HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-11 - PH TOWN OF ULYSSES PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING
MARCH 11 , 2004
PRESENT : Chairman Richard Coogan, Planning Board Members Rose Hilbert, Lorren
Hammond, Mark Ochs, David Tyler and Rodney Porter.
Others Present : Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun, Mr. And Mrs . Robert Brown,
Mr. Gary Wood, Craig Norton, Bruce Fellows Jim and Bret Seafuse.
Chairman Coogan called the Public Hearing to order at 7 : 30 PM and read the proof of
publication into the record.
Mr. Brown had furnished the Planning Board with the items that they had requested at he
February 12th meeting that the Planning Board reviewed . The one item not furnished
was the full description for the stabilization and the facades for the barn in writing. Mr.
Brown explained what he intends to do with the barn and the material to be used but he
does not a final quote on the job which will cost him between $ 35 ,000 to $40,000. Mr.
Brown requested that he be given at least two years to complete the barn due to the
expense.
Mr. Bruce Fellows, an adjoining property owner, commented that he feels that Mr.
Brown should be able to side the barn like the building that is going to build. That is no
old barn it was built in the fifties, who cares .
A letter received from Timothy Maguire was read into the record overwhelmingly
endorsing the project presented by Mr. Brown .
Hearing no further comments from the public, Mr. Coogan closed the Public Hearing at
7 : 40 PM .
Mr. Coogan opened a Special Meeting of the Planning Board at 7 :41 PM.
Mr. Brown asked why the Board did not address the comment that came up at the Public
Hearing that the barn in no way was old and that he should not be made to restore it.
Chairman Coogan stated that it is not the role of the Planning Board to comment during
the public hearing only to listen to the comments .
The Board discussed the additional information provided after the last meeting with Mr.
Brown and found it to be satisfactory.
Ms. Hilbert moves, seconded by Mr. Coogan the following:
Whereas Flo-tech, a small industry currently located along Route 96 to the South of
Trumansburg, currently rents a building and has been asked by the property owner to
vacate the premises and the sole owner of Flo- Tech, Robert Brown, desires to relocate
the business to his 90+ acre parcel in the Town of Ulysses that is close by on Route 96,
Whereas the Town of Ulysses states in its Comprehensive Plan 1999 that the Town
wants to encourage small-scale, non-polluting, and non-obtrusive types of businesses and
light industries such Flo-Tech,
Whereas the Town of Ulysses Town Board voted to approve this three (3 ) acre site as a
Planned Development District (PDD) thus making the project a legal conforming use,
Whereas the Town Board conducted a Type I SEQR which resulted in a negative
declaration,
Whereas two additional comments were heard from the public at the Public Hearing held
March 11 , 2004 and
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03/ 11 /2004
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Planning Board of the Town of Ulysses does hereby
approve the application for Site Plan Review as submitted by Robert Brown of Flo-Tech
with the following stipulations :
• Front (South end and East side facing 96) of the barn be wood sided with pine
tongue and groove as described by the applicant and has two (2) years to
complete.
• Enclose the South end of the gable and pole barn structure
• Leave as is the area shown in the photos where the wagons are shown
• Driveway access conform to the location approved by Tompkins County Highway
Depart ment
• The sign conform to the height in the Ulysses Zoning Ordinance and be as
presented in photo provided by the applicant
• The applicant provide a Bond for the completion of the barn
• No Certificate of Occupancy can be issued until the completion of the barn and/or
a Bond for completion.
• The barn will be stained after the restoration, no color was determined.
Mr. Coogan called the vote .
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms . Hilbert aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter abstained
Adopted.
The Board p esented their findings as follows :
1 . The proposed location has been noted in the Comprehensive Plan as Cl
Commercial with the stated goal "To promote business activities that capitalize on
the historic , cultural and natural assets of the town and the surrounding region",
and that Flo-Tech plans to make the barn structurally sound with an appearance
on the sides facing Route 96 and Halseyville Road that is in the keeping with the
rural tradition of such structures in Ulysses .
2 . Concern of the Planning Board about the preservation of the barn and part of the
proposal was to preserve the barn and use as part of the project and reface the
sides of the barn with original wood facing the public highways . Plans were
provided to structurally improve the barn and reface the sides fronting on Route
96 and Halseyville Road offered by the applicant.
3 . Concern with the business activities being shielded from the area around and that
has been very nicely accomplished with the location of the new structure behind
the barn and the parking area and so forth being in the back.
4 . The use is consistent with the Town ' s idea keeping older agricultural structures in
use when they can be and the barn is an ideal storage facility for this type of
operation.
