HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-30-STB TOWN OF ULYSSES
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
RE-ZONING
AUGUST 30, 2005
PRESENT : Supervisor Doug Austic , Town Councilpeople Lee Scott, Robert Weatherby;
Roxanne Marino , and Don Ellis ; Town Clerk Marsha Georgia; Deputy Supervisor
Richard Coogan; Attorney Bruce Wilson and Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun.
It
Others Present : Yuanne Piburn, Irene Chaffee, Kathy Chaffee, Cindy Chaffee, Dolores
Higareda, Ruth Kahn, Lysle Gordon, Judith Cone, Martha Ullberg, John Ullberg, Lewis
Rider, David Filiberto, Rose Hilbert, Carman Hill, Sandra Hill , Curt Dunnam, and John
Hrubos .
Supervisor Austic called the special Meeting to order and lead those assembled in the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
SEOR
Mr. Austic reminded the Board that SEQR for the Zoning Law was reviewed at Public
Hearing of May 31st, 2005 . The review was recorded verbatim and is on file in the Town
Clerk ' s Office . Mr. Austic asked if any Board member had any changes to make to Part II
of SEQR for the Zoning Law prior to completing Part III . No changes or corrections
were heard.
Mr. Austic said that the Town Board is required to make a determination and read into
record the following prepared resolution :
In the Matter of Town Wide Re-Zoning under the New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQR)
Resolution and Determination
Whereas, a Ulysses Town Wide Comprehensive Plan was adopted April 13 , 1999 by the
Ulysses Town Board, and
Whereas , subsequent to the Adoption of said Comprehensive Plan the Town Board has
been drafting a Town Wide Re-Zoning Law to replace all existing Zoning in order to
update Town Zoning in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan,
Whereas , the Town Board as Lead Agency has completed the Full Environmental
Assessment Form (EAF) and duly filed with the Clerk, and Part I and Part II thereof have
detailed the Environmental Impacts of the Town Wide Re-Zoning taking into
consideration the Generic Nature of the Action to be taken since no project of
development is involved, and
Whereas, the EAF review by the Town Board was held after a Public Hearing on May
31 , 2005 , and the 30 day comment period by the public after the May 31 , 2005 Public
Hearing has expired without further Environmental Comments ;
Whereas , the Public Hearing on Part I & II was held after due posting and publication in
the official Town paper being The Ithaca Journal on May 18 , 2005 and the Trumansburg
Free Press on May 25 , 2005 proof of which was duly filed with the Clerk, and
Whereas, this is a Type I action under SEQR given it is a Re-Zoning of over 25 acres
pursuant to 6NYCRR Section 617 . 12 and specifically Section 617 . 4 (b) (2) , and
Whereas , notice was duly mailed to all involved agencies requesting Ulysses Town
Board Lead Agency status and describing the Proposed Action inclusive of New York
State Parks Commission, County of Seneca, Towns of Covert, Ithaca, Enfield and Village
of Trumansburg, without objection from any involved agency, and
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Whereas , the Town Board hereby declares itself Lead Agency and as such accepts the
Full EAF as complete per its review of May 31 , 2005 , and
Whereas , the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses has deemed the Town Wide Re-
Zoning as not adverse to Town :
1 . Water Resources
2 . Air Quality
3 . Plants and Animals
4 . Aesthetic Resources
5 . Historic and Archeological Resources
6 . Open Space and Recreation
7 . Transportation
8 . Energy Resources
9 . Noise and Odor
10 . Land Use
11 . Public Health
12 . Growth and Characters of the Community or Neighborhood, and
Whereas, the proposed Town Wide Re-Zoning is a proposed . action consistent with
social and economic considerations and well as proper Land Use and Public Health and
Safety, and
Whereas, all steps have been taken in the proposed action to the extent practicable to
mediate any negative consequences identified, therefore it is hereby:
Resolved, that the EAF is adopted and approved as presently amended and the above
findings 1 thru 12 are hereby adopted,
Further Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses hereby makes the
determination, based on the EAF and its findings, that the Adoption of Local Law No . 3
of 2005 estalilishing Town Wide Re-Zoning consistent with our Comprehensive Plan as
presently before this Board has no significant impact on the Environment and Declares
and issues hereby a Negative Declaration under SEQR.
Mr. Ellis moved the foregoing resolution, seconded by Mr. Scott.
Mr. Austic asked for any discussion.
