HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-14-LZ TOWN OF ULYSSES
LAKEFRONT ZONING COMMITTEE
MINUTES
07/14/10
APPROVED 07/28/10
NOTE : There is no audio version of this meeting.
Present: Chairperson- Don Smith, Board Members : Krys Cail, David Kerness, Terry Cool,
George Tselekis, John Wertis, Rod Hawkes, Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun
Excused : David Kerness, Robin Carlisle Peck
Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 7 : 08 pm .
In the absence of Ms . Carlisle Peck, Mr. Hawkes recorded the minutes .
Discussion of Draft Section 1 .4- Design Standards for the Lakefront Zone
Mr. Hawkes presented a document that he had distributed via email prior to the meeting. This
document, while not a draft of proposed language for design standards, contained a range of
items that the committee should consider addressing for lakeshore zone design standards.
Included in the document for discussion, reference, and comparison were relevant sections
from the Town of Ulysses DRAFT Conservation Zone language and the Town of Ithaca
Lakeshore Zone language and Town of Ithaca general zoning code language.
The first item discussed was a height limit on accessory buildings .
Mr. Hawkes MADE the MOTION, Mr. Smith SECONDED the MOTION to adopt a height
limit of twenty (20) feet for Accessory Buildings in the Lakeshore Zone .
The vote was unanimous . MOTION APPROVED .
The second item discussed was the acceptability of recreational facilities such as swimming
pools, tennis courts, etc . A lengthy discussion followed of the impacts of large impervious
surfaces such as tennis courts on stormwater runoff and other related issues .
Ms. Cail MADE the MOTION, Mr. Wertis SECONDED the MOTION to not allow
recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, etc . in the Lakeshore Zone .
The discussion led to general agreement that such recreational facilities should be permitted in
the Lakeshore Zone subject to an overall limit on lot coverage for impervious surfaces, which
has yet to be established (as part of the pending draft of Section 1 . 5 ) . Ms . Cail recommended
that the committee consider requiring impervious driveways part of the area limit for
impervious surfaces due to the impact on stormwater runoff due to impervious driveways on
sloping land.
Ms . Cail requested that her MOTION be WITHDRAWN.
Mr. Hawkes MADE the MOTION, Ms . Cail SECONDED the MOTION to postpone a decision
until details of lot coverage limits were developed in Section 1 . 5
The vote was unanimous . MOTION APPROVED .
The next topic discussed was limitations on pets and pet accessory structures . After a
discussion of the relative merits of limiting numbers of pets and numbers and sizes of pet
structures, and the acknowledgement that kennels were not a permitted use in the Lakeshore
Zone, the committee decided not to include language in the draft Lakeshore Zone specifically
addressing pets or pet accessory buildings .
Mr. Hawkes MADE the MOTION, Mr. Tselekis SECONDED the MOTION to not include any
language in the Lakeshore Zone regarding pets or pet accessory buildings .
The vote was unanimous . MOTION APPROVED .
A discussion of allowable locations for and front and rear setbacks for accessory structures was
confounded by the fact that most lakefront properties abut two public rights of way: the road
and the lake. In most cases, but not all cases, the lake side of the lakefront houses is considered
the front of the house .
Ms . Cail MADE the MOTION, Mr. Hawkes SECONDED the MOTION that all structures with
the exception of a boathouse and/or a small storage building, with the storage building not
exceeding 144 square feet, should have a minimum setback of 50 feet from the Ordinary High
Water Line (OHWL) .
The vote was unanimous . MOTION APPROVED .
Mr. Tselekis MADE the MOTION, Mr. Hawkes SECONDED the MOTION to exclude special
setback rules for properties with lakefront cliffs .
Mr. Hawkes MADE the MOTION, Mr. Cool SECONDED the MOTION to include the
statement "The Planning Board, during site plan review, may establish a minimum setback of
greater than 50 feet from the ordinary high water line (OHWL) based on due consideration by
the Board of the preservation and protection of sensitive environmental features and the
maintenance of the wooded character of the shoreline area (if applicable) , as well as scenic
views and vistas . "
The MOTION was DEFEATED by a VOTE of 4 to 2 .
The vote was unanimous . MOTION APPROVED .
Mr. Smith will secure the maps of lakefront properties with building locations before the next
meeting on 7/28 . •
The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Rod Hawkes
Committee Member