Application Site Plan Review for Jim Seafuse
Chairman Coogan stated that Mr. Seafuse is in attendance to present his application for
Site Plan Review for building a new pharmacy on his property at 2085 Trumansburg
Road next to the grocery store . The Planning Board will review his application to make
sure that they have everything necessary to move the application to a public hearing.
Mr. Wood gave a brief rundown of the application for Jim Seafuse to build a 4300 square
foot stand-alone building to be used as a pharmacy. The building will be serviced by the
utilities from the grocery store with the exception of the gas coming off the street. There .
Planning Board
03/ 11 /2004
will be parking in front of the new building that will attach to the existing parking lot.
NYS DOT is reviewing second excess . This excess was previously approve and should
have no problem being approved this time . A Stormwater Retention Plan will have to be
done and will be provided to the Board upon completion. Mr. Seafuse has an existing
sewage disposal system that is adequate to serve this new building. There will be one
additional lighting pole in the new parking lot and will be similar to the existing ones,
with wall packs on the sides of the building like the store. Also there will be lights under
the canopy in front of the building.
Mr. Coogan asked Gary Wood to provide the Long EAF . Mr. Wood stated that he would
be happy to .
The structure of the new building will look very similar to the Shur Save building.
Ms. Hilbert asked why the buildings were so far apart and could he reposition the
buildings to have less of a gap .
Mr. Seafuse commented that he is leaving room for future expansion of the grocery store.
Mr. Hammond asked what sort of plans is being made for pedestrian traffic from the
Village.
Mr. Seafuse stated that there is no pedestrian traffic from the Village. Mr. Seafuse stated
what could he do anyway — he does not own to the Village line.
Mr. Hammond stated he meant just there on Mr. Seafuse ' s property — do you have any
plans to do anything.
Mr. Seafuse stated that he was approached when the downtown project was started about
him putting a sidewalk in front of his property and he stated why would you want to
waste your money — it is not like you have 50 people walking and where would they be
walking to Flo-Tech — no place else to walk to .
Mr. Hammond stated the point of creating human scale Villages is that you have stores
where people can shop that don ' t require them to get in their car and park, than get in
their car and drive across the vast parking lot to another place to park to get out to go to
another store, but rather there can be a sense of community where people in the Village
are actually walking and meeting each other on the sidewalks .
Mr. Seafuse stated that is a nice concept but the Village does not even have sidewalks
across the front of the school. He has been in the Village and the Town since 1981 and
sidewalks have not even been put in downtown yet .
The Board discussed the Main Street Project ' s plan for sidewalks. No one was quite sure
what the project was offering at this time .
Mr. Coogan asked to come back to the discussion of the Site Plan.
Mr. Coogan asked if the Board had any other questions in reference to the application of
the Site Plan for Mr. Seafuse or if not are they ready to set a date for a Public Hearing on
the plan and SEQR.
Ms. Hilbert asked about signage — would a sign go on the existing pole out by the road
for the pharmacy.
Mr. Seafuse stated that only a sign would be on facade of the building.
After further review and discussion, Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Ochs to set the
Public Hearing for March 25 , 2004 at 7 : 00 PM in the Town Hall .
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
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Planning Board
03/ 11 /2004
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs , aye
Mr. Porter aye
Adopted.
Mr. Seafuse advised the Board that the local bank in Town has approached him about
putting in a drive-up ATM machine. He just received the dimensions of that and he
pointed out on the drawings where it may be located. It will be drawn in on the map if
that is a go . He has not had time to discuss the particulars at length with the Trust
Company. j
Mr. Tyler stated that it would be to Mr. Seafuse advantage to include it with this
application.
A discussion took place in reference to the relationship of review of pedestrian traffic on
the applications property and the Village ' s Main Street Project.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Coogan to approve the minute of October 27 , 2003 as
presented.
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms . Hilbert aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs ' aye
Mr. Porter aye
Adopted.
Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Ochs to approve the minutes of October 30, 2003 as
presented.
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms . Hilbert abstained
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter aye
Adopted.
Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Porter to approve the minutes of November 6 , 2003
with the following changes :
At the bottom I of page 1 the discussion is stated about the color blue — change this to B 1 .
In the texts Of the minutes there are places where Ms . Hilbert is referred to by her first
name and it should be consistent through the minutes to use Ms . Hilbert.
Correct the slpelling of Bar Angus.
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler abstained
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter aye
A
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03/ 11 /2004
Adopted.
Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Coogan to approve the minutes of November 12,
2003 as presented.
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms . Hilbert abstained
Mr. Hammond abstained
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter aye
Adopted.
Mr. Coogan moved, seconded by Mr. Tyler to approve the minutes of the December 3 ,
2003 as presented.
