HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-281
TOWN OF DRYDEN
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
July 28, 2022
Hybrid / Zoom
Approved 8-25-22
Present: John Kiefer (Chair), Tony Salerno (Zoom), Joe Wilson, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes
(Zoom), Craig Anderson, Linda Wagenet, Dan Bussmann (Zoom), Alice Green
(Alternate)
Absent: Simon St Laurent (Alternate)
Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director, Joy Foster, Recording Secretary, (Zoom)
Liaisons: D. Lamb (TB)(Zoom)
Others: Applicant Suzy Kuntz, 2012 Dryden Rd.
Chair J. Kiefer called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm
Kiefer gives TB updates, PB Resolution for Electric Signs, was transmitted to the TB, it was a
split vote 4-3 with 3 people just not comfortable with Electric Signs. Also, the 2045/Comp Plan
got final approval, it is now adopted.
Approval of the minutes: of 5-26-22 Planning Board Meeting
Motion: J. Wilson
2nd L. Wagenet
All in favor, 7-yes.
Planning Board discussion for Sketch Plan Review, Application for a new business, called Math
& Movement at 2012 Dryden Road, it’s a business use in a dwelling in a Mixed-Use-
Commercial-District. No SEQR needed it’s a Type-2 exempt application.
• Suzy Kuntz is the owner and discusses the putting together of these educational
packets. They print out the materials and ship them out.
• Only have a few employees and recently paved the driveway, plenty of space for
parking. There are no customers that come to building. So traffic is a minimal.
• She also has applied for an Area Variance with the Zoning Board of Appeals for 8-2-22 to
be able to place 2 sheds for material storage in the front yard. They are nice looking in
good to new condition, Amish sheds.
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Board thoughts:
• There are 2 driveways onto Rt. 13 if business is expanded one DW may need to be
removed. We are supposed to limit DWs to one onto Rt. 13, that’s part of the Zoning
Law.
• Dumpsters are not to be visible from the road.
• Planting of trees to shield the view of the dumpsters.
• Need to know what species and how close together for planting.
• There are 2 different parcels, same owner. We could put a Condition that if the
ownership of the properties were separated in the future that the DW would have to
shift to the single entrance.
Kiefer with no more questions we have a couple of options, we can accept the Sketch Plan with
a list of conditions and waive full site plan review with the Director of Planning to see that the
planting and the screening is in place or we can write out the specifics of what species to plant
and where to place them.
RESOLUTION 2022 # 5 - RECOMMENDING ACCEPTING SKETCH PLAN AND TO
WAIVE FULL SITE PLAN FOR MATH & MOVEMENT BUSINESS AT 2012 DRYDEN
ROAD.
J. Kiefer moves to accept the Sketch Plan and to waive Full Site Plan with 3 stipulations 1. That
they receive an Area Variance to place the sheds and 2. that they submit a planting plan to
shield the dumpsters, and this to be submitted to the Planning Director for approval and lastly,
in the event that the 2 properties are separated that the DW convert into one.
2nd T. Salerno
All in favor, 5-yes
2-no. C. Anderson and D. Bussmann
Next up: C. Anderson presents Design Connect Proposal
Design Connect Proposal DRAFT-DRAFT-DRAFT
North Street Neighborhood Development Plan
Town of Dryden, NY
July 2022
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Brief Description of the Project:
The purpose of this project is to create a concept-level site development plan for a mixed residential
community on lands in and north of the Village of Dryden. The project is very relevant for several
reasons. The 2017 Tompkins County Housing Strategy documents the need for new diverse, affordable,
energy efficient housing choices. The 2022 Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan Amendment echoes the
County work and places it in the context of walkable communities, and proximity to municipal services
such as public transit and water/sewer utilities. Elements of the work include understanding the above
documents, understanding and critique of the zoning rules that govern land use, discussion with
municipal personnel on topics such as services, public funding and adjacencies that drive circulation
patterns. The deliverable is concept-level site plan and implementation strategy.
Please describe, in detail, the community-based project for which you are applying.
The Town of Dryden is a rural residential community that lies between the cities of Ithaca and Cortland.
While Dryden may appear to be ideally positioned to provide residential housing proximate to work,
shopping and cultural venues in Ithaca and Cortland, the Town has had very limited success attracting
development. And the development that does take place is primarily single family homes on large rural
lots that are changing the rural nature of the town. People are choosing housing far from destinations
that perpetuates our existing car-based culture. Planning goals for “nodal development” have largely
eluded Dryden.
