MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the
Present: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees,
Mayor
Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:33P.M. and opened the public comment
period. Joan Lovejoy announced that she was observing on behalf of the
Community Party.
Trustee Fresinski moved to close the public
comment period. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
The Mayor entertained the following motion:
Motion - To Open the Public Hearing on the Proposed 2006-07 Budget
Trustee Fresinski moved to open the public hearing and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
Jodi stated that she had
finalized the sewer count with the Village of Cayuga Heights and she would like
the budget to reflect those numbers. This would increase line items G8189.4 and
G2374 both to $421,020. This reflects the 2339 sewer units at $180 each. G2374
is collected on the tax bills and then the Village turns around and forwards it
to the Village of Cayuga Heights under G8189.4 for use of their sewer plant.
There were no further comments on the budget.
Motion - To Close the Public Hearing
Trustee Fresinski moved to close the public hearing and Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
The Board agreed to increase the two sewer line items and
proposed the following resolution:
Resolution#5226-
To Adopt the 2006-07 Proposed Budget as the
Official Budget with the Modification of Increasing line items G8189.4 and
G2374 both to $421,020 in the Sewer Fund
Trustee Fresinski moved to adopt the budget.
Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
Lynn stated that we need to look at the Village entrance sign by Tompkins
Trust Company. Most of the plantings in there have died. With Chris working
this summer we should have him water that area. Don stated that we should also
plant drought resistant plants. Ned stated that there are currently
negotiations to run a sewer line down past the Clarion Hotel and if there will
be construction through that area it may be a good time to add a water line to
that garden area. Don suggested a portable watering system that could also be
used to water the flower boxes and other areas in the Village. Lynn would also like
to see a bench there by the entrance sign.
Don asked David Dubow if he had heard any more on moving the bus stop in
front of HSBC. Don indicated that he had asked Dave Putnam, the Engineer for
the Village, to pursue this. Dubow advised that he would be meeting with Dave
tomorrow and will bring this issue up.
Next on the agenda was approval of minutes from March 15th and
March 20th.
Motion - To Approve the Minutes from March 15, 2006
Trustee Leopold moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Clerk/Treasurer and the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
For the March 20th minutes Lynn asked that “again” be removed from the end of the forth paragraph on page one. She thinks it makes it sound like we had combined back with the Town before. The Board agreed.
Motion - To Approve the Minutes from March 20, 2006
Trustee Leopold moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Clerk/Treasurer and the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Abstain Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
The next item on the agenda was to consider setting a public hearing on Proposed Local Law C, Amendment to Village of Lansing Zoning Law regarding minimum lot size and street frontage requirements for commercial Low Traffic (CLT), Commercial High Traffic (CHT) and Human Health Services (HHS) Districts. Dubow advised the Board that Ben Curtis, the Village Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, discovered a change was needed when he was going through the plans for the new Cardiology Associates building. These changes were discussed at the last Planning Board meeting, at which it was determined that changes in the Zoning Law should be recommended to the Board of Trustees. Dubow explained that Proposed Local Law C reflects (i) the deletion of the current minimum lot size and minimum street frontage requirements in the CLT, CHT and HHS Districts that are based upon the number of uses or tenants, such multiple use/tenant basis having been determined to no longer provide a rational foundation for alternative and increased minimum lot size and street frontage requirements in such Districts; (ii) the clarification that in addition to being bound by all other CLT District dimensional requirements, all parcels within the HHS District are also bound by the dimensional buffer strip requirements for the CLT District; and (iii) the amendment of the Dimensions Chart to reflect the simplified minimum lot size and minimum street frontage requirements for properties situated within the CLT, CHT and HHS Districts and to include a new “row" for the HHS District which will reflect the same dimensional requirements as apply to the CLT District.
The foregoing revisions were discussed at the last Planning Board meeting, and
then further discussed thereafter by David and Ben. The revision as to the
applicability of the CLT buffer strip requirements to the HHS District is the
result of David discovering that it is not currently clear in Village Code
subsection 145-46 E that the HHS District is in fact to be subject to the same
buffer strip provisions as apply to the CLT District. It is David’s
understanding, based upon his discussions with Ben, that it was always intended
that properties within the HHS District were to be subject to buffer strip
requirements in general, and specifically the same requirements as apply to the
CLT District.
