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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURA-2015-03-26� ■ �' Ithaca � ■ � Urban Renewal � Alllllllllllll N Agency 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274 -6559 (607) 274 -6558 (fax) MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Common Council Chambers, City Hall 8:30 A.M., Thursday, March 26, 2015 Approved: 4/23/15 Members: Svante Myrick, Karl Graham, Tracy Farrell, Eric Rosario, Ellen McCollister (Common Council Liaison) Excused: Chris Proulx Staff: Nels Bohn, Lynn Truame, Rene Funke, Charles Pyott Public: None Guests: Scott Whitham, Whitham Planning & Design, LLC I. Call to Order Chair Myrick called the meeting to order at 8:34 A.M. II. Agenda Additions /Deletions None. III. 2015 HUD Entitlement Grant — Public Hearing On a motion by Farrell, seconded by Graham, and unanimously approved, Chair Myrick opened the Public Hearing. A. Project -by- Project Sponsor Presentations 1. AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE — VISITING NURSE SERVICE PROGRAM Speaker Title /Affiliation Comments -in -Brief Judy Eckard Human Requested funds would help increase community awareness of the Resources organization, which is the only certified homecare agency in the Manager, Visiting county, by improving the building's non - descript fagade. Nurse Service of Ithaca & Tompkins County 1URA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 2 of 20 Cindy Kaufman Architect, HOLT � The building is a low, long concrete-block, one-story building. Tht Farrell noted the applicant mentioned classes. She asked where those are currently being held. Eckard replied they have not held any recently. Farrell asked how many employees are located at the site. Eckard replied, 65 employees. Rosario asked if the applicant means-tests its clients. Eckard replied that their clients have to be referred by a doctor and 90% of their income comes from Medicaid/Medicare. Rosario asked why there would be a need to enhance the building and attract potential patients, if the organization's clients are referred by doctors. Eckard replied that potential patients are always free to request the organization's services. It also operates a long-term care program, which does not require doctor referrals. C. 0% NCER OAD R 0"IDEWALKS a LITY OF ITHACA "'4PE Title/Affiliation Cornments-in-Brief 1URA Minutes March 26,2015 Page 3 • 2# McCollister asked if the project would help reduce the numbers of non-local drivers cutting through the neighborhood to get to South Hill. Logue replied, maybe — however, there are a limited number of ways to get to South Hill and anything the City could do to limit traffic on Stone Quarry Road would most likely simply divert that traffic elsewhere. Farrell asked if there are any recent traffic counts for the site. Logue replied that the block in between the triangle and Stone Quarry Road sees approximately 4,000-5,000 cars/ ay, so it is fairly h igh. 11011101ii 1,11 Speaker Title/Affiliation Comments -in -Brief Joe Bowes Senior Real The project will comprise 53 1-2 bedroom apartments, serving a Estate Developer, mixed-income population (48%-90% of area median income), along Ithaca with 2 office spaces and one community space (Head Start, serving 30 Neighborhood children and employing 13 staff). The other side of the site would Housing Services feature for-sale townhouses. The applicants met with the Planning (INNS) and Development Board and had a really positive meeting. As a result of community concerns, Lake Avenue has been redesigned to appear more like a Conley Park pedestrian path with lots of greenspace. Paul Mazzarella Executive Director, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) Graham asked if the applicant would lose the parallel parking on Lake Avenue as a result of the changes. Bowes replied, yes. Farrell asked if that would increase the project's parking space deficit. Bowes replied those spaces were actually never a part of the calculation, since Lake Avenue is City- owned. 111I� III III I�pm�I�p�111 q 11�� I �I 1111�111qpiii A 111�pIIIIIIIIIIII 1P Is Vii 11 1 U-M 1URA Minutes March 26,2015 Page 4 of 20 Farrell asked if new participants are enrolled every year. Mazzarella replied, yes. Farrell asked if INHS advertizes the program. Mazzarella replied, no — INHS receives many referrals from the County's Office for the Aging. Rosario asked if the program could at some point be sponsored by a local company or foundation. Mazzarella replied that possibility exists. So far, INHS fundraising activities have been primarily 1 focused on obtaining unrestricted operating funds. He indicated U that INHS may be a little reluctant to have a private company sponsor the program, because of the long-term uncertainty associated with that. McCollister asked if INHS coordinates its programs with the City Building Division (e.g.., if any health/safety-related problems are reflected in City files). Mazzarella replied, no, except • extent that the larger repairs require a Building Permit; although there used to be a closer relationship between the two. INHS does, however, have a relationship with the City regarding water bills. The City may contact INHS if it sees an anomalous spike in a property's water bill. Graham asked if INHS anticipates expanding the program with the acquisition of Better Housing fo Tompkins County, Inc. Mazzarella replied both organizations have operated similar programs, which will continue to be the case. I Farrell asked if INHS has communicated with Habitat