HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-26 - CPC Meeting Minutes
Town of Ulysses
Comprehensive Plan Update Committee
August 26, 2008
Approved September 23, 2008
Present : Sue Poelvoorde, Chair; Roxanne Marino , David Tyler, Bob Weatherby, Bob
Brown, John Wertis, Sue Ritter, Deirdre Cunningham, Rod Hawkes, Liz Thomas,
Kimberly Baptiste, Bergmann Associates
John Wertis moved to accept the meeting minutes from June 16 and June 24, 2008,
seconded by Rod Hawkes . Approved unanimously with the following changes . Bob
Weatherby should be indicated as present as well as Deirdre Cunningham on the June
24th minutes . The minutes from June 6, 2008 , have yet to be presented or approved.
The committee addressed Supervisor Austic concerns per his August 12th email . He felt
the existing land use map (page 51 of the August 2008 draft) inaccurately represents land
in agriculture. Kim indicated that the map was created from the most commonly used
data from the Tompkins County assessment office, which tries to determine land usage
based on how each parcel is categorized . Land parcels can only be classified as either
residential or agriculture but in many cases both activities are occurring within one
parcel . Many committee members feel a footnote or disclaimer to the map explaining this
inaccuracy would be enough to clarify the map . Sue Ritter offered to provide more
accurate data based on aerial photos from 2000. The Committee also suggested referring
readers of the CP to the ag classification map to further clarify the representation of ag
lands . The ag district map was inadvertently left out of the August 2008 draft but
Kimberly will add it to the final copies .
A second concern from the Supervisor revolves around the potential for sidewalks to
change the rural character of the Town and that the Town will be responsible for their
maintenance. The CP plan actually calls for sidewalks only in the higher density areas
and areas of future high development. Any law on the books requiring the Town to
maintain the sidewalks can be changed e. g. the Village does not maintain all their
sidewalks . Planning ahead for future sidewalks is preferable to retrofitting them into a
neighborhood after development. As for sidewalks causing a feeling of "urbanization",
this should not be an issue since sidewalks are only called for in higher density
neighborhoods .
The Supervisor states that the Town will not build new roads, but the intent of the CP is
to only build new roads where required by new development.
In response to the Supervisor ' s final comment about the unnecessary mention of
Confined Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs, the CP cannot regulate CMOs, which
need to follow state and federal regulations . However the Committee feels that including
a statement to discourage CAFO development within the Township is still worthwhile
due to their impacts on air and water quality.
Chair Sue Poelvoorde will respond to Doug ' s email of August 12, 2008 .
Deirdre expressed concern over the commercial development area indicated on the Future
Land Use map since it conflicts with the CP of the Village of Trumansburg, which tries
to keep commercial development within the limits of the Village. The Committee decided
to state that the Town supports commercial development within the Village when
possible. If design standards and view-shed protection are implemented, then any future
commercial development in the Town will meld with the Village .
The Committee reiterated that the commercial area on the western end of Rabbit Run
should be moved back to the top of the ridge running between Route 96 and Rabbit Run
and be removed from Rabbit Run.
Comprehensive Plan 2
08/26/2008
The Committee spent the rest of the meeting editing the August 2008 draft. Kimberly
made note of the changes and will incorporate them for the next meeting on September
23 , 2008 .
Liz will make sure an electronic copy of the CP is on the web and that the Village
trustees are aware of its availability.
All Committee members were asked to forward their comments to Kim before the draft
goes to the Toiwn Board on September 25th (this date was subsequently changed to
October 1 ) . Kimberly will make the presentation to the Town Board. Liz will invite the
Village Trustees and the Planning Board to attend.
Kimberly will print copies of the changes made to the August 2008 draft rather than
reprinting the entire document.
John Wertis moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by David Tyler. Meeting adjourned
at 9 : 28 p .m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Thomas
Town Board Liaison
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