Ms. Marino asked if all of these things have to be not adverse to the Town.
Mr. Austic said yes or not significantly adverse.
Mr. Wilson said that they have to be significantly adverse or not be mitigated by some
other consideration.
Ms . Marino suggested changing the wording to not significantly adverse or otherwise
mitigated.
Mr. Ellis accepted the change to the resolution, and Mr. Scott seconded it as follows :
Whereas, a Ulysses Town Wide Comprehensive Plan was adopted April 13 , 1999 by the
Ulysses Town Board, and
Whereas, subsequent to the Adoption of said Comprehensive Plan the Town Board has
been drafting a Town Wide Re-Zoning Law to replace all existing Zoning in order to
update Town Zoning in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan,
Whereas, the Town Board as Lead Agency has completed the Full Environmental
Assessment Form (EAF) and dully filed with the Clerk, and Part I and Part II thereof
have detailed the Environmental Impacts of the Town Wide Re-Zoning taking into
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consideration the Generic Nature of the Action to be taken since no project of
development is involved, and
Whereas , the EAF review by the Town Board was held after a Public Hearing on May
31 , 2005 , and the 30 day comment period by the public after the May 31 , 2005 Public
Hearing has expired without further Environmental Comments ;
Whereas, the Public Hearing on Part I & II was held after due posting and publication in
the official Town paper being The Ithaca Journal on May 18 , 2005 and the Trumansburg
Free Press on May 25 , 2005 proof of which was duly filed with the Clerk, and
Whereas, this is a Type I action under SEQR given it is a Re-Zoning of over 25 acres
pursuant to 6NYCRR Section 617 . 12 and specifically Section 617 . 4 (b) (2) , and
Whereas, notice was duly mailed to all involved agencies requesting Ulysses Town
Board Lead Agency status and describing the Proposed Action inclusive of New York
State Parks Commission, County of Seneca, Towns of Covert, Ithaca, Enfield and Village
of Trumansburg, without objection from any involved agency, and
Whereas, the Town Board hereby declares itself Lead Agency and as such accepts the
Full EAF as complete per its review of May 31 , 2005 , and
Whereas , the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses has deemed the Town Wide Re-
Zoning as not significantly adverse to Town :
1 . Water Resources
2 . Air Quality
3 . Plants and Animals
4. Aesthetic Resources
5 . Historic and Archeological Resources
6 . Open Space and Recreation
7 . Transportation
8 . Energy Resources
9 . Noise and Odor
10 . Land Use
11 . Public Health
12 . Growth and Characters of the Community or Neighborhood, and
Whereas, the proposed Town Wide Re-Zoning is a proposed action consistent with
social and economic considerations and well as proper Land Use and Public Health and
Safety, and
Whereas, all steps have been taken in the proposed action to the extent practicable to
mediate any negative consequences identified, therefore it is hereby:
Resolved, that the EAF is adopted and approved as presently amended and the above
findings 1 thru 12 are hereby adopted,
Further Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses hereby makes the
determination, based on the EAF and its findings, that the Adoption of Local Law No . 3
of 2005 establishing Town Wide Re-Zoning consistent with our Comprehensive Plan as
presently before this Board has no significant adverse or otherwise mitigated impact on
the Environment and Declares and issues hereby a Negative Declaration under SEQR.
Mr. Austic called for the vote .
Mr. Austic aye
Mr. Scott aye
Mr. Weatherby aye
Ms . Marino aye
Mr. Ellis aye
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Adopted.
Draft Zoning Law
Mr. Austic said that there were a few corrections and changes that were not made in the
law after the Town Board had discussed and approved the changes . These missed
changes are Minor and are insignificant to the meaning of the entire law but they would
add clarification to the law .
Section 2. 14 Local Laws Superseded
Reads as follows :
This Zoning Law upon adoption shall supersede the following Local Laws : Town of
Ulysses Zoning Law as adopted in 1968 and amended to date ; Town of Ulysses Site Plan
Review as adopted October 6 , 1998 ; Town of Ulysses Tower Ordinance as adopted
March 17 , 1997 ; and the Town of Ulysses Mobile Home Park Ordinance; and the Town
of Ulysses Subdivision Ordinance, dated November 18 , 1986 .
