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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2021-10-20 City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes 10-20-2021 Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Patrick Mehler, and Donna Fleming Committee Members Absent: Other Elected Officials Attending: Mayor Svante Myrick and Alderperson Nguyen Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Planning and Development Department; Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development Department; Luis Aguirre-Torres, Sustainability Director; Megan Wilson, Zoning Administrator; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Cliff Street PUD – Craig Modisher, Noah Demarest, and Lincoln Morse Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review No changes were made to the agenda. 2) Public Comment Due to the number of individuals wanting to speak, comments were limited to two (2) minutes. Theresa Alt, 206 Eddy Street, spoke regarding the prohibition of eviction without Good Cause Emily Cotman, 719 West Court Street, stated she bought a home not to build wealth, but to eliminate the need to rest. She asks that the City passes the proposal not to evict. Sarah Curless, 838 North Aurora Street, stated that if the City must pass the legislation brought to the September 2021 meeting, Angel DeVivo, 110 North Geneva Street, spoke on behalf of a person who had a terrible story of a tenant who dealt with a horrific landlord only because she asks for repairs to be made by her landlord. Randall Frank, 207 East Yates Street, stated it seems that all the protections stated in the September proposal have been removed. If Black Lives Matter, Brown Lives Matter, then Black Homes Matter too. Andre Gardiner, 306 East State Street, rejects the legislation on the table. Building materials, land, and taxes are high in Ithaca. Carolyn Headlam, 310 West State Street, tenants have an inevitable right to stay in their homes and not be evited without cause. Colton Kells, rents 202 S. Geneva Street, He went through the draft by Section numbers from the September meeting that we did not agree with. Listen to the tape. Kayla Lane, 11 South Street, Dryden, local business owner specializing in tenant and renters. There is often rises in rent based on supply demand. Most of our time is spent in rental renewal. Anthony Perry, 146 Crescent Place. Speaks in favor of common-sense legislation. The version presented by Cynthia Brock muddies the waters. Please stand on the right side and support the September bill. Grace Petrisin, 345 West Enfield Center Road, a local landlord and real estate agent. We try to renew our good tenants. She renews two months prior to the end of the lease, not ten months ahead of the end of the lease. Genevieve Rand, 138 East Spencer Street, this version of the bill is totally changed from the one that was presented in the September meeting. Many new things have been added to this version of the bill without any circulation and discussion. We need to go back to the September bill. It is in the landlord’s best interest to stay within the parameters. Ceril Sandstrom, 324 North Plain Street, she is a tax paying home owner and landlord. She is also a member of the LBGTQ community and an immigrant. She is against this legistration. Sonja Sandstrom, 324 North Plain Street, She is a wife, mother, worked at a very young age. Was in an abusive relationship which her landlord helped in finding her a new place to live. Her veteran dad also had difficulty finding housing. She is proud to be a landlord. She is a good landlord. Rodolfo Santos, 284 Third Street, from New Jersey. New Jersey has renewal legislation. Had it not, he and his family would have been evicted. Jennifer Seidman, 8 County Club Road, a Cornell Law Student and volunteers in ????. Listen to the tape for a number of items she stated. The September version of this bill she be looked at not the one in this meeting’s agenda packet. Charlie Spearman, 118 North Tioga Street, works with Human Services Coalition and is also a renter. This legislation protects only 30% of the rental community. People who fight addiction, domestic violence, etc. These people need help. Mona Sulzman, 310 Linn Street, #1, is a long-term renter in Ithaca and elsewhere in the state. I do not live in the Fifth Ward but have friends who do who haven’t had good experiences as tenants. Eviction and non-renewal are wrong. Zach Winn, 229 South Geneva Street, a landlord has a right to inspect their properties without fee of retaliation from the tenant. Check the tape. Bhuvan, check the tape Keem, 613 Chestnut Street, is a black man who was displaced from his home on Plain Street because the landlord was white and he is black. Black people have a right to live in the community too. Response from Committee: Alderperson Brock stated she received a lot of feedback from the September legislation. I did this for the Committee. This is not something I brought here on my own. Just because my name is on the memo and I brought this forward does not mean it is my sole purpose. Chair Murtagh stated that Alderperson Brock has worked on this for some time. He thanked her for her work. He thinks that the agenda should have been clearer. It needs to be circulated, a public hearing needs to be held, and further discussion. Alderperson Lewis also thanked Alderperson Brock for the work she has done on this topic. Her effort, as she understands it is work for the best protection and outcomes for tenants. She respects the work she has done. Alderperson Mehler asked for clarification that this will be circulated and a public hearing will take place. Alderperson Fleming stated she does have some reservations on this legislation, but I agree with 3) Special Order of Business a) Public Hearing – Court and Cayuga Streets Rezoning Alderperson Lewis moved to open the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Mehler. Carried unanimously. Katy Noonan, 423 North Cayuga Street. She sent it comment already so she will be brief. Many of the homes in the 400 block of North Cayuga Street is part of the historic district. Mary White and Susan Schwartz, 114 Sears Street, is against the rezoning of Court/Cayuga Streets. New commercial buildings will appear due to the change in zoning. Alderperson Lewis moved to close the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried unanimously. Many people sent comments in. Those comments are attached to these minutes. We voted to circulate this last month. It is great that the number of people have commented. This will be discussed later in the meeting. b) Public Hearing – Change in Grade Plane and Two-Family Dwelling Definitions Alderperson Lewis moved to open the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Mehler. Carried unanimously. No one spoke. Alderperson Mehler moved to close the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. c) Public Hearing – Multiple Dwellings and Dormitory Definitions Alderperson Lewis moved to open the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. No one spoke. Alderperson Lewis moved to close the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. d) Public Hearing – Cliff Street Retreat PUD Alderperson Fleming moved to open the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. No one spoke. Alderperson Mehler moved to close the public hearing; Seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. 4) Announcements, Updates, Reports Luis Aguirre-Torres, Sustainability Director, stated the City is in the process of signing an MOU with the Town. Check the tape. A bike share is in the works. City attorney’s office to set a benchmark for carbon emissions. JoAnn Cornish stated that the City of Ithaca is hosting 5) Action Items (Voting to send onto Council) Alderperson Brock stated this is a great event. a) NIIF Application – South Hill Fall Fest Planning & Economic Development Committee October 20, 2021 RESOLUTION: Request for Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Funds for South Hill Fall Fest WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council established the Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Fund in 1995 to provide financial assistance to city residents seeking to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods, and WHEREAS, the fund is intended to support residents' interest in community improvement and to encourage, not replace volunteerism, and WHEREAS, the funds are intended to be used for projects or events that provide a general neighborhood benefit and not for the limited benefit of individuals or a select few residents, and WHEREAS, activities specified by the Common Council as eligible for the funding include but are not limited to neighborhood clean-ups, plantings in public places, and neighborhood events like block parties or meetings, and WHEREAS, neighborhood groups are required to submit a completed application specifying other project donations, estimated volunteer hours, estimated costs to be covered by the fund and signatures of residents in the immediate neighborhood, and WHEREAS, to streamline the process the Common Council has delegated authority to approve applications to the Planning & Economic Development Committee, and WHEREAS, each neighborhood group is eligible to receive up to $300 per year as a reimbursement award payable on the submission of original receipts or invoices for approved activities, and WHEREAS, the City cannot reimburse residents for sales tax expenses, and WHEREAS, on behalf of the South Hill Civic Association, John Graves has submitted an application for $200 in reimbursement funds to off-set expenses related to the South Hill Fall Fest, to be held on October 24, 2021 at the South Hill Elementary School, and WHEREAS, the event will be open to the entire neighborhood and notification of the event is being broadly distributed, and WHEREAS, the NIIF funds will be used to provide cookies and art supplies for event attendees and will supplement more than 50 hours of volunteer time; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Planning and Economic Development Committee approves the funding request from the South Hill Civic Association in the amount of $200 for reimbursement upon presentation of original invoices and/or receipts. b) Court and Cayuga Streets Rezoning Megan Wilson stated the reason for these suggested changes. She answered or clarified comments sent in. Check the recording Include the discussion of home occupation and nonconforming uses. Include Nguyen’s comments. An Ordinance To Amend The Municipal Code Of The City Of Ithaca, Chapter 325, Entitled “Zoning” To Amend the Zoning District Boundaries of the R-2b, R-3a, R-3aa CSU, and B-1a Zoning Districts within the City of Ithaca - Declaration of Lead Agency WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176-6 of the City Code require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmental law, and WHEREAS, State Law specifies that, for actions governed by local environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or carrying out the action, and WHEREAS, the proposed zoning amendment is an “Unlisted” Action pursuant to the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Ordinance, which requires environmental review under CEQR; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Ithaca does hereby declare itself lead agency for the environmental review of the proposal to rezone properties along the north side of portions of Court Street, the 400-block of North Cayuga Street, and all properties in the Courthouse Special Use district to B-1a. Planning & Economic Development Committee Draft Resolution 10/20/2021 An Ordinance To Amend The Municipal Code Of The City Of Ithaca, Chapter 325, Entitled “Zoning” To Amend the Zoning District Boundaries of the R-2b, R-3a, R-3aa CSU, and B-1a Zoning Districts within the City of Ithaca - Declaration of Environmental Significance WHEREAS, The Common Council is considering a proposal to amend the zoning designation of properties along the north side of Court Street, the 400- block of North Cayuga Street, and all properties currently zoned Courthouse Special Use to B-1a, and WHEREAS, the appropriate environmental review has been conducted, including the preparation of a Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF), dated September 30, 2021, and WHEREAS, the proposed action is an “Unlisted” Action under the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, and WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, acting as lead agency, has reviewed the SEAF prepared by planning staff; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that this Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby adopts as its own the findings and conclusions more fully set forth on the Full Environmental Assessment Form, dated September 30, 2021, and be it further RESOLVED, that this Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby determines that the proposed action at issue will not have a significant effect on the environment, and that further environmental review is unnecessary, and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution constitutes notice of this negative declaration and that the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a copy of the same, together with any attachments, in the City Clerk’s Office, and forward the same to any other parties as required by law. c) Change in Grade Plane and Two-Family Dwelling Definitions d) Multiple Dwelling and Dormitory Definitions e) Cliff Street Retreat PUD Alderperson Lewis stated she is very impressed with this project. She asked for further information regarding connecting with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Both Chair Murtagh and Alderperson Brock are also very impressed. f) Right to Counsel Eviction Legislation Alderperson Brock thanked Alderperson Lewis for her work on this. She asked for clarification on the first Resolved which states protections from non -payment eviction. Lewis stated eviction notices that have been sent include a multitude of other services the tenants can access. g) Energy Efficiency Retrofitting RFP Check the recording for Luis’ answer to Lewis’ question regarding the number of estimated jobs. 6) Action Items (Voting to send on to Circulate) a) Good Cause Eviction Legislation Chair Murtagh stated this will be circulated and a public hearing will take place next month. Alderperson Brock went through how you came to the changes/additions to the legislation since the previous month. City Attorney explained the three new documents included in the updated agenda packet. These documents came from the City of Beacon. Check the tape on this discussion. Chair Murtagh requested that this be circulated as written last month as we voted on and include Brock’s new changes. Hold a public hearing next month. 7) Review and Approval of Minutes a) January 2021 Moved by Fleming; seconded by Lewis 8) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.