HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAC-2011-04-14Conservation Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes — 04/11/11
Minutes Approved — 05/09/11
Attending: Nathan Brenner, Meghan Jacquet, Rima Shamieh, Tom Shelly
Excused: Michael Culotta, Anna Stalter
Included in these minutes are review comments on the following projects:
§ 215 Grandview Avenue
§ 139 Hudson Street
Comments submitted previously; CAC has no additional comments
§ 140 College Avenue
§ Seneca Way Apartments, 140 Seneca Way
§ Collegetown Terrace Apartments, East State Street
§ Ithaca College Boathouse, 692 Third Street Extension
215 Grandview Ave
• CAC suggests a covered bike rack.
• CAC wonders if there is new lighting planned for the upgraded parking area and whether
additional lighting has impacts on neighboring yards /properties.
o Are there any guidelines for outdoor lighting that could be applied in review of
this site plan?
• We would like to know if the catch basin is lower than the road. We question the design
to catch storm drainage.
o CAC suggests that the elevation differential between the catch basin and
Grandview should be more pronounced and that the elevation of the catch basin
would need to be significantly lower.
• We suggest a green retention area to help soak up water.
139 Hudson Street
• CAC previously reviewed this project at its Jan 10, 2011 meeting.
• This month's LEAF is missing all even - numbered pages.
• On SPR App, developer notes that there will be vegetation removal. In FEAF Part B,
number 3, developer notes there will be NO vegetation removal. This is inconsistent.
• The landscape plan recommends planting eight Spirea japonica shrubs in the front yard.
According to the New York State Plant Ranking System for Evaluating Non - Native Plant
Species for Invasiveness developed by the Nature Conservancy and the Brooklyn
Botanic Garden, this species has been rated as "Moderately Invasive ". The CAC
suggests the developer and landscaper instead plant native alternatives to this species,
particularly because of the proximity of the property to the Six Mile Creek UNA. The New
England Wildflower Society suggests other Spirea species as native alternatives:
• Spiraea douglasii (Douglas Spirea)
• Spiraea densiflora (Mountain Spirea)
• Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)
• CAC notes project's proximity to Six Mile Creek UNA, located across the street.
• Drainage impacts are significant considerations, especially during construction.
• We note that the site plan has changed plan to gravel from asphalt (less
pervious pavement), and a landscape plan has been included.
• Missing from this submission is a clear description or depiction of the Project's Non-
conforming use.
o Can City Staff specify does this Project require an area variance or a use
variance? In either instance, it's not clear what thresholds apply in judging this
Project as "non- conforming ". This project does not appear to meet CAC's
simplistic understanding of those thresholds, since it doesn't qualify as a
variance, nor is it specified as requiring a "use" variance."
Questions:
1. Why are you proposing 10 parking spaces if you only need to provide 6?
2. Is the non - conforming use related to having 4 unit apartment structure in a max two -unit
family dwelling?
3. Do the dimensions of the proposed parking spaces meet code? Is there enough space
for cars, especially for #7, to back out and leave? How about Fire Department
requirements for min turning radius?
4. Does the retaining wall wrap around behind the screening section fence?