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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-12 Planning & EDC Meeting Agenda MEETING NOTICE City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, February 8, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street A. Agenda Review B. Special Order of Business C. Public Comment and Response from Committee Members D. Announcements, Updates and Reports 1. CDBG and HOME Programs Funding – Public Hearing Announcement – Hearing scheduled for March 22, 2012 2. Update on Projects a. Comprehensive Plan b. Commons Upgrade and Repair c. Collegetown – Next Steps 3. Landmarks Ordinance 4. Planning Department Priority List – Updated and Attached 5. Intermunicipal Planning Update E. Action Items 1. No Action Items F. Discussion Items 1. Response to Hydrofracking – Advice of Counsel G. Approval of Minutes H. Adjournment Questions about the agenda should be directed to Jennifer Dotson, Chairperson, (jdotson@cityofithaca.org or 351-5458) or to the appropriate staff person at the Department of Planning & Development (274-6550). Back-up material is available in the office of the Department of Planning & Development. Please note that the order of agenda items is tentative and subject to change. If you have a disability and require accommodations in order to fully participate, please contact the City Clerk at 274-6570 by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. COI User Page 1 2/3/2012 TO: Planning Committee of Common Council FROM JoAnn Cornish, Director of Planning and Development DATE: February 2, 2012 RE: Department of Planning and Development 2012 Priority Projects and Work Plan The Department of Planning & Development's 2012 Priority Projects and Work Plan are listed below for your information. A. Priority Projects – Planning 1. City Comprehensive Plan - Megan Wilson, Project Manager; Clarion Associates, Consultant ƒ Complete Phase One Umbrella Plan (Phase 2 being detailed neighborhood and thematic plans). 2. Dredging - Lisa Nicholas, Project Manage; EcoLogic, Consultant ƒ Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Completed ƒ Complete Final Environmental Impact Statement – In Progress ƒ Complete Construction Documents and Specifications ƒ Construct Sedimentation Basins ƒ Begin Dredging 3. Commons Redesign Phase II - Jennifer Kusznir, Project Manager; Sasaki Associates, Consultant ƒ Complete Design Development – In Progress ƒ Present Final Design – In Progress ƒ Prepare Construction Drawings ƒ Prepare Bid Documents ƒ Seek Funding 4. Work with interested parties on collective vision for Emerson site – In progress B. Priority Projects – Development 1. NYS DOT Site Acquisition ƒ Continue working with the County and the State to relocate the eight acre NYS DOT facility on Third Street Extension to allow for waterfront development. COI User Page 2 2/3/2012 2. Inlet Island Development ƒ Continue efforts to acquire the parcel owned by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) – In progress ƒ Once acquired, begin a Phase II Environmental Investigation and cleanup if necessary. ƒ Continue working with the preferred developer and Common Council toward development of Inlet Island. 3. Development of the Ithaca Gun Factory Site and the Adjacent Ithaca Falls Natural Area ƒ Continue work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Fall Creek Redevelopment, LLC, to remediate the former Ithaca Gun Factory Site – In Progress ƒ Administer Grant Funding for remediation – In Progress ƒ Start planning process for a park that includes the area at the base of the falls, the rim trail, and the overlook area. 4. Completion of Cayuga Green and Associated Downtown Projects ƒ Work with Bloomfield + Schon Partners on the 20-30 unit luxury apartments and future condominiums, known as Cayuga Green 3 – In progress, contingent on funding ƒ Continue to seek tenants for the remaining commercial space in Cayuga Garage and at Cayuga Place – In progress ƒ Continue working with Jeffrey Rimland to complete plans for the Hotel Ithaca project - In progress, contingent on funding 5. Create a working group to plan and recommend next steps for Collegetown 6. Continue working towards establishing the Neighborhood Pride Grocery Store to replace the P&C on Hancock Street in the City’s North side - In progress, contingent on funding 7. Southwest Area – Hire Consultant to review and synopsize all completed studies and recommend if/then scenarios for use of the City-owned 60 acres - Lisa Nicholas, Project Manager, Consultant to be determined PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED AS STAFF TIME ALLOWS C. Policy/Legislation Projects 1. Revise the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance to include climate change considerations (greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, solid waste management practices, etc.). 2. Create a Conservation Zone(s). 3. Create a Stream Corridor Protection Zone(s). 4. Work on legislation to create a Planned Unit Development ordinance and/or overlay zone(s). 5. Work on policy for development in Unique Natural Areas. 6. Work on policy for development on steep slopes. 7. Consider creating a critical environmental area for the City-owned land in Six Mile Creek. COI User Page 3 2/3/2012 8. Address undesirable loss of urban and natural forms by rezoning certain areas of the City. 9. Investigate legislation to regulate wood smoke emissions 10. Investigate legislation to allow raising chickens in the city. 11. Investigate use of City-owned land for community urban gardens/urban agriculture. 12. Coordinate with the City, Cornell University, and Delta Phi Fraternity to assess and correct damage to both the street and sidewalk on Cornell Avenue, the limestone retaining wall on Cornell Avenue, and the stone walls on the Baldwin Staircase. D. Projects Identified by the Planning Department to be managed or completed: 13. Work with property owners and business owners (and potential property and business owners) to invest in and improve properties in the West End. 14. Ongoing issues related to the NYSEG Coal Tar Remediation Site and the future of the Markles Flats building. 15. Revise Subdivision Ordinance to be more in line with revisions to the Site Plan Review Ordinance and the Environmental Review Ordinance. E. In Progress 16. Revise the Community Incentive Investment Program Application/City Density Policy. 17. Work towards approval and implementation of the Stewart Park Rehabilitation Action Plan. 18. Investigate extending Cherry Street for additional development 19. Continue discussions on how to deal with backyard parking lots in multi-family residential zones. 20. Assist Common Council in determining natural gas drilling impacts on and in the City of Ithaca and draft legislation if required. 21. Implement Martin Luther King Freedom Walkway. 22. Work with the Community Advisory Group (CAG) to monitor progress of the Ithaca Falls area and associated contamination. 23. Develop Revisions to the Landmarks Ordinance. 24. Revise Site Plan Review Ordinance to include new stormwater regulations, pedestrian and bicycle standards, planting and landscaping standards, increased public notification times, sustainability and green building standards. 25. Complete City’s Historic Preservation Design Guidelines. F. Projects of Interest 26. Encourage reuse of empty big box stores. 27. Work to find, encourage, and incentivize incubator businesses G. Projects Completed in 2011 28. Collegetown Urban Plan and Conceptual Design Guidelines: ƒ Form Based Code – Failed ƒ Incentive Zoning - Failed ƒ Design Review - Passed ƒ Payment in Lieu of Parking – Failed 29. Completed Rich and Associates On-street Pay station Study 30. Revised Design Review Ordinance and Develop Citywide Design Guidelines. 31. Oversaw Implementation of NYSERDA Grant Funding to progress the City’s climate change and energy sustainability initiatives 32. Completed review for Challenge Industries building and site 33. Completed review for Phase 1 of the new City of Ithaca Water Treatment Plant 34. Completed review of means restriction on area bridges 35. Completed review of the Cornell University Gates Building 36. Completed and submitted application for TIGER III grant – County Transportation Improvements and Commons Reconstruction to serve as transportation hub and county center.