HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1995-03-20 PLANNING COMMITTEE
March 20, 1995
Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Common Council Chambers
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members: John Schroeder,Chair; Rick Gray; Pam Mackesey.
Non-Voting Committee Member: Benjamin Nichols,Mayor.
Staff: H. Matthys Van Cort, Director, Planning and Development; Charles Guttman, City
Attorney; Leslie Chatterton, Preservation/Neighborhood Planner, Doug Foster, Planning Systems
Manager.
Others: Roey Thorpe,Lynn Cunningham,Ed Franquemont,Ken Walker.
• Chairperson's Report.
Schroeder said the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance which would allow bed-and-
breakfasts in certain zones in the City had been revised and would be distributed in time
for consideration at the next Planning Committee meeting.
Mackesey asked whether the soon to be hired Code Enforcement Officer would be
charged with enforcing the antiposting law. Schroeder said that there had been no
agreement reached on a formula for joint private and public financing of the poster kiosks
which were proposed to be erected at various points throughout the City. This effort has
stalled. Schroeder said this would be on an upcoming committee agenda as time allows.
L Proposal for Historic Preservation Tax Incentive.
Ed Franquemont of Historic Ithaca presented a proposal for a historic preservation tax
incentive for the City of Ithaca. He explained that our ordinance was one of the first in
New York State, and while it protected properties it did not provide any assistance to
homeowners in making investments in their properties. The proposed tax incentive would.
Lynn Cunningham explained that the proposal would stimulate investment in historic
properties and thereby improve neighborhoods and strengthen the tax base. She explained
three approaches which were examined in the study. Historic Ithaca's preferred proposal
is one that would allow deduction of eligible rehab costs from post rehabilitation assessed
valuation. This benefit could either be constant for ten years or could decline each year.
Planning Committee Minutes 2
March 20, 1995 Meeting
The benefit could either stay with the property or be applied only to the owner who made
the improvements. Schroeder suggested that Historic Ithaca present the proposal to the
Budget & Administration Committee. If the B&A Committee looks with favor upon it,
the Planning Committee will advance the proposal. Mayor Nichols asked whether the
proposal, if implemented, would have a major staff impact. Chatterton said that she felt
since the volume would be fairly low,the total impact on staff would be acceptable.
Guttman asked whether the proposal was authorized under state law. He said that he
thought it might require a special act.
After some further discussion, the Committee members unanimously agreed to submit the
proposal to the B&A Committee and then return it to the Planning Committee if the
B&A's reception is favorable.
II. Revision to Agreement with Comex Plaza Associates.
Ken Walker explained that Comex Plaza Associates, the owners of the Rothschild's
Building, have had problems renting the retail space on the Commons in the Rothschild's
Building. He requested that Council waive all the restrictions which had been placed on
the rental of the building, thereby allowing the frontage on the Commons to be rented for
any legal zoning use. After some discussion, the Committee unanimously agreed to
somewhat relax the restrictions placed on the building; however, the requirement that the
frontage on the Commons be limited to retail use was continued. The south side of the
first floor of the Rothschild's Building on the north side of the corridor could be office
space or any other use permitted under the existing zoning, provided that it would be
occupied by people. An area proposed to be occupied by Sprint was noted as an
exception since this would have no human occupation.
Guttman was directed to prepare the appropriate modifications to the City's agreement
with Comex.
III. Inlet Island Land Use Plan Home Rule Request.
Guttman explained the process for alienation of Inlet Island. A copy of the complete
alienation legislation had been previously submitted to committee members. Foster
explained which properties were to be alienated and which were to be acquired as
substitutes. He also explained that State approval would precede the required Federal
approval. Foster explained that the total value of the substitute lands might not equal the
value of the lands to be alienated. He asked the committee whether they would approve
the additional acquisition of the Grigorov parcel in the Six Mile Creek Valley. Gray
moved and Mackesey seconded that the proposed alienation bill (with the Grigorov parcel
included) be forwarded to the N.Y.S. Legislature and that a home rule request resolution
be forwarded to Common Council. The motion was approved unanimously.
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Planning Committee Minutes 3
March 20, 1995 Meeting
IV. Six Mile Creek Land Acquisition.
The Committee then went into Executive Session. On leaving Executive Session,
Schroeder reported that the Committee favored acquisition of lands necessary for the
protection of City drinking water operations using water fund monies. Schroeder reported
that the Board of Public Works was considering a resolution identifying certain properties
in Six Mile Creek Valley necessary for the protection of the City of Ithaca drinking water
operations. On a motion by Mackesey, seconded by Gray, the Committee authorized the
attorney to proceed to negotiate these acquisitions (or, in two cases, acquisitions or
easements)contingent on favorable action by the Board of Public Works on this matter.
V. Code Update: Conservation Advisory Council Responsibilities.
After a brief discussion, the Committee agreed to refer to Common Council a proposal to
change the powers and duties of the Conservation Advisory Council to include a phrase as
follows: "review environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for
proposed actions in the City,and make recommendations to the lead agency."
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