HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.9.2009 Planning Board Minutes1
Minutes
for
Village of Cayuga Heights
Planning Board Meeting #4
Held on
December 9, 2009
This meeting was preceded by a presentation by graduate students in a Cornell University City
and Regional Planning theory class to which Planning Board members were invited. As a class
project for the fall semester, Profession Rolf Pendall had asked his class to investigate and
prepare a plan for the Village of Cayuga Heights and the Village of Lansing. The student
projects can be viewed on the class web site once they are completed and graded. The work is
simply and academic exercise and not intended to be used as part of the comprehensive plan
being prepared for the Village of Cayuga Heights by its Planning Board The presentation was
closed at 8:05 PM.
Chairman Martin Harms called the regular meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning
Board to order at 8:16 PM.
Board Members Present: Chairman Martin Harms, Members: Henry Richardson, Graham
Gillespie, and Alternate Member, Sean Cunningham
Members Excused: Mark Morris, Janet Shure
Board Secretary: Mary Jane Neff
Guests: Trustees Diana Riesman, Trustee Ronald Bors, Clerk Norma Manning and
Carol Schiffman.
The Board voted to approve Sean Cunningham to vote in the absence of Board Member Janet
Shure at this evening’s meeting.
The minutes were reviewed.
On a motion by Chairman Harm, seconded by Member Cunningham the following was
unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO.
APPROVING THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 11, 2009
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Planning Board’s
November 11, 2009 meeting are hereby approved as submitted.
Member Cunningham discussed with the Board his plan for the pedestrian count. He
recommended that pedestrians be counted two times; once this month and again in the spring.
Trustee Riesman stated that Jonathan Canter, Town of Ithaca planner, has access to a counter
that the Village can use. Member Cunningham stated that he would contact him and get the
process started.
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Chairman Harm opened the floor for public comments. There was none. The Board agreed that
they would receive comments from the guests as they arise during the Board’s discussion.
The Board discussed tonight’s student presentations and made the following comments:
1. Viewing the students web site could be helpful to them.
2. The board will look at the students’ projects and reports when they become available
to assess whether any of the material might be useful.
3. The presentation was interesting but, understandably, given the academic purpose of
the exercise, not particularly to the point of what is required for the actual
comprehensive plan for the village
The Board discussed three alternative options for financing the comprehensive planning effort
compiled by Chairman Harm’s based on discussions at the Board’s previous meetings and on
more recent research and inquires. Chairman Harm stated that the Board needed to come to a
conclusion so that the presentation and financial request can be made at the Board on Trustees’
meeting on December 21, 2009.
The members expressed concern with proposed Option A because it would involve a significant
amount of their time which they do not have for the completion of the comprehensive plan in a
timely manner.
The members expressed concern about proposed Option B because what would become of the
work that the class does if the work is not completed by the end of the semester? Could the
planning board members complete work? Would it be in a useable format for the Board to
complete? Chairman Harm stated that he could discuss with Professor Franz the possibility of
his continuing on as a paid consultant to complete the comprehensive plan after the class ended.
He would request from Mr. Frantz a written scope of work based o the Board’s effors so far and
an estimate of fees for the work involved. Members of the board felt that this might be the best
financial option if the overall costs could be kept in the $24,000 range.
Option C consisting entirely of a full service, outside planning consultancy (two estimates were
received) was by far the most costly. While it would require very little time involvement of the
Planning board members outside of monthly meetings, the members were concerned it would be
most unlikely to receive funding from the Board of Trustees due to it relatively high cost. The
Board was also concerned about being too distanced from the process using this approach.
Due to the lateness of tonight’s meeting and the need to finalize their funding request to the
Board of Trustees on December 21, 2009, it was the consensus of the Board to schedule another
workshop style meeting for December 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Village Hall to complete the
process.
On a motion by Member Gillespie, seconded by Member Cunningham the following was
unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO.
ADJOURNING MEETING
RESOLVE, that this meeting was adjourned at 10:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jane Neff
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Planning Board Secretary