Planning Board Meeting
The meeting of the
Jim Savage, (business address -
Mary Sirois, 3 Highgate NE, would like to request that the
Village tighten up its requirements on lighting. The Pyramid Mall lighting hits drivers on
Route 13 in their eyes and comes into the residential area across Route
13. Sirois thought there was something
at the State level regarding lighting pollution and she would like to encourage
strict adherence to requirements that businesses keep their lighting on their
own property. Hickey responded that the
Village has a Lighting Commission which reviews lighting plans and makes
recommendations to the Planning Board.
He will pass Sirois’ request on to
There being no one else who wished to speak, Klepack moved
to close the Public Comment period.
Seconded by Dankert. All aye.
Tops Planned
Sign Area Amendment – Recommendation:
Hickey stated Board members just received the information
about the requested amendment tonight so he was requesting the applicant
explain the request.
Jim Reilly, Vice President of Store Development for
Hollywood Entertainment, led everyone
through the information in the packets.
Reilly is requesting permission to place one 25 sqft. sign on each of
the two sides of their store front which face parking lots. Hollywood Video is
taking the equivalent of 2.5 tenant spaces.
One sign would face the parking area for the outparcel and the other
would be on the side facing Tops. The
Board reviewed the elevation diagrams depicting the signs on the north and west
sides and the corner entrance. A drop
box slot will also be located on the corner of the store and there will be a
freestanding drop off box for vehicles in the corner of the parking lot which
will be accessible from both directions.
Reilly stated the
Dankert stated he did not see the need for the additional
signage on the western side as once people became familiar with the fact that
Hollywood Video is there, the sign would not be needed. Reilly stated that those coming from Tops or
Pyramid Mall area might not know if it was there as not everyone will be coming
from
Hickey stated that when Tops was built, they requested
signage for the south side of their building and they were turned down and he
thought if Tops were refused, why should this one be considered. Hickey felt all applicants should be treated
consistently. Reilly stated he has the
support of Tops for the additional signage he is requesting. Hickey felt that signage which is visible
from Route 13 is discouraged as drivers should be watching the road instead and
once the local shoppers realize Hollywood Video is in the Tops plaza, they will
not have difficulty finding it. Leopold
stated that Applebees also requested larger signage and was denied. Hickey restated that anyone shopping at Tops
would see either the large pylon sign or the store mounted signage after turning
off
Brown was in agreement that the public would soon learn it
was near Tops and would be easy to locate.
Dankert was interested in consistency.
Klepack felt there was not a need for two signs but she was concerned
about the bright purple awnings with the green and red building. Reilly stated Hollywood Video is leasing
space from Tops and Tops does not have any problems with the color. Reilly also noted this store was toned down
considerably from the one downtown in
Hickey took a straw poll and stated the Planning Board is
not supportive of the second sign but is appreciative of the fact that
Hollywood Video has toned down the lights.
Hickey stated the Planning Board is not supportive of signage which
faces Route 13 although the tenant might have a large retail space. Hickey stated the Village holds down on
signage but supports commercial development with parameters which are
consistent for all.
Regarding the drop box, Reilly stated it would be at the
end of the parking area where there is not flow-thru traffic so the driver
would just drive by and place the video in the drop box. Curtis stated that as a condition for
issuance of the building permit, the drop box would be subject to the approval
of the Village Engineer.
Mold Flow
Lighting Plan:
Hickey stated that the Board has received a memo from
Klepack moved to approve the Mold Flow Lighting Plan with
the condition that shielding be placed on the security lights to prevent light
trespass off the property to the adjacent properties. Seconded by Brown. All aye.
Pyramid Mall
Expansion – Update:
Hickey had already spoken on this. For history, in Dec. 1999, Pyramid was
granted a Special Permit for a 150,000 sf addition and parking as necessary but
not to exceed a total of 3500 spaces.
Initially, Pyramid proposed a stand alone building for Home Depot. In the course of negotiations involving
other Pyramid tenants, however, a Home Depot connected to the north end of the
Mall was proposed. Next, to accomplish a
connection to the Mall and to make parking safety changes, the building had to
be moved 27 feet forward to the east.
This was also approved. A
proposal to rezone the Butler property to allow more flexibility in development
was tabled. When Target abandoned its
attempt to locate in Southwest Park in the City
in late October and Pyramid asked the Village if there was anything in
the expansion approval which would prevent Target from using the space
originally planned for Home Depot and they were told the Village does not
regulate which tenant can use a space so long as the use proposed is a
permitted use. Curtis and Hickey met
with Pyramid in November and December.
Recently, an article came out in the Ithaca Journal indicating a
contract had been signed between Target and Pyramid Mall.
Cliff Buck, 39 Janivar Dr., asked if there would still be
room for Home Depot in Pyramid Mall after Target is built. Hickey responded that when the 150,000 sf
addition was approved in 1999, Wards was empty and Pennys was still in
operation. Since that time, Pennys has
gone out of business and others have built there. Klepack stated the 150,000 sf approval was
based on our traffic study which confirmed that high traffic commercial trip
generation figures show that this area can not support any more traffic than
that which 150,000 sf would generate.
Hickey stated it is also the limit the bridge can hold. Hickey stated
that Pyramid then had 600,000 sf of gross leasable area and with the addition
of 150,000, Pyramid would have approx. 750,000 sf of retail space. Hickey stated depending on what comes in
(Target, Best Buy, Dicks, and Borders), they may or may not have additional space
with which to accommodate a Home Depot.
