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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2020-08-19 Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Stephen Smith, Donna Fleming, and Laura Lewis Committee Members Absent: Alderperson George McGonigal Other Elected Officials Attending: None Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Planning and Development Department; Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development Department; Tim Logue, Director, Engineering; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review There were no changes to the agenda. 2) Public Comment Chair Murtagh read into the record comments from four (4) members of the public all that are attached to these minutes – Teresa Halpert (CIITAP), Theresa Alt (CIITAP), David Nutter (NYSDOT West End Changes), and Robert Lynch (NYSDOT West End Changes). Response from Council: Committee members decided to refrain from commenting until the topic comes up on the agenda. Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting 3) Announcements, Updates, Reports No announcements, updates, or reports were provided . 4) Action Items (Voting to Send on to Council) Deputy Director Lisa Nicholas stated the reason this is being brought forward is due to the two waterfront projects currently being considered by the Planning and Development Board. This concept is being provided for required mitigation by DOT for these two projects. Alderperson Lewis asked about the terminology in the resolution which states it is a concept. Engineering Director Tim Logue stated what he thinks DOT is bringing forward a project but is seeking for the City’s input. Alderperson Lewis stated that this concept hasn’t been shared with the residents like the break-in-access was. Alderperson Brock would like to see this be circulated to all those impacted in order to provide their feedback before this is voted on. We need to know what the impact will be to everyone in this area of the City. She would like to see the ‘resolved’ modified to reflect that. Logue stated that the resolution being considered tonight doesn’t have to be forwarded to Common Council. He believes DOT will take the input they receive and go forward. Alderperson Fleming asked for more rationale of this. Louge stated that this area (Buffalo and Fulton) is the hub of the west end. The signal schedule would help ease the traffic flow in this area. He does see some benefit for this change. We, as a City, should make a list of comments and/or questions to provide DOT as to the real impact. Alderperson Brock stated that all the complexities of this, the mitigation, and the costs associated with this should all be further considered. She suggests adding a second Resolved stating that the Common Council will have another vote. Chair Murtagh suggested to table this for a month. Moved by Alderperson Smith; Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. This will be brought back next month after canvassing the neighborhoods. Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting Alderperson McGonigal also agreed with tabling this. Alderperson Brock asked for clarification that DOT is suggesting these changes due to the two waterfront projects. If the projects were smaller, would this be suggested? Alderperson Brock also asked if this would be done again considering DOT has it coming up. Lisa Nicholas stated that the changes would have to be presented again. a) NYSDOT Proposed Changes to the West End and Concept Approval It was agreed to table this resolution until next month. Proposed Planning Committee Resolution in Support of NYS DOT Region 3’s Concept for a West End Couplet Involving Buffalo and Court Streets August 14, 2020 WHEREAS: NYSDOT Region #3 Staff and Director have proposed a West End couplet comprised of Buffalo and Court Streets involving the conversion of Buffalo St to one -way eastbound between Fulton and Meadow, and either converting Court St to one -way westbound or otherwise increasing westbound vehicular capacity, and WHEREAS: Implementation of this concept along with two other items are considered by DOT to be required mitigations for the City Harbor and Carpenter Circle Projects, beyond the mitigations requir ed by the Lead Agency as described in the Negative Determination of Environmental Significance dated May 26, 2020, and WHEREAS: Such additional required mitigations must be part of any permit application to DOT for the proposed Break-in-Access (BIA) related to Carpenter Circle project and the proposed intersection improvements related to City Harbor project, as well as all other vehicular and pedestrian improvement related to both projects, primarily consisting of improved pedestrian crossings with a cent ral refuge, sidewalks and lane restriping, and WHEREAS: DOT believes that implementation of this concept it will address existing and future deficiencies and safety issues within the network, and WHEREAS: DOT’s preliminary analysis suggests that the proposed changes will result in a significant reduction in travel times at the peak hours as well as a reduction in certain kinds of crashes, and WHEREAS: the proposal is conceptual and will require additional analysis to determine, feasibility and potential impacts, including impact to emergency response and traffic flow though adjacent residential neighborhoods, and WHEREAS: additional analysis must also investigate whether this concept is effective for the long-term waterfront development scenario – which includes the DOT site and several other projects – and not only City Harbor and Carpenter Circle, and WHEREAS: Staff is gathering questions and comments to define the scope of the additional analysis, and Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting WHEREAS: In conversations with City staff, DOT Region 3 representatives have stated that portions of these improvements could be added to an existing DOT capital project to repave sections of Fulton, Meadow and Buffalo scheduled for 2023, and WHEREAS: Future conversations will determine how much of the overall cost the capital project would cover and from where any needed additional would be derived, and WHEREAS: NYS DOT requests assurance from the City that they find the concept of a West End couplet involving Buffalo and Court Street agreeable, subject to further analysis, outreach and identification of any needed funding, now therefore be it RESOLVED: That Common Council does approve of the concept of a West End couplet involving Buffalo