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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2020-07-16 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING COMMITTEE THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 – 4:00 P.M. PLEASE NOTE: The Town of Ithaca Planning Committee meeting will be held electronically via Zoom video conference. Members of the public may call in on a cell phone or landline at (929) 436- 2866 and enter the Meeting ID: 936 6791 3810, or may view the meeting by computer on Zoom at https://zoom.us/. Once on Zoom, click “Join A Meeting” and enter the Meeting ID: 936 6791 3810. AGENDA 1. Persons to be heard. 2. Committee announcements and concerns. 3. Consider approval of June meeting minutes. 4. Consider amending Town Code (Ch 270) definition for accessory dwelling units. 5. Staff updates and reports. • Ecovillage PDZ amendment to allow camping area • Food trucks 6. Discuss next meeting date and upcoming agenda items. A quorum of the Ithaca Town Board may be present, however, no official Board business will be conducted. TOWN OF ITHACA 215 NORTH TIOGA STREET, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 TOWN CLERK 273-1721 PUBLIC WORKS 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783 FAX (607) 273-1704 Town of Ithaca Planning Committee Thursday, July 16, 2020 (via Zoom Conferencing) Committee members: Rich DePaolo, Chair; Bill Goodman Board/Staff members present: Rod Howe, Town Supervisor; Sue Ritter; Marty Moseley Others: None 1. Persons to be heard: None 2. Committee announcements and concerns: Marty reminded Rich about swimming pool setbacks, an issue that Rich had raised awhile back. Rich said he would be interested in including this as a future discussion topic, as well as fencing materials. The fence issue pertained to the use of sheets of galvanized metal for a fence, which is not prohibited by Town Code. The committee agreed to discuss both issues at an upcoming meeting. 3. Consider approval of June meeting minutes. June minutes: Rich moved; Bill seconded. Approved with minor corrections. 4. Consider yard setback requirements for accessory dwelling units: Rich summarized the discussion from the June meeting, in which the committee asked staff to refine language that would tighten up the definition for an “attached” ADU. Currently, a breezeway connection between the principal dwelling and an ADU would qualify as “attached”. The committee discussed language at the June meeting that would require separation between the two dwellings to be contained within a heated/cooled conditioned space. Staff provided proposed language for “detached” and “attached” ADUs and recommended that they be listed together under the definition for “Accessory Dwelling Unit” in chapter 270-5 of Town Code. After discussion and minor editing, the committee agreed to the following language: Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached: A dwelling unit that is physically attached or connected to a principal dwelling by means of a permanent enclosed, conditioned (heated and/or cooled) area, or that shares at least one wall with the principle dwelling unit. Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached : An accessory dwelling unit that occupies part or all of the structure that is not physically attached or connected to a principal dwelling by means of a permanent enclosed, conditioned (heated and/or cooled) area, or that does not share at least one wall with the principle dwelling unit. The committee requested that the language be forwarded to Susan Brock prior to submission and consideration by the Town Board. 6. Staff Report & Updates: Ecovillage PDZ amendment to allow camping area: Sue reported that Thrive Ithaca EcoVillage Education Center is looking to establish a permanent camping area at EcoVillage. This is not a permitted use in the PDZ, so it would require an amendment by the Town Board. Sue described her conversation with Nathan Scott, Director of Thrive, and relayed his project proposal. It includes utilizing approximately one acre for camping and associated facilities on a site northeast of the Third Neighborhood at EcoVillage (TREE). The plan calls for constructing approximately 10-12 wooden decking platforms to be used, on a seasonal basis, for installation of canvas wall tents. Additional tent sites in the future are possible. Each tent would be approximately 9' x 12 'in size and house a maximum of two people. Bill explained that Thrive is not a corporate entity of EcoVillage, but an educational arm with an affiliation with the Center for Transformative Action at Cornell. Liz Walker had been the director up until recently. The camping area would be used by Thrive, but it would also be used by visitors to EcoVillage, interns, as well as guests of EcoVillage residents. The committee discussed the proposal and agreed to consider the EcoVillage PDZ amendment upon submission of an application and an opportunity to ascertain more details about the proposal. The request for the amendment will be reported to the Town Board at an upcoming meeting. Food trucks: Marty explained that food trucks have been a topic of discussion recently, with several requests for operating them in the town. NYS Building Code has recently added an amendment to address safety measures for food trucks, so there are now inspection protocols. The Town is in the process of amending Town Code Chapter 125 (Building Construction and Fire Protection) which includes provisions for operating permits and will now include permits for food trucks. Marty recommended that the Town consider clarifying that food trucks are allowed and to enact some basic requirements. Marty shared his experiences with food truck operations and regulations from his work with the Village of Lansing. Committee members expressed support for allowing food trucks to operate in the town. They considered some issues that could warrant imposing regulations and invited staff to come back with some preliminary ideas. Next meeting: Thursday, August 20th. Topics: EcoVillage PDZ amendment; Food trucks; swimming pools/fencing.