The North Street Development Plan will consist of a mix of housing types (e.g. workforce, senior,
affordable) as described in the above mentioned studies. The site (attached) we have picked for the Plan
provides foundational elements such as municipal services, local groceries, proximity to schools. In
addition to showing housing locations/types, the Plan will include a circulation component (e.g.,
sidewalks, bike lanes, foot paths) to meet with needs of residents. The site we have chosen also has
opportunity to solve existing connectivity needs related to the community college.
The North Street Development Plan project will provide an opportunity for students to learn about
changing attitudes and strategies for zoning, specifically use and density restrictions. One approach
would be for students to develop a plan based on needs assessments and best practices for diverse,
walkable communities. Then open the respective zoning codes for the Village and Town of Dryden and
decide if existing zoning allows and encourages best practices.
Real estate development only happens when costs match resources. We can provide students with
access to developers to learn about cost drivers and estimating. The site we have chosen will support
high density development that helps control cost. We can also provide information on target pricing
structures needed to draw in new residents.
The Dryden Town Board recently appointed a Housing Committee to take a broad look at opportunities
and challenges to meeting current and future needs. The North Street Development Plan will be a
valuable supporting piece of the Committee’s work. In addition to the Housing Committee, other
resources available to Design Connect include Dryden Planning Department staff, Planning Board
members, and local contractors/developers.
What are your goals for the project? If students could aid the organization in completing only one
task, what would that task be?
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1. We would like a development plan to add a mix of housing (senior, workforce, affordable) comprising
of approximately 200 areas of developed and undeveloped parcels within the Village of Dryden and
Town of Dryden. Include site circulation (sidewalks, bike lanes and paths) both for new residents
and for adjacent residents that currently travel the project site. Redesign the North Road and North
Street intersection to increase visibility and safety for all users. This would be the “one task” (we
recognize it is a big one!).
2. We would like a cost model to compare development costs to established trends for what people are
willing to pay for housing. Cost elements include site development (utilities, roads, walkways, outdoor
recreational amenities) and building construction. Define the gap between costs and what people are
willing to pay.
3. We would like to see a comparison of the development plan based on best practices to what is
permitted by local zoning.
PRELIMINARY SITE MAP SHOWING STUDY AREA
Board Thoughts:
• This is a concept study, gets the State involved with getting sidewalks and housing
projects, safer intersections, bike trail to the HS.
• Great collaboration between the Town and the Village
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• TB has discussed this and feel it’s a bargain to get this done by the Cornell Design
Connect Team. If it costs $500 for this study and each study, it’s a great value and there
is talk of doing a pedestrian walkway to TC3, so this is resource money well spent to get
these plans developed.
RESOLUTION 2022 # 6 – APPLICATION TO DESIGN CONNECT PROGRAM
THE BOARD RECCOMMENDS - This idea be submitted as an application to Cornell’s
Design Connect Program.
J. Wilson moves to accept
2nd D. Bussmann
All in favor, 7-yes
Ray Planning Dept. updates,
• 129 N. St. – CNY Auto Hub which is moving across the street. Came before PB and PB
wanted more info.
• The TB saw applicant had a deadline and needed TB decision. Would not have been enough
time for PB to re-visit and do a Full Site Plan Review.
• TB was given revised documents by the applicant, that addressed some of PB concerns.
• Suggested to move the PB meeting to the 2nd week to help and work better with the TB, to
maybe avoid situations like this.
• Realize that some of the sketch plans that come to the PB are not as comprehensive as
desired and this is frustrating.
• TB does benefit from the recommendations from the PB.
• Update on our hiring process, I have been unable to hire a FT Planner, I’m looking to hire a
PT inspector to help in our dept. and will revisit the FT Planner position in the winter.
Dan Lamb Town Board updates,
• We did adopt the Comp. Plan last month that was a long process starting in April 2019.
• TB did appreciate the advice we got from the PB about revising the guidelines for signs,
displays and how we view billboards with potentially LED Billboards
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• I’ve been in touch with DOT with regards to the crossing at Game Farm Road, because of
the popularity it’s a concern. We did get the speed reduction on Game Farm Road. Working
on the Pedestrian crossing plan.
• Freeze Road Bridge, The Federal Gov. wants the historical elements maintained. It is a
frustrating issue we need to come up with a new plan to build. Very expensive to maintain.
We had a rehab group in Indiana who wanted the bridge and would jump through all the
hoops, but we were told that we needed to pay to ship it and it’s in the $80,000 range so
that’s not going to be feasible. It’s been a long haul. We are still trying. We have a town
approved bridge which is where we are at now. We just need the Federal Gov. and the State
to stop delaying this project by asking us to just do one more thing.
Next regular Planning Board Meeting will be Aug. 25, 2022
Meeting adjourned 7:30 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Joy Foster