Hickey feels it might be feasible but is unsure whether it would meet
the requirements for Home Depot. Hickey
stated Pyramid Mall must remain within the limitation of the 750,000 sf. Buck suggested if Ames were to fall, there
would be a possibility of Home Depot coming in.
Klepack noted that they would probably have to be attached to the
mall. Hickey stated if Home Depot wished
to come to Pyramid Mall, and could fit within the 750,000 limitation for the
Mall, they would be allowed to come here although he feels they might be better
accomodated in Southwest Park.
Sorel Gottfried, 1016 Cayuga Heights Rd., asked for
clarification from the Board as to what Pyramid Mall Manager Tull had to say
about Home Depot. Klepack responded
that Pyramid Mall has been trying to accommodate Home Depot but apparently were
unable to close the deal.
Mary Sirois, 3 Highgate NE, asked to have Best Buy large
signs placed on a timer so when the store is closed they be off. Curtis will request this. Curtis has also asked them to put a glass
lens on the bottom of the parking lot lights.
The question was raised whether the rezoning of the Butler
property which had been tabled might be revisited by Pyramid Mall to try to accommodate
Home Depot. Hickey responded that he had
no idea whether Pyramid Mall would be pursuing this or not. Klepack felt the maximum allowable footage
will have been built with the completion of Target. Curtis stated that some of the proposed areas
(A & C on the 2-24-02 site plan)
have not been built. Hickey stated that
no additional square footage beyond the 750,000sf could be approved although an
amendment could be done to the site plan.
Hickey felt Home Depot would have to build a smaller store if they
located here and would likely prefer Southwest Park which could accommodate a
larger store.
Planning Board
Budget:
Hickey tried to reduce the Planning Board expenditures as
per Mayor’s request and either kept line items the same or reduced them. Hickey stated he has cut the engineer line as
the Engineer is not required to attend all meetings. Hickey has also not placed any money in the
traffic line as it has not been used in years.
Hickey stated the contractual line has $2000 for books, conferences,
etc. Hickey has spoken with Bud Shattuck
and they are extremely busy now with their Zoning and Comprehensive Plans. At some point, Hickey would like to discuss
with the Town Planning Board how to better coordinate planning decisions for
parcels at or near shared boundaries so he has requested $500 for
intermunicipal planning. Curtis stated
Barbara Caldwell of the Town of Dryden Planning Board would also like to sit in
on a Planning Board meeting and Hickey stated she is welcome at any time. Leopold stated there is about $13,000 which
has been encumbered from the previous year which will pay for the audio-visual
system for the conference room. Hickey
has placed $1000 in the consultant line but he has no one in mind. Hickey stated a consultant might be needed
for landscaping the N. Triphammer Rd. project when the road is being
built. Communique would also be a
consultant for later use but not in 2002. Hickey also noted that gas light
posts were part of the Communique proposal if the Village decides to use that
concept. Klepack would like to see a
consultant for commercial high traffic parking lots. Dankert will be gathering information on
parking lot design for Commercial High Traffic prior to the next meeting but
Klepack still feels a consultant might be necessary. Klepack also felt it might be useful to have
a consultant to explore possible development scenarios for important parcels
such as Sun Downs Farm. Hickey stated he
has a map and possibly the county could provide a blown up map for Board review
as part of such a discussion. Hickey
will request an aerial photograph from the County. Board members discussed developers’
conferences, viewsheds, and the 6%
recreation land given by the developers to the Village as part of any major
subdivision. Curtis will request info
from the Ornithology Lab regarding comments they have made about bird habitat
on Sun Downs Farm. When a subdivision
plat is to be considered on a large parcel like Sun Downs Farm, a Village
resident, Piotr Parasiewicz, who specializes in stream ecology has offered to
assist the Board by reviewing the stream conditions. Hickey feels it will also be important at
some point for the Board of
Hickey will turn in the Planning Board budget as
presented.
Approval of
Minutes – Jan. 29:
The Board reviewed the minutes for January 29th. Dankert moved to approve the January 29th
minutes as revised. Seconded by
Klepack. All aye.
Reports:
Board of
The Board of
Hickey also reported that there is a sewer leak on Graham
Rd. of 60,000 gallons which could result in 60 additional sewer units for the
Village when it is remedied. It has been
located but a sleeve must be inserted when the weather is better. Also the intermunicipal sewer agreement is
moving along and the funding approved for the intermunicipal sewer project are
still committed .
Hickey stated that Trustee Moore wants to review the
Greenway Plan. He will work with a small
committee whose members will consist of Hickey and Leopold. Hickey would also like Klepack to attend and
give her insights as to what she could and could not accomplish when she was
chair of the original committee. Hickey
feels Trustee Moore is interested in purchasing land. Stycos would also like to
be notified as to the meeting dates.
Communique: Hickey stated he has taken the plans from Traffic
Engineer James Napoleon to Eric Lindstrom.
Hickey stated the Village will probably not need their services until
2003 when actual construction is currently planned to commence. There is confusion as to whether the signs
will be single or double faced. Hickey
would like to be prepared when ground is broken as that may be the time to
install some of the signs.
Adjournment:
Klepack moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 P.M.
Seconded by Dankert. All aye.