HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-055 Saponi Park Alienation and Relocation - Home Rule RequestMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
May29, 2025
TB Resolution 2025–055:Approval of Home Rule Request for the Alienation of Saponi Park located on Five Mile Drive
Whereas, the Saponi Meadows Subdivision was approved in 1994, which created Peachtree Lane, Apple Blossom Land 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 of 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 made a negative determination
of environmental significance on April 14, 2025; and
Whereas, the Assembly Bill A8371A and Senate Bill S7834A has been put forth; and
Whereas, the State of New York requires the Town Board to file a Home Rule Request for the alienation process to move forward, now therefore be it,
Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby authorize the Town Supervisor and Town Clerk to file a Home Rule Request with the New York State Legislature requesting
the New York State Legislature to enact a special law entitled “An act in relation to authorizing the town of Ithaca to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.”
Moved:Rich DePaoloSeconded:Susie Gutenberger
Vote: ayes – DePaolo, Gutenberger, Howe and Johnson
Absent – Rosen, Levine and Bleiwas