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Town of Ulysses
Joint Town Board & Planning Board
Zoning Work Session
1 / 25 / 2001
PRESENT: Planning Board Acting Chair, Rose Hilbert, Planning Board Members
Rick Geiger, Lorren Hammond, Paula Horrigan, and David Tyler, Supervisor Doug
Austic, Town Board Member Sue Poelvoorde, Code Enforcement Officer Alex
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Rachun, Planning Clerk Karin Lanning .
Recording Minutes : Karin Lanning
Ms. Hilbert called the meeting to order at 7 : 37 p . m .
The first order of business was the review of minutes of the zoning work session
of January 10th, 2001 .
The Planning Board members present questioned the appropriateness of a
quasi-verbatim format for minutes, noting concerns about the amount of time
needed to review the lengthy minutes produced with this format and the
possibility that minutes in this format are interpreted and could thus
misrepresent what was said . Ms . Hilbert noted that the choice ultimately lies with
the chairman of the board ; the Planning Clerk was asked to see that she reviews
future minutes with the chairman prior to sending copies to Board members. No
corrections were noted, Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Hammond to
approve the minutes as presented .
Mr. Geiger abstained .
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Ms. Horrigan aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Adopted .
Mr. Tyler reported on communication between himself and Ms. Monika Roth , of
Cornell Cooperative Extension and stated that Ms . Roth had offered to make a
presentation to the Planning Board regarding farmland development and
development right purchase. After some discussion , Mr. Tyler was asked to
request a presentation of March 29th, with April 11th as an alternate date.
In the course of the above discussion, the meeting scheduled for March
22nd was moved to March 29th .
Code Enforcement Officer Rachun informed the Planning Board that they
should plan on two Site Plan Reviews in the near future involving projects at the
Trumansburg Fairgrounds and the Franzisca Racker Center. Mr. Rachun noted
that a Stop Work Order had been issued to halt work already begun at the
fairgrounds, and that they should expect to conduct Site Plan Review for this
project soon . The project at the Franzisca Racker Center will probably not be
coming for Site Plan Review as soon .
Ms . Hilbert introduced review of the Town Board ' s directive to the Planning
Board , as outlined in a memo from the Town Clerk.
Supervisor Austic asked to discuss the directive, this was acceptable to the
Planning Board .
oCi\Town of Ulysses
Joint Town Board & Planning Board Zoning Work Session
1 /25/2001
Supervisor Austic began by stating that the Town Board has met with Mr.
George Frantz about the possibility of a contract for professional planning
services in the preparation of a revised Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Frantz will report
back to the Town Board on February 13th with a sample of his work and
suggestions, and, shortly thereafter, the Town Board will decide whether or not
to enter a contract with Mr. Frantz.
Mr. Austic noted that the Town Board was not necessarily directing the
Planning Board to stop work on the review of the Zoning Ordinance, and stated
that this would be an acceptable action if the Planning Board members so
choose.
Further, the Town Board through Supervisor Austic directed the Planning Board
to go ahead with Site Plan Reviews, and noted concern among Town Board
Members that the Site Plan Review Ordinance is in need of modifications to
prevent minimal, low-impact projects from going through the Site Plan Review
Process.
Further, the Town Board directed the Planning Board to plan and set up public
informational meetings to educate the public on issues of planning .
Some discussion ensued regarding the modifying of the Site Plan Review
Ordinance noted in the Town Board's Directive to the Planning Board . Planning
Board members noted that the Site Plan Review process has taken place only a
couple of times and did not feel the small number of instances of using the
ordinance provided sufficient information about problems therein . It was also
noted that the Code Enforcement Officer has discretionary leeway regarding
projects that do not qualify as exceptions, but pose minimal effect. After some
further discussion, the Planning Board reported to Supervisor Austic that
minimum-impact projects may be waived as is appropriate either by Code
Enforcement Officer Rachun before the Site Plan Review process begins, or after
an initial meeting with the Planning Board .
