HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1995-01-23 J i_10/C0/1-?b
PLANNING COMMITTEE
January 23, 1995
Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Common Council Chambers
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members: John Schroeder,Chair, Pam Mackesey;Diann Sams; Roey Thorpe.
Non-Voting Committee Member: Benjamin Nichols,Mayor.
Other Council Members: John Efroymson; Rick Gray.
Staff: H. Matthys Van Cort, Director, Planning and Development; Herman Sieverding,
Deputy Director,Planning and Development; Rick Eckstrom,Building Commissioner.
Others: Andy Mazzella; Jeff McDonald; Jesse Miller, Sue Poelvoerde; Doria Higgins;
Susan Hurwitz;press.
• Agenda Review.
At Mackesey's request, the Mutual Housing Association's second phase plan was
added to the Agenda.
• Public Comment on Any Planning Issues.
Higgins spoke against the proposed Treman Marina expansion.
I. 1995 Community Development Block Grant Application.
Sieverding explained the 1995 Community Development Block Grant Application
including the tight time schedule, the application criteria as set forth by HUD and
the proposed grant activities. Sieverding said that this year's grant was proposed
to focus on a Southside neighborhood revitalization program, with some attention
also being given to the Northside. After a discussion of the proposed grant
activities, several alderpersons asked whether job training could be made part of
the program. It was noted that there would be a special meeting on February 8 at
which Council would be asked to act on the application.
Planning Committee Minutes 2
January 23,1995 Meeting
II. Bed-and-Breakfast Ordinance.
Eckstrom thanked Hurwitz for her assistance in drafting the proposed amendment
to the Zoning Ordinance which would allow bed-and-breakfast uses in residential
zones in the City of Ithaca. He then explained the proposed amendment. The
Committee discussed how the Zoning Ordinance differed from the state fire and
building codes. There was a consensus that the proximity of bed-and-breakfasts to
each other should be restricted. It was proposed that a five-year special permit be
granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals for bed-and-breakfasts which would allow
for periodic review. There was also a Committee consensus that there should be
limited exterior modification of buildings to be used for bed-and-breakfasts, and
that such buildings should be in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood when
in residential zones. Finally, the Committee discussed the allowable length of stay;
21 days was proposed. A subcommittee was appointed to prepare a new draft of
the proposed ordinance containing the above ideas.
III. Allan Treman State Marine Park Master Plan.
Mazzella and State Parks staff gave a brief description of the history of Allan
Treman State Marine Park. Much of the land on which the park is located is fill
land consisting of dredge spoils and other clean fill.
McDonald distributed drawings of the proposed Allan Treman Master Plan and
explained how the master plan had evolved over the years. After some further
discussion of the plan, it was noted that the Hogs Hole wetland is to be officially
designated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It
was also noted that the Hangar Theater was very strongly supportive of the
proposed plan.
Several council members expressed appreciation that the new proposed plan
responds to many concerns voiced by Common Council in 1993.
Mazzella said Finger Lakes had decided not to pursue its earlier idea of asking
Common Council to informally endorse the latest master plan map prior to
completion of the accompanying master plan text and Final Environmental Impact
Statement. Rather, Finger Lakes will appear at a future Planning Committee
meeting when all documents are complete.
Schroeder asked that Finger Lakes allow enough time for the Common Council to
read and circulate the proposed plan to various City Boards before asking for final
approval. It was suggested that Finger Lakes present the plan at one month's
Planning Committee meeting and then allow a month for distribution and comment
before a second meeting at which the Committee would decide what action to take
on the plan.
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Planning Committee Minutes 3
January 23,1995 Meeting
N. Mutual Housing Association Second Phase Plan.
Sams discussed the process by which the second phase plan was developed. It was
acknowledged that the present plan was a compromise with which none of the
parties were ecstatic but with which all the parties agreed to abide. It was
acknowledged that the precise design of the park is still an open question.
V. Meadow Street Area Land Use and Rezoning Study.
At the previous month's meeting, the Committee and the Mayor had asked the
Planning Department to "cut to the chase" on recommendations for the
Meadow/Fulton corridor. In accordance with that request, Van Cort arranged a
charrette involving Planning Department staff members and several outside design
professionals. Van Cort distributed a memorandum summarizing the
recommendations and then presented these recommendations to the Planning
Committee. Generally, there was strong support for the ideas contained in the
summary. The Committee directed that the Planning Department proceed with
discussing the recommendations with the Fulton/Meadow Study Committee to be
appointed by the Mayor.
VI. 1995 Planning Department Work Program.
Schroeder presented the proposed 1995 work program. Thorpe moved and
Mackesey seconded that the program be approved as proposed with the addition
of the acquisition of land in the Six Mile Creek valley.
VII. New Business.
Van Cort reported on progress toward moving County offices to the Central
Business District. Committee members expressed strong support for such a move.
Q\Kdlys hys\plancomm\l-23min.doc