HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-01-09 - PB Adopted 01 / 16/2002 1 0
TOWN OF ULYSSES
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
January 9, 2002
MINUTES
Members Present: George Kennedy (Acting Chair), Richard Geiger, Lorren
Hammond, Rose Hilbert, Mark Ochs, David Tyler. Also, Eileen Jacobs, recording
secretary. Absent: Paula Horrigan (unexcused) .
Others Present: Doug Austic, Town Supervisor (for part of the meeting) ; Alex Rachun,
Code Enforcement Officer; Town Residents Dick Coogan, Don Sola.
Chair Kennedy called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 PM . Mr. Kennedy introduced Eileen
Jacobs to the Planning Board. Ms . Jacobs is the newly-appointed secretary to the
Planning Board.
The Minutes of the December 12, 2001 meeting were reviewed, and revisions were
made and will be incorporated into the record document . Tyler moved, seconded by
Geiger, to approve the Minutes as revised.
Mr. Geiger aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Kennedy aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Tyler aye
The motion passed unanimously.
Town Supervisor Doug Austic addressed the Board . He reported that George Kennedy
was reappointed by the Town Board to continue serving on the Planning Board
although, at Mr. Kennedy' s request, he would not continue as the Chair. Mr. Austic
asked if any Planning Board members present would volunteer to chair the Planning
Board. Mr. Tyler, Mr. Ochs and Mr. Geiger stated that they would not accept
appointment as Chair. Mr. Hammond said he would consider chairing if nobody else
stepped forward.
Mr. Austic then addressed the Planning Board regarding the proposed revisions to the
Zoning Ordinance. He suggested that members review the draft Zoning Ordinance and
make comments individually on some aspect of the Ordinance, rather than compiling
and submitting a document incorporating all comments. Then a joint meeting with the
Town Board could be held to discuss individual parts of the plan. After the joint
meeting is held, the comments can be compiled and another meeting could be held with
the planning consultant, George Frantz, to work out revisions. Mr. Geiger commented
that having a map is necessary in understanding some of the concepts outlined in the
plan. Mr. Austic said that a map would be available by next week.
Lastly, Mr. Austic asked the Board to comment on the Jacksonville Commercial Center
Revitalization Program. The program was designed in order for Jacksonville to apply
for community revitalization grant monies, and meets the County ' s guidelines for
application of these funds. Last year the Jacksonville community applied for, and
received, money to build a small stretch of sidewalk, an outdoor bench, and some tree
removal. In order to receive additional funding in the future, Tompkins County requires
that the Town Board adopt a plan for the community. Mr. Austic then left the meeting.
Jacksonville Commercial Center Revitalization Program
Mr. Dick Cogan, representing the Jacksonville Community Association (JCA), talked
about the visioning process the JCA went through guided by two interns from the
Tompkins County Planning Department. Out of that process came the Jacksonville
Commercial Center Revitalization Program. The area that is included in the plan is
roughly the part of Jacksonville along NYS Route 96 from Parke Lane to Ulysses
Square, and then one block each way on Jacksonville Road.
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Planning Board Minutes of 1/09/02 -2- 1)
The following comments on the Jacksonville Commercial Center Revitalization
Program were offered by Planning Board members for consideration by the Town
Board:
0 Challenges of odd-shaped lots divided by Route 96 should be discussed.
0 Descriptions of the area as "lush" and "thriving" should not be included.
0 Expanded discussion of the historical context of the hamlet in the Town of Ulysses
should be included, as it would strengthen grant applications.
0 Include discussion regarding how to attract people to the area to live and/or visit.
0 The plan should promote and encourage entrepreneurism by local residents rather
than business ownership by outside corporations.
0 The plan should include some discussion of creative use of land that is available,
rather than what is owned by ExxonMobil, which obviously has limitations.
0 The community park is an asset that should be explored more thoroughly, since it
does not have to be acquired. Consider possible uses such as cluster housing, a
pavilion or other gathering place that could be rented out.
0 The plan should discuss the creation of housing.
0 Further research concerning the benefit of creating a Farmers ' Market.
0 Projects should be prioritized and include cost estimates for individual projects.
0 Develop a business plan for the Old Church, possibly for a gallery/cafe.
0 The sidewalk maps are not realistic, should be redesigned for placement where
pedestrians would walk.
0 There are too many proposed parking lots.
The Planning Board was generally impressed with and complimentary about the work
put into the plan, and was appreciative of the opportunity to review and comment on it.
Don Sola, a resident of Swamp College Road in Jacksonville was asked to comment.
He said that the Town should acknowledge that Jacksonville :Sts an important hamlet and
that the only way a project can move forward is with the Town Board' s support.
The Planning Board requested that copies of this meeting' s Minutes- containing their
comments on the Jacksonville Commercial Center Revitalization Program be forwarded
to the Town Board.
Proposed Zoning Ordinance Revision
The next item for discussion was the proposed Zoning Ordinance revisions. It was
briefly discussed and agreed that the Planning Board was not ready to have a full
discussion since the previous item took more time than anticipated. In addition, Board
members strongly felt that they needed to see a preliminary zoning map before offering
comments. .
Mr. Kennedy reminded board members that there was a meeting scheduled for the
following Wednesday, January 16`h. He asked if everyone present was planning to
attend that meeting (Mr. Tyler had excused himself from the meeting prior to this
discussion). It was agreed that the Zoning Ordinance would be discussed on the 16th,
provided that the map is available to Board members prior to that meeting. Board
members agreed to go through the document at the next meeting and identify the key
points that they feel need to be addressed.
Hammond, , seconded by Ochs, moved to adjourn the meeting . Unanimously approved.
Meeting adjourned at 9 :05 PM.