HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1988-03-23COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS 71
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 7:00 P.M. March 23, 1988
PRESENT:
Mayor Gutenberger
Alderpersons (9) - Booth, Cummings, Johnson, Killeen, Nichols,
Hoffman, Peterson, Romanowski, Schlather (arrived
at 7:40 p.m.)
ABSENT:
Alderperson Lytel (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Paolangeli
Planning $ Development Director - Van Cort
Historic Preservation /Neighborhood Planner - Chatterton
.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Gutenberger led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag.
Ln Mayor Gutenberger explained the purpose of the Special Council
Nq meeting and handed out letters from Catherine Penner, President
Lo of the Cornell Heights Neighborhood Association and John
Burness, Vice President, Cornell University.
CO Mayor Gutenberger stated that at a meeting on March 21, the
Q Cornell Heights Neighborhood Association passed a resolution
asking Common 'ouncil to request from the State of New York
a three montl, ostponement of the upcoming hearing for historic
designation of the Cornell Heights neighborhood. Cornell
University is also requesting a postponement to allow the
neighborhood and the University to continue the discussions.
He further stated that he called the Common Council meeting
tonight to request concurrence with the neighborhood and
the University request for a three month postponement.
Barbara Ebert, Director of Historic Ithaca of Tompkins County,
stated that while she applauds the Cornell Heights Neighborhood
Association and Cornell University in their efforts to discuss
their respective short and long term plans for the Cornell
Heights neighborhood, she must also respectfully submit that
the issue of designation of a Historic District does not
relate to the zoning and planning concerns that the community
and Cornell University are in discussion about.
She stated that if one is to use historic designation as
a zoning or planning tool, one in effect perverts the nature
of the case. She feels very strongly that if one says that
the neighborhood is eligible to be on the National Register
of Historic Places, then it is eligible and if one says that
it is not eligible, then again it is not eligible. If one
says we're going to discuss whether or not we want to put
it on there because we have some zoning and planning concerns
then that is an entirely separate and distinct issue. Even
though she understands the rationale of both parties bringing
this before Council she encouraged Council to think about
what is being said by this action.
Richard Penner, 121 Kelvin Place, stated to Council that
the neighborhood . strongly supports in every way the City's
proposal for a historic designation. The neighborhood is
very impressed with the work and professionalism that went
into the report and hopes it goes forward. But there are
other concerns as well in the neighborhood. The neighborhood's
hope is that a postponement will allow this proposal to go
forward and that when it does Cornell will withdraw its
opposition to it.
72
-2- March 23, 1988
John Burness, Vice President for University Relations, Cornell
University, stated that there has been a series of meetings
between Cornell and the officers of the Civic Association and
perhaps for the first time there is an opportunity to address
some very important long standing issues between the University
and its direct neighbors.
Mr. Burness stressed the point that according to reports
the University has received, a request for a delay at this
time to allow these discussion to proceed would have no pre-
judicial effect as viewed by the State Board. He thinks
it is possible with additional discussions with the Civic
Association and with the City that we can find a way to strike
some agreements that would have long term implications and
commitments in terms. of the University's development in
and around the Cornell Heights area.
_Joseph Ballantyne, 116 Kelvin Place, Vice President of the
Civic Association, spoke to Council in favor of the postpone-
ment on historic designation. He stated that the vote of
the Civic Association was based on two major points. The
first was the association's judgment that a three month post-
ponement would not prejudice the case either way when it
comes up in Albany. The second is the assessment of the
,i_,ighborhood that it is possible that the discussions that
take place in that interim could achieve some goals
which go substantially beyond those that might be achieved
through the historic designation.
Resolution
Request for a 90 -Day Postponement of Hearing on the Designation
of Cornell Heights as a State Historic District
By Alderperson Killeen: Seconded by Alderperson Romanowski
RESOLVED, That this Common Council requests a 90 -day postpone-
ment of the hearing on Designation of Cornell Heights as
a State Historic District.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Booth stated that he is puzzled as to why Cornell
sees a significant advantage in delaying this process and
that he is also puzzled by what the neighborhood sees the
State designation is going to achieve. His understanding
of the state designation is that it has relevance only in
terms of state actions which involve State agencies spending
money and building things and giving permits, etc. However,
he is not opposed to the delay.
Ms. Chatterton responded that what we are talking about is
State and National registration as it affects projects funded,
licensed or proposed by any State or Federal agency. Those
projects have to undergo a review process similar to the environ-
mental review process, the results of which are not necessarily
binding . it's a process which provides for expression of
mitigating measures.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
Mayor Gutenberger stated that it is important to point out to
the Association and to Cornell University that if there was
an agreement locally, including Council and the Landmarks
Preservation Commission as far as any change in boundaries,
the State is not bound by any agreements that might be arrived
at locally. The area has to rise and fall on its own historic
merit.
Alderperson Nichols stated that he sees no harm in a three
month delay. However, he believes that if it is a historic
district it should Gtand nr fai -1 o- its own merits ncco -ding;
to the study that was done.
19
-3- March 23, 1988
Mayor Gutenberger stated for the record that the State, on
the City's behalf, put a lot of time and effort into this
matter. They are prepared to make the presentation. The
concern is that we have the State staff go through all
this and then we postpone it. The person that he spoke with
at the State office today said that concern should not be
a City concern. They have done their work and a three month
postponement is not going to change the amount of work they
have already done. The State office has an application and
documented opposition so that anything that was done locally
to reduce the opposition would be welcome to the State. Finally,
in regards to the postponement, the quote was "there is absolutely
nothing at stake and the City is not at risk in asking for
a postponement."
Alderperson Cummings thanked the Mayor, Cornell and the Neighbor-
hood Association for coming together for discussions on this
issue. She stated however, that she believes that the neighbor-
hood would be in the strongest position by going for nomination
based on the historic merits of the structure. She further
LD stated that she would be voting against the resolution for
d- postponement based on past experience in dealing with Cornell.
LO She believes that the historic preservation merits of that
district stand on their own. Request for designation by
the neighborhood and by the City is not an adversarial action
M but a long over -due prudent pursuit and she supports it.
Q She feels the neighborhood would be in the strongest position
to designate it as it has been professionally recommended
and then neg::; ate.
Alderperson Hoffman expressed concern that neither representa-
tive from the Sth Ward have been involved in the process.
He stated that he was also disappointed that there has not
been a chance for the Landmark Preservation Commission to
render an opinion on the proposed postponement as that group
has worked very hard on this designation and would have a
lot to say about what is being proposed tonight. He feels
the City is being asked to take a step back from a process
that had a certain amount of momentum. He stated the City
would be in a much better position to negotiate and bargain
once we have the State designation.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson 'teen stated for the record that in voting
to accomoda d accede to the neighborhood wishes, he
feels no pry;. at is being established in anyway to under-
cut the histori,: designation process as it applies to other
neighborhoods of the city or as it will be applied and is
being applied. He stated he is curious as to what the essence
of the discussions will be in this neighborhood. It should
not be, by any means, at the expense of other neighborhoods
in the City. fie will support this motion but he is concerned
about the implications of it and could have to reverse his
position at some point in the future if certain indications
begin to arise.
The question of
the foregoing
resolution was duly
put to
a roll call vote
which resulted as follows:
Nichols -
Aye
Johnson
- Aye
Romanowski -
Aye
Killeen
- Aye
Hoffman -
Nay
Schlather
- Nay
Peterson -
Aye
Cummings
- Nay
Booth -
Aye
Ayes (6)
Nays (3)
Carried
73
74 -4- March 23, 1988
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
Callista F. Paolangeli.
City Clerk
fGutenberge
ohn C.
May