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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupervisor Desch Re PlanningTOWN OF ITHACA 126 EAST SENECA STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 February 5, 1982 Mr. Frank Liguori Commissioner of Planning Tompkins County 128 East Buffalo Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Frank: I believe it would be helpful to reiterate the general Town of Ithaca policy with regard to the extension of utility improvements in the Town. As you know from your days on the Town Planning Board, we require the developer of private property to extend the services such as water and sewer when the land is subdivided or otherwise developed. Obviously, such extensions are permitted only where capacity is available in the system. From the standpoint of the master planning, we do consider overall improvement in capacity where it can be shown that the added debt burden stands the test of critical need to the Town as a whole. For example, at some point we will need additional storage capacity on West Hill. We are willing to consider the assumption of responsibility for some elements of the existing water and sewer system serving the Biggs complex if it can be shown that there is a benefit and need to adjoining Town properties. Such arrange ments are of course subject to Town Board approval. With these parameters in mind, I am confident we can move forward in our discussions to achieve an arrangement of mutual benefit to our Town and County constituents. Very truly yours. Noel Desch Supervisor ND/js cc: John Murphy Harris Dates v^arry Fabbroni MEMO From: Deborah Dietrich To: Noel Desch and Town Board Members Robert Bartholf, Marc Cramer, Gloria Howell, Henry McFeak, Pat O'Leary, and Shirley Raffensperger It has been brought to my attention that there has been proposed a subdivision of approximately 20 acres located near Woolf Lane and Grove Place. I know that the Planning Board has received communication from my neighbors outlining some of their concerns. I share these concerns, including poor drainage and increased traffiic on Dubois Road. I realize that development on West Hill is inevitable and that controlled development will enhance our tax base. However, X would like to see us take a comprehensive planning approach to the whole West Hill area. It is my belief that in the near future, the town will be receiving many more requests and proposals for development in this area than you have in the past. Requests for subdivisions for multiple dwellings and townhouse developments are highly likely now that the Old Hospital is being used to house some County Departments. Many^County Workers in these departments will not be able to afford the $125,000/home price tag attached to some of the current proposals. In addition, commercial development will logically follow residential development. For these reasons, I urge you to work toward a comprehensive, long-range plan for West Hill. With regard to the subdivision..on Woolf Lane and Grove Place, I want to let you know that there has been a delay, at the County level, in the much needed improvement to the intersection o^ Dubois Road and Route 96 due to the location of a gas main, thereby resulting in a hefty increase in cost estimates. The proposed connector road from the subdivision to Dubois Road will result in increased traffic on Dubois Road. I have questions regarding the safety of Dubois Rd. without an improved RT.96- Dubols Rd, intersection. Finally, I would like to ask you to keep me Informed of your decision regarding this matter. If the subdivision and connector road are approved I will work to get the speed limit on Dubois Road lowered since people presently drive it at very high rates of speed(frequently 50-55 mph). Thank you for your consideration. Deborah Dietrich County Representative, Ithaca District # 12 cc: Susan Beeners Arthur and Jane Sherwood Bruce Rich TOWN OF ITHACA 126 EAST SENECA STREH ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 May 14, 1980 Mr. L3rman E. Baker 257 Pennsylvania Avenue Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Mr, Baker; I am responding to your letter of January 2, 1980, concerning the Town's tentative objective with regard to improvements to Pennsylvania Avenue. X had hoped to have definitive plan of action by now, hence, my reason for not responding to your letter before today. You may recall it has been our intent to have the construction costs borne by the owners of the vacant developable land. It does not appear that we can expect a commitment from the developers during the current construction year, due to the current state of the economy. However, I hope you will not hesitate to continue to share your thoughts and concerns on this matter. For example, in your view is there any possi bility that the property owners who live on Pennsylvania Avenue would be interested in collectively paying for 507o of the construction cost? This may be an unfair question un less you have available a cost per front foot, that would apply. Perhaps this would be the next step, if you think there is any interest in pursuing this approach. You can reach me during the day at 256-4272 or in the evenings (after dark) at home 272-3469. Very truly yours, Noel Desch Supervisor ND/js