for Humanity. Mazzarella replied, yes. Housing Services (INHS) Paul Mazzarella Executive The program is a 30-year old program designed to help low- and very Director, Ithaca low-income people with small home repairs. The primary population Neighborhood is senior citizens (85-90%), but it is not limited to seniors. Most Housing Services program participants are single women living alone. The program (I N HS) enables participants to age in place in their homes. It also allows INHS to perform a full inspection of the homes to identify any other maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. Many maintenance issues are much more significant than the progarn is designed to handle (e.g., installing a new roof), so the participants are then enrolled in the INHS Home Rehab program. The Mini-Repair program helps ensure there are no health and safety problems associated with a home (e.g., broken steps and handrails, malfunctioning furnaces or hot water heaters). Each year, INHS completes over 100 Mini-Repair jobs, benefiting 50 households. Farrell asked if new participants are enrolled every year. Mazzarella replied, yes. Farrell asked if INHS advertizes the program. Mazzarella replied, no — INHS receives many referrals from the County's Office for the Aging. Rosario asked if the program could at some point be sponsored by a local company or foundation. Mazzarella replied that possibility exists. So far, INHS fundraising activities have been primarily 1 focused on obtaining unrestricted operating funds. He indicated U that INHS may be a little reluctant to have a private company sponsor the program, because of the long-term uncertainty associated with that. McCollister asked if INHS coordinates its programs with the City Building Division (e.g.., if any health/safety-related problems are reflected in City files). Mazzarella replied, no, except • extent that the larger repairs require a Building Permit; although there used to be a closer relationship between the two. INHS does, however, have a relationship with the City regarding water bills. The City may contact INHS if it sees an anomalous spike in a property's water bill. Graham asked if INHS anticipates expanding the program with the acquisition of Better Housing fo Tompkins County, Inc. Mazzarella replied both organizations have operated similar programs, which will continue to be the case. I Farrell asked if INHS has communicated with Habitat for Humanity. Mazzarella replied, yes. Moll M-11 - P.171, IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 5 of 2# Social Services to ensure program applicants would not qualify for that program. Catholic Charities has always been interested in following up with program beneficiaries to determine what their situation is. It applied to the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County (HSC) for funding of the Service Navigator position. Catholic Charities works with its beneficiaries even before they receive any funds on money management skills and generally identifying the details of each situation. It is excited about the new position and hopes it will help with some of these needs. Catholic Charities is always seeking to improve the program. Farrell asked how many people have approached Catholic Charities from the Rescue Mission. Ubari replied, at least three. Funke remarked that IURA has historica-Ily allowed tenants who do not qualify for Section 8 assistance to complete the housing quality check list, which HUD requires. With recent HOME regulation revisions, however, the IURA must now have a third party do that,, so it is contracting the work out to Tompkins Community Action. Some homes will most likely not meet housing quality HUD standards; so IURA staff will need to track that. IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 6 of 20 M I 1k rc. 312, • Speaker Tiftle/Affililation Comments-in-Brief Lee Dillon Executive Director., Tompkins Community Action Danielle Housing & Energy The program is a rental subsidy program for housing homeless people Harrington Services Director, who do not it into any other assistance program. It also helps Tompkins connect them to other community services, medical care, food pantry Community assistance, etc. any homeless people do not trust public assistance Action programs, so the Housing Assistant engages with them in an effort to establish trust, so Tompkins Community Action can collect more information about them to help them meet their needs. Beneficiaries contribute to their rent if possible. Rental assistance lasts for 12 months. After that 12-month period, Tompkins Community Action has other programs to help people through the transition process. Victor Cruz Housing Assistant, Tompkins Community Action Graham asked where the program places its beneficiaries. Harrington replied that some of them go to the Second Wind program and they have another connection with a property owner in Newfield. i in 01"IN =@Its Farrell asked if the situation at Second in is working out, given how far it is from the city. Harrington replied, yes. 11 1 il V =0' k =171 Dale JY A I Executive The program provides housing for 17-24 year olds for one year, Director, The although it can be extended for a year. The Case Manager works with Learning Web of the beneficiaries on things like independent living skills, managing Title/Affiliation- 1URA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 7 of 20 Farrell asked how much contact the Learning Web has with the 27 beneficiaries the program has served. Schumacher replied that it varies: some weekly, some almost never. ®n average, he would guess at least twice a month, for probably a year after they complete the program. 