Mr. Coogan aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Mr. Hammond abstained
Mr. Tyler aye
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter abstained
Adopted.
Mr. Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Ochs to approve the minutes of February 12 , 2004 as
corrected with the following : Mr. Hammond stated that on page 3 under Vice Chair after
the second paragraph the Unanimously approved should be removed.
Mr. Coogan aye
Mr. Hammond aye
Mr. Tyler abstained
Mr. Ochs aye
Mr. Porter aye
Adopted.
Planning Boards Non Decision Of Chairman Coogan 's Position on the Board
Chairman Coogan stated that since the Planning Board failed to come up with a
recommendation to the Town Board about him remaining on the Planning Board and i . e.
being Chairman he is making the following statement as to what he thinks he would like
to do . This is the way he sees things going — seeing that the Planning board is short a
member with Mr. Ochs stepping off the Board and no one being appointed at this time,
since there has been some discussion about training and attendance. He thinks in the best
interest he would remain as a Planning Board until after the May meeting. At the end of
June he will step down and that will give a chance for the Board to get themselves
together, give the Town Board a chance to decide as what to do for training issues and
attendance issues . What of the things that the Town Board has talked about is having a
couple of alternates that would attend the Planning Board meetings and be up to speed in
case a regular member is absent there still would be quorum to act on the business at
hand.
Mr. Coogan has reached this decision because he is a firm believer if you are commit to
being on the Planning Board that you need to step in as Chair. In that way it would be
unfair for him to stay on the Board and not be able to be Chair.
More discussion on the thoughts of some members feelings in reference to the
appearance of Mr. Coogan being Deputy Supervisor and Chairman /Planning Board
Member.
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Planning Board
03/ 11 /2004
Mr. Coogan stated that the appearance does not matter — to him there is no difference if
he is setting on the Board — if the appearance is Chair feels wrong than the appearance of
being on the Board is wrong — he can not separate the two because the Chair has no
special voting powers .
Mr. Coogan has not given any formal decision to the Town Board.
Mr. Porter commented and it is the same comment he had made before and that is he is
not willing to' serve as Chair without Mr. Coogan on this Board to do the legwork
because he does not have the time . He could run the meeting but he does not have the
time to do all the other work that is necessary.
It was discussed it Mr. Coogan could resign from the Planning Board but do all the work
under his position as Deputy Supervisor. Mr. Coogan stated that would be at the
discretion of the Supervisor. He may be able to gather information but would not be able
to attend pre-Site Plan review meetings not sign off on anything.
Mr. Coogan stated at this time he felt the Planning Board needed to know where he was
coming from.
A description of the proposed alternate would have to be decided by the Town Board and
the criteria.
Training Events Coming Up
Mr. Coogan announced a couple of events that the Supervisor feels these can qualify as
training class .i
• Mardi 17th, 2004 — Ron Mead of NYS Ag/Markets will be at the Town Hall at 7
PM to discuss agricultural districts. Also he will be at the Cooperative Ext. at
100 : 30 AM
• April !15th, 2004 — Stormwater MS4 regulations — this will address what the
Board should be looking at, what a DEC permit mean, and would the Planning
Board have to do anything in addition. That will be held at the Cayuga Heights
Fire Hall at 4 — 6 PM .
Bus Trip
The trip was tentatively scheduled for March 20th, 2004 and Cayuga Recovery Services
has agreed to fallow the Town to use their van. Someone would have to be agreeable to
drive the van and the Cayuga Recovery Services would have to fill out a consent form
and have to photo copy their identification.
Mr. Coogan stated that he is sitting down with Mr. Austic along with Ms . Marino and
define what the bus tour will consist of so everyone has a better idea. Mr. Ochs has
agreed to come in with his GIS program to more clearly define areas .
Ms . Hilbert asked the Chair for guidance.
The Board discussed their thoughts on the proposed trip .
The Board also discussed Supervisor' s suggestion on each Town Board member and
Planning Board member (if they choose to) write up what they would like to see in the
Al District. 11
Mr. Coogan stated that maybe a good may to approach this is to have Ms. Marino , Mr.
Austic and himself meet on Monday and try to get some kind of idea as to what ' s
happening. Maybe each one come up with what they would like to see as the frontage
and he set backs than have Ron Mead of Ag/Markets talk about: other aspects of the
district and than go out on the bus tour.
Planning Board
03/ 11 /2004
Hearing no further business Mr. Hammond moved, seconded by Mr. Porter to adjourn the
meeting. Unanimously approved . Meeting adjourned at 9 : 55 PM
Respectfully submitted,
ealied 7, e
lesere"
Marsha L. Georgia
IActing Planning Board Secretary
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