and Court Streets involving the conversion of Bu ffalo St to one-way eastbound between Fulton and Meadow, and either converting Court St to one-way westbound or otherwise increasing westbound vehicular capacity, subject to further study and outreach as defined above. b) CIITAP / IDA Housing To: Planning and Economic Development Committee FROM: Jennifer Kusznir, Economic Development Planner DATE: August 13, 2020 RE: Review of the City of Ithaca Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP) The purpose of this memo is to provide information regarding a proposal to eliminate the City review process and to amend the boundaries for the Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP). In 2018 the City amended the criteria for CIITAP applications to include diversity, l ocal labor, and housing requirements. The Tompkins County IDA application also includes all of these criteria. The IDA’s workforce housing policy addresses the concerns that were raised by the Common Council; however, it does not match the requirements or the incentives that were established in the Council resolution. This inconsistency is confusing and can result in project delays for applicants. Currently, an applicant must first complete the City application, which includes a public information session and a review by the CIITAP committee (the Mayor, the Director of Planning and Development, and the Director of Community Development for the IURA). Once this process is complete and the applicant receives an endorsement from the City, the applicant mus t begin the IDA process, which include an application, a public hearing, and review by the IDA. This process is complicated and unnecessarily confusing and creates an opportunity for inconsistencies between the two reviewing bodies. There are two options to address this problem. The first is to have the City notify the IDA that it endorses any projects in the density district that meet our criteria and then just eliminate the City application process. Applicants would then go directly to the IDA for tax abatements and the IDA would acknowledge the City’s endorsement of all projects that have met our stated criteria. Since the IDA has adopted policies that address the issues that have been identified by the Common Council, there is not a need to have these issues also addressed by the City. Alternatively, if the City wishes to retain some portion of the review process, then staff recommends simplifying the application to only include the original criteria of location, density, size, and municipal compl iance. In addition to changes to the application process staff is also recommending that the Common Council consider amending the boundaries of the City density district. In 2018 the boundary was expanded to include the waterfront districts, except for the Cherry Street District. However, the portion of the Cherry Street District north of Cecil Malone is zoned for mixed use development and there is development interest in this area, but the high cost of construction makes these projects challenging. In order to support these projects and allow for the development of this area, staff recommends expanding to the City density district to include the portion of the Cherry Street district north of Cecil Malone Drive. Enclosed for your consideration is a d raft resolution to amend the City CIITAP. For your reference I have also enclosed the IDA policies for workforce housing, local labor, and diversity and inclusion. If you have any concerns or questions regarding this information, feel free to contact me at 274-6410. Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting Chair Murtagh provided a summary of what is being asked about this. Alderperson Fleming asked for clarification as to whether the IDA can follow their own regulations even though the City has their own. Chair Murtagh stated that it is possible that the IDA can make their own decision. 8/13/2020 Draft Resolution—Expansion of the Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program Boundaries and Amendment to the City CIITAP Process Alderperson Lewis moved to separate the resolutions; s econded by Alderperson Smith. Carried unanimously. 1. WHEREAS, in 2017, the City reviewed the Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP) in order to identify criteria that the City felt were important for approving projects for tax abatements, and 2. WHEREAS, in 2018, the Common Council amended the CIITAP process to add requirements for diversity, local labor, and workforce housing, and 3. WHEREAS, the current CIITAP process requires an applicant to complete the City application and meet the minimum criteria for location, density, size, municipal compliance, diversity, local labor, and workforce housing, and once an endorsement is received they must begin the application process for the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and 4. WHEREAS, given that the IDA application has similar requirements for diversity, local labor, and workforce housing, which addresses all of the issues that Council identified, it is redundant and confusing for applicants to have two similar processes, and 5. WHEREAS, since the IDA is the agency that administers and monitors tax abatements, the City acknowledges that they are the appropriate body to set any criteria that requires ongoing monitoring, and a simplified application process will be beneficial to applicants and to the City, and 6. WHEREAS, in 2018, the City amended the boundary of the City density district, which is the required location for projects to be located within in order to apply to CIITAP process, and 7. WHEREAS, the amended boundary included all of the newly created waterfront zoning districts, with the exception of the Cherry Street District, and Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting 8. WHEREAS, the portion of the Cherry Street District north of Cecil Malone is zoned for mixed use development and there is development interest in this area, but the high cost of construction makes these projects challenging, therefore, be it now 1. RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council amends the City Density District to include the portion of the Cherry Street zoning district north of Cecil A Malone Drive, and be it further 2. RESOLVED, the City of Ithaca Common Council understands that the City’s Community Incentive Investment Tax Abatement Program continues to be a vital tool to encourage density in the City’s Density District, and be it