8. ALPERN & MILTON, LLC — THE FLATIRON PROJECT Speaker Ishka Alpern Title/Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Alpern & Milton, The project application is not fully developed, but probably represents LLC more of an effort to start a conversation about the project. There is a great need for affordable housing in the community. The project was conceived to address the high cost associated with typical renovations to properties which make them unaffordable. The project would be located in an oddly-shaped trapezoidal building which he would like to renovate to match its prior condition. It would be a very nice, unique addition to Inlet Island. Inlet Island has historically been a location for affordable housing and it is important to maintain that, before too many unaffordable projects are built there. Unfortunately, it is difficult to build affordable housing units without some for of funding assistance. IURA Minutes March 26,2015 Page 8 • 20 Rosario observed that when one examines the cost of the project per beneficiary, it is not as attractive as projects built by INHS, for example. Alpern replied that INHS buildings typically have s many units that they achieve economies of scale; a smaller project like this one would need proportionately more assistance. I in Comments-in-Brief Farrell asked how much the Rescue Mission works with Catholic Charities' own rental deposit program. French replied that the Rescue Misson does work with them, but they can only provide $500 which is often insufficient for families. If the Rescue Mission had its own in-house rental assistance program, things would improve considerably. Farrell asked how many families the Rescue Mission has served. French replied, 31 families. Graham noted the funding request is completely dedicated to security deposits. He asked what staff structure exists to monitor the program. French replied that two case managers work intensively with clients to assess their needs and find housing. lip I I �� I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I iI I� I Ili 1 0 9 0 IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 9 of 20 McCollister asked if FLIC receives any funding from home building grants or private companies. It seems like something funding would be available for. Lynch replied, she does not know for certain, Graham asked if any local organizations would build the ramps just for the cost of materials. Lynch replied, possibly. The program manager may be aware of something like that. ®n a motion by Farrell, seconded by Rosario, and unanimously approved, Chair Myrick closed the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing will be reconvened at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, March 30, 2015. IV. Public Comment (3-minute maximum per person) None. V. Review of Draft Meeting Minutes: February 27, 2015 Farrell moved, seconded by Graham, to approve the February 27, 2015 meeting minutes, with one minor modcation, A. Property Disposition-, Approval of Purchase Agreement with Lighthouse Hotels, LLC for 320-324 E. MLK, Jr./E. State St. to Facilitate Urban Renewal Project Bohn explained the proposed resolution would authorize the sale of the property, subject to the conditions imposed • the project by the IURA and Common Council. Some • the IURA's original concerns have already been resolved. The project has completed the Site Plan Review process and obtained the Planning and Development Board's approval. Bohn noted the $1.8M appraisal was significantly higher than anticipated, so the applicant asked the City for a financing package, which the City Controller recommended should include a higher interest rate than the City's cost-of-funds. There are some other conditions associated with livin,,.,� IURA Minutes Morch 26, 2015 Page 10 of 20 Rosario asked if the applicant agreed to provide at least 16 minimum wage jobs. Bohn replied, yes. Rosario asked if a time t is associated with that commitment. Bohn replied, yes, with the Rosario suggested the applicants be asked to provide a letter, much like with the Marriott Hotel agreement, certifying they are in compliance. That would release them from the reporting burden, but still provide the IURA with some assurance they are in compliance. Bohn responded that the applicant's attorney has expressed trepidation with any further conditions or burdens; however, Bohn does not foresee strong opposition to Rosario's suggestion. A time limit should be established for the letter requirement. (It was 20 years for the Ithaca Marriott.) Speaking for the applicants, Whitham indicated he cannot imagine they would object to the certification letter . Property Disposition — Approval of Purchase Agreement with Lighthouse Hotels, LLC for 320-324 E. M.L.K., Jr./E. State Street to Facilitate Urban Renewal Project WHEREAS, on June 26,, 2014 the IURA designated Lighthouse Hotels LLC (Lighthouse) as a "qualified and eligible sponsor", pursuant to §508 of General Municipal Law, to undertake an urban renewal project for an in-fill urban hotel project on the 300 block of E. MLK Jr./E. State Street, subject to certain project requirements, and WHEREAS, Lighthouse proposes to construct a $19 million, seven-story, 123-room Canopy by Hilton hotel along with an approximately 2,000 square foot commercial lease space • a projec site located north of the Carey Building • parcels currently used for public and private surface parking • the 11•r • E. MLK Jr./E. State Street (Urban Renewal Project), and I IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 11 of 20 WHEREAS, on November 5, 2014, the Common Council for the City of Ithaca authorized transfer of real property located at 320-324 E. MLK Jr./E. State St. (tax parcel #69.