y: f^ar;cc: i^axry Fabbroni j S£P« isaii BUYOUCOS. BARNEY. GROSSMAN & ROTH Attorneys at Law SAVINGS BANK BUILDING Jamu v. BuTOucoa P. O. Box 26 Aac* Com e07 John C> Bmnky tTHACA. NEW YORK 148SO Pmohc 273-6841 PtYOA G. Gnosmian September 8, 1982 X'T * Noel Desch, Town Supervisor Town Of Ithaca 126 East Seneca Street Ithaca, New York 14850 RE: Fall Creek/Army Corps of Engineers Project Dear Noel: At the beginning of last month Larry Fabbroni and I discussed the proposed indemnification agreement provided by Cornell University for the above project. I noted several questions which I had which related to the project in general and the indemnification agreement as proposed. I believe my comments were forwarded to you by Jim. I did put them down in a memorandum to Jim. Basically, at that time there were three major issues that I saw. First, there was the question of access to the property. Second, we were concerned with the potential extent of the liability the Town would be taking on. Third, we were concerned with the breadth of the indemnification agreement as written. As to the first two points I understand now that Larry is satisfied with the current arrangements. That is, he has established with Cornell the manner of access to the creek as well as the obligations of the Town with respect to mainte nance of the property. Similarly, as to the second point, the extent of the potential liability, Larry indicated that he is .satisfied that the risks in terms of potential property damage, etc., do not outweigh the benefits of going forward with the project. That brings us to the third point, the form of the indemnification. I expressed the same concerns outlined above to Ruben Rogers at Cornell in a telephone conversation early in August. Mr. Rogers indicated that he would have his people discuss the first points with Larry, and that has been done, and that he would raise the third issue with his legal counsel. Larry has just dropped off a copy of a proposed amending sentence to the indemnification agreement which would limit the indemni fication provided by the Town to Cornell University employees to r just those University employees directly involved in the project. This certainly alleviates a good portion of the concern we had. We would recommend that the indemnification agreement and the amending sentence as provided in Mr. Rogers' letter of September 3 to Larry would be acceptable. V7e are basing this conclusion on two assertions which are fundamental to our consent to the execution of the agreement. First, it is our understanding that no University personnel will be directly involved in the undertaking in a physical sense. There will be supervisory personnel, but as far as we know no Cornell personnel will be getting their hands dirty on this project. Second, we have been assured by Larry that Mr. Boothroyd has indicated that he would provide a rider to insure the Town for any liability which may accrue to the Town as a result of its activities and pursuant to the indemnification agreement. Assuming those two propositions are correct, Jim and I have discussed the matter and feel that the indemnification agree ment and amendment to it can be executed by you in behalf of the Town. If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to call. With best regards. Grossman PG/b . ' V - TOWN OF ITHACA 126 EAST SENECA STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 '"1 final REB1I March 9, 1983 Supervisor Noel Desch Town of Ithaca 126 East Seneca St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Re: Positive Declaration of Environmental Significance for Revisions to Town of Ithaca Subdivision Regulations Dear Affected Agency: On -Maxfih 15, 1983, the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca resolved that the proposed revision of the Town Subdivision Regulations was an environmentally significant Type I action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared in conjunction with the proposed revisions. The Planning Board intends to act as the lead agency in this environmental review. You have been identified as an involved or affected agency and the Planning Board would appreciate your cooperation and advice in this review process. Your agency will be be informed prior to a "scoping" session which will be scheduled for later in the spring. If you have any questions regarding this ehvironmental review,, the proposed subdivision regulations, or the Planning Board's designation as lead agency, please call or write to the Town of Ithaca offices. ft-'*— Sincerely Peter M. Lovi Town Planner SEQR Positive Declaration Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft EIS Determination of Sicjnificance Lead Agency: Town of Ithaca Planning Board Address: 126 East Seneca Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Project # (if any) Date: March 9, 1983 This notice is Issued pursuant to Part 617 (and local law #. 