Corrected to read as follows :
This Zoning Law upon adoption shall supersede the following Local Laws : Town of
Ulysses Zoning Ordinance as adopted in 1968 and amended to date ; Town of Ulysses
Site Plan Review as adopted October 6 , 1998 ; Town of Ulysses Tower Ordinance as
adopted March 17 , 1997 ; and the Town of Ulysses Mobile Home Park Ordinance ; and
the Town of Ulysses Subdivision Ordinance, dated November 18 , 1986 .
Section 3 .4.4 Site Plan Information Required
Delete k & 1 under #2 — because the material is previously stated in Section 3 . 4 . 3
Procedure
The Town Board agreed to the above changes .
Ms. Marino said that she had a few suggested changes as well and that some of these
changes had been previously agreed to by the Board but were not reflected in the final
copy.
Article XXI — General Provisions
Add 21 . 14 Singlewide Manufactured Homes
Singlewide manufactured homes are permitted only in the MHP District
Article III —, Administration-
3 .5 Re-Zoning for DD — Development Districts or Other Rezoning
3 .5. 1
1st paragraph - Delete — and the Board of Zoning Appeals
Make the 2nd paragraph A.
# 1 . A — Delete affirmative finding that it is in — change to — make a finding as to whether
it is in conformance with the Town Comprehensive Plan
#2 change to read — review the development plan for the proposed site rezoning,
including any proposed structures or modifications of structures using the review criteria
outlined in Section 3 . 5 for compliance with district regulations of the zoning district for
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which rezoning is requested and with relevant sections of this Zoning Law, and required
such changes as may be necessary to ensure compliance
#3 — delete
#4 — now change to #3
Next paragraph make B . The Planning Board shall consider.
i
Delete #6
Delete next paragraph and 1 , 2, & 3
3 .5.2 Requirements for Rezoning Plan
#7 - change to read — other plans and specifications related to the proposed use of the site
deemed reasonably necessary by the Town Board for a thorough understanding of the
proposed use.
3 .5.3 Development District Rezoning Plan (change to read as follows) :
The purpose of a Development District is to give flexibility to the Zoning Law in order to
accommodate such developments as would be beneficial to the community, but which are
not now permitted in the established zoning district where the proposed project is located.
These development districts must not be contrary to the Ulysses Comprehensive Plan or
the Zoning Law. In addition to the requirements for rezoning, a proposed Development
District shall be a minimum of three (3 ) acres . Site plan material submitted with the
application for review by the Planning Board must be in accordance with the Town
Development District Application procedure, available from the Code Enforcement
Officer and amended as necessary from time to time .
3 . 5.4 Process for Rezoning by Town Board
Upon receipt of the requested recommendation from the Planning Board, the Town Board
shall hold a Public Hearing and State Environmental Quality Review, after which it may,
at its discretion, approve the proposed rezoning request, disapprove the proposed change,
or approve it with modifications. The Town may impose any conditions, modifications
or additional requirements upon the approval as it may determine appropriate in
furtherance of this Zoning Law and the Town Comprehensive Plan. In making its
decision the Town Board shall make an affirmative finding that the proposed change is in
conformance with the Town Comprehensive Plan.
An affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the Town Board shall be required to
establish the development district if
1 . The Planning Board recommends the purposed development district not be
approved based on the Ulysses Comprehensive Plan; or
2 . The Planning Board recommends the proposed Development District be approved
but with modifications, including modifications of proposed allowed uses to the site
plan, that applicant is not willing to make.
The Town Board in establishing a new zoning district shall define in writing the
boundaries of the new district, approve the site plan and list all specifications and
restrictions approve for the site plan. The site plan as approved by the Town Board shall
be binding on the applicant.
Upon the approval by the Town Board of a site plan submitted as part of an application or
petition for the establishment of a Development District, said site plan shall be submitted
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to the Planning Board for consideration of final site plan approval it not previously
conducted as part of the rezoning review.
The consensus of the Town Board was to accept these changes .
Article IV — Definitions
Change definition as follows :
Agricultural commerce — A retail or wholesale enterprise operated as an accessory use to
an active farm on the same premises providing services or products principally utilized in
agricultural production, including structures, agricultural equipment and agricultural
equipment parts, batteries and tires, livestock, feed, seed, fertilizer and equipment repairs,
or providing for wholesale or retail sale of grain, fruit, produce, trees , shrubs, flowers or
other products of agricultural operations .
