted, x.-. Debra DeAugtstine, Deputy'To\^ Clerk - -s ' x.- - •