HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-29-PB TOWN OF ULYSSES
PLANNING BOARD
11 /29/05
Approved December 13, 2005 with corrections
Present : Interim Chairperson David Tyler, Planning Board Members : Margot Chiuten,
David Means, Rod Porter, Darien Simon and John Wertis .
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun .
Excused : Rose Hilbert
Applicants : William Rusen, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services
A quorum is present at the meeting; the meeting was called to order at 7 : 32 pm by Mr. Tyler.
Minutes :
Ms . Chiuten reviewed the minutes from 11 /01 /05 , stated she approved them thus the
minutes are approved pending resolution of 11 / 15/05 meeting, MINUTES APPROVED .
Mr. Tyler submitted revisions to the minutes of 11 / 15 /05 . He noted Ms . Chiuten had sent
him an email however due to spam block he had not received thus she had an Excused
absence on 11 / 15/05 .
Members reviewed the revisions . Mr. Means offered a MOTION to APPROVE the
minutes . Ms. Simons seconded the MOTION. All in favor — MOTION APPROVED .
Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services
Mr. Tyler stated that a minor modification to the original Site Plan has been presented to
the Board for Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services on Route 227 . At a prior meeting it
had been decided the Board would like to review the plan after Mr. Rachun had
informally reviewed it.
Mr. Rachun upon receipt of the plan had spoken with Mr. Tyler and then questioned if a
Public Hearing would be necessary. Mr. Tyler noted that as long as the neighbors directly
involved in the project were contacted depending on the outcome the Planning Board
might feel comfortable waiving a Public Hearing.
Mr. Rusen presented the letter he had addressed to the neighbors and read the letter to the
Board. The letter included the address as well as drawings and specifications for
installing 3 parking lot lights . He had hand delivered written communication to the
neighbors within sight of the CARS facility and had requested feedback via three
different telephone numbers .
Mr. Rusen hand delivered the letters to the following :
6350 Bower Road, Murray Residence- Mr. Murray telephoned and stated it
looked okay to him .
6314 Bower Road, Morehouse Residence-Mr. Rusen spoke with a woman and she
stated she would speak to her husband but he has not heard back from them.
6308 Bower Road, No name on mail receptacle no comment from this residence.
6252 Bower Road, Mackenzie Residence-Dr. Mackenzie is an amateur astronomer
he stated he would prefer a fixture that offered limited impact on night viewing. Mr. Rusen
was referred to a website called Dark Skies by Dr. Mackenzie .
There was a tan house with no visible address-Mr. Rusen left the note between
the doors-no comment from this residence .
Maguire Family-Mr. Rusen had changed the vestibule light from 40 watt to
300 watt and they contacted him regarding this impacting their residence . They reside on
the Southwest side of 227 . Mr. Maguire had asked why they don ' t just install parking lot
lights . Mr. Rusen explained the proposal being brought to the Planning Board .
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11 /29/05
Mr. Rusen stated he has two proposals with different types of lights-one is a tilt angle and
the other is a wedge style light .
Mr. Wertis asked to clarify where the light posts would be placed .
Mr. Rusen indicated on the map they would be on the South Side of the parking lot. As
people exit the building they would be in less light. He is hoping to install 100 watt bulbs
in the vestibule to compensate for the dim area exiting the building .
Mr. Tyler noted that Mr. Porter is the only member currently on the Board that was
involved in the original Site Plan. Mr. Tyler had recused himself due to being involved
with Mr. Hoffmire who was then selling property to Cayuga Addiction Recovery
Services during this process .
Mr. Rachun noted that the Design Standards (page 89) require . 9 footcandles of
illumination for parking lots.
Mr. Rusen offered that Mr. Mackenzie asked if a manual switch could be put on so if he
would like to do night viewing he can request it be turned off. He informed
Dr. Mackenzie this would be fine as long as he had the staff to go to the mechanical room
to turn the lights off
Mr. Wertis questioned where Mr. Rachun was reading the . 9 footcandle requirement. The
section he noted is for commercial development only-shopping areas, etc .
Mr. Porter noted that in section two it lists applicable areas for educational and limited
nighttime use ' facilities . The necessary is . 2 footcandles of illumination. He stated the
Center would fall into this category vs . commercial minimum of . 9 footcandles .
Mr. Rachun affirmed this and stated the illumination needed for the parking lot for the
applicant should be . 2 footcandles .
Mr. Tyler noted that a wedge light would restrict the light more than a 60 degree tilt light.
He asked Ms . Chiuten to address the different types of poles and give her comments on
them.
