Planning Board Meeting
The meeting of the
Hickey opened the Public Comment period.
There being no one who wished to speak, Stycos moved to close the Public Comment period. Seconded by Brown. All aye.
L.E.A.P.E
Presentation:
Before proceeding with the regular agenda, Hickey reported that he had arranged for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network to present their L.E.A.P.E. workshop at the January 27 meeting. L.E.A.P.E. is the acronym for Locally-led Education and Action for Protecting the Environment. The workshop involves the use of GIS data and computer simulations to gain a better understanding of drainage, erosion control and water shed protection issues.
A light dinner will be provided at 6:00PM and the workshop
will begin at around 6:30PM. There is limited space for up to 16 people because
the workshop involves use of lap top computers provided by the Network and they
only have so many. At least two Trustees are interested in attending and, as
the workshop will be serving both the
Strategies for
Preserving Open Space:
Hickey
stated this agenda item resulted from a discussion Curtis had had with a
potential developer in which some ideas emerged whereby the Village might have
an opportunity to preserve open space in a way that has not yet been discussed
in depth. The strategy would involve transfer of development rights and density
bonuses, both of which have been mentioned in the discussion of open space but
without any specific application for the Village.
In
the case he was discussing, the applicant wants to construct a
This
strategy would constitute a transfer of development rights because the
development rights on the residential parcel would be transferred to the
commercial parcel. It would constitute a density bonus because the number of
dwelling units being transferred from the residential property where 30,000SF
is required for a single family and 40,000SF
for two family (i.e. maximum density = 20,000SF/dwelling unit)is being
converted to the maximum density for the commercial property where the maximum
density is 6,000SF/dwelling unit. This would increase the total number of units
that could be constructed by more than three times that which could otherwise
be built on the residential parcel. On the other hand it concentrates those
units on a commercial parcel and preserves open space in a residential
district.
Curtis
noted that there are a number of locations in the Village where some iteration
of this approach could result in preservation of open space, particularly if it
were not a requirement that the lots actually be connected. He stated further that he
was not advocating for this strategy or this particular calculation of a
density bonus, but was simply bringing these tools to the attention of the
Planning Board.
Dubow
stated that there are specific provisions for these approaches in
Stycos
distributed a memo in which she summarized her concerns that density bonuses
result in more development than would otherwise be permitted and that more
development results in more traffic, air pollution, etc. In Curtis’ example,
the increase would be by a factor of 5 to 3.3 times what would otherwise be
permitted on the residential parcel. She felt that clustering already resulted
in some benefits for the developer in terms of reduced infrastructure costs. If
the ratio of the density bonus were less, like 10% instead of 5 to 3.3 times,
there might be some basis for discussion. Dubow noted that the ratio is to be
determined by the Village and that it is simply required to be reasonable and
consistent. Hickey noted that clustering was only applicable for subdivisions
and that in a case where only special permit approval was involved that tool
would not be available.
The
Board will review the materials distributed and continue the discussion at a
future meeting.
County Planning
Department 239 Agreement:
Dubow reported that he had reviewed the proposed agreement which would exempt from 239 review by the County certain minor issues such as subdivisions resulting in fewer than five lots, certain area variances, home occupations, etc. He presented the matter to the Board of Trustees and they passed a resolution authorizing the Planning Board to execute an agreement with the County Planning Department exempting from 239 review such items as both agreed could be exempted without impairing the intent of the 239 review. Curtis noted that amendments to Planned Sign Areas should probably be added to the list of items suggested by the County. Hickey asked that Board Members and Curtis review the list from the County and be prepared to propose any additions or deletions at the next meeting.
Approval of Minutes – Nov. 25
Klepack moved to approve the minutes of November 25th as revised. Seconded by Dankert. All aye.
Reports:
Trustees: Stycos was unable to attend. Beebe and Dubow noted that at the last Board of Trustees meeting nothing of particular concern to the Planning Board had been discussed except the resolution regarding the 239 exemptions.
Other Business
as Time Permits:
Hickey distributed a letter from Shannon Park residents Peter and Joke Widmann expressing concern about the Hamlet plat approval after what they viewed as a cursory review by the Planning Board and the failure of the Planning Board to adequately consider their concerns about drainage, standing water, mosquitoes and tree removal. Hickey will respond in a letter and emphasize 1) that the approval was for a preliminary plat and that there will be another approval process for the final plat; 2) that preliminary plat approval included 17 conditions which were based in large part on the Board’s and the Engineer’s thorough review, and that a number of those conditions were intended to address concerns raised by the Widmanns; and 3) that in the course of final plat approval the Widmanns will have another opportunity to address the Board regarding any concerns they consider to have been inadequately addressed to that point.
Adjournment:
Klepack moved to adjourn at 8:45 P.M. Seconded by Stycos. All aye.