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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2026-05-19 Draft TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD Shirley A. Raffensperger Board Room, Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Tuesday, May 19, 2026 6:30 P.M. AGENDA 1. Persons to be heard. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: This action is a consideration of Special Permit for the installation of an underground electrical service to be located within the Stream Setback Zone at 681 Five Mile Drive, located in the Low Density Residential Zoning District. Proposed work includes excavation of a trench approximately four inches wide by 18 inches deep for conduit installation extending from the existing utility pole to an existing barn located in the rear of the property, followed by backfilling and reseeding disbursed areas. This project also includes proposed outdoor sconces and a flood light above the barn’s overhead doors. This is a Type II Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is not subject to environmental review. Neil Shipman, Owner/Applicant. 3. Approval of Minutes. 4. Other Business. 5. Adjournment. C.J. Randall Director of Planning 607-273-1747 Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings in person at Town Hall or virtually via Zoom videoconference at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83643764382 or by calling (929) 436-2866 and entering Meeting ID: 836 4376 4382. The public will have an opportunity to see and hear the meeting live and provide comments directly to the Board during Persons to be Heard and/or Public Hearing. To watch the meeting live, please visit www.youtube.com/channel/UCC9vycXkJ6klVIibjhCy7NQ/live. Recorded meetings are viewable at YouTube.com/TownofIthacaVideo. Written comments can be addressed to the Planning Board (in-person at Town Hall; by mail; or via email at Planning@townithacany.gov) until noon the day of the meeting. Comments addressed to the Board will be distributed to all Board members and Applicant(s). Comments received after the posting of the agenda packet (five business days prior to the meeting) are distributed to the Board on the day of the meeting. Comments are public and become part of the project file. Applications and associated project materials are available on the Town’s website at https://townithacany.gov/meeting- calendar-agendas/ under the calendar meeting date. PB 2026-05-19 (Filed 5/20) Pg. 1 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD June 3, 2025 DRAFT MINUTES The full video recording of this meeting is available on YouTube @TownofIthacaVideo (Written comments submitted at the meeting or after posting of the official mailout packet and 24 hours after the meeting can be found in the updated packet online and will be filed permanently with the project folder along with any other comments received after the post meeting deadline.) Present: Caitlin Cameron, Chair; Liz Bageant, Bill Arms, Kelda McGurk, Vince Ferrara, and Gideon Casper Absent: Sara Reynolds CJ Randall, Director of Planning; Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; Dana Magnuson, Senior Code Officer; Justin McNeal, Acting Director of Engineering; Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk Ms. Cameron opened the meeting at 6:30p.m. 1. Persons to be heard - none 2. Special Permit for the installation of an underground electrical service to be located within the Stream Setback Zone at 681 Five Mile Drive, located in the Low Density Residential Zone. Proposed work includes excavation of a trench approximately 4” wide and 18” inches deep for conduit installation extending from the existing utility pole to an existing barn located in the rear of the property, followed by backfilling and reseeding disturbed areas. This project also includes proposed outdoor sconces and a flood light above the barn’s overhead doors. This is a Type II Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is not subject to environmental review. Neil Shipman, Owner/Applicant. Overview Mr. Shipman explained that he would like to run electrical conduit to his barn from the street pole, at a 45 degree angle for about 15’ feet to his barn because although he thought the windows would be enough light, they are not, and he would like to be able install door openers for easier access by his wife and mother and be able to charge some small equipment. The line will not encroach into the stream setback past the rear of 681B and not fill is being removed and the trench will be backfilled. The closest the ditch will be to the stream is 25’ feet and putting it there will avoid any existing trees and shrubbery from being disturbed in the process. Questions Ms. Brock explained the Towns Stream Setback Zones, saying that Zone 1 is 30’ feet from the stream and Zone 2 is an additional 20’ feet from Zone 1. Each Zone has different regulations, and she read them from the Town Code. Laying of utility connections is permitted in either Zone upon Special Permit by the Planning Board. PB 2026-05-19 (Filed 5/20) Pg. 2 Ms. Cameron asked about the lighting listed. Ms. Brock responded that they are not within the Stream Setback and therefore not under the Board’s purview. Any lighting must meet Town regulations and will be under Code Enforcement’s purview during the permitting process. Public Hearing – Ms. Cameron opened the public hearing; there was no one wishing to speak and the hearing was closed. Determination The Board discussed the revised draft resolution. The Board agreed that a revised survey is not necessary. PB Resolution 2026-004: Special Permit 681 Five Mile Drive Barn Electrification Tax Parcel 31.