-1-6.2) to the IURA for the purpose of structuring a proposed sale agreement for an Urban Renewal Project subject to approval by the Common Council following a public hearing, and WHEREAS,, Lighthouse seeks to acquire property located at 320-324 E. MLK Jr./E. State Street from the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and WHEREAS, an appraisal conducted by Midland Appraisal Associates,, Inc. concludes the fai market value of the property located • 320-324 E. MLK Jr./E. State Street is $1,800,000, and I WHEREAS, on January 27, 2015 the City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board, acting as Lead Agency in the environmental review, determined that the proposed Urban Renewal Project will result in no significant impact on the environment and issued a Negative Declaration in accordance the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, and WHEREAS, the project site is located within the City of Ithaca Urban Renewal Project Boundary area, and WHEREAS, the purchase agreement shall contain the following essential terms: Job Creation: Creation and maintenance of at least 33 full-time equivalent jobs Wages/Salaries: Living Wage Positions — Creation and maintenance of a minimum of 16 full-time employment positions paid at least a "living wage" as defined by AFCU (currently $12.62/hour including employer paid health insurance benefits) and as such "living wage" changes from time to time. Housekeeping Staff — Each employee in the housekeeping department to be paid at least 120% of the State minimum wage, as such minimum wage changes from time to time (NVS minimum wage is currently $8.75/hour). Employment & Wage 9 Quarterly employment and wage reporting shall be Reporting: submitted quarterly to Seller for five (5) years. 0 If Purchaser in full compliance with employment, wage and job training commitments for three (3) consecutive years as determined by Seller, Purchaser shall be released from further quarterly employment and wage reporting. 0 Thereafter, Purchaser shall annually certify to Seller compliance with wage requirements through the first 20 years of operation of the hotel. 1URA Minutes March Page 12 of 20 IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 13 of 20 WHEREAS, the primary objective of the City of Ithaca Urban Renewal Plan (Plan) is to improve the social, physical and economic characteristics of the project neighborhood, and WHEREAS, one objective of the Plan is "expansion and diversification of the economic base of the community to provide employment opportunities needed by its residents and to strengthen the tax base ", and WHEREAS, the IURA Economic Development Committee considered this matter at their February 131 2015 and March 10, 2015 meetings and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes sale of property located at 320-324 E. MLK Jr./E. State Street (tax parcels #69.-1-6.2 and #69.-1-3) to Lighthouse Hotels LLC to undertake the IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 14 of 20 proposed Urban Renewal Project subject to conformance with the above listed sale agreement terms, and be it further RESOLVED., that pursuant to §507 • General Municipal Law, the proposed purchase agreement is subject to approval by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca following a public hearing, and be it further RESOLVED, that IURA Chairperson, subject to advice from IURA legal counsel, is hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements and documents necessary to implement this resolution pending endorsement by the Common Council. i�. Request from The Art & Found, LLC for Loan Modification Bohn explained that the owner moved her business to SewGreen and is therefore requesting her loan payment be reduced to reflect the smaller footprint and lower-profile location. It would require extending the loan payment period. The Art & Found is moving towards more production, rather than straight retail sales. The EDC recommended approval. Graham observed the second from last "Whereas" refers to projected "modest profitability." Bohn replied, yes; the business now has a lower cost structure without the additional staff. !!1111 111111!!11� ipiqpiq III I 1111114-41pj 1 i i i iq � 1 14 U111111 Iii III WHEREAS, on March 1., 2015, the Art and Found submitted a request for a loan modification to reduce monthly loan repayments and extend the term of the loan, and WHEREAS, on August 29, 2012, the IURA issued a 5-year, $15,000 loan at 3% interest to The Art and Found, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed by Heidi Brown and Olivia Ashline-Royale to start-up and operate a retail clothing business at 171 The Commons, Ithaca,, NY, and WHEREAS, the resulting monthly loan payment is $270.49, ano: WHEREAS, the IURA loan is secured by a 1st security lien on all business assets including inventory, and personal guarantee of Olivia Ashline-Royale, and WHEREAS, on November 29, 2012, the IURA approved a request to modify the loan agreement to facilitate a split between the two founding members with Olivia Ashline-Royale becoming the sole member • the LLC, and I WHEREAS, The Art and Found business has been operating since September 2012, a time perioll when The Commons has been under reconstruction, and IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 15 of 20 WHEREAS, the business has not achieved financial projections contained in the initial business plan, and WHEREAS, The Art and Found lost its lease effective March 1,. 