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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 30 2014 CP Minutes.pdfTown of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Committee Minutes April 30, 2014 - Enfield Community Building 1 PRESENT: Poney Carpenter, Lori Elrod, Vera Howe-Strait, Judy Hyman, Marnie Kirchgessner, Rhoda Linton, Mary Jo Lovelace, Beth McGee, Nancy Spero, Dan Walker GUEST: George Frantz, Cornell University ABSENT: Becky Sims Beth McGee called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Beth McGee introduced George Frantz from the Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University. Beth McGee informed George Frantz regarding the committee reviewing Enfield maps and how the committee would like to proceed with the Comprehensive Plan (CP). George Frantz asked if the students had sent their CP to the Planning Board after their presentation in May 2012. Dan Walker said he was unaware of any report being sent. George Frantz said he would forward a copy to Beth McGee. George Frantz told about a CP that his group rewrote for the Town of Milo, New York. The CP had started out as 128 pages and they rewrote it to be only 28 pages long. George Frantz discussed:  How much background - basic demographics was needed  Go back 20-30 years with population  Housing stock – mention of Better Homes of Tompkins County  Family sizes are decreasing but more housing is needed, some generational living circumstances  W here do residents work  Race and income can be mentioned but can’t do anything about  Land use and infrastructure is a major area  Historical statistical data – go back 20 years. 1960 Census has basic population information.  Historical narrative of the town  What is the vision for the community? Set goals and objectives. Goals should be what the community wants in the future.  Land use – what is the land used for and what will it be used for in the future. There is a land use cover map of Tompkins County. Satellite access is now used to update maps.  Goals – Goal is something measurable you can actually do.  Objective – plan to meet the goal.  Add strategies or actions.  Flooding  Disaster Resilience – update flood map  Hazard Mitigation is part of FEMA  Protect Enfield water – Aquifer Study  Education – flood resistance to homes  Town – culverts size to address flooding issues  Encourage people to maintain property  Encourage agriculture land usage and protection of agriculture land , farm development rights.  Grants – CP shows town is planning for the future Committee members wanted to know how to address the assertiveness language in the CP. Change wording to should not and shall investigate and identify and explore. It was suggested to Town of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Committee Minutes April 30, 2014 - Enfield Community Building 2 research language use through the Association of Towns – New York State, New York State Planning Federation. There was discussion on fracking and land use. It was noted there is a ban on fracking in the town. Protection of roads from heavy truck usage should be addressed. Tompkins County is currently working on protection legislation. There are 3 issues regarding gas drilling impact on town: road protection, Methane Mitigation – well contamination, additional activity – stores hotels, and new businesses. He also spoke about "unsavory" activity that accompanies gas drilling such as crime, transients living in RVs, plus chemical storage locations and truck depots. It was noted that Enfield has a Site Plan Review Law which addresses some of the “additional activity” issues. There was discussion on farmland protection; it was thought the best way to protect farmland is economic viability. Marginal farm land goes back to forest and is not viable. Historical data and a sketch of the town should be in CP. This reference can be used for applying for grants. Non-municipal acts can be added to CP for example activities of the community council. Beth McGee asked George Frantz to explain the different programs which the committee might be able to be involved in.  Planning Field Workshop – students come to the community to work on CP, they produce a rough draft and turn it over to community. Funding is from the municipalities to support the workshop.  Design Connect Program – student run program. Charge $400 to cover cost of the program. A team of 3-8 students consult with the community project. Suggestion s: the team might develop an idea for a community project for Enfield, to use to apply for grants to pay for the project; writing of one or two sections of the Enfield CP. One of the projects they had been involved in was Freeville, bus station and park.  Graduate Student independent project – thesis project. There would be some cost to the town. There was discussion regarding releasing of the draft of the CP to the public. It was decided the com mittee needs to work on the draft CP before it is released to the public for opinion. Meeting Dates: 7pm Enfield Community Building – May 21, June 18, and June 25. Judy Hyman suggested maybe some sections should be chosen for more research to be done for the updating of the CP. George Frantz will e-mail Beth McGee a copy of the Milo CP. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sue Thompson, Recording Secretary