Planning Board Meeting
The meeting of the
As there was no one present who wished to speak, Dankert moved to close the Public Comment period. Seconded by Klepack. All aye.
Edwards
Subdivision – Classification:
The first item on the agenda was the classification of the
Edwards Subdivision on
Klepack moved to classify the subdivision as a minor
subdivision if it is revised as discussed so that it makes the single lot into
two lots. Seconded by Brown. All aye.
Triphammer Road
Sign Plan – Communique:
Hickey stated that the presentation tonight would be made
by Communique Design and Marketing Inc. on the RFP for welcome and
wayfinding signs for the Village. Eric
Lindstrom and Tim Youngs were present from Communique. Lindstrom stated he and Communique President,
Laurie Lynn, met a few weeks ago with Curtis, Brown, and Hickey, regarding the
upgrade of N. Triphammer Rd.and the anticipated problems that new traffic
patterns will cause. Lindstrom stated
the signs are designed to direct traffic into the best possible lanes for
consistent flow, to welcome visitors to the Village, and to create a unique and
desirable place to do business and to travel.
Communique’s expectations are to design signage for a commerce center
that is both effective in structure as well as aesthetically pleasing and to
develop and maintain a standard for signage that will become the trademark for
the Village. The scope of work would
include welcome sign recommendations and designs, wayfinding sign
recommendations and designs, coordination with all applicable vendors and
delivery of materials, other design materials for Village usage, and budget estimates.
Lindstrom displayed a sample of the proposed signage for
the Board to review. Only the gull on
the Village logo was utilized because it was determined to be most readable
from a distance of 30 ft. going 60 MPH.
The proposed signage could direct to a varying number of businesses but
would remain consistent in color (sandstone) and size and would hang from gas
light posts. Klepack questioned how vandal proof the signs would be. Lindstrom responded that they are made of
aluminum with a baked on enamel coating and are very durable and are also
mounted in tongue and groove panels so they can be changed as needed.
Hickey stated that as part of the proposal, the Village
would be looking for standards and limitations for the signs, ie. how many
signs per post, who gets signs, size of type, fees, if any, to be placed on
sign, etc. Hickey stated that the cost
of this proposal is estimated at $35,900 which is much higher than the amount
budgeted and the Village would need to consider how to provide for that cost
and whether to recover any of it from the businesses that would appear on the
signs. Hickey stated placing signs for
the three malls would be directional but then placing specific stores on those
signs might be considered advertising.
Hickey stated the priority of the Village would be directional.
Hickey reviewed the two parts of the budget. The first part of $8000 will retain the firm
of Communique through the completion of the project and to cover such items as
the questions raised tonight and coordination with others. It would include everything else for the next
couple of years to see this project is completed. A written report will also be provided. Hickey and Dankert requested a breakdown of
what the $8000 would include. Hickey
stated the project fees, which includes installation total $27,900 and would
come at a later time and would be a separate contract. Klepack asked if there would be
recommendations on how to get traffic flowing into certain lanes through the
use of signage. Hickey noted Communique
staff are not traffic engineers but they could implement what would be proposed
by the engineers. Curtis asked if the
Village would own the design and Communique responded affirmatively. Hickey thanked Communique for the work
involved in the project thus far.
Longhouse
Residence – 2 Autumn Lane:
John Longhouse and his wife Linda have bought a lot and
are considering where to place the residence on the lot which is in both the
Village and the Town. They are
requesting a clarification whether they can measure their side yard setback
from the east property line which is in the Town and 90+ ft. from where they
would like to locate their new home, instead from the Village/Town line which
is very close to where they would like to locate the house. Measuring the 25’
set back from the Village/Town there would put the utilities boxes directly in
front of the residence. They are
proposing to place the entire residence within the Village boundaries. Curtis stated that if the residence were
sited 3 ft. west of the municipal boundary, it would avoid any potential
building code issues. Hickey stated
Village laws address zoning districts and property lines, but do not address
municipal boundary lines. Curtis is
recommending that municipal boundaries be addressed in the future in a change
to the Village Zoning Law. Marcus noted
that, if building code requirements were satisfied, Curtis could proceed with
writing out the building permit although the Village has no control for
property which is not located within the Village.