further 3. RESOLVED, that the City acknowledges that the IDA tax abatement application includes similar criteria for local labor, diversity, and workforce housing, and in order to reduce confusion and eliminate redundancy, the City hereby amends the CIITAP criteria to remove the housing, local labor, and diversity requirements and only retains criteria for location, density, size, and municipal compliance. Or 3. RESOLVED, that the City acknowledges that the IDA tax abatement application includes similar criteria for local labor, diversity, and workforce housing, and in order to reduce confusion and eliminate redundancy, the City hereby requests that the IDA application include density, location, size, and municipal compliance requirements for any City projects, and he reby eliminates the City application process for tax abatement requests. Chair Murtagh stated if we go back to the simpler CIITAP. Alderperson McGonigal stated that it is very important to maintain the affordable housing requirement and the local labor requirements. He doesn’t think the IDA cares as much as the City. Alderperson Lewis stated that Ann Coreman is now a member of the IDA as is she, which are very much in favor of the use of local labor. Alderperson Brock stated she is very reluctant to give these up just to move this forward. Alderperson Fleming asked what it means to a developer to have the City’s endorsement if they’ll get it from the IDA. They don’t need it to get the tax abatement. Chair Murtagh stated in order for them to get the abatement it has to meet all the City requirements. Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting Chair Murtagh stated he is hearing some reluctance to approve this. He further stated that some of these developers are not experienced in building affordable housing. Chair Murtagh asked whether this could be done tonight or shall we give it more time for us as well as the IDA. It was decided to table this for another month to give Heather McDaniel more input. Chair Murtagh asked how the committee feels about expanding the boundary limits. Alderperson Brock is not in favor of it. Planning Director JoAnn Cornish asked Jennifer Kusznir and/or Alderperson McGonigal if they remember how and/or why the boundary limits were set as they are. Both Kusznir and McGonigal agreed that we were looking for some more mixed use in that area. Alderperson Lewis is in favor of expanding the boundary. She moved to add an amendment to increase the boundary limit to north of Cecil Malone Drive. Seconded by Alderperson Smith. Failed 2-3. Residential use will not be available south of Cecil Malone. Alderperson McGonigal added that in his opinion it will be difficult to allow light industry use south of Celine B. Malone. Alderperson Brock added that railroad train cars will soon be stored in the Ithaca rail yard which is south of Cecil B. Malone Drive. Alderperson Lewis stated that land in this area is significantly less than in the core of the City. c) Black Diamond Trail Trailhead in Cass Park To: Planning & Economic Development Committee From: Tim Logue, Director of Engineering Date: June 26, 2020 Re: Black Diamond Trail trailhead in Cass Park The New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservations (State Parks) adopted a master plan for the Black Diamond Trail (BDT) in 2008. The first phase of construction has been complete for a few years from Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park. It is a wonderful asset and has proven to be extremely popular. More recently, State Parks has expressed an interest in building a Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting trailhead at the southern end where the BDT meets the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park. State Parks proposes to be fully responsible for construction and ongoing maintenance of the area, which is otherwise on City parkland. State Parks is planning for construction in 2021. The Board of Public Works recommended approval of this item in March. Please find attached the following materials for your review and approval: • Preliminary design drawings showing the context, site plan and renderings for the trailhead • A draft agreement with State Parks clarifying the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the trailhead • A resolution for Common Council to approve the project and to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement with State Parks (or a substantially similar agreement should there be any final edits based on final reviews by State Parks, the City attorney’s office, DPW staff or the Ithaca Youth Bureau). Alderperson Lewis asked for clarification on the parking spaces near the children’s garden. Tim Logue stated that that area is not impacted in any way. Alderperson Brock added that these new amendments will be funded by NYS Parks. The City is allowing it to happen. Moved by Alderperson Lewis; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. Resolution to Enter into an Agreement with New York State for the Black Diamond Trail trailhead in Cass Park WHEREAS, in 2008, the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) adopted a Master Plan for the Black Diamond Trail, including environmental review in accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review act; WHEREAS, State Parks has submitted a plan for a trailhead in Cass Park for the Black Diamond Trail ; and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works recommended approval of the trailhead and associated agreement at their March 2020 meeting, and Approved at the January 20, 2021 PEDC Meeting WHEREAS, City Code Chapter 170 “Use of City Real Property” vests in the Common Council sole authority to grant approval of any agreement to make nontransitory use of City parkland, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby finds that State Parks’ proposal to construct and maintain the Black Diamond Trail trailhead supports the broader public recreational activities in Cass Park and for the State’s Black Diamond trail; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves an agreement with State Parks to this end and authorizes the Mayor to execute such an agreement in consultation with the City Attorney. 5) Review and Approval of Minutes a) March 2020 Moved by Alderperson Brock as amended; seconded by Alderperson Smith. Carried unanimously. 6) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Fleming; seconded by Alderperson Smith. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.