Article V — Al Agricultural District
5.3 Permitted Uses
Move Cemeteries to 5 . 6 - Uses Allowed by Special Permit from the Town Board
5.6 Uses Allowed by Special Permit from the Town Board
Change Animal confinement requiring CAFO to — Animal confinement regulated by
CAFO (Confined or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation)
Article XVII — Design Standards
Section 17. 21 Standards for Agricultural Commerce
1st paragraph - add "associated with farm operation" after residences
Article XVIII — Land Subdivision Regulations
Section 18. 1 .3 Types of Subdivision and Procedures
Simple Subdivision
Add at the end of Simple Subdivision add -"using Minor Subdivision procedures . "
Article XIX — Communication Transmission Towers and Telecommunications
Facilities
Section 19.6 - Planning Board Procedure
5th paragraph — change to read — If the Planning Board requires the assistance of a
consultant to evaluate the application, reasonable fees for consultation required by the
Planning Board to evaluate the application shall be borne by the applicant.
Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Ellis the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses
accepts all the changes suggested by Ms . Marino .
Mr. Austic aye
Mr. Scott aye
Mr. Weatherby aye
Ms. Marino aye
Mr. Ellis aye
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Adopted.
Mr. Austic asked if anyone else had any points for discussion on this topic . Hearing no
further comments, Mr. Austic moved, seconded by Mr. Ellis the following:
RESOLUTION OF THE ULYSSES TOWN BOARD APPROVING LOCAL LAW
NO.3 OF 2005
RE-ZONING TOWN WIDE THE TOWNSHIP PURSUANT TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board adopted a Comprehensive Plan for the Town on
April 13 , 1999, and
WHEREAS, numerous efforts have been made by the Town Board to enact new Zoning
consistent with said Comprehensive Plan and promote the Public Health and Safety of
residents and others in the Town, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has solicited Public Comment in many forums ; the
Tompkins County Planning Department has provided personnel to assist in drafting for
the Town, the Town has hired an expert in municipal zoning to assist the Town Board
and the Town Planning Board has extensively commented on the Draft of the Law, the
Town Board has further engaged legal opinions of Town Counsel and the opinions of the
Code Enforcement Officer and hired persons for editorial reviews of the various drafts of
the Zoning Law, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has Adopted a Resolution, made findings and made a
determination on the Environmental Impact under the NYS Environmental Quality
Review Act (SEQR) and has held a public hearing under SEQR as a Type I Action;
declared itself after due notice Lead Agency; and held the required comment period open
post Public Hearing; the Town Board has made a determinant findings of no significant
impact on the Environment and made a Negative Declaration under SEQR, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board notified the Tompkins County Planning Department
pursuant to General Municipal Law § 239 1&m of the proposed Town Wide Re-Zoning,
and many comments of said Planning Board Department having been considered and
adopted, and the Section 239 l&m Review by the County Planning Department under the
General Municipal Law having found no negative County impact nor objected to the
Local Law, and therefore no supermajority being needed for passage by the Town Board,
and
WHEREAS , a Public Hearing was held on the Town Wide Re-zoning on May 31 , 2005
after due Bulletin Board posting and Publication in the official newspaper on May 18 ,
2005 , being the necessary 10 days prior to the hearing as well as in the Trumansburg Free
Press on May 25 , 2005 , and
WHEREAS , numerous Public Information sessions were held for Town residential
comments, especially during the last year, and the Town Board considered same
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Town and its residents to have a full detailed
and Comprehensive Zoning Law that promotes the Health and Safety of the Town ' s
Community as well as provide for responsible and needed development consistent with
the Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, due consideration has been given the full text of this Local Law which is
intended to supercede all existing Zoning as set forth therein (with the exception of the
adoption of Development District No . 22 adopted immediately prior hereto on August 23 ,
2005 ) and the Town Planning Board and Town Board have satisfied themselves of the
full contents and purposes of this Local Law;
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NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town
of Ulysses hereby adopts Local Law No . 3 for Town Wide Re-Zoning as set forth herein
after, to be effective upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State as required
by Law; and
BE IT RESOLVED, the following text of Local Law No . 3 is hereby enacted, by the
Town Board of the Town of Ulysses on this date of August 30, 2005 .
Discussion of the resolution :
Mr. Wilson, Attorney for the Town, reminded the Board that the Law is not in effect until
NYS Secretary of State receives and files the new Law.