Ms Chiuten noted that the 60 degree tilt is more in compliance with the height
requirements of the pole . It is mounted on a higher pole and has higher wattage thus the
reason for more illumination. With the tilt you are more likely to get some spillover-the
sharp cut off (wedge) type eliminates this .
Mr. Wertis clarified that the entire parking lot has to be illuminated up to the . 2
footcandles on all parts of the lot.
Ms . Chiuten and Mr. Rachun stated this is the case . The purpose of the lighting is to
make the lot safe and providing unlit areas would defeat this .
Mr. Tyler noted that this is a minor modification to a former Site Plan Review thus a
SEQR is not required .
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the types of lights, the hours of operation, the cost
of the lighting and how best to accomplish the safety issues as well as compliance with
the Zoning Ordinance .
Mr. Porter MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Wertis the following :
WHEREAS , Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, located at 227 Route 96 ,
Trumansburg, has requested a MINOR MODIFICATION of the Site Plan approved on
July 24, 2003 by the Town of Ulysses Planning Board.
WHEREAS , Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services has requested approval for
the installation of type light fixtures in the parking lot located at 227 Route 96,
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11 /29/05
Trumansburg, due to hazardous safety issues in an unlit parking lot .
WHEREAS , the Town of Ulysses Planning Board has reviewed the proposed "wedge" type
of fixture and plan to be in compliance with Zoning Ordinance (August 30, 2005) :
Section 17. 5 —Retail stores or shopping centers open after 8 : 00 AM and closing at or before
5 : 00 PM. , employee parking areas for industrial development; schools and other education
facilities ; churches and other places of worship ; and other public areas where there is
generally very little nighttime activity. As well as being in compliance with :
Design Standard #1 . Any luminaire . . . shall not emit any direct light above a horizontal
plane through the lowest direct light emitting part of the luminaire .
WHEREAS , Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services contacted neighbors requesting
comments without negative feedback . The Site Plan is a MINOR modification; the
Town of Ulysses Planning Board determined a Public Hearing is not required.
WHEREAS , the Town of Ulysses Planning Board has accepted the plans without
contingency of Minutes from November 29`h , 2005 meeting being approved . The FINAL
approval will be reviewed by Mr. Rachun, Code Enforcement Officer. Ms . Chiuten will act
as technical reference for Mr. Rusen, if questions should arise in the final approval .
THEREFORE, be it resolved the Town of Ulysses Planning Board does hereby approve the
application for Site Plan Review as submitted by William Rusen on behalf of Cayuga
Addiction Recovery Services with the following notations .
• Current approval of 3 sharp cut off "wedge" fixtures on the South Side
of the parking lot .
• Additional 2 matching sharp cut off fixtures on the North Side of the
parking lot may be installed within 18 months of this approval without
additional review .
Mr. Tyler called the vote :
Ms . Chiuten Aye
Mr. Means Aye
Mr. Porter Aye
Ms Simon Aye
Mr. Tyler Aye
Mr. Wertis Aye
ADOPTED
The Board presented their findings as follows :
1 . Mr. Tyler noted that the applicant notified the neighbors of the plans thus the
Board determined a Public Hearing would be waived. He appreciates the
placement of the poles being on the outside of the parking lot facing the building-
thus they will not be cast towards the road or the neighbors.
2 . Mr. Porter added this is a minor modification and as such deemed a Public
Hearing is not necessary. There is no existing lighting; this plan brings the lot up
to the current Design Standards , outlined in the recently enacted zoning ordinance
with which it will now comply.
Washington Street Partners
Mr. Rachun stated that Mr. Moore advised him they will be submitting a further
downsized application. He does not have the details or how it will be downsized .
They expect to have the new plan in the first week of December. They have not officially
stated they are withdrawing the old application. Mr. Moore did not ask to have the prior
application withdrawn until Mr. Rachun specifically asked him .
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11 /29/05
Mr. Tyler asked the members if they would like to meet in December. The members
agreed and the next meeting will be December 13th at 7 : 30 pm . If there is no business Mr.
Rachun will contact Ms . Carlisle Peck and she will notify the members .
Mr. Tyler- Planning Board Position
Mr. Tyler distributed a letter he has sent to the Town Board; he will not be returning to
the Planning Board . Due to historical perspective of having a family member on the
Town Board and another on the Planning Board he recalls difficulties . In addition, he
addressed areas of frustration with not having information from the Planning Board taken
seriously by the Town Board, on more than one occasion.
Meeting adjourned at 8 : 47 pm. .
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Carlisle Peck
Secretary
12/13/05
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