David further explained that the Planning Board concluded that the original minimum street frontage and lot size provisions in the CLT and CHT Districts were probably related to concerns over density. Given the various set back requirements and new off-street parking requirements that now exist, the Planning Board determined further that the street frontage and lot size provisions related to the number of tenants and uses were therefore no longer necessary.
John O’Neill asked if parking regulations provide for multiple tenants. Dubow explained that the basic requirement is to have 100 feet of frontage for a commercial lot and a minimum of 10,000 sq. ft. The front, side and rear setbacks basically determine where a building can go. Ned Hickey added that this issue has not come up in the 18 years he has been on the Planning Board. He suspects that the original provisions related to the number of tenants and uses may have been the result of the Village founders’ haste in developing the Village Zoning Law and the use of provisions from other zoning laws.
Motion - To Set a Public Hearing for Proposed Local Law C, Amendment to Village of Lansing Zoning Law Regarding Minimum Lot Size and Street Frontage Requirements for Commercial Low Traffic, Commercial High Traffic and Human Health Services Districts for April 17, 2006 at 7:35pm.
Trustee Fresinski moved to set the public hearing. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
The next item on the agenda was to discuss joining the Stormwater Coalition. Lynn apologized for not
having a clean copy of the proposed agreement creating the coalition. After the
last meeting, Lynn forwarded a copy of the proposed agreement as marked up by
the Town of Dryden. Lynn had no problem with those changes. This resolution
would enable the Village to join other involved municipalities and parties in
trying to form a more formal coalition. The agreement provides for the
coalition to exist for a limited term that expires 3/31/08, which is the date
we are supposed to have our Stormwater Law in place. Dubow had looked over the
agreement and had a few minor comments and suggestions that he shared with the
Board. Dubow reiterated that the coalition is not a legal entity. The
organization has no staff.
Frank asked what this group would
do for us. Lynn stated that they help with projects, grant writing, pay for
workshops among other things. In the past the group has helped us with our
annual report. They will work on the behalf of MS4s to help us with compliance
issues. They will help Ben to do site assessments. The soil and water
conservation people have looked at the Dart property to make Ben aware of what
needs to be done. The coalition will be made up of MS4s that need help and this
way they can draw on each other’s expertise.
Resolution#5227- To Support Joining in the Stormwater Coalition of Tompkins County
Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
Don stated that we are making good progress on the Bolton Point Road issue. There is almost an agreement, with just one paragraph that needs to be worked out.
The traffic study for East Shore Drive has been forwarded to NYSDOT Region 3. Soon Don and Town Supervisor Steve Farkas will be setting up an appointment with NYSDOT to discuss further the East Shore Drive alternative for the Town’s proposed sewer line. The Town, however, has gone ahead at this time with the process of more accurately determining pricing for the proposal of running the sewer main down Cayuga Heights Road. They need a cost estimate to proceed. The intermunicipal sewer meeting with Mr. Eidt of the NYS DEC at the Town of Lansing was quite a different story than what Tony Nekut reported him saying at the last Trustees meeting. Apparently after speaking with Tony, Steve called his boss in Albany. Don will be drafting a letter to Mr. Eidt and his boss to voice our concerns with the ongoing DEC review and decision-making process related to this matter. He will ask why they aren’t paying attention to the “E” in DEC. Don feels that their position in favor of the intermunicipal plant approach versus the stand-alone plant was a political decision that they refuse to admit.
Lynn stated that at one point in the meeting at the Town an engineer stated that they might have to buy a property for a pump station. Don questions how the Town is financing all of this. Frank feels we should be quick to identify what the Town may be under estimating on the Cayuga Heights Road route. Don stated that Cayuga Heights Road is our roadway, and since we are part of the financing, we have a fair amount of say as to if and how that route will be handled. The overall cost for this will be approximately $17 million.
Don stated that there is no simple answer as to what is best for the Village. Don assured the Trustees that whatever goes through the Village will be good for the Village.
Ned Hickey reported that the Planning Board has a goal of updating the Greenway Plan. He and Carol Klepack met and decided that they will leave the basic plan as is and do an addendum. They are also considering getting a summer intern. Ned would also work matters related to park and recreation land exaction into the Greenway Plan. They will also look at where the Village needs more parks. Don suggested that he also look at the property the Village has received from the Edelmans. He prefers to keep it as open space, but if we get to the point where we need more parks than this area could be considered.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee O’Neill moved for adjournment. Trustee
Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
The meeting adjourned at 8:50PM.
Jodi
Dake
Clerk/Treasurer