Village of Lansing

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, August 18, 2003, in the Village Office.

 

PRESENT: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees Larry Fresinski, Lynn Leopold, Janet Beebe and Frank Moore; David Dubow, Village Attorney

 

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. He opened the public comment period.

 

John Wisor of Lansing Trails suggested that the Board consider expanding the Planning Board from its current 5 members to 7 members, which he believed would allow broader representation of the community on this important board.  He indicated that this suggestion was a result of looking at NYS Village Law, which allows for 7 member Village Planning Boards.  The Mayor stated that the Board would study the matter during the fall.

 

Gary Sloan then spoke to the Board and gave a brief summary of his proposed expansion of Squeaky Clean Car Wash (four self-service bays and second story office space) and the recent proceedings that had taken place before the Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals resulting in the BZA denying his multiple set back variance application. He indicated that he would like the Board to review the Commercial High Traffic District front yard setback requirements to normalize the corner lot situation in that District as compared to the Commercial Low Traffic District. He pointed out that of the four such lots in this area, none of the current structures could have been built if subject to the existing set back requirements.  He expressed his hope that the Board would refer this matter to the Planning Board for their review and recommendation back to the Village Board.  He pointed out that if he redesigned the proposed parking area in the northwest corner of his lot (which he is willing to do), and if his lot had a 25-foot setback off Catherwood Drive (as opposed to the current requirements), he would only need one 9-ft setback relief.  He explained that self-service car washes have a minimum stay of 6 to 8 minutes so there should be no traffic issue.  With the setback change that he is proposing and the redesign of the parking area in the northwest corner, he believed that the four variances he originally needed being reduced down to one would be much more acceptable to the BZA.

 

Steve Whicher, Tompkins County Administrator, next spoke about the proposed 911 Center and tower.  He explained in some detail the building itself and the project as a whole, and indicated that things have been going well.  He was concerned about the Village Zoning Law requirements providing for tower fall zone areas equal to 1.5 times the height of a tower.  He described the proposed 911 tower as being 100 ft from the ground level with a tower base 20 ft deep.  He therefore felt that a tower designed to have a break point at 40 ft from the top should be ok, pointing out that the tower base is at least a 110-ft from Brown Road.  The Mayor suggested that an independent engineering analysis be carried out and then given to the Planning Board.

 

 

Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period

 

Trustee Fresinski moved to close the public comment period. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                            Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                                  Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

Dave Putnam gave the Engineers report. The Bush Lane contract will go out this calendar year and construction will be finished this fiscal year.  He advised the Board that the Village is trying to cooperate on storm water management with our sister municipalities.  Lynn is looking for moneys from this to fund the floating classroom.  Dave Zorn may be able to help at little cost using grant moneys that he has.

 

The Board then discussed Proposed Local Law C- Amendment to Zoning Law to Clarify and Supplement Certain Permitted Uses In Certain Zoning Districts and Requirements Related Thereto. David Dubow summarized the changes in the Zoning Law being proposed and the process involved in cross-referencing the various changes to insure consistency within the Law, thus resulting in what appears to be a more complicated and long amendment than it really is.  He also summarized the minor modification to one section of the Proposed Local Law arising out of the currently pending Cornell Real Estate deli/food and beverage use proposal in the Business and Technology Park,, which minor change the Board found to be acceptable.  That having been determined, it was determined that the Proposed Local Law on the desks of the Board members is now in final form.  David pointed out that in light of the minor modification and the Proposed Local Law being deemed in final form as of this meeting, action by the Board can be taken after the passage of seven days.  Therefore, the Board agreed that it would act on this at the noon meeting on Sept. 10 or at its meeting on September 15.  David pointed out that the customary environmental review will need to be completed at the time action is taken to adopt the Proposed Local Law.

 

There were three sets of minutes for the Board to approve.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for July 16, 2003

 

Trustee Beebe moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Clerk/Treasurer and the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Abstain                         Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

For the July 21st minutes Frank asked that the discussion about the DPW matters needed to be clarified. He wanted the minutes to reflect that his concerns were specifically to the Greenway matter and that he was not commenting about all the DPW work in the Village.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for July 21, 2003

 

Trustee Beebe moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Clerk/Treasurer and the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for August 4, 2003

 

Trustee Beebe moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Clerk/Treasurer and the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

The Board was advised that the Village has now received three quotes for trail work, and that Kirkway Farms came in much lower than Prolawn and Cayuga Landscape. The estimate given for the Lansing Trails work was $6,100, Bush Lane was $8,070 and Wakefield to Coventry Walk was $14,500. Dennis has confirmed with Bill Kirk of Kirkway Farms that the quoted price is based on the spec sheet he provided, and that price includes the paying of prevailing rates to his workers. Kirkway can also start right away. Dennis has recommended that Kirkway Farms be awarded the work for the Lansing Trails Improvements and the Coventry Walk to Wakefield Trail. The Bush Lane work cannot be done until after the Millcroft development finishes what they need to do in the area.

 

Resolution #3992 - To Award the Complete Contract for Work on Lansing Trails Improvements, Coventry Walk to Wakefield Trail and Bush Lane to Kirkway Farms

 

Trustee Moore moved this resolution. Trustee Beebe seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

 

Motion-To Go Into Executive Session Regarding Proposed, Pending and Potential Litigation

 

Trustee Fresinski moved to go into executive session. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

The Board went into executive session at 9:35pm.

 

Motion-To Come Out of Executive Session

 

Trustee Leopold moved to come out of executive session. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

The Board came out of executive session at 10:45 pm

 

                        Motion-To Adjourn

 

Trustee Fresinski moved adjournment. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                  

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:46pm.

 

                                                                                                            Donald Hartill

                                                                                                            Mayor

                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

                                                                                                            Clerk/treasurer