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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019.01.23 PAB Final Minutes1 PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Old Jail Conference Room 125 E. Court Street, Ithaca NY 14850 FINAL MEETING MINUTES Members Attending: Guests: Deborah Dawson Call to Order: Chair Dave Herrick called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Agenda Review/Changes: None Draft Minutes Approval: Anna Kelles moved approval of the Dec. 12, 2018, minutes. Martha Armstrong seconded. Motion carried. Opening Remarks: Given the presence of a number of new members and guest Deborah Dawson, Legislator for District 10, everyone quickly introduced themselves. Gay Nicholson listened in via conference call but did not vote on any actions per PAB bylaws. Election of New Officers – Nominating Committee Action: Martha Armstrong made a motion, which Leslie Schill seconded, to re-elect David Herrick as chair and Rod Howe as vice chair. Motion carried. Introduction to Incremental Development Alliance work in Tompkins Co. in 2019 – David West The County is launching an initiative with the not-for-profit Incremental Development Alliance, or IncDev, which educates and guides small developers in how to bridge the “missing middle” of real estate development – e.g., buildings that fit somewhere between single family housing and large apartment buildings. Over the course of a year, IncDev will work closely with County Planning and Sustainability, municipalities, and local small developers. They will first advise on the Department’s infill analysis, then make four trips to Tompkins County for hands-on meetings and consulting, and wrap up with ongoing mentorship for small developers in the area. A large public presentation is scheduled for April, and in October IncDev consultants will perform a zoning and process “stress test” with municipal staff and officials at three locations around the County. Afterward they will “train the trainers” to teach County staff how to lead these stress tests moving forward.  Representation Name  Representation Martha Armstrong P Econ. Development C.J. Randall P Local Planning (non-urban) Joe Bowes E Housing Marcus Riehl E Natural Environment Tim Carey P Education #1 Monika Roth P Agriculture John Czamanske P At-Large Leslie Schill P Education #2 Fernando de Aragón E Transportation Kathy Schlather E Human Services Yamila Fournier P Built Environment Andy Zepp P Land Preservation/Public Land Mgmt. David Herrick P Facilities/Infrastructure Dooley Kiefer A Associate Member Rod Howe P Historical/Cultural Resources Others Present David Kay P Local Planning (urban) Scott Doyle P Associate Planner Anna Kelles P PDEQ Kristin McCarthy P Administrative Assistant G. Lincoln Morse E Business Megan McDonald P Deputy Commissioner *Gay Nicholson E At-Large David West P Senior Housing Planner 2 Consideration of Use of Capital Reserve Fund for Owego Creek Headwaters Project – Scott Doyle Scott Doyle asked the board to support the use of $15,000 from the County Capital Reserve Fund to assist the Finger Lakes Land Trust in purchasing a 24-acre portion of a parcel from a family farm in the Town of Caroline. The “Owego Creek Headwaters Project” would ensure the long-term protection of this property, which features wetlands and a habitat corridor within its boundaries. David Kay thought it important to clarify for the record why this project should be given higher priority than others that might benefit from such funding. Scott answered that it hits multiple eligibility criteria for the Capital Reserve Fund and is located within the County designated Natural Features Focus Area as well as an Agricultural Resource Focus Area. Action: Martha Armstrong made a motion to support a $15,000 investment from the Capital Reserve Fund for Natural, Scenic, and Recreation Resource Protection to support the Owego Creek Headwaters Project. Anna Kelles seconded. Motion carried (Andy Zepp abstained). Legislature Chair 2019 Message and Organizational Structure – Martha Robertson Martha Robertson shared highlights from her 2019 Chair’s Address to the Legislature as well as news on organizational changes to the Legislature’s reporting structure. She noted that the legislative committee formerly known as PDEQ has been split into two separate entities: the Housing and Economic Development (HED) committee and the Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality (PEEQ) committee. Anna will chair HED, and Deborah will serve as vice chair. For PEEQ, their roles will be reversed. Chair Robertson’s full address can be found on the Tompkins County Legislature webpage (http://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/legislature). Deputy Commissioner’s Report – Megan McDonald • Staff will bring a draft of the department’s 2019 Work Program to the February meeting for input. • Staff will send a poll to find a meeting time that better complements the scheduling of PEEQ and HED committee meetings, which will convene on the fourth Monday and Thursday, respectively. • Anna Kelles will continue to represent the Legislature on PAB, and her colleague Deborah Dawson will join the board as an associate member. Member Announcements/Reports • TCAD and Sciabarra Walker put together an Opportunity Zone workshop for developers, attorneys, and financial professionals. • On January 24 and February 4, Planning and Sustainability staff held workshops for municipalities, presenting two new grant programs and helping those seeking to connect with potential consultant. Materials regarding resources, opportunities, consultants, etc. are available on the department website. • On March 5th, the Tompkins County Agriculinary Tourism Workshop will be held at Hotel Ithaca. • City of Ithaca Department of Public Works plans to host a public meeting, most likely in April, on its Flood Mapping and Mitigation Study. • The North Campus Residential Expansion program is now in site plan review. Cornell is reaching out to municipal partners about making updates (e.g. pedestrian safety measures) to sections of Thurston Avenue and Pleasant Grove Road. Adjournment: Chair Dave Herrick declared the meeting adjourned at 10:34 am.