3,-1980 if any) of the imple menting regulations pertaining to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review) of the Environ mental Conservation Law. The lead agency has determined that the proposed action described lx:iow may have a signifi cant effect on the environment and that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared. Title of Action:Revision of Regulations the Town of Ithaca Subdivision SEQR Status: ^ Type I P Unlisted [D Description of Action: The first comprehensive revision of the Town Subdivision Regulations since their adoption in 1955. Location: (include the name of the county and town. A location map of appropriate scale is also recommended) Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County (Attach additional pages as needed) C14 SEQR Positive Declaration Reasons Supporting This Determination: Page 2 This Generic Environmental Impact Statement will enable the Planning Board to consider the comprehensive impact of developments within the Town which would otherwise fall below the thresholds set by SEQRA and Local Law,: #3, 1980. For Further Information: Contact Person: Address: Phone No.: Peter M, Lovi, Town Planner 126 East Seneca St., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 273-1747 Copies of this Notice Sent to: Commissioner-Department of Environmental Conservation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12233-0001 Appropriate Regional Office of the Department of Environmental Conservation Office of the Chief Executive Officer of the political subdivision in ^^41ich the action will be princi pally located Main office and appropriate regional office (if any) of lead agency Applicant (if any) All other Involved agencies (if any) Tompkins County Planning Department Tompkins County Health Department Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals NYS Department of Transportation, Regional Office City of Ithaca Town of Lansing Village of Lansing Village of Cayuga Heights Town of Dryden Town of Danby Town of Enfield Town of Ulysses Finger Lakes State Park Commission C-15 ADOPTED BY THE PLANNING BOARD 2/15/83 Page 1 RESOLUTION MAKING A DETERMINATION OF POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE PURSUANT TO THE NEl'/ YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEV7 ACT FOR THE REVISION OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS WHEREAS: 1. the Planning Board has begun the revision of the present Town of Ithaca subdivision regulations, and 2. the Planning Board has reviewed the long Environmental Assessment Form, and 3. such revisions are a direct. Type I action as defined by SEQRA and Town of Ithaca Local Law #3 - 1980, and 4. such revisions will have an effect on permitted land uses within the Tovm of Ithaca, and 5. a comprehensive environmental assessment should be made prior to the revision of these regulations, and 6. the Planning Board should Act as the lead agency in this SEQR review, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT: 1. The Planning Board declare and hereby does declare that the revision of the subdivision regulations is a Type I action and that a positive declaration of significance shall be filed with the Town Board as an affected agency. SR res 021583 r.: Mr. Noel Desch Town Supervisor Town of Ithaca FEB " 8 TOVMik C'i- /THaCa Febuary 6, 1988 FINAL DISPOSITION DATE Re: Request for Proposal - Property Survey Services Dear Mr. Desch: My hourly rates are as follows: office work-re:Deed searching,calculating, mapping, etc. -$25.00 hr. field crew(3 men) -re:Location survey, setting monuments,etc. - $50.00 hr. Based on the above quotes I am making the following estimates. a.)Grandview Park- 1 crew day @ 400.00 =400.00 4 office hr.s © 25.00 =100.00 misc.-set pins,prints, etc. = 50.00 total $550.00 b.)Park Lane-2 crew days @ 400.00 =800.00 8 office hr.s @ 25.00 =200.00 misc.-set pins, prints, etc. 150.00 total $1150.00 c.) Burns Rd.-3 crew days @ 400.00 =1200.00 24 office hr.s@25.00 = 600.00 misc. -set pins, prints, etc. 150.00 total $1950.00 These are only estimates, the actual cost may vary, however the Burns Rd. project is the only one that I am concerned about not coming in under my estimate because of the uncertainty about exactly what is needed. I look forward to providing these services. Robert S. Russler Jr. Land Surveyor MEMDRftNIXM TO; Mcaitgccnery May, Oiairman Twn Planning Board FRCM: ^l^el Desch, Town Supervisor RE: Coiprehensive Planning - Town of Ithaca DATE: June 21, 1988 Thanks for the c^:portunity to present iry views on recent ccncems about the state of ccitprehensive planning in the Town of Ithaca. As you knew, there has been vigorous public participation on two development proposals in the Town over the past two to three months, one on South Hill and one on West Hill. Itiere is one clear message that has cone through to roe loud and clear, once you cut through the rhetoric that has been prevalent at the recent Town Board meetings. Ihat message is effectively e^ressed in the petition of the South Hill Conrrunity Association. On West Hill the message takes the form of concern about the location as well as airount of commercial development to be I^ermitted there. I support the intent of the South Hill petition and the West Hill concerns although a moratorium is neither technically nor legally defensible. I, therefore, present the elements of a proposal that will ccme before the Tcwn Board on July 11 pending Planning Board review at your July 5 meeting. The prc^sal attempts to provide both short and long term solutions to our ccnprehensive planning needs. The proposal is also, I believe, consistent with the intent of the resolution adc^Jted by