Colbert Variance
Memorandum:
Hickey stated that Rob Colbert was informed by Curtis and
the Planning Board that Colbert had to go to the BZA and get a variance in
order to use the easement on the Christ Chapel property, which is in a
residential zone, for a commercial use, and another variance to construct a
road through the buffer strip between the CLT District and Residential
District. The Acting Village Attorney
Bill Troy, at the BZA meeting, indicated that a memorandum was needed from the
Planning Board evaluating how the variance would conform to the Comprehensive
Plan. Due to changes in the
Brown moved that the Planning Board authorize Hickey to
make any changes to the draft memorandum to the BZA deemed necessary after he
reviews the CLT Guidelines and forward same to the BZA. Seconded by Klepack. All aye.
New Planning
Board Member Selection Process – Continued Discussion:
Klepack noted that she was unable to contact anyone on her
list. Hickey stated that he and Mayor
Hartill have discussed selecting a new member and an alternate and Hickey has
an e-mail from Hartill indicating that Maria Stycos has agreed to serve as a
full-time member and therefore only an alternate is needed. Hickey noted this has been on the website for
a month and only one individual (Neil Tarello) contacted Hickey but has not
shown further interest. Brown stated
that previously Stycos indicated a reluctance to be the full member due to the
time commitment but if Stycos has changed her mind, she would probably be a
committed member to the Planning Board.
Klepack offered to contact the two names she has. Brown would like to see something in the
Ithaca Journal and Hickey responded that Hartill prefers not to go this
route. Hickey recommended that the
Planning Board invite Stycos to the first meeting in Sept.. Klepack will also provide feedback at that
time and a decision can be made by the end of September.
Landscape Policy
– Klepack:
Hickey noted that this has been on the agenda for the last
two meetings and there were some questions on the draft landscape policy which
need to be answered by Klepack. It has
been reviewed by the Planning Board.
Hickey had a comment on page 2, the second to the last sentence should
have “may” changed to “shall”. Also, on
the second paragraph of existing conditions, the 12% figure for green space is
not in the Zoning regulations for commercial properties and he is questioning
where the 12% figure came from. Klepack
stated that Fernandez, Cayuga Landscape, said this is a common guideline used
by other municipalities. Klepack stated
that rather than changing legislation, it could be a guideline for the Planning
Board to review and a negotiation tool.
Hickey recommended changing it to “optimal” green space instead of
“minimum” green space.
Klepack used the guideline when reviewing the Pyramid
proposal and felt it was useful although not user friendly. Klepack would prefer a checklist type
format. Leopold recommended making a
checklist. Hickey stated a comment sheet
for specific headings might be useful and should be retained as part of the
file. Developers would be given a copy
of the policy as well as the checklist and the Planning Board would go over
items with them. Hickey stated this
document would be a part of site plan review.
Included with the Landscape Policy would be the following items: American Standards for Nursery Stock, City of
Lansing Trails
Subdivision Reserve Strip – Update:
Marcus stated he has no news to report. Marcus has initially spoken to and written to
Bill Seldin, Attorney for Ivar Jonson, but has not heard back from him again.
Approval of
Minutes – August 13:
Dankert moved to approve the minutes as revised. Seconded by Brown. Ayes by Brown, Dankert and Hickey. Abstain by Klepack.
Reports:
Dankert reported that Tim Buhl is bringing to the
Leopold stated a DEIS Scoping Session for Intermunicipal
Sewer is scheduled for Sept. 6th at
Other Business
as Time Permits:
Brown spoke about trees and is seeking information about
legislation that would protect trees on property that is privately owned. She has surfed the internet and will continue
to do so. Curtis stated our laws do not
prohibit an owner from cutting down trees prior to or after construction. Hickey stated the role of the Planning Board
might be advisory rather than legislative.
Curtis stated the requirement for a forestry permit, which, for example,
could be required in the case of removal of 10 trees or more over 6 in. caliper
at breast height, would address the clear cutting situation but would not
affect the average homeowner. This would
go a long toward insuring that at least good forestry practices were adhered
to.
The Board reviewed the signs presented by Comunique
tonight and found the signs to be very readable at 30 ft. Hickey stated this is the only consultant the
Board has heard from and he received their name from John Majeroni because they
have utilized this group for their sign making in the
Hickey stated he has done some work on shared parking and
provided handouts to the Board.
Everything he has read deals with shared parking where the sharing deals
with commercial establishments which have different hours of operation and the
parking is shared because they are not all busy at the same time. Hickey reviewed the
Marcus stated he will be phasing out and eventually will
no longer be representing the Village. He will be replaced by William Troy over
the next few months. Hartill also asked
Hickey to cut back the Attorney’s hours of attendance at Planning Board
meetings where possible.
Hickey gave Marcus a copy of the case study done by the
Adjournment:
Klepack moved to adjourn at