Tompkins Weekly

Conditional housing approval reached



 

 

On Thursday, Oct. 24, the Village of Trumansburg Planning Board voted to conditionally approve the application for development of 46 South St., also known as Crescent Way.

The vote allows applicants Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and Sundial Property Development, LLC/Claudia Brenner to move forward with the development of a residential/mixed-use/mixed-income residential project on an approximate 19-acre parcel of property located at 46 South St., including an adjacent parcel located at 50 South St.

The development will include 17 market-rate for-sale units, 10 affordable for-sale townhomes, six affordable rental townhomes, 40 affordable rental apartments in a two-story elevator building and a stand-alone nursery school.

The proposed development has proven to be a source of contention in the village; opposition to the initial proposal and feedback and questions from the Planning Board required the applicants to submit many iterations of the application, significant downscaling of the project and supplemental submissions since December of 2017. The final decision to approve the application comes after a final submission on July 24, 2019.

During the meeting, language changes in the draft resolution were requested by the applicant. The applicant proposed removing the term “open public space,” sighting legal issues with having space on private property open to the public. This section now reads, “The Final Plan shall specifically denote and mark Lot 7 and Lot 12 green spaces and open areas as available and open to general use and such areas shall be suitably graded and kept relatively level as to promote such use and future recreation.”

The applicant asked for removal of all stated conditions. For lighting, applicants sighted significant costs associated with the proposed lighting and questioned how much lighting is necessary on the path.

Use of solar path lighting was proposed by the board, which was accepted by the applicants. The plan for the project states a mulch-type material will be used for the path, and after discussion about installation and maintenance of a mulch path, which is seasonal, it was concluded that site plans as currently presented should be followed.

The new condition of the trail has been changed to, “The seasonal pathway on Lot 7 shall be lighted its entire length by low voltage or low intensity solar lighting, where feasible, to help assure safe travel in low-light conditions.”

The third change was to include language about landscaping that falls within the village right of way. The section language was changed to, “All final submitted landscaping shall be built and maintained by Applicant, except that any landscaping within the public rights of way shall be maintained by the Village, where and as depicted in the Project Information and related site plan renderings and mappings, and no certificate of occupancy or compliance may be issued for any building or dwelling until the landscaping and buffering is installed in substantial compliance with the approved Applications and site plans.”

In addition, a modification was made to reflect the multi-phase aspect of the project, whereas construction may or may not conclude within two years of permit issuance. It now reads, “Once ground is opened or disturbed, or construction of any building or improvement is commenced, the Applicants and their agents shall: (i) diligently pursue and complete such construction as expeditiously as possible, with construction activities to be reasonably scaled to seasonality.”

Language added by the village and village engineers MRB regarding project meetings said specifically, “Prior to construction beginning, and prior to any issuance of permits, a preconstruction meeting with Village Staff (CEO, Engineer, Zoning Officer, Planner, etc.), Developer, Contractors, and any utility providers is to occur. All other project meetings, whether safety, toolbox, or construction planning meetings, shall be the subject of specific notice to the Village Zoning Officer.”

Language was added regarding post-construction maintenance bonds, of which significant conversation and explanation of this can be found around the 40-minute mark in the meeting video. Last, there was discussion regarding stormwater and post-construction accountability.

There is still a long road ahead for the applicants before they can break ground. In addition to the village construction permits, there is a myriad of state reporting and permitting that must first take place. The whole resolution can be found on the village website, trumansburg-ny.gov, and the Planning Board meeting video can be found at youtu.be/q29c49gCnyI.

In Brief:

Village News

On Saturday, Nov. 16, 2:30 p.m., the Village of Trumansburg will hold a short public ceremony/unveiling for a new historical marker at the birthplace of Dr. Hermann M. Biggs, 30 McLallen St., Trumansburg. Biggs (1859-1923) was an internationally known bacteriologist and advocate for public health. He was an early New York state commissioner of health and was knighted by the King of Spain for his work in sanitation. A small reception will follow the unveiling, free and open to all.

Conservatory

TOiVO, a seven-piece band playing traditional social dance music of the Finger Lakes and more, will present a Community Dance Party Fundraiser for the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts (TCFA) on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Conservatory.

Join TCFA for a free, banner-making workshop on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., led by Aram Han Sifuentes. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University.

During the workshop, participants will learn how to create their own banner to share their voices and experiences and contribute to the growing library of handmade banners. Participants will learn how to cut and attach letters to cloth to create protest banners.

There are no fees for this workshop, and all materials for the banners are provided, but registration is required. Register here: forms.gle/AZFfRubYAus6iTbv6.

Comprehensive Plan Update

The Trumansburg community is invited to attend a public information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Fire Department Meeting Room on 74 West Main St. in Trumansburg to learn about and participate in the ongoing Comprehensive Plan Update.

This is the first of three public meetings. The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee and project consultants from Environmental Design & Research will present an overview of the project. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts.

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