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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2020-11-18 Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, November 18, 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: Mayor Svante Myrick; Alderpersons George McGonigal and Ducson Nguyen Other Elected Officials Attending: None Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Planning and Development Department; Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development Department; Jennifer Kusznir, Senior Planner; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Collegetown Innovation Project Group Members: Kathryn Wolf, Phil Proujansky, Herman Sieverding, John Novarr, and Arvind Tikku Tim Logue, Engineering; Nick Goldsmith, Sustainability Coordinator; Donal Fitterer, Cycle CNY Rep; and Connor Logue 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. Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting 2) Public Comment Chair Murtagh read into record comments from Theresa Alt and Teresa Halpert regarding CIITAP. Those comments are included in these minutes. Ann Sullivan thanked all who have continued to work in these challenging times. She suggests taking our time, weighing all the benefits, and hold out for all you can get. The housing included in the project should be ‘workforce’ housing close to where people work. 3) Special Order of Business a) Public Hearing – Dogs on the Commons Alderperson Brock moved to open the public hearing; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. One comment was read into the record and is attached to these minutes. Alderperson Smith moved to close the public hearing; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried unanimously. b) Presentation – Collegetown Innovation District Planned Unit Development (PUD) – Application Link https://www.cityofithaca.org/DocumentCenter/View/11979/20201104-Collegetown- Innovation-District-PUD-Application- Katherine Wolf, Trowbridge, Wolf, & Michaels Landscape Architects, presented this project to the committee which can be accessed at the above link. The project consists of five (5) sites and are identified as Dryden Center, The Nines, Catherine Summit, Catherine North, and Catherine South. The project proposed is to be a minimum of 720,355 square feet with construction to begin in Fall 2021 and continue through Winter 2025. The breakdown of the square footage consists of 440 housing units, 73,424 square feet of commercial office space, and 33,312 square feet of retail space. High-tech industrial space and community space are also planned. Ikon.5 is the project architect, TWMLA is the landscape architect, T.G. Miller, P.C. is the civil engineer, and John G. Stopen Engineering, LLP is the geotechnical engineer. After the presentation came questions from the Committee: Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting Alderperson Lewis thanked the project team for their presentation. She asked what outreach has been done with the neighborhoods. John Novarr joined the conversation. He stated that there are definite plans to discuss and present the plan to the neighborhoods. Th e team wanted to present it to the City first. Alderperson Fleming asked about the 360 jobs in addition to construction jobs available from this project. Phil Proujansky provided the team’s thinking as to the jobs created. Most jobs will be mostly technology business or tech-savvy type jobs. Our goal is to have people live and work in some of the same buildings. Alderperson Fleming further questioned why the height of the building has been changed from the beginning of the project. Proujansky stated that it is an open floor plate building. We are at a higher height limitation. We are trying to digital startup. There are a number of companies that we work with that we think will be perfect for the location. Alderperson Brock asked how the project group will target family housing such as playgrounds, etc. Will they be for sale? Proujansky stated the first two projects, Catherine North and South, are mostly graduate student housing. Catherine Summit (the big building) is a mixed-use building. They would love to see families take advantage of this area. They are still in the works on creating the vision on exactly how that building will function. There has been some reluctance from families in recent years to live on College Avenue. Alderperson Brock further stated she is still very interested in how all this will be accomplished. Alderperson Lewis asked about the amount of student housing. Where or what is the assessment of the need for more student housing since Cornell has a number of projects in the works for student housing? Proujansky clarified that Lewis is referring specifically to Catherine North and South not the entire project. There are roughly 440 units which are a mix of unit types. Alderperson Fleming asked what we would say to those who want to keep our small, charming City the same. Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting Proujansky stated with the form-based zoning that is currently in place, it is already set up for two-story development. There are already tall structures that exist. We are providing public amenities for people to enjoy for a long time. Alderperson Lewis stated she certainly understands the challenge of changing what has always been. It seems as though you are anticipating young, tech-savvy individuals which makes me believe this just might be rental housing rather than purchasable property. Proujansky stated he doesn’t have a clear answer for that. As for parking, what we have noticed is that there has been a revolution that young adults are not using cars like they once did. The cars are stored outside of the dense area of Collegetown. John Novarr stated we have far more parking spaces for Collegetown Terrace that are being utilized. Everything is getting a bit greener. We also have a bus service to campus, Wegmans, etc. This shuttle could also be used by this project. Alderperson Nguyen stated there is a lot of things he likes about this project. The street scape is beautiful. The work of the architects is top notch. His concerns are the jobs that are assumed will not be available. Proujansky stated they are not seeking an abatement. He and John have been doing this for a very long time. We are bringing these companies here because we have done it before. Chair Murtagh stated he received a letter from the Historic Ithaca as to their concern of the demolition debris and where it will go. Herman Sieverding stated he has already in contact with them. We have been working with Diane Cohen, Ithaca ReUse, to salvage as must as possible. Alderperson Brock is in agreement with Murtagh and Nguyen regarding the housing development fund. She really needs to be convinced of job security. Parking is a concern. What is the assurance that residents won’t pay for a parking permit and just park in the near neighborhood? Alderperson Brock thanked for the comments. She further stated the original rationale for the PUD is to allow us to provide mixed uses. Katherine Wolf stated that there are two mixed-use buildings. Svante thanked the project team. It will be better. It will look better. This Common Council will work hard with you. He agrees with Alderperson Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting Fleming as to the change of Collegetown. It’s the best time of your life that you would want to do it again. Just because Collegetown is getting taller doesn’t mean it’s not of character. Alderperson Smith stated as an individual who has walked through Collegetown for eight years he’s