HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAC-2016-10-17City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council Minutes
Monday, October 17, 2016 - 6 – 7:30pm
Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall, 108 East Green Street
Present: Jesse Hill, George McGonigal, Noah Demarest, Maureen Bolton, Tom Schelley,
Michael Culotta, Matt Yarrow
Absent: Adam Fishel
Meeting called to order 6:02pm.
Common Council update: Approval of Tom Schelley, Michael Culotta by Mayor.
CAC observation note: A nuclear power plant was proposed for Bell Station on east side of
Cayuga Lake back in 1973. Jesse Hill’s grandmother was part of the committee that organized
to defeat the proposal. A newspaper article from the time was circulated. A salt mine that
collapsed in Genesee river valley had similar geography to salt mine under Cayuga Lake.
Subsidence data for Cargill mine is opaque and not available publically.
Second CAC observation note: Unnamed restaurant next to Texas roadhouse. Parking lot
goes right up to stream/ditch. 10ft buffer - does it apply here? Does this figure into SWP that
was required for site? This is first project where the base flood elevation was set at a 1 foot
above flood elevation, meaning that the floor level is higher than other buildings in the area.
Carpenter Business Park – Maguire Proposal: This site is near the community gardens.
Ithaca Planning and Development Committee voted 4-0 to pass a resolution stating that the
Maguire project did not conform to the city's comprehensive plan. There was a connection to
dredging to maintain the recreational utility of the Inlet. The CAC had some questions about the
project: Can power lines be buried? NYSEG owns power lines and right-of-way. There is a huge
expense to do this. Discussed PUD and zoning changes. This issue is a planning issue – should
not be parcel by parcel. Form Ithaca has taught us that we have to go big to make this work.
NYSDOT could change route 13 in vicinity of this project, but only if part of large long-term
vision. Waterfront committee – next phase of comprehensive plan. How can CAC work with
Planning Dept to encourage long-term planning work?
CAC feels strongly that current proposal doesn’t meet comprehensive plan and we encourage
that the City pursue a more robust neighborhood plan. ROI of a big plan would be much greater
than a car dealership in long-term. Stormwater issues on the floodplain also an issue at site.
Another issue – Maguire has a poor track record with preserving/promoting trees. City needs to
update zoning in short-term to avoid potential lawsuits in cases like this in the future. CAC will
submit a letter on the Maguire proposal before the next Common Council meeting.
Amici House: In general, the plans look good. They probably do not need the parking that they
have in the plan. Our recommendation is that proving that they have room for additional parking
is sufficient; they would only have to build it if needed.
City Centre: Developers should be asked what they are doing to use green energy instead of
natural gas.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.