Mrs . Georgia said that she is prepared to file the affidavit and the Law in the morning
after she has an updated clean copy of Local Law #3 2005 . It will be sent by priority
(overnight) Mail .
Mr. Austic said that in addition to the changes in the Law that there was a minor change
required on the Zoning Map for the New Law . Parcel # 24 . -2- 1 . 421 owned by Schurman
on Swamp College Road was not included as part of the R1 District when the map was
updated. This owner had requested this parcel to be included as R1 and not Al ; it was
inadvertently recorded as Al because the data set used to generate the map had not been
updated to include this new parcel . The Board members recalled the discussion and that
they had agreed to the requested change. This parcel classification will be corrected for
filing.
Mr. Ellis said that he had four points that he wanted to discuss and have added as an
amendment to the resolution . Mr. Ellis distributed copies of his proposed amendment
and read it into the record as follows :
Ulysses Town Board,
1) There is little distinction between the Al and R1 designations. This flaw alone tells us
that the mandate to preserve open land and encourage agriculture has not been satisfied.
The 400 foot frontage in the Al is too narrow. There are no incentives for developers to
group housing rather than scatter it.
Some of the mapping of the Al and R1 districts seems arbitrary. It creates the appearance
of favoritism . Some very rational arguments by the impacted citizens have not been
answered.
The Town Board needs to officially ask the Planning Board to review the mapping and
the Al frontage, then to make recommendations regarding how to correct the flaws.
2) The Law is made somewhat toothless by two factors. One is procedural and one is an
omission. The normal procedure when enacting a new town zoning law is to assign most
of the work to the Planning Board. By so doing the Planning Board 's understanding of
both the
letter of the law and the intention in writing it are well established. It is the Planning
Board that will primarily oversee application of the new Law, but they have been
excluded froin its development. Much excellent research and many progressive ideas
developed by the Planning Board are not reflected in this new Law.
The Town Boards needs to assign the Deputy Supervisor responsibility for developing a
training plafi for the Planning Board, including a practical and equitable description
of how the Applicants, the Code Enforcement Officer, and the Planning Board interact
during application procedures, in detail.
An omission ;that also weakens enforcement is the unwillingness of the Board to take up
the matter of accounting for the subdivision of lots. Even recently when it became known
that the County Clerk was abdicating any responsibility for determining whether
subdivisionsjare approved by the Towns before filed the Town Board would not move on
. . . .
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setting up a simple accounting of its own. This omission leaves a loophole for sneaking in
subdivisions of land. It also sets the Town up for heavy attorney expenses when breeches
are discovered. The cost of accounting would be much less than the cost of correcting.
The Town Boards needs to assign the Deputy Supervisor responsibility to report by
November 1 on software available for recording lots in the Town and to recommend a
procedure for first making it known to all local lawyers, realtors, and authorities that
such a system is in place and a procedure for monitoring.
3) The Sign Standards are inappropriate for a small rural community. The number of
signs permitted on-site, the egregious number of off-site signs permitted, and the
excessive sign sizes in general are suburban not rural. I am entirely supportive of
businesses in the community, but I do not support 'just any business practice ". Nor do I
support business practices that reduce the quality of life in the community and thereby
reduce its attractiveness to future businesses. We need to acknowledge that half the
reason why well-capitalized businesses do not start up in lowdown-looking places is
because the people who start such businesses do not want to live or work in trashy
environments.
The Town Board needs to appoint a committee of business owners and Planning Board
members to re-open the research done by the Ulysses Planning Board into sign
regulation and to prepare recommendations for revision in February 2006.
Mr. Austic asked the Board if there was a second to Mr. Ellis ' s motion or the need for
further discussion.
Mr. Ellis said that only the four bold paragraphs in his handout are meant to be the actual
amendment to the resolution and that the other text was explanatory.
Mr. Wilson called "point of order" . The Town Board has a motion on the floor which is
to adopt Local Law #3 2005 and the Town Board would need to come up with language
to amend that resolution because the Local Law governing zoning regulations has to go to
the NYS Secretary of State as a document to be filed . As such, the language of Mr.
Ellis ' s amendment would need to be changed into the proper form for a resolution and
this may conflict with the desire of the Board to have the Local Law being filed
tomorrow .
Mr. Ellis said he would withdraw his amendment stating that it would be more
appropriate to discuss the contents of his proposal independently from the resolution
enacting the new Zoning Law. Mr. Ellis said that he would bring up his comments for
adoption at the next Regular Town Board Meeting in September.
