HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Correspondence 1959 •
FREDERICK B. BRYANT
ATTORNEY AT LAW
.SAVINGS BANK BUILDING
• . ITHACA, N. Y.
•
TELEPHONE 3339
September, 10, 1959
•
Mr. Harry Gordon
1117 Trumansburg Road •
Ithaca, New York
Dear Harry:
- I have already written you my general comments
on the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
concerning Designed Business Use. In view of the fact
that I represent Mr. George Ideman who has been attempt-
ing for some time to have his property re-zoned for
commercial purposes I would like to supplement that
.letter by a comment with reference to that particular'
area. -
•
4 Mr. Ideman' s property is presently zoned in A-1
residential. It is my understanding that this zoning
classification was originally put ih the ordinance on
the theory that it would be easier to downgrade the
area rather than upgrade it. Mfr. *Ideman is surrounded
in general by a cemetery, the breeding barns of the •
Artificial Breeders Cooperative and a large vacant
tract of land. Residential properties are located at:
a considerable distance from this area. .
It is our position that present zoning of this
property .as A-1 residential is confiscatory. It freezes
Mr. Ideman' s property into a classification from which he
can expect to get no use. The only feasible use of the
Ideman property is for commercial- purposes and since -the •
zoning' law does not permit him to make such use of It;
.they are in effect taking away his property 'without due
processof law. It is no- answer to say that he can continue
the nonconforming use that exists there. In the event that
business becomes unprofitable it does not help him any if he
' cannot change to another form of commercial use.
We have no objection to the theory behind the Designed
Business Use amendment. We do, however, point out that it
is so stringent in its terms as to in effect prevent the
effective development of the Ideman property and from that
point of view we object to it. Without in any way being
. >' personal I have the distinct feeling that the entire amend-
ment was written with Mr. Ideman' s prime problem pushed off
to one side and considered only from the point of view of
the criticism which have been leveled at some of his oper-
ations.
Mr. Harry Gordon -2- September 10, 1959
•
•
I am writing this letter on his behalf to point out
that Mr. Ideman is very sincere in his attempts to have
his property rezoned in such a manner that it can be prop-
erly developed as commercial property. In doing this he
does not intend or desire to create any s situation such as
exists in other parts of the Ithaca community. He does,
however, object, to the imposition of unreasonable burdens
on this development and it is our opinion that the proposed
amendment will create such burdens.
• Very truly yours,
FREDERICK B. BRYANT
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