HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2000-10-19COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 6:30 p.m. October 19, 2000
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Alderpersons: (9)Pryor, Manos, Sams, Farrell, Blumenthal,
Vaughan, Spielholz, Glasstetter, Hershey
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney - Schwab
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Taylor
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the American Flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Resolution to Create Clinton/Cleveland Neighborhood Park
By Alderperson Farrell: Seconded by Alderperson Manos
WHEREAS, the creation of a neighborhood park between
Cleveland Avenue and West Clinton Street would provide
public benefits including:
Ensuring an attractive and productive use of vacant
residentially-zoned land,
Improving quality of life for neighborhood residents by
providing a place to relax and recreate,
Preserving and enhancing property values in a historically
significant residential neighborhood by buffering it from
traffic, noise, and visual impacts of the dense commercial
area along Meadow Street, and
WHEREAS, anticipated development in the southwest area of
the City is expected to cause increased traffic on West
Clinton and Meadow Streets which could cause further visual,
noise, and other negative impacts for this residential
neighborhood, and
WHEREAS, since 1991, the Parks Commission has discussed the
need for a neighborhood park in this area of the City, and
WHEREAS, an attractive park would improve the overall
appearance and atmosphere of the City; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council endorses the creation of a
park on residentially zoned land that has become or may
become vacant as described in the document entitled
“Proposal to Create Clinton/Cleveland Neighborhood Park”,
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council directs staff in the Planning
and Development Department, in conjunction with the City
Attorney’s Office, to prepare maps, conduct an environmental
assessment, obtain an appraisal of properties, detailed
construction costs, and proceed with any and all other work
necessary to move forward on the creation of this park.
October 19, 2000
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Proposal to Create Clinton/Cleveland Neighborhood Park
Public Purposes Served:
Ensure that land converted from residential to vacant
lots assumes attractive, productive used and appearance,
rather than becoming an eyesore or hazard.
Provide a place for neighborhood adults and children to
relax and recreate. (Closest parks are Washington Park
and Wood Street Park, which serve their respective
neighborhoods well, but are too far away to serve this
neighborhood).
Preserve and enhance property values in this neighborhood
where the City and INHS have spent a substantial amount
of money over the past decade for housing improvements,
lighting, and traffic calming.
Enhance the overall appearance of Ithaca.
Buffer neighborhood from traffic noise from
Fulton/Clinton/Meadow intersection.
Buffer neighborhood from noise from the “talking
crosswalk” at Fulton/Clinton/Meadow intersection
Buffer neighborhood from noise from Maguire Ford outdoor
paging speakers.
Buffer neighborhood from air pollution (vehicular exhaust
from 40,000+ vehicles/day, dust from heavy truck braking,
other particulate matter)
Buffer neighborhood from visual impacts of commercial
uses along Route 13: e.g., commercial lighting (Wegmans,
Maguire Ford, etc.), heavy vehicular traffic.
Park Location and Boundaries:
The park will be created using property that is vacant and
residentially zoned. On Cleveland Avenue: starting at 66’
east of Meadow Street (existing commercial/residential
boundary) and extending to a depth of 133’ along Cleveland
Avenue. On Clinton Street: Starting at 66’ east of Meadow
Street (existing commercial/residential boundary) and
extending to a depth of 166’ along Clinton Street.
Property to Include in Park: (see map)
Address Tax Parcel # Dimension Assessed
Value
225 Cleveland 79.-5-2 66x122(8,052) $18,700
No Street # 79.5-5-25.2 34x50 (1,700) 7,200
628 W Clinton 79.-5-23 33x122(4,026) 11,200
626 W Clinton 79.-5-22 33,122(4,026) 15,800
Total Sq. Feet (17,804)
Total Assessed Value: $52,900
In the event that any other similar residential and
conveniently located property should become vacant or
otherwise available, the proposed park area would be subject
to expansion.
Use and Design of Park:
The park will be planted with low-maintenance deciduous and
evergreen trees and bushes to create a quiet neighborhood
greenspace. An 8-foot high, sound-deadening fence along the
commercial/residential boundary, and thick vegetation just
east of fence, will help buffer the residential neighborhood
from the adjacent commercial area along Meadow Street.
Park features will include a small playground; decorative,
human-scale lighting (as along Cleveland Avenue); several
October 19, 2000
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benches; flowerbeds and lawn. A paved walkway will run
between Cleveland Avenue and West Clinton Street. The park
may eventually connect with greenspace in the new Clinton-
West CVS, and along Six Mile Creek.
Estimated Cost of Construction
Light fixtures (same as on Cleveland) $12,500 – 17, 500
5-7 fixtures at $2,500 each
(cost includes unit and installation)
Paved path, approximately 6’ wide, $ 2,684
Minimum 244 feet in length (distance
From Cleveland to Clinton) at $11 per
Linear foot
Benches, standard concrete $ 1,200
6 at $200/unit
Prefabricated playground, small $25,000 – 30,000
Plantings and groundcover
(including 2-1/2” caliper trees) $ 7,500 – 10,000
Fence (8’ high, wood, soundproofed) $10,200 - 20,000
Total Estimated Construction Cost $59,084 – 81,384
Maintenance:
Neighbors (Southside Civic Association) will help with
planting and maintenance in conjunction with DPW.
Alderperson Farrell reviewed the proposal and thanked
members of Council, City staff, the Mayor, and community
members for attending this meeting and helping to create
this proposal.
Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding
conceptual approval of the proposal, the creation of a
project, and the possibility of project inclusion in the
2001 budget.
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Farrell: Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan
RESOLVED, That the following Resolved clauses be added to
the end of the Resolution:
“RESOLVED, That Common Council intends to include in the
fiscal year 2001 budget, a capital project of an amount not
to exceed $150,000 to achieve the above stated goal, and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council approves an amount not to
exceed $1,500 to be moved from unrestricted contingency to
Account A8020-5435 of the Planning Department budget to seek
independent appraisals on these properties.
Carried Unanimously
Alderperson Manos requested estimates on annual maintenance
of the proposed park.
Alderperson Pryor noted that this project could turn into a
connection to other greenway spaces.
Main Motion as Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
October 19, 2000
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ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 P.M.
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Alan J. Cohen,
City Clerk Mayor