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Home My WebLink AboutMN-PLED-2014-10-08Minutes Approved at November 12, 2014 P&EDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, October 8, 2014 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Graham Kerslick, Cynthia Brock, Josephine Martell and Ellen McCollister Committee Members Absent: None Other Elected Officials Attending: Alderpersons Donna Fleming and George McGonigal; Mayor Svante Myrick Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Department of Planning, Building, Zoning, and Economic Development; Jennifer Kusznir, Senior Economic Development Planner; and Ari Lavine, City Attorney Others Attending: Bruce Stoff, Director, Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review There were no changes to the agenda. 2) Special Order of Business a) Public Hearing – Revisions to Noise Ordinance Alderperson Kerslick moved to open the public hearing; seconded by Alderperson McCollister. Passed unanimously. Simon Wheeler, of Ithaca, New York spoke on the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. He noted a number of concerns which were received via email and were read into the public record by Chair Murtagh and are attached here as part of the minutes. Rajit Manohar, East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York spoke on the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. His comments, which noted a number of his concerns, were received via email and read into the public record by Chair Murtagh and are attached here as part of the minutes. Minutes Approved at November 12, 2014 P&EDC Meeting Barbara Lantz, 411 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York spoke on the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. Her concerns were received via email and read into the public record by Chair Murtagh and are attached here as part of the minutes. Benjamin Piekut and Ann Lewandowski, 417 East Seneca Street, spoke in opposition of the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. Their comments were received via email and read into the public record by Chair Murtagh and are attached here as part of the minutes. Matthew Clark, 419 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York spoke in opposition of the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. His comments were received via email and read into the public record by Chair Murtagh and are attached here as part of the minutes. Julie Newhouse, 204 Ridgedale Road, Ithaca, New York spoke in opposition of the revisions to the Noise Ordinance. Alderperson Kerslick moved to close the public hearing; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Passed unanimously. Special Presentation – Local Hotel Market b) "Bruce XX, of the Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau, provided a power point presentation on the economic conditions and hotel room inventory of the hospitality industry in the city, which is attached hereto as a part of the minutes." Bruce Stoff, Tompkins County Visitors Bureau, provided the Committee with a presentation on the subject of the local hotel market. A copy of this report is attached to these minutes. 3) Public Comment and Response from Committee Members Walter Hang, 218 Waite Avenue, spoke in opposition to the Cornell Heights Rezoning. He read from his written comments which are also attached to these minutes. Bill Demo, 121 Heights Court, spoke in opposition to the Cornell Heights Rezoning. Michael Decatur, 125 Heights Court, spoke in opposition of the Cornell Heights Rezoning. Catherine Penner, 121 Kelvin Place, spoke in opposition of the Cornell Heights Rezoning. 4) Announcements, Updates, and Reports a) Noise Ordinance Reform b) CIITAP Review 5) Action Items – Approval to Circulate a) Cornell Heights Rezoning Minutes Approved at November 12, 2014 P&EDC Meeting Moved by Alderperson Kerslick; seconded by Alderperson Martell. Passed unanimously. To: Planning and Economic Development Committee From: Jennifer Kusznir, Economic Development Planner Date: September 30, 2014 Re: Proposal to Amend R-U Zoning District The purpose of this memo is to provide information regarding a proposal to make amendments to the RU Zoning District. For several months a working group of Common Council, Planning, and Building Staff members has been meeting to discuss the RU Zoning District. Recent development proposals have highlighted the fact that the allowable build out according to the existing zoning is in conflict with the desire to maintain the historic qualities and existing character of this neighborhood. This particular district, unlike Ithaca’s other historic districts, was developed as a planned “residence park,” with significant amounts of informal landscaping and green space in the Romantic tradition, intentionally included around its substantial homes to create a unique neighborhood identity and is zoned as a low density neighborhood in the new comprehensive plan. The working group has begun to identify use and area requirements for responsibly developing the area that will uphold these intents and preserve these important qualities. The following amendments in red are the proposed amendments to the RU Zoning District: General Intent The intent of the amendments to the RU Zoning District are to allow for future development that will preserve the open space, park like character and historic quality of the existing neighborhood and will create a natural transition to the adjacent R-2b Zoning District. Permitted Primary Uses 1. One-family detached, semi-detached or attached dwelling. 2. Any use permitted in R-1 and R-2. Permitted Uses 3-8 are restricted to 1 every 500’ 3. Multiple dwelling. CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street — 3rd Floor Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 DPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOANN CORNISH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT PHYLLISA A. DeSARNO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Telephone: Planning & Development – 607-274-6550 Community Development/IURA – 607-274-6559 Email: dgrunder@cityofithaca.org Email: iura@cityofithaca.org Fax: 607-274-6558 Fax: 607-274-6558 Minutes Approved at November 12, 2014 P&EDC Meeting 4. Rooming or boardinghouse. 5. Cooperative household. 6. Fraternity, sorority or group house. 7. Dormitory. 8. Townhouse or garden apartment housing. By Special Permit of Board of Appeals: 9. Uses 5-7 under R-1 * 10. Nursery school, child day care center. 11. Bed and Breakfast Homes and Inns. * Cemetery and Related Building, Public Utility Structures, except offices, All School and Related Buildings) Minimum Lot Size Area in Square Feet 1. One-family detached dwelling: 10,000 2. One-family semi-detached or two-family dwelling: 15,000. 3. One-family attached dwelling: 16,500 for first 1-3 units plus 1,500 for each additional unit. 4. Multiple dwelling: 16,500 for first 1-3 units +1,500 for each additional unit. 5. Fraternity, sorority or group house: 30,000 (was 25,000). 6. Other uses: 30,000 (was 10,000). Width in Feet at Street Line 1. One-family detached dwelling: 75. 2. One-family semi-detached or two-family dwelling: 100. 3. One-family attached dwelling: 125. 4. Multiple dwelling: 125. 5. Fraternity, sorority or group house: 125. 6. Other uses: 125 (was 75). Maximum Building Height Number of Stories- 3 (was 4). Height in Feet – 40. Maximum Percent Lot Coverage by Buildings Lot Coverage 25% (was 30%). 50% of the developable lot area, after the required setbacks have been calculated must be retained as green space. Yard Dimensions Front Required Minimum - 25’ Side Minimum – 10’ Other Side Minimum – 10’ Rear Minimum – 50’ or at least 25%, but not less than 30’ If the Committee is in agreement with this concept, staff will circulate a concept memo and will return next month with any comments that are received. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 274-6410. Minutes Approved at November 12, 2014 P&EDC Meeting 6) Discussion a) Housing and Development in Ithaca Alderperson Kerslick mentioned he would like the City to look at owner-occupied housing losing out to rentals because it is so lucrative. Change zoning in the R1 and R2 to owner-occupied only with an allowance for accessory apartments. This will enable healthy mix of renters and owner occupied. JoAnn Cornish stated there are a number of other areas or topics in the works. To name a few: Collegetown construction is on the increase, we are looking at a parking system for all of Bell Sherman and Collegetown. Maintaining communication between the Board of Public Works (BPW), TCAT, and Collegetown business owners is crucial. Permanent pedestrian routes are also being discussed. 7) Review and Approval of Minutes a) September 2014 The September 2014 will not available for review. They will be voted on at the next meeting. 8) Adjournment