-2-21.2 Whereas: 1. This action is a consideration of Special Permit for the installation of an underground electrical service to be located within the Stream Setback Zone at 681 Five Mile Drive, located in the Low Density Residential Zoning District. Proposed work includes excavation of a trench approximately four inches wide by 18 inches deep for conduit installation extending from the existing utility pole to an existing barn located in the rear of the property, followed by backfilling and reseeding disbursed areas. This project also includes proposed outdoor sconces and a flood light above the barn’s overhead doors. This is a Type II Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is not subject to environmental review. Neil Shipman, Owner/Applicant, 2. In accordance with 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(13) State Environmental Quality Review, “extension of utility distribution facilities, including gas, electric, telephone, cable, water and sewer connections to render service in approved subdivisions or in connection with any action on this list” are Type II Actions and not subject to environmental review, and 3. Per the Inter-governmental Agreement between the Town of Ithaca and the Tompkin County Planning and Sustainability Department, dated August 3, 2004, special permits or site plan reviews for permitted accessory uses and home occupations on residential lots, are of local, rather than inter-community or county-wide concern, and are therefore not subject to referral to the Tompkins County Planning and Sustainability Department under New York State General Municipal Law, Article 12-B, §§239-l, -m, and -n; and 4. The Planning Board, at a Public Hearing held on May 19, 2026, reviewed and accepted as adequate a project narrative and a survey map entitled “No. 681 Five Mile Drive Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York,” prepared by T.G. Miller P.C., and other application materials; now, therefore, be it PB 2026-05-19 (Filed 5/20) Pg. 3 Resolved: 1. That the Planning Board hereby finds that the special permit standards of Article XXIV Section 270-200, Subsections A – H, of the Town of Ithaca Code, have been met, specifically that: A. The project will be suitable for the property on which it is proposed, considering the property’s size, location, and physical site characteristics. • The project includes underground installation of an electrical service line extending approximately 200 feet from an existing utility pole along Five Mile Drive to an existing barn on a 3.0+/- acre parcel. The proposed improvements work with the site’s existing physical characteristics. B. The proposed structure design and site layout are compatible with the surrounding area. • There are no proposed new structures and no changes to the site layout, other than installing underground electrical service line and outdoor lighting features. C. Operations in connection with the proposed use do not create any more noise, fumes, vibration, illumination, or other potential nuisances than the operation of any permitted use in the particular zone. • The use of the property will not change. The proposed trenching for an electrical service line will create temporary impacts that will cease when the work is completed. D. Community infrastructure and services, such as police, fire and other protective services, roadways, schools, and water and sewer facilities are currently, or will be, of adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed use. • There are no changes to existing infrastructure and services. All infrastructure to accommodate the existing use is in place and is of adequate capacity. E. The proposed use, structure design, and site layout will comply with all the provisions of the Town Code and with the Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan. F. The site layout, with proposed vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, traffic circulation, and parking and loading facilities, is sufficient for the proposed use and is safely designed for emergency vehicles. • There are no proposed changes to the existing site layout. All existing vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian areas will remain unchanged after completion of the project. G. The project includes sufficient landscaping and/or other forms of buffering to protect surrounding land uses. Existing vegetation is preserved to the extent possible. • The site contains a dense row of trees between the project area and the neighboring property to the north. The project area does not include removal of vegetation, other than the removal of small areas of grass along the trench that will be backfilled and reseeded. H. To the extent deemed relevant by the Planning Board, the proposed use or structure complies with all the criteria applicable to site plan review set forth in Chapter 270, Zoning. • Site Plan approval is not required with this Special Permit. This criterion is not applicable to the project. PB 2026-05-19 (Filed 5/20) Pg. 4 2. That the Planning Board hereby grants Special Permit for the proposed 681 Five Mile Drive Barn Electrification. Moved: Vincent Ferrara Seconded: Liz Bageant Vote: ayes – Ferrara, Bageant, Cameron, Arms, McGurk and Casper 3. Other Business Ms. Randall introduced Nate VanWhy from PMV Legal as the Towns new Attorney for the Town who will be attending meetings and taking over from Ms. Brock. Mr. Van Why gave an overview of his firm and the structure for Staff and Members, adding that he will attend the next few meetings if they occur, as an observer in preparing for the transition. No business scheduled for the June 2nd, and possibly the June 16th meetings. The June 2nd meeting was canceled upon a motion and a second; unanimous. The meeting was adjourned upon a motion and a second; unanimous. Submitted by Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk