HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1995-02-20 PLANNING COMMITTEE
February 20, 1995
Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Common Council Chambers
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members: John Schroeder,Chair; Rick Gray; Pam Mackesey; Diann Sams.
Non-Voting Committee Member: Benjamin Nichols,Mayor.
Staff: H. Matthys Van Cort, Director, Planning and Development; Charles Guttman, City
Attorney.
Others: Press.
L Revised Agreement with Mutual Housing Association.
Guttman briefly described the proposed new agreement between the City and
Tompkins County Mutual Housing Association. The only difference between the
old agreement and the new agreement is that the configuration of the building lots
has been altered. The option has been extended to 1997. In response to a
question, Van Cort said that the MHA pays full property taxes. Committee
members in attendance (Sams had not yet arrived) were unanimously in favor of
referring the agreement to the MHA Board for their review and approval.
Guttman was directed to make the appropriate arrangements with MHA.
H. Designation of New Northside Park.
Schroeder explained that the Planning Board at a recent meeting recommended
that the proposed park in Northside adjacent to Mutual Housing Development be
formally designated a city park. Sams said that she was concerned about problems
which might arise for the Mutual Housing Association. Mackesey said she did not
understand the rush to designate the park.
After some further discussion, the Committee passed a resolution stating (1) That
the Committee intends to formally dedicate a new Northside Park; (2) That the
Committee is considering using the boundaries for this park suggested by the Parks
Commission and the Planning Board,which include a triangle of land on the "Pogo
Planning Committee Minutes 2
February 20,1995 Meeting
Parcel,"plus the two blocks of Lake Avenue between Adams Street and Route 13;
(3) That the Planning Board, the Board of Public Works, the Conservation
Advisory Council, the Parks Commission, the owner of the P&C parcel, the
Mutual Housing Association and the Sciencenter be asked to comment on these
proposed boundaries; and (4) That the Committee requests the Board of Public
Works to consider abandoning the above two blocks of Lake Avenue. All
Committee members present supported the resolution except Sams, who abstained
because she is a resident of the affected Mutual Housing Association.
III. Ownership of Parcel Affected by Route 96 Project.
Schroeder explained that D.O.T. was planning to acquire a small triangularly-
shaped parcel of land lying between the existing State Street and the proposed
Buffalo Street west of Taughannock Boulevard. Schroeder said that there was no
apparent reason for D.O.T. to acquire this parcel and that, in fact, there was good
reason for the City to retain it so that the City could beautify one of the important
entrances to the downtown. All Committee members were in unanimous
agreement that the City should contact D.O.T. regarding this matter. Van Cort
was directed to request that D.O.T.not acquire the subject parcel.
IV. Possible Participation in Joint Waterfront Study.
Van Cort explained that several meetings had been held to discuss the possibility of
a joint county-city-town-Chamber of Commerce study of waterfront areas in the
City and Town of Ithaca. He said that no comprehensive study of Ithaca's
waterways had been done since the mid 1970s and that in light of the Thruway
Authority's commitment to improving the barge canal system in the state, it would
be timely to undertake such a study.
Committee members asked that a copy of the study outline be distributed to them
and other Common Council members before the Committee of the Whole so the
subject could be discussed at that time.
The Committee moved into Executive Session to discuss land acquisition.
After the Committee came out of Executive Session, it was reported that the City intends
to seek a home rule message regarding alienation of the Inlet Island parklands in April of
1995. The City Attorney has been directed to prepare the required documents.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
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