the Town Board on June 13 wherein the Tcwn staff has been directed to prepare requests for proposals to retain a COTsultant to assist in the updating of our ccnprehensive plan. I propose that y/e hire Mr. Hicmas Niederkom on a retainer to work for the Planning Board to assist the staff and Board in providing the services outlined in the Tcwn Board resolution. This would mean that Mr. Neiderkom could be authorized to begin work as soon as practicable after the Town Board meeting in July if we are successful in formalizing this proposal. If this were possible, I believe it might be appropriate to provide an overview of the current ccnprehensive planning process at your initial public hearing on the new guidelines scheduled for August 2. A purpose of this would be to help overccme the public perception that our ccnprehensive plan is the best kept secret in Tcnpkins County. EXHIBIT 9 Once the review of the preamble has been canpleted I believe that our corprehensive planning efforts should start with West Hill including the assesanent of the need for caimercial services and the specific merit of the Kyong Project. However, the s\abdivision pressure on South Hill suggests the need for concurrent sipport by Mr. Neiderkom to vtork with the Town staff to develop integrated area plans to thoroughly answer the questions delineated under Article V, Section 32, paragraph 4 of the Tcwn Subdivision Regulations. I will also recomend to the Town Board on July 11 that we refer the Kyong project back to the Planning. Board for your further consideration in relation to the information that will result frcm the canprehensive planning effort in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Tcwn of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance. The Planning Board would determine v^en the Kyong zoning proposal would be ready for referral back to the Tcwn Board. During the coming year all requests to amend the Zoning Map, in ity judgement, should be required to stand a most rigorous test of need and conformity with the Town comprehensive plan including all of our current regulations and those that we may adopt over the next several months as the comprehensive planning process moves forward. While I realize that this proposal is only in outline form, I believe the timetable is achievable and I hope you will agree tiiat the need is urgent as dictated by both the level of public interest and the level of growth pressure vre have in the Tcwn of Ithaca. Thank you for listening. I would be pleased to ansv^ any questions the Planning Board mi^t have with regard to this proposal. ND/js EXHIBIT 9 UlSPOSlflliAW LAKESIDE DEVELOPMENT, INC. 315 MADISON AVENUE • P q any oar . yyATk-iKrg rai f AUG- 8808 Jli^ town of ITHACA V, NY 14891 • (607) 535-2466 August 05, 1988 Town of Ithaca 125 E. Seneca Street Ithaca, NY 14850 ATTENTION: Noel Desch, Supervisor RE: ROSE HILL DEVELOPMENT Dear Mr. Desch: It was nice to meet you last week relative to the Route 79 Rose Hill subdivision. I think from our meeting, that we can move forward with the water pressure issue to serve the West Hill area and the Rose Hill Development. As a result of our meeting with you and Bob Flumerfelt, you requested a letter from Lakeside Development, Inc. regarding our position of the water pressure situation in the West Hill area of the Town of Ithaca. You indicated to us that the Town of Ithaca has ample water supply to service our subdivision plan, however, pressure remains a problem, as our project elevation is too high to service efficiently and effectively. Our meeting generated good discussion as to an approach on how to address the water pressure problem. It is our understanding from you, that the Town of Ithaca is looking for some type of financial committment from Lakeside Development, Inc., whereby, in the next couple of years, a new water tank can be built to service the West Hill area and the proposed projects. Lakeside Development, Inc. is very interested in participating financially to obtain a water tank for the Town of Ithaca. We would be willing, per your recommendation, to assess each of our lots at an estimated $600-$70U per lot towards a contribution. It is our understanding from you, that any new development in this area would also have to assess accordingly. The timing of this water tank relative to our needs would be that by early 1991, a tank should be in place. See Page 2 Page 2 Letter/Lakeside Dev., Inc RE:ROSE HILL DEV. August 05, 1988 Mr. Flumerfelt has notified us that our Phase I and Phase II can be serviced during 1989 and 1990 with a hydro-pneumatic water pressure system. Lakeside Development, Inc. will expend the necessary dollars to build the system and dedicate to the Town of Ithaca during the term it is necessary to use; then when the tank is complete, we will take out the hydro-pneumatic pumps and retain ourselves. As you can appreciate, this type of system will cost us $60,000-$80,000, and we certainly can salvage pumps, etc., so we wouldn't have to pay twice to provide water to the residents. Please notify us as soon as possible as to the logistics in proceeding with this plan. Again, it was nice to meet you, and we'll await a response. Sincerely, Joseph M. Barrick Officer JMB:mwk cc: Barrick, W. D, Beeners, S. Bower, D. Flumerfelt, R,