Village of Lansing

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, May 8, 2000 at 7:30 P.M.

 

 

The meeting of the Village of Lansing Planning Board was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman Hickey.  Present at the meeting were Planning Board Members Brown, Halevy, and Klepack; Alternate Member Dankert; Trustee Lynn Leopold; and Attorney Marcus.

 

Public Comment:

 

There were no public present.  A motion to close this segment was moved by Brown, seconded by Klepack.  All in favor

 

Cayuga Lake Watershed Management Plan:

 

Hickey has been attending the Trustees’ meeting this month and Trustee Franklin Moore has been attending the Watershed meetings as the Village’s representative.  He distributed two documents which were included in the packets.  The Board of Trustees is requesting the Planning Board to identify 15 items for the management plan from the inclusive list.  Hickey looked at the list and chose 15 which were more regional in nature rather than in a local municipalities jurisdiction.  Klepack felt the 5 major categories were good but it was difficult to choose from the subheadings.  Many of the subheadings were duplicated throughout the 5 major categories.  Board members made revisions from the Hickey’s proposed list and chose:  (1)  Land Use Issues:  Land Use Planning, Impact of Development, Preservation of Open Space, Urban and Rural Sprawl/Growth Control, and Enforcement  (2)  Human Use/Recreational Issues:  Regional Wastewater Treatment Programs, Lake Water Levels, and Evaluation for Multiple Uses of Lake (supply, recreation, access, agriculture, etc.)  (3)   Management Issues:  Stormwater Management, Best Management Practices for Water Management, Sampling and Monitoring (tributaries and lake), and Public Awareness and Involvement  (4)  Economic Development Issues:  Fisheries, and Tourism and Other Economic Development 

(5)  Quality of Water/Natural Resources. 

 

Hickey will provide the finalized list to the Trustees who will further review it.

 

Greenspace Advisory Committee:

 

Hickey reported that member Walt Wietgrefe took a one year appointment to the committee when it was formed  and he has chosen not to continue.  Members Mike Aulbach and Jim Orcutt still remain on the committee.  The committee is under the direction of the Planning Board and has no contact with the Board of Trustees. Discussion ensued as to whether the committee is actually necessary as work assigned to them is infrequent.  Halevy felt that this committee is often discouraged as their recommendations are not implemented.   Klepack felt there are issues they could be working on.  Curtis recommended a Board of Public Works to work more closely with Reinhart as an advisory committee to help address issues such as sidewalks, parks, greenspaces, speed issues, etc. where the input of residents and business people might be helpful.  Halevy would like to see Reinhart contacted to see what his thoughts are on such a committee. A system or person is needed to see items are taken through to completion either through a volunteer board or a paid administrator.  Leopold will present this concept to the Mayor.

 

Commercial Low Traffic Study Update:        

 

Material provided include the timeline for the CLT Study completion which needs to be returned to Bonnie Majestic at Environmental Design Research (EDR).  The timeline was provided after Curtis called her last week.  Dates were revised and will be returned to Majestic: 

            May 15 -  Planning  Bd. returns report outline

May 25 – EDR submits revised draft report

May 30 – Planning Bd. Mtg. to discuss edits – EDR attends

June 8  -   EDR resubmits report with edits for final Planning Bd. review

June 12 -  Planning Bd. Mtg. to review/approve release to Focus Group

June 15 -  If approved, Village to distribute report to Focus Group

June 22 -  If approved, Focus Group Presentation – EDR attends

June 27 -  Planning Bd. Mtg.

July 6  -   EDR provides complete report to Planning Bd.

July 10 -  EDR Report released to joint Village Planning/Trustee Bds. & public

            July 13  - EDR presentation

 

Next, the CLT Design Guidelines and Standards Report Outline was discussed.  Hickey recommended removal of review of Applicable Town Planning Instruments in the Introduction section.  Instead, he felt Existing Conditions should include Historical Development of Commercial District.  Hickey also questioned Development Incentives under Design Issues Explored but Klepack felt we are awaiting their thoughts.  In Sections V-VII, Marcus felt Area C could be clarified by removing the parenthesis.  Also, the V-VII headings are misleading as they are not by district but by area.  Hickey is unsure as to what comment at bottom of outline means regarding signage recommendations and architectural recommendations. It appears section V-VI are actually subsets of section IV which is why they may be receiving further discussion.  It is also unclear why sections VII-VIII are not expanded upon.  Marcus recommended asking for clarification.

 

Code of Ethics:

 

Copies of the Code of Ethics are distributed yearly to all staff and board members.

 

Planning Board Goals:

 

Hickey presented 3 goals for the year:

(1)               Commercial Low Traffic District Design Guidelines Project

(2)               Subdivision Regulation’s amendment regarding road shoulders.  Hickey has been working on this for 4 years and it is currently in Reinhart’s hand for completion this year

(3)               Purchase of Development Rights.  Hickey has attended two meeting thus far and has learned that State money is available to purchase agricultural and open space lands.   Hickey feels the Board should not go out and purchase land but should familiarize themselves with this approach.  George Frantz, Town of Ithaca, has explored this issue for the Town of Ithaca and may be a good resource person.  Currently, the Village has been setting aside monies.

 

Halevy recommended the following goals:

 

1.      Village Fill Site.  Reinhart is checking into the feasibility of working with     Town of Lansing on this.  Hickey feels this would be a good project for the Board of Public Works.

2.      Working with the ornithology lab to locate a bird sanctuary site in the Village.     

3.      Joint meeting with Town and Village of Lansing Planning Boards

 

Klepack mentioned the sidewalk issues on Uptown Road area.  Trustee Moore had stated to Klepack that he needed convincing to proceed with this.  Hickey mentioned that the Trustees have a ten-year road maintenance plan and possibly the Trustees need a sidewalk plan for the future which needs to be added to the walkway policy.  Hickey recommending putting a tear-off flyer in the next Newsletter to get responses as to whether the public is or is not interested, where sidewalks should be, and if residents are willing to pay for them.  Hickey stated once the N. Triphammer Road project is complete it may fuel public awareness of the need for sidewalks elsewhere.

 

Reports: 

 

Hickey provided materials he received from the Planning Federation meeting.  The four page document from Kate Hackett, Water Resources Planner for the County, was included to keep the board informed that changes from New York State are forthcoming regarding stormwater regulations.  Also there is a seminar on May 24th for Stormwater Regulations Phase II for interested individuals.  The third handout concerned 239 review.  The Planning Federation has convinced the County Planning Department to put out a monthly register showing the 239’s they have been asked to review so other municipalities can be informed.  It is divided into two columns which show when the public hearing was held and their recommendations.

 

Sewer Units:

 

Hickey asked Curtis for an update on the sewer units.  Curtis stated that the existing McDonalds was allowed 7 units of which they are currently using 3.  The new McDonalds wants to move 6 units across the street and leave one with the existing property so there would be no net change there.  Also, Tops has been calculated to need around 15 units and they were originally allotted 42. A letter has gone out from Mayor Hartill to Cayuga Heights Mayor Ron Anderson to see if a few units can be released for new residential construction, the CFCU Drive-thru and nearby office building on Cinema Drive.

 

McDonalds:

 

Curtis has received a letter from McDonalds Project Manager, Francis Essien regarding the requirement that McDonalds work with the Village  to implement pedestrian access on their property. Marcus was asked to provide a response letter. Marcus also felt there should be an agreement regarding the drive-thru operation in case there is a problem and it needs to be shut down.  Curtis stated this agreement would confirm that McDonalds understood and acknowledged the terms of the conditions for approval of the project.  Marcus will get this acknowledgement of the condition in writing.

      

Home Occupation:

 

Brown informed the Board of a notice she came across on the Internet suggesting there is a home occupation on 36 Janivar Dr.  Curtis will look into it. Discussion ensued on the evolving nature of home occupations.

 

Telecommunications Law:

 

Marcus said that 2 years ago the Trustees adopted a telecommunications law regulating placement of cell towers.  One aspect was missed and that is specifically in which zoning districts they are permitted.  A Zoning Law amendment is needed to correct this oversight. 

 

Adjournment:   

 

Klepack moved to adjourn, seconded by Halevy.  All aye.