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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Minutes 2024-09-17 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD Shirley A. Raffensperger Board Room,Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca,New York 14850 Tuesday, September 17,2024 6:30 P.M. Members of the public are welcome to attend in-person at Town Hall or virtually via Zoom. The public will have an opportunity to see and hear the meeting live and provide comments in-person or through Zoom (by raising hand icon) at httys://usO6web.zoom.us/i/83643764382. If the public would like to attend the meeting for viewing purposes only,it is recommended to watch the livestream video on YouTube (htti)s://ivww.youtube.com/channel/UCC9vvcXkJ6klVIibihCv7No /live). AGENDA 1. Consider establishing the Town of Ithaca Planning Board as Lead Agency in the environmental review for the proposed Maplewood Phase II Project on Maple Avenue, located between the Maplewood Graduate Student Apartment complex and the East Lawn Cemetery. The proposal involves consolidating four parcels and constructing six (6)five-story apartment buildings,containing up to 650 units/800 beds in studio,one bedroom, and two-bedroom unit configurations. The project will also include integrated amenity/service spaces,parking areas,trails and pedestrian facilities,open spaces, stormwater facilities,and other site improvements. This is a Type I Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is subject to environmental review. Cornell University,Owner/Applicant;Michele Palmer,Whitham Planning,Design,Landscape Architecture,PLLC,Agent. 2. Persons to be heard. 3. Approval of Minutes. 4. Other Business. 5. Adjournment. C.J. Randall Director of Planning 607-273-1747 NOTE:IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND,PLEASE NOTIFY CHRISTINE BALESTRA AT 607-273-1747 or CBALESTRA(a)TOWNITHACANY.GOV. (A quorum of four(4)members is necessary to conduct Planning Board business.) Accessing Meeting Materials Online Site Plan and Subdivision applications and associated project materials are accessible electronically on the Town's website at httns://townithacany.2ov/meetin2-calendar-a2endas/under the calendar meeting date. TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING BOARD SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 MINUTES Present: Fred Wilcox, Chair; Cindy Kaufman, Caitlin Cameron, Liz Bageant, Bill Arms, Gary Stewart(out 8pm), and Kelda McGurk CJ Randall, Director of Planning, Christine Balestra, Senior Planner,Nick Quilty-Koval, Planner Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town,David O'Shea, Director of Engineering, Emily Rodgers, Civil Engineer, Dana Magnuson, Senior Code Enforcement Officer; and Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk Mr. Wilcox opened the meeting at 6:30p.m. 1. Consider establishing the Town of Ithaca Planning Board as Lead Agency in the environmental review for the proposed Maplewood Phase II Project on Maple Avenue, located between the Maplewood Graduate Student Apartment complex and the East Lawn Cemetery. The proposal involves consolidating four parcels and constructing six (6)five-story apartment buildings, containing up to 650 units/800 beds in studio, one bedroom, and two-bedroom unit configurations. The project will also include integrated amenity/service spaces, parking areas, trails and pedestrian facilities, open spaces, stormwater facilities, and other site improvements. This is a Type I Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is subject to environmental review. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant;Michele Palmer, Whitham Planning, Design, Landscape Architecture, PLLC, Agent. Scott Whitham introduced other project members in attendance (The Team). The Team began with a video depicting a"fly through" of the project from various angles and locations to show an on the ground feel of project and current sight views from different roads, including the difference between 4- and 5-story buildings, visuals of the mechanicals, and the existing tree buffers. Slides also included depictions of the building layouts, parking layouts,bike storage, and pedestrian, and multi-modal transportation ways. Traffic analysis slides were presented. It was noted that this is a unique situation in that there is the Maplewood 1 project to look back at that was recent and can be used as an exact example for the calculations. Traffic volumes have decreased in the area in the last 5 years. Some of that decrease could be attributed to people shifting to working from home, but they are erring on the side of caution in estimating impacts so far. Ms. Balestra stated that this really is unique in that all the fears and complaints we heard about Maplewood 1 and the traffic implications have turned out not to be a factor and we can compare Pg. 1 apples to apples in this project. Maplewood 1 went through an extensive traffic study, and she can pull those and compare numbers from those studies and these estimates. The Board said that would be a good idea. Ms. Cameron asked how parking spaces would be managed, such as assigned parking. The Team responded that residents could pay for certain parking spots. Ithaca Carshare has asked for and The Team has included one centrally located and dedicated spot for them. There will be a hub for Ithaca Bikeshare pick up/return. Concerns regarding pedestrian crossing areas and the odd Route 366 and Campus Road intersection and students going through the coal plant property were mentioned. Ms. Randall responded that they are looking at all of that and are open to suggestions. Landscaping and open space was discussed with Board members noting that there was one complaint about Maplewood residents using the basketball court at the Belle Sherman School and therefore putting pressure on the use by others. The Team noted that these plans are sketch plans only and there will be additional details at the next phase. Specifically, to the complaint,the person has reached out to Cornell in the past and Cornell has had conversations with the principal of the school, and there are many positive