2015 and has relocated the business to 110 N. Cayuga Street, and WHEREAS, The Art and Found is current • loan payments through January, 2015 but owes February and March payments, and WHEREAS., The Art and Found requests reducing the loan repayment to $125 per month and extending the term to amortize the debt and resuming repayments beginning April 1,, 2015, and WHEREASY a revised business plan projects modest profitability after making monthly IURA loan payments of $125,. and WHEREAS, at their March 10,, 2015 meeting, the IURA Economic Development Committee reviewed this matter and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED,, that the IURA hereby approves the request from the Art and Found LLC for a 2nd modification to the IURA loan as follows: 1. Defer loan payments due in February and March 2015; 2. Revise the loan payment due to $125/month beginning April 1, 2015; 3. Extend the term of the loan to fully amortize the debt (approximately 80 payments), and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA Chairperson, upon the advice of IURA legal counsel, is hereby horized to execute any and all necessary and appropriate documents to implement this a It, resolution. A. 2015 IURA Designation of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services as Community-Base;ir` Development Organization (CBDO) 2015 IURA Designation • Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Service as Cmmunity o -Based Development Organization (CBDO) i WHEREAS, the Board of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) seeks designation by the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO), IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 16 of 20 WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has designated the IURA • administer the City's HUD Entitlemen Program that oversees Community Development Block Grant funds awarded to the City, and I WHEREAS, an eligible category of CDBG activities is a "Special Activity by CBDO", that offers certain advantages, such as exemption from the 15% expenditure cap otherwise applicable to public service activities, authorization to carry out new housing construction (normally prohibited with CDBG funds), and discretion to allow income generated by a CDBG-funded activity to not be considered CDBG program income, and WHEREAS, the following four tests established at CFR Title 24 §570.204 must be met to quali under a category of "'Special Activity by CBDOs:" fl 1. The entity qualifies as a CBDO, including the 51% board membership test; 2. The CBDO will undertake an eligible project; 3. That the CBDO will carry out the funded activity directly or with an entity other than the grantee; 4. That the CBDO will not carry out a prohibited activity, and WHEREAS, a CBDO must maintain at least 51% of its governing body's membership to be made up of any combination of the following: • Low- and moderate income residents of its area of operation • Owners or senior officers of private establishments and other institutions located in its area of operation • Representatives of low- and moderate-income neighborhood organizations located in its area of operation, and WHEREAS, a CBDO must have as its primary purpose the improvement of the physical, economic, or social environment of its geographic area of operation, with a particular emphasis on the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, and LT _JVMTJSIPT i WA 1 1113 ,,=M Jill project types: • neighborhood revitalization; • community economic development,� • energy conservation project; and WHEREAS, at their February 13, 2015, meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee compared INHS with CBDO eligibility requirements as documented in the attached materials and staff review of bylaws and organizational documents and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA determines that INHS meets the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO, and that the 210 Hancock Street redevelopment project qualifies as an eligible CBDO activity, and be it further IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 17 of 20 RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby designates INHS as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) and their 210 Hancock project as eligible for CDBG funding under the category of "Special Activities by CBDOs". B. Minor Program Amendment to 2013 Action Plan for Southside Community Center (SCC) (#141 2014) Farrell explained that the IURA originally granted $17,000 for acoustic improvements to the SCC gymnasium project, but there was a delay in obtaining estimates for the work. An estimate • $43,000 was eventually received — considerably more than expected. The Executive Director subsequently indicated there is more of an immediate need for security cameras. The Committee recommends a program amendment. Minor Program Amendment: 2013 Action Grant — Project #14 WHEREAS, the Southside Community Center (SSCC) was awarded funding in the 2013 Entitlement Grant cycle for acoustic improvements to the SSCC gymnasium (2013 CDBG project #14) and WHEREAS, the amount of funding reserved for that project from the 2013 Entitlement Grant was $17,000, which was based upon the estimated cost of the acoustic improvements, and