HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-25 - PB TOWN OF ULYSSES
PLANNING BOARD
September 25 , 2003
Members Present: Richard Coogan (Chair), Lorren Hammond, Rose Hilbert, George
Kennedy, Mark Ochs, Rodney Porter. Also, Alex Rachun, Code Enforcement Officer;
Eileen Jacobs, Planning Board Clerk; Tim Maguire, and members of the public.
Member absent: David Tyler (excused)
Chair Coogan called the meeting to order at 7 : 00 p . m .
Public Hearing - Route 96 Self-Storage
Additional materials for this project were submitted by Mr. Timothy Maguire and
reviewed by the Planning Board. These materials included details on proposed lighting
which are 50-watt high pressure sodium lights with reflectors to be installed on the
buildings at a level of 8 feet or lower. Also, Mr. Maguire is proposing to install a 350-
foot wood fence at 8 feet high on the northeast boundary to reduce noise and light for the
residential area. A sample lease was also provided which lists conditions for use of the
storage units so that activities other than storage of personal property are prohibited .
There was discussion regarding the proposed lighting (dusk to dawn) , and outdoor
lighting standards as proposed in the draft zoning ordinance for the Town of Ulysses
were referenced. It was noted that the lighting being proposed for this project is at the
minimum recommended by the engineering society for the safety and welfare of people
using the facility.
Mr. Rachun, Code Enforcement Officer, commented that the proposed wooden fence, at
the height of eight feet, would need a separate building permit, and also might be subject
to site plan review due to its length. Fences of six feet or lower do not require building
permits . Mr. Maguire indicated that he would like to amend his proposed fence to be six
feet high.
A drainage ditch of seven to eight foot around the perimeter of the property is proposed.
There was discussion of whether his was adequate or feasible to address the issue of
standing water on the property and runoff to adjacent properties . Mr. Maguire was asked
whether eave troughs were considered to help direct rain water. He indicated that he
didn ' t believe that they would be effective, and that vehicles frequently run over them; he
said that underground tile will be installed and water runoff from the roofs will not go
into adjacent properties .
At 7 : 50 p .m . Chair Coogan noted the legal advertisement from the Ithaca Journal
concerning this matter and opened the public hearing. Mr. Coogan first read a letter from
Kevin Eric Saunders, 1668 Trumansbug Road into the record (copy attached) . The letter
concerned zoning, setback, drainage, standing water, silt fence, lighting, and illegal
dumping.
Mr. David Gattan, 1640 Trumansburg Road, who lives to the south of the project, spoke
to the Board regarding lighting schedule, light spillage, light reflective surfaces, building
color, visibility of building, drainage, fencing or vegetative bather on the south.
Mr. Sa Deljoo , owner of 1654 Trumansburg Road, was concerned about access to the
rear of the site .
Ms . Alice Richardson, 1668 Trumansburg Road, was concerned that the project map
doesn' t reflect the actual grade, that it would appear that drainage would naturally go
toward Route 96, but that is not the actual condition . She was also concerned about
standing water (esp . West Nile virus) , and whether ditches would be dug below the
existing grade.
Planning Board Minutes of 9/25/03 -2-
Chair Coogan closed the public hearing at 8 : 12 p . m.
The Planning Board resumed discussion of the project, and there: was further discussion
regarding the drainage and standing water issue. There were many thoughts on how
water might be diverted. Mr. Maguire stated that he will guarantee that there will not be
standing water on his property, nor will drainage be diverted onto adjacent property
owners . He is hiring an engineer, and will utilize his expertise to address the drainage
and standing water issues .
There was a discussion regarding the existing vegetative buffer along the front of the
northern property line. It was believed that most of this vegetation originates on the
property of the neighboring property currently owned by Francis ; O ' Pray. There was
discussion regarding the possible future removal of this vegetation by either Mr. O ' Pray
or future owners of that property. It was agreed that maintaining a vegetative buffer
along that property line was essential for the residential area, and that its removal would
necessitate replacement . Mr. Maguire agreed that if the vegetatiion were ever removed,
and if replacement were requested by the owner of the property to the north, he would
replace the vegetation as specified by the Planning Board.
Mr. Hammond moved the following resolution:
The Town of Ulysses Planning Board hereby approves the site plan for the proposed
storage units to be constructed at 1658 Trumansburg Road, in the Town of Ulysses as
submitted by Timothy J . Maguire on behalf of Maguire Family :Partnership . The approval
shall include the initial application to develop tax parcel 34-3 - 11 . 1 submitted on August
25 , 2003 , and additional materials submitted September 25 , 2003 , and is also contingent
on the following :
The water will be contained on Mr. Maguire ' s property and directed toward Route
96 , and drainage will be constructed in such a way as to prevent all runoff to
adjoining properties and in a way that will prevent standing water for more than
24 hours .
The eight-foot high wood fence that Mr. Maguire has proposed to install on the
northeast boundary has been amended to be six feet in height .
In the event that the existing vegetative buffer along the northern property line,
extending from the Route 96 ditch to the near end of the to-be-erected fence, dies
or is removed for any reason, Mr. Maguire, or the then property owner, shall
cause a replacement buffer to be planted. This buffer shall be installed within one
year of a request for such by the adjacent property owner to the north and
maintained thereafter. It shall be comprised of evergreen plantings that shall
attain a height of six feet at minimum, and shall grow to! touching, both within
three years of planting.
The color of the building shall be slate gray and the roof and doors shall be
evergreen (Varco-Pruden colors) .
The motion was seconded by Mr. Kennedy, and approved unanimously.
Mr. Coogan aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Mr. Kennedy aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter aye
Other Business
The Minutes of September 10, 2003 were reviewed, and approval without revision was
moved by Porter, seconded by Ochs, and carried unanimously 6-0 .
Planning Board Minutes of 9/25/03 -3-
Mr. Kennedy informed the board that he had obtained a map of the national wetlands
inventory, which includes half of Ulysses, and the Tompkins County unique natural areas
map . The board would like to review these maps at a future meeting to discuss the
feasibility of proposing to the town board that the maps be incorporated into the town ' s
zoning ordinance .
The Planning Board agreed to meet on September 29th at 7 : 00 p .m . to work on the Site
Plan Review and Design Standards portions of the proposed zoning ordinance .
Chair Coogan noted that at the next regular Planning Board meeting on October 8th,
Flotech will be on the agenda.
Meeting was adjourned at 9 : 55 p .m .
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Jacobs
Planning Board Clerk