reminded of the successes made there. Having a GreenStar grocery star is a huge plus. He is generally excited about this project. Alderperson McGonigal had a question for John Novarr. He is very disappointed that you won’t be keeping the Nines that you stated you would always keep. Is there any plan for a locally owned businesses and live music? John Novarr stated he didn’t have an answer at the moment. He believes that local businesses is the way to go. We always try to use local people. He’s a big fan of doing business with people he knows and has grown up with. The only restauranteur he has anything to do with is Sam Epps. He is as local as they come. Chair Murtagh asked for the next steps. The next steps would be a public information session and then back to this committee for more discussion and a vote. 4) Announcements, Update, Reports a) Energy Code Supplement (Green Building Policy) Nick Goldsmith stated that this is just an update before we jump right into the code language in December. He highlighted what was written in the memo. There will be three documents that will work together. The ordinance, the energy code supplement, and the codified Town code. Alderperson Brock thanked Goldsmith for this update. She would like to see the legislation rather than the summary. She would like to see everything in place when circulated for comment. 5) Action Items (Voting to Send onto Council) a) Resolution to Approve Entering into an Agreement with Cycle CNY for Mountain Bike Trails in Cass Park Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting Declaration to Act as Lead Agency for the Environmental Review of Cass Park Mountain Bike Trails - Resolution Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried unanimously. WHEREAS, State law and regulations and Section 176.6 of the City Code of the City of Ithaca require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of certain proposed actions, in accordance with applicable law, and WHEREAS, State regulations and the City Code specify that the lead agency shall be that agency which has primary responsibility for undertaking, approving or funding the action, and WHEREAS, the City is considering entering into an agreement with Cycle CNY to allow for the development of a short network of mountain trails in a portion of Cass Park (the Project); now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council does hereby declare itself Lead Agency for the environmental review of the Cass Park mountain bike trails project. Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance for the Cass Park Mountain Bike Trails Project – Resolution Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Smith. Carried unanimously. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is considering entering into an agreement with Cycle CNY to allow for the development of a small network of mountain bike trails in a portion of Cass Park (“the Project”); and WHEREAS, the Project has been classified as a Unclassified action in accordance with Section 176 of the City of Ithaca Code (CEQR) and also, in accordance with the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), and WHEREAS, in accordance with SEQR and CEQR, the Common Council has declared itself to be the lead agency for conducting environmental review of the Project, and WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, acting as Lead Agency, has reviewed the Short Environmental Assessment Form; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council, acting as lead agency in this matter, hereby determines in accordance with SEQR and CEQR that the Project will not have a significant effect on the environment, and that further environmental review is unnecessary, and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution constitutes notice of this negative declaration and requests that staff provide notice of the same to all involved and interested agencies. Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting Resolution to Approve Entering into an Agreement with Cycle CNY for Mountain Bike Trails in Cass Park Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Smith. Carried unanimously. WHEREAS, Cycle CNY and City staff have drafted an agreement to allow Cycle CNY to develop a portion of Cass Park with mountain bike trails, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works reviewed this proposal and recommended approval of it at their meeting on October 20, 2020, and WHEREAS, Common Council, acting as Lead Agency, has determined that the proposal will not have a significant negative environmental impact in accordance with the City Environmental Quality Review ordinance and the NYS Environmental Review Act, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council finds that Cycle CNY’s plan to construct and maintain mountain bike trails in a portion of Cass Park supports the broader public recreational activities in Cass Park; and be it further RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby approves an agreement with Cycle CNY to this end and authorizes the Mayor to execute such an agreement after further review by the City Attorney. It was decided that this should be circulated for comments. b) Dogs on the Commons November 18, 2020 An Ordinance Amending The Municipal Code Of The City Of Ithaca, Chapter 157, Entitled “Commons” To Allow for Leashed Dogs on the Primary Commons The ordinance to be considered shall be as follows: ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF ITHACA, CHAPTER 157, ENTITLED “COMMONS” TO ALLOW FOR LEASHED DOGS ON THE PRIMARY COMMONS Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting WHEREAS, Chapter 164-Article II of the City of Ithaca Code, “Dogs and Other Animals”, states that in all areas of the City it is illegal for dogs to not be restrained by an adequate collar and leash when not on private property, AND WHEREAS, Chapter 157, “Commons”, further states that on the primary Commons no animals are permitted without a special permit, with the exception of service animals providing assistance to people with special needs and police working dogs, and WHEREAS, because the primary Commons is the only place in the City of Ithaca where dogs are not permitted, many people are not aware of this rule and bring their dogs onto the Commons, and WHEREAS, this inconsistency with the rest of the City creates confusion among dog owners visiting the downtown area and makes it difficult to enforce any rules regarding dogs; now therefore, BE IT NOW ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca that Chapter 157 of the Municipal Code of the City of Ithaca, entitled “Commons”, is hereby amended as follows: Section 1. Chapter 157, Section 157-15A, be amended to read as follows: § 157-15. Dogs and other animals. A. No animals are allowed on the Primary Commons except by special permit. This provision does not apply to leashed dogs, as allowed by Chapter 164-Article II-“Dogs”, and any service animals providing assistance to people with special needs and police working dogs. Section 2. Severability. Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this local law. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this local law is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion. Section 3. Effective date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately and in accordance with law upon publication of notices as provided in the Ithaca City Charter. Approved at the June 16, 2021 PEDC Meeting 6) Review and Approval of Minutes a) June 2020 Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. 7) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.