HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-118 Approve Saponi Park Alienation and RelocationMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
October27, 2025
TB Resolution 2025– 118:Authorization to Release the Existing Saponi Park Parcel to Eddy Hill Inc. and Acceptance of Substitute Parkland from Eddy Hill Inc. for the new Saponi Park
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 Ithaca 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 made a negative determination
of environmental significance on April 14, 2025; and
Whereas, in the summer of 2025, the Town obtained permission from the New York State Legislature (Assembly Bill A8371 and Senate Bill S7834) and the Governor (signed August 15, 2025)
to alienate the existing parkland and replace it with another property of the same size; and
Whereas, the Town Board held a duly noticed public hearing on October 27, 2025 to consider comments from the public regarding the proposed release the existing Saponi Park parcel to
Eddy Hill Inc. and acceptance of substitute parkland from Eddy Hill Inc. for the new Saponi Park; now, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca authorizes the release of the existing Saponi Park parcel to Eddy Hill Inc., to accept a new parcel of the same size from Eddy Hill
Inc. for the new Saponi Park, and authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute the necessary documents, subject to the approval of the Attorney for the Town and satisfaction of all requirements
in the adopted alienation legislation, and be it further
Resolved, that the Town pay the incidental costs (recording fees and other similar expenses) as incurred in order to complete such closing; and be it further
Resolved, that pursuant to Section 64 (2) of Town Law, this resolution is subject to a permissive referendum in accordance with Article 7 of Town Law (§ 90), and the Town Clerk is directed
to publish and post a notice of adoption of this resolution, within ten days of its adoption, together with a copy or an abstract of the resolution and a notice stating it is subject
to a permissive referendum.
Moved:Susie GutenbergerSeconded:Rod Howe
Vote: ayes – Gutenberger, Howe, Bleiwas and Rosen