WHEREAS, when the work was put out for proposals in February 2015, a single response was received, placing the project at a cost of $43,528, and WHEREAS,, at their March 13, 2015 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee considered this request and agreed that this would be an appropriate use of the funds, now therefore be it RESOLVED,, that the IURA hereby approves the reallocation of funds for 2013 CDBG Project #14 from acoustic improvements in the Southside Community Center gymnasium., to the acquisition and installation • a system of security cameras at the exterior of the Southside Community Center, and be it further IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 18 of 20 RESOLVED, that the final amount of funding allocated to the security camera project will not exceed the unexpencled balance of funds originally awarded to the acoustics project, and will b established based upon a newly secured, firm, quotation for the work, which will be submitted for review and approval to Steve Nann, Building Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Ithaca, and be it further I RESOLVED., that the IURA Chairperson is hereby authorized, subject to advice of IURA legal counsel,, to execute any and all necessary documents to implement this resolution. ,arried Unanimously 4-0 McCollister remarked that the City should examine the future of the building"s infrastructure in a comprehensive way. 1• pil q q '111 Pill 11��111111311 1 1 Ali • IX. Other New/Old Business A. Consent to Designation of Planning & Development Board as Lead Agency for Environmental Review of Lake Street Bridge Public Park (#11., 2014) Myrick reported the Board of Public Works recently discussed the subject and agreed the Planning Board should act as Lead Agency. Moved by Farrell, seconded by Rosario: Consent to Lead Agency in Environmental Review — Lake Street Public Park Enhancement Project (Project #11, 2014 Action Plan) WHEREAS,, 6 NYCRR Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Law and Chapter 176. • the City Code, Environmental Quality Review, require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmenta law; and I WHEREAS,, State Law specifies that, for actions governed • 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 applicant proposes to undertake enhancements to improve the accessibility and functionality of the park. Proposed work includes adding a concrete walkway and falls overlook, installing metal guardrails behind the existing stone retaining wall, installing a movable gate for IURA Minutes Morch 26, 2015 Page 19 of 2# controlled access to the Ithaca Falls Natural Area, replacing the existing bike racks, adding ar accessible curb ramp, improving the landscaping, and other site improvements; and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board has a pending application for site plan approval for proposed park enhancements at Lake Street Park by the City of Ithaca,. applicant and owner; and WHEREAS, The project has been awarded funding from the IURA and requires approvals from thit Board • Public Works (BPW),. Common Council and the Planning & Development Board; and WHEREAS, The project will undergo a separate environmental review in compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) as required for projects assisted with the HUD iii��ll! all' • WHEREAS, this is a Type I Action under the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance ("CEQRO,") §176-4 B.(h)[2] and [3] and the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA) §617.4 (11) and is subject to environmental review; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED., that the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency does hereby consent to the City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board acting as Lead Agency in the local environmental review for the proposed Lake Street Public Park Enhancement Project. IMITIUM-Em Bohn noted that City Senior Planner Lisa Nicholas suggested the IURA may want to consider issuing a blanket approval for future projects. The Governance Committee could explore the option further. The IURA would still be able to review a specific project, if it chooser. There were no objections. Farrell noted she would just want to make absolutely sure any comments the IURA does happen to lave on a given project are fully communicated to the Planning Board. 1 `1 ILI 1111 11 I Bohn reported that all the leases are current except Southside Community Center. Three loans are past due: one of which is the Art & Found, whose loan was just moded; and the Bandwagon Brew Pub and State Theatre. The Bandwagon Brew Pub may have received some incorrect information from IURA"s loan servicer about its loan; so that is being investigated. All the IURA grants are • track. 'Rosario departed at 11:06 a.m.,' L Fem Iff -air, I " IT =Pt IURA Minutes March 26, 2015 Page 20 of 20 a, McCollister announced that Common Council just passed some new Commons legislation, whil e th-qQ:; Planning and Economic Development Committee will be recommending the repeal of the Collegetown Parking Overlay Zone (CPOZ). It will also recommend amending Industrial Zone regulations to make it more difficult to locate a non-industrial use in that zone., as well as recommend re-zoning the former Ithaca Gun Factory site from Industrial to R-3a. Bohn reported that the Carpenter Business Park has been sold and is now on the market for $2.85M. The meeting was adjourned • consensus at 11:11 A.M. SEUCTIM Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.