Supervisor Austic and Town Board member Ms. Poelvoorde were
addressed by the Planning Board about the possibility of a Town Board vote on
the proposal submitted by the Planning Board to the Town Board at the end of
October 2000.
Supervisor Austic reported that the Town Board has not voted on the proposal
as a result of no motion having been made to do so, and reported that the Town
Board's probable course of action would be to refrain from any official action on
the proposal, at least until the decision is made regarding whether or not to hire
Mr. George Frantz by contract. The assembled discussed the matter of whether
or not to vote on the proposal at length . Planning Board members requested a
Town Board vote on the proposal and written reports from any voting negatively
stating the ramifications for the negative vote.
Ms. Hilbert asked about the time frame of a Town Board decision on whether
or not to hire Mr. George Frantz. Ms. Poelvoorde reported that the decision
would most 'likely be made in February or March .
Ms. Horrigan suggested that, if a contract is made, it would be wise to include
lines establishing accountability for timely progress, whereby failure to
accomplish the goals of the contract would affect the full payment of the
contract.
Mr. Geiger moved that the Planning Board recommends that the Town
Board vote on the existing Zoning Ordinance recommendations of the
Planning Board, which were the subject of the public hearing (of
11 / 08/ 2000); and that, at the same time, regardless of the outcome,
whether up or down, that the Board proceed to hire a consultant with
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Town of Ulysses
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Joint Town Board & Planning Board Zoning Work Session
1/25/2001
all due haste, so that the Town can move forward expeditiously on the
implementation of the Comprehensive Plan through revision of the
Zoning Ordinance .
Mr. Hammond discussed the possibility of amending the motion with a clause
requesting written reports from Town Board members who vote in opposition to
the proposal . Supervisor Austic and Ms. Poelvoorde reported that this option
would have to be the choice of individual Town Board members and could not be
mandated .
Ms. Horrigan stated that she would move the motion as stated above. As there
was already a motion made, this action was duly counted as a second .
The Planning Board voted on the resolution as stated above .
Mr. Geiger aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Ms. Horrigan aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Adopted.
Supervisor Austic left at 8 : 45p . m .
Ms. Hilbert asked if there was any other business.
Ms. Horrigan noted a concern regarding the local PUD business, Sleeping Bear
Futons, noting that the end of manufacture and sale of futons and the sales of
pre-manufactured goods at this site makes it more of a retail store than a site of
cottage industry.
Mr.Tyler asked Ms. Poelvoorde what progress the Town Board has made in
finding a new appointee to the seat formerly held by Mr. Budd Stover. Ms.
Poelvoorde reported that one interested individual has been contacted .
Mr. Hammond suggested to Ms. Poelvoorde that the Town Board publish a
listing of the duties of a Planning Board member at the same time they publish a
legal advertisement requesting applicants for this position .
Code Enforcement Officer Rachun reported on the International Code that
he was recently trained in . Mr. Rachun stated that the adoption of the
International Code would drastically increase the costs of building, making it very
difficult for lower-income families to build new homes, would most likely depress
the rate of new construction in general, and would create new hardships for
design professionals. Mr. Rachun reported that New York State expects to adopt
the International Code by 2002 .
With no further business and no further discussion , Mr. Hammond moved,
seconded by Mr. Tyler to adjourn the meeting .
Mr. Geiger aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Ms. Horrigan aye
Mr. Tyler aye
The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 02p. m .
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Town of Ulysses
Joint Town Board & Planning Board Zoning Work Session
1 /25/2001
*These minutes are respectfully submitted as an official summary of the
proceedings of the Ulysses Planning Board meeting of :January 25th, 2001 , as
observed and understood by the Ulysses Planning Clerk. As a rule, comments
made by individuals are not entered as quotes, but have been summarized for
the purpose of concisely reflecting the Planning (Board business.
Karin T. Lanning .
Planning Clerk
KTL: kl
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