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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA Minutes 1963-04-08 TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APRIL 89 . 1963 . A meeting of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals was held at the Town Highway Building on Monday , April 89 1963 . at 7 : 30 P . M . Members of the Board present were : Chairman David �' . Powers , Robert N . Powers , William B . Norton , and William S . OScott . Also present were : Zoning Officer Robert J . Wells , Thomas . Gittens , Richard Kroboth , Courtney Crawford , ' William Lynch , William Kerr , Mr . and Mrs . Twilliger , and Emul Vogel . The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as corrected . FIRST CASE : The adjourned hearing on . the appeal of the Ithaca Junior amber of Commerce for a variance in regard to the decision of the Zoning Officer denying permission to erect a " Welcome Ithaca " sign on the west side of Danby Road , about 170O . feet south of the National Cash plant was called to order . Permit was denied under Article III , Sections 4 and 5 of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance . Mr . Gittens , representing the Jaycees , submitted the following statement : " The Junior Chamber of Commerce again asks the Board of Zoning Appeals for permission to erect a Welcome sign on the Danby -Road . We feel that the following factors should be considered in your judgment of our request : 1 . The land in question has been donated by the National Cash Register Company , 2 . Ithaca businessmen and industries have already contributed $ 1800 toward the Welcome sign project . 3 . - The Welcome sign project has been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce . 4 . For the project to be effective , signs must be placed at all major roads leading into Ithaca . . 50 . The Jaycees have made every possible effort to cooper- ate with the Board of Zoning Appeals regarding the Danby Road location and complying with all regulations . We Adould , in fact , even be willing to erect the sign temporily , to view the effects , if you so desire . 6 . The initial decision or permission to erect the sign was tabled at . your last meeting so that the Board of Zoning , Appeals might look at the proposed location . Upon reviewing the sight , the consensus of those present seemed to be that the sign could be erected without obstructing the view , and in fact , could be placed so as to add beauty to the surround - ings . The Junior Chamber of Commerce submits that the Welcome sign fills a community need and stimulates a community pride - that it serves the overall good of the community . A major purpose of the Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce is to stimulate eeonamic. growth in Ithaca through increased tourist trade and industrial development . This purpose will face a definite hardship , detrimental to the community good , without the initial step of erecting the Welcome signs . Ithaca needs the pride , enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment that these signs will generate ,: It ' s a community hardship not to indicate that greater Ithaca exists . As to the specific Danby Road location , the Jaycees plea a community hardship on the grounds that , if used only for the purpose allowed in that zone , the land in question can in no way begin to yield or stimulate the comr.tLnity pride and interest or fulfill the need of the community, to welcome trade and economic growth , such as it would with a Welcome. sign . In addition , it is felt that the sign will not have as forceful an effect if located somewhere else . and that the conditions peculiar to the particular piece of land in question are unique9. The Jaycees further submit that the proposed use of the land in question would not alter the essential character of the neighborhood in any way . In behalf of the Ithaca community and in the interest of helping make Ithaca a better place in which to work and live , the Junior Chamber of Commerce requests permission to erect . a Welcome sign at the proposed Danby Road location . , Mr . Norton questioned the possibility of locating the sign near the new National Cash Sales Building . Mr . Gittins stated , however , that National Cash would only donate that piece of land which they have donated . Mr . Wells told of a letter which he ' has received from Mr . Hafermalz of -.the N . Y . S .. Department of Public Works regarding a turn- off so that people . could stop to look at the view . Mr . Hafermalz stated that they were interested . and when they approach National Cash for right - of -ways for Route 96 , they will also seek to acquire land for a turnoff . A suggestion was made as to the possibility of locating the sign at the turn- off . The Board left for a brief discussion and upon returning , a motion was made by Robert N . Powers and seconded - by William Scott that the appeal under consideration be denied . Nil Norton - No David Powers - Aye Scott - Aye Robert Powers - Aye Carried . Zoning Board of Appeals - Minutes April 8 , 1963 SECOND CASE(. The adjourned hearing on the appeal of William Lynch of Wi liam Lynch Excavating Company for a variance in regard to . the decision of the Zoning Officer denying per - mission to erect a radio communucations tower and equipment house 650 feet south of the Mecklenburg Road , to the rear of the property of Forrest Baker was called to order . Permit was denied under Article XI , Section 51 of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance . Attorney William Kerr , representing Mr . Lnych , reviewed the case and re -presented a letter from Motorola . 11e also presented a map of the property showing its position relative to the Mecklenburg Road . The tower , to be 200 feet high , will be about 700 feet from the road and about 1500 feet from the WTKO tower . Mr . Lynch - is in the trucking business and needs to have greater coverage of the trucks . He now has his trucks equipped with radios , but because of the terrain , it is im- possible to cover the area fully . This tower would enable him to fully cover an area with about a 20 mile radius with almost no dead spots . The system is strictly regulated by the FCC and can be used only for this specific purpose . What can be broadcast is also strictly restricted . A copy of the license issued by the YCC was presented to the Board . It will operate on an assigned4 " frequency which no one -else in this area. has and will not interfere with any radios or televisions . The Federal Aviation Administration regulates lights and painting on the tower . Mr . Meiczinger stated that he was opposed because of the appearance of the tower . h presented statements from tWo neighbors who are also opposed . . Fred Marshall and Al Tilton both stated that they had no . objections . Ralph Baker was also of this opinion . Mr . Twilliger did not object to the tower , but was concerned about the fact that more might go up . Mr . Vogel , a representative from the Motorola Company , stated that Motorola had made a survey and it showed that this was the best location for the amount of coverage needed , Mr . Lynch stated that he would not be using the access drive for any purpose other than servicing the equip - ment , there must be an access drive so that the' FCC can make inspections at any time . There will be no other equip - ment stored on the property . After a brief discussion , a motion was made by Robert Powers and seconded by David Powers that the appeal of '' yIilliam Lynch be granted . Unanimously carried .