HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2014-04-23 Additional Meeting of the Town of Ithaca
Planning Board
Wednesday,April 23,2014
Board Members Present: Fred Wilcox (Chair), Linda Collins, John Beach,Yvonne Fogarty, Linda
Wedemeyer,Jon Bosak, Hollis Erb, and Joseph Haefeli (Alternate)
Staff and Guests: Susan Ritter, Director of Planning; Paulette Terwilliger,Town Clerk; Herb Engman,
Town Supervisor, Bill Goodman, Deputy Town Supervisor and Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town
Single Agenda Item: Discuss possible coordination for development project
Mr. Wilcox opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and stated agenda item and noted the two representatives
from the Ithaca Town Board present.
Mr. Engman gave an overview of the topic stating that there is a possibility of a separate Town/City
Planning Board which would be formed to hear proposals and make Planning Board decisions regarding
the Emerson Site and the Chainworks project taking shape. He stated that there are a lot of pros and
cons for both keeping two separate boards or establishing a single intermunicipal planning board (IPB)
and he wanted to hear what the Town's Planning Board thought. He added that this is just the first
conversation of many regarding the possibility and nothing is in any way final but he wanted to get a
sense of what the Planning Board thought about the idea.
In the option of a combined Board,the exact make-up of the Board is still speculative. The majority of
the land is in the Town but the majority of the building is in the City and contemplating both
municipalities working together is exciting and ground breaking.
The Planning Board members discussed the different scenarios,the pro and cons, and asked questions
of Mr. Engman, Attorney Brock, and staff regarding the functioning of an IPB and discussed various
concerns, includingthe commitment needed for such a project, especially the length of time it is
expected to take in the many phases as well as administrative support duties, legal counsel and
workloads. Several members suggested that establishment of an IPB include the requirement for the
developer to pay for the additional associated costs(staff time for coordination, minutes, etc) given the
benefit of the IPB to the developer. And to make sure the board is composed of seasoned/trained
members it was suggested that only current or recently departed Planning Board members be eligible to
serve on the IPB.
In summary,the Planning Board members expressed excitement for the Chain Works proposal and the
the IPB idea, with approximately 5 members very interested in serving on a combined board. Mr.
Engman noted that the City is holding their own meeting and then meeting with their Planning Board to
get comments on the idea and he would let them know as things progressed. The bulk of the initial
work in getting the Chain Works project moving forward will be at the legislative level,with the Town
Board and City Council working on similar planned development zone language. This would be followed
by site plan/SEAR review. .
Meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Submitted by
Paulette Terwilliger
Town Clerk