HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-037 Saponi Park Alienation and Relocation - Request to StateMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
April14, 2025
TB Resolution 2025–037:Request to New York State Legislature to Introduce Bills Regarding the Saponi Park Alienation and Relocation Project
Whereas, the Saponi Meadows Subdivision was approved in 1994, which created Peachtree Lane, Apple Blossom Lane and Amber Lane. As part of this approval, Saponi Park was dedicated to
the Town of Ithaca in 1995 as the park land requirement. The 1994 plans showed future phases and roads which would have continued to the south on the 21.6-acre Eddy Hill Inc. property,
filling in the gap between Peachtree Lane and the current park property; and
Whereas, the park property and the remaining Eddy Hill Inc. property have been farmed since 1994 and the current owners have stated they have no intention of developing the property
into additional residential lots; and
Whereas, the Town has not made any improvements to the park property; and
Whereas, the current landowners and the Town feel there would be substantial public benefits to relocating the park approximately 1,100 feet to the north, adjacent to the residential
development that it went with; and
Whereas, on February 11, 2025, the Town of Ithaca and Eddy Hill Inc. signed a “Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Park Relocation and Land Purchase and Swap Agreement”; and
Whereas, the use of designated parkland for non-park or private sector use requires that the
alienation of parkland process be undertaken with New York State Legislature; and
Whereas, the Town of Ithaca wishes to discontinue the use of the existing Saponi Park for park and recreation purposes and wishes the New York State Legislature to authorize and empower
the Town to alienate Saponi Park so that the Town can acquire another property of the same size and within 1,100 feet on the same road; and
Whereas, this is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ithaca Town Board is acting in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to this action and has made a negative determination
of environmental significance; now, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby requests NYS Assemblymember Anna Kelles (Assembly District 125) and NYS Senator Lea Webb (Senate District 52) to introduce
bills in their respective houses to authorize and empower the Town to alienate Saponi Park and acquire another similar property.
Moved:Margaret JohnsonSeconded:Rod Howe
Vote: ayes- Howe, DePaolo, Levine, Johnson and Gutenberger