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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 1995-05-02 talks about a cul de sacPlanning Board Minutes 15 May 2, 1995 Timothy Ciaschi of 124 Woolf Lane addressed the Board and stated that the property is currently zoned R -15, which means that the lots need only be 15,000 square feet in size. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he wanted the lots to be larger than that. Mr. Ciaschi stated that the papers deeding the land for the walkway to the Town were submitted. Mr. Ciaschi stated that the walkway was not shown on the map submitted tonight, but that it would be shown on the next map. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he had used the cluster subdivision on the last proposal, but it did not work because some of the people that were involved in constructing homes on those lots got greedy and placed huge homes on the little lots. Mr. Ciaschi stated that on this proposal he had made the lots larger. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he is proposing a cul -de -sac be placed at the end of lots 18 and 19 for a turn around for the 5 lots on the south side of Woolf Lane because the property to the south does not want to subdivide their land. Town Engineer Daniel Walker addressed the Board and stated that he was speaking for the Town of Ithaca Highway Superintendent who had told Mr. Walker that he does not want any more cul -de -sacs. It is too hard to maintain them and it takes too much time to go down them, turn around, and return. The snow ends up in the end of peoples driveways, and the people issue complaints about the snow. Mr. Walker stated that there is also a life safety issue to consider as well, with no secondary access. Mr. Walker stated that the Highway Superintendent liked the original proposal for a through road. Mr. Walker asked if Mr. Ciaschi had contacted the Town of Ulysses Town Board to see if they would be interested in having a through road go through Mr. Ciaschi's property that would provide connectivity to their road. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he had not contacted the Town of Ulysses. Chairperson Smith stated that he favors a through road from Woolf Lane. Mr. Ciaschi stated that the Board needed to tell him what they want him to do with this property. Town Planner Jonathan Kanter stated that he felt that there would need to be a turn around on the southern end of the property whether it be temporary or permanent. The Board discussed alternatives for access, turn arounds, the wetlands located on the property in question, and what Mr. Ciaschi's time frame was for development. Planning Board Minutes 16 May 2, 1995 Mr. Ciaschi was open to different possibilities for access as suggested by Planning Board Members. Mr Ciaschi stated that he would like to preserve the wetlands if possible because they were beautiful and would be a natural buffer to those that currently own homes in the clustered subdivision. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he could use part of Lot #7, which has part of the wetland in them and use the remainder of the lot as an entrance to the park from the turn around at the top of Lots 6 & 7, which would complete Grove Road rather than filling the wetland to allow Grove Road to meet Woolf Lane, Ms. Cornell stated that the wetlands form a nice drainage system on the property. Attorney Barney asked Mr. Ciaschi what had been conveyed to the Town for either park or open space on the past approval. Mr. Ciaschi stated that there was a walkway and the park as shown on the map submitted for tonights meeting. Mr. Bell asked if all of the triangular lots were built on. Mr. Ciaschi responded, no. Mr. Bell asked which lots were not built on. Mr. Ciaschi stated that lots 21, 19, 91 10, 11 and 12 were not built on but have all been sold. Mr. Bell suggested that instead of taking a road through the wetland, maybe you could go through lot 10, through the corner of the proposed park and then through the center of Lot 8 & 9 to line up with the proposed roadway to the north by the Autio property. Mr. Kanter stated that what was shown as proposed park on the sketch plan has been dedicated to the Town. Mr. Bell stated that maybe the Town could make an accommodation to make a better roadway by reconfiguring the Town park land and adjacent lots. Attorney Barney stated that it would require an act of the State legislature to alienate the parkland. Ms. Cornish stated that Lot 10 has wetlands on it anyway, so the road would still go through a portion of the wetland. Mr. Walker stated that the wetland was an old drainage ditch. Ms. Cornell asked Mr. Ciaschi what the neighbors thought about the project and the through road. Planning Board Minutes 17 May 2, 1995 Mr. Ciaschi stated that the neighbors were against a through road to Woolf Lane being developed because they want the space left open. Mr. Ciaschi stated that he would like to get approval to start developing 4 or 6 lots in order to allow the sale of those lots to fund the development of the remaining lots in the subdivision. Attorney Barney stated that he was concerned about giving approval for 4 or 6 lots with a temporary turnaround because there was no security for the Town of Ithaca should Mr. Ciaschi decide not to complete the subdivision. It was agreed that a site visit should be set up to look at the wetlands, the possibility of a through road, and other site issues. There being no further discussion, the Chair declared the matter of the Westwood Hills II sketch plan duly closed at 10:04 p.m. AGENDA ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS. There was no other business to be brought before the Planning Board at this meeting. ADJOURNMENT Upon MOTION, Chairperson Smith declared the May 2, 1995 Meeting of the Town of Ithaca Planning Board duly adjourned at 10:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Starr Hays, Recording Secretary, Town of Ithaca Planning Board. 5/5/95.