Mr. Wilson offered to assist Mr. Ellis in preparing a draft resolution for his amendment.
Ms . Marino asked to be recognized saying that she had some comments as to what Mr.
Ellis had proposed. Ms . Marino stated that she completely agrees with the first point set
forth in Mr. Ellis ' s handout that there is little distinction between the Agricultural (Al )
and Rural Residential (R1 ) districts which has also been voiced by residents at public
hearings. Ms . Marino said she strongly supports the concept of an Ag Zone with low
density residential development and rural residential zones being used to direct the
growth according to the Comprehensive Plan. Ms . Marino said she does not support the
Al district as is currently defined and that the Board needs to look at the Al and R1
districts again in the context of the overdue review of the Ulysses Comprehensive Plan
and the on-going efforts by the County, including the planned reassessment of the County
Ag District. Ms . Marino said that she has consistently argued for a better distinction
between these two districts and that she continues to believe that the Town should
discourage strip residential development along the roads in the Al district. The Al
District should be sufficiently different from all residential districts to minimize housing
in the Agricultural district with inherent problems of odors, herbicides, pesticides, and
noise and encourage housing in the residential districts where the infrastructure supports
development. In addition, buffer zones need to be established between active farmland
and residences as recommended by the American Farmland Trust for public health and
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safety reasons and to minimize conflicts with competing land uses . The latter is a major
issue with NYS Ag and Markets . Ms . Marino expressed disappointment that the
opportunity tb accomplish a positive planning and development solution for agricultural
lands has passed us by and hopes that the Board can re-visit or further investigate some of
the ideas that have been proposed and rejected over the past several years . This would
help the Town really achieve the stated goals for zoning and foster good planning and
future preservation of the rural character and uniqueness of the Town of Ulysses . Ms.
Marino said that this law, in many ways, is a significant advancement towards the goals
of providing ;responsible development consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and she
wants to applaud the many hours of time and hard work put in by the Town Planning
Board Members and the current and former Town Board members and other Town
employees to ' produce the law .
Mr. Austic, in response to Ms . Marino ' s comment, said that if the Town were to change
the Ag District or another District to make it more convenient or give the people an
initiative to move to the other districts that he would rather reduce the lot requirement in
R1 then increase the lot size in Al . Reducing the lot size and stressing the access to the
transportation corridor and the possibility of municipal water could induce new residents
to locate in the R1 rather then in the Al district. Mr. Austic further stated that a lot with a
required 400 foot frontage on a minimum of two acres is significantly different than a lot
with 200-fool frontage with two acres . Reducing the frontage in the R1 and reinforcing
the benefits of municipal services may entice people to build there rather than in the Al .
Ms. Marino said that it is a matter of opinion and certainly differs in terms of current
thoughts on planning for agricultural districts . Ms . Marino pointed out that Mr. Austic
has changed his thoughts on these districts since the Town Board drafted frontage and
acreage minimums for the Al in November 2003 .
Mr. Austic said that indeed he has changed his views after giving the issue much thought,
talking with people in the town, and conferring with other municipal officials .
With no further discussion, Mr. Austic called for the vote . Mrs . Georgia proceeded with
a role call vote as follows :
Ms . Marino aye
Mr. Ellis aye
Mr. Austic aye
Mr. Scott aye
Mr. Weatherby aye
Adopted.
The residents in attendance applauded.
Mr. Austic said that there was one other item that he would like the Board to consider for
the next Regular Board meeting and that was health insurance coverage. Mr. Austic said
that Superintendent Mr. Meeker needed to hire a new crewmember because of Mr.
Caulkin ' s retirement. In our current personal policy it states that a fulltime employee is
only entitled to individual coverage paid for by the Town and if they want family
coverage the employee would need to pay for the difference between individual and
family coverage. Mr. Austic calculated this expense and it would cost the employee
approximately $ 350 a paycheck. Mr. Meeker has requested the Town Board to review
the policy to see if there is a more equitable solution. Other Towns in Tompkins County
have different policies that cost less for the new employees . The insurance issue was for
consideration only and no decision was called for at this meeting. It will be on the
agenda for discussion at the next Regular Town Board meeting.
Hearing no further discussion Mr. Ellis moved, Mr. Scott seconded to adjourn the
meeting. Unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned at 9 : 35PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha L. Georgia