comments about having such a diverse population nearby to interact with. There are some questions as to whether the people using the court are in fact Maplewood residents. Cornell said they would be looking at that and the college is upgrading its recreational fields and courts on campus also. Ms. Randall added that she has been talking to the Town's Park Manager and Senior Planner Mike Smith, who heads trails and recreation in her department, to look at potential recreational needs and plans for the overall area. The Board turned to the draft SEQR form and answers the Board should think about. Of note, there was a statement in the FEAF Part 1 that construction operations would occur 7 days a week, from loam —4:30 p.m. The Board was asked to think about whether the town would want construction to occur 7 days per week. Ms. Kaufman wanted to talk about the aesthetics of the materials used on the outside of the buildings and share a prototype she created with suggestions on varying materials and colors that take inspiration from the woods. She said when doing the "fly through," it is not as massive looking as from afar, and she felt some of the suggestions she had could help with that. She said she appreciated the consistency between the two projects, and she would be looking at the pedestrian view or experience in the next phases. PB 2024-09-17(Filed 9/24) Pg. 2 Ms. Randall noted that the Planning Committee would be adding design criteria to the Planned Development Zone language, and the Town Board would refer the draft to the Planning Board for comment. PB Resolution 2024-017: SEQR—Establish Lead Agency Maplewood Phase II Development, Maple Avenue Tax Parcel No.'s 63.-2-5,63.-2-6,63.-2-7.1, 63.-2-7.3 Whereas: 1. The Town of Ithaca Planning Board, at its meeting on July 2, 2024, considered a Sketch Plan for the proposed Maplewood Phase II Project on Maple Avenue, located between the Maplewood Graduate Student Apartment complex and the East Lawn Cemetery. The proposal involves consolidating four(4)parcels and constructing a community center and six (6) five-story apartment buildings, containing up to 650 units/800 beds in studio, one- bedroom, and two-bedroom unit configurations. The project will also include integrated amenity/service spaces, parking areas, trails and pedestrian facilities, open spaces, stormwater facilities, and other site improvements. Site improvements and amenity spaces include an outdoor terrace, fitness and wellness spaces, landscaping, and lighting. Cornell University, Owner/Applicant; Michele Palmer, Whitham Planning, Design, Landscape Architecture, PLLC, Agent; 2. The proposed project, which requires Site Plan approval and Special Permit by the Town of Ithaca Planning Board and a rezoning to a Planned Development Zone(PDZ) by the Town of Ithaca Town Board, is a Type I action pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, 6 NYCRR Parts 617.4(b)(3) and (b)(5)(iii),respectively, as well as Town of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Code section 148-5B(2) as the project as proposed involves a zoning change and the construction of 250 or more residential units (30 or more per Town Code) that will be connected to existing community or public water and sewage systems; 3. At its meeting on August 6,2024,the Town of Ithaca Planning Board proposed to establish itself as the Lead Agency to coordinate the environmental review of the above- referenced proposal. Potential Involved and Interested agencies were notified of its intent to serve as Lead Agency on August 7,2024; 4. The Planning Board, on September 17, 2024, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Full Environmental Assessment Form Part 1, application materials, studies, and a narrative plan set titled"Maplewood Phase II Preliminary Site Plan Submission," dated 07-19-2024, and supplemental materials and drawings, dated 08-26-2024, submitted by Whitham Planning Design Landscape Architecture, PLLC as well as Full Environmental Assessment Form Parts 2 and 3 prepared by Town Planning staff;now,therefore be it Resolved: PB 2024-09-17 (Filed 9/24) Pg. 3 That the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, having received no objections from other Involved Agencies, establishes itself as Lead Agency to coordinate the environmental review of the above- described proposal. Moved: Caitlin Cameron Seconded: Liz Bageant Vote: ayes—Cameron, Bageant, Wilcox,Arms, McGurk and Kaufinan 2. Persons to be heard—None 3. Approval of Minutes— Motion made by Mr. Wilcox, seconded by Ms. Bageant to accept the draft minutes of July 2, 2024, as amended by Ms. Brock as final; unanimous. Motion made by Mr. Wilcox, seconded by Ms. Kaufman,to accept the draft minutes of July 16, 2024, as final; unanimous. 4. Other Business— Mr. Wilcox stated that he wanted to talk about the Meinig Field House project and the City's SEQR determination that there is no potential for significant adverse environmental impact. He said that he has learned this over the years, where Planning Board members would want to vote "no" on a project for reasons that we can't vote no. What that means is that we can't vote "no"because of a potential environmental impact. A member cannot sit here and say "I think artificial turf is harmful, therefore I'm going to vote no." The SEQR determination has already been made that the use of artificial turf does not have the potential to have a significant adverse environmental impact in this project. Therefore,you can't cite it as a reason for voting no when the project eventually comes back to us. Mr. Arms asked for verification on the Game Farm Road project, saying that he understands that the segmentation was allowed because it will get the same level of environmental review; and in that instance, the Town will be Lead Agency in the environmental review, correct? Mr. Wilcox responded that that was correct. It will be a separate project, and it will go through each step of review by this Board. Next Meeting—Ms. Balestra reviewed upcoming projects and canvassed for a quorum. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Submitt Paulette Rosa, Town erk PB 2024-09-17 (Filed 9/24) Pg. 4