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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1995-06-27 CtyC/ /< Approved 11/28/95 Planning and Development Board MINUTES June 27, 1995 Present: David Kay, Chair;Sarah Adams,Susan Blumenthal,Anne Clavel, Carolyn Peterson, John Schroeder. Staff: H.Matthys Van Cort,K.Ross;George Frantz, Town of Ithaca Planning;applicants;other interested parties. 1. Privilege of the Floor There were no comments from the public. 2. Final Site Plan Approval A. 120 West Clinton Street-McGraw House Revised site plan details such as planting,fence and lighting design,parking maneuvering space and handicap parking requirement were presented to the Committee. Schroeder moved and Blumenthal seconded the following resolution for Final Site Plan Approval: WHEREAS,a site plan for the development of 28 parking spaces at 120 West Clinton Street was granted Preliminary Site Plan Approval by this Board at its 5/23/95 meeting, and WHEREAS,except for the planting scheme,all the conditions of the preliminary approval were satisfied through the revision and further development of the site development plan, now, therefore be it RESOLVED,that Final Site Plan Approval be granted with the condition that the site plan be further revised to include new planting between the parking lot and West Clinton Street. Carried unanimously. 3. Subdivision Environmental Review/Preliminary Approval A. 532 Spencer Road-INHS This property was previously sold without being subdivided. There may be additional subdivisions in the future. Blumenthal moved and Schroeder seconded a motion for a Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance. Carried unanimously. Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 2 Blumenthal moved and Adams seconded a motion for Preliminary Approval. Carried unanimously. 4. Public Hearing/Environmental Review/Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval A. Cornell University- Maple Ave. George Frantz, Assistant Town Planner for the Town of Ithaca,reported that the Town Planning Board approved preliminary site plan of the one-third acre of this project which is in the Town. He stated that the Town Planning Board made a positive recommendation to the Town Board of Zoning Appeals and that the BZA has the final sign-off on the project in that it must grant final approval. He also stated the Town recognized the City's jurisdiction by making the Town's approval contingent upon the City approving its portion of the project. Adams stated that the major remaining issues identified by the Codes Committee were: (1)increased landscaping(specifically trees)in the parking area; and(2)replanting the slope on the east side of the site. Cornell presented a drawing which addressed both of these issues. Van Cort suggested the planting strip be put in the middle of the island and stated that tree survival rate is better for a larger area. Adams had concerns about changes being made at the last minute and stated that since Cornell does a number of projects,they should have this on file and know what the City recommends in the future. A public hearing was opened; there were no comments from the public; and the hearing was closed. Blumenthal moved and Schroeder seconded the following resolutions for a Negative Declaration and Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval: WHEREAS, an application for site plan approval for the site improvement of a parking area for approximately 140 vehicles has been submitted by Cornell University,and WHEREAS, the proposed development is an Unlisted action under SEQR and a Type I action according to the City Environmental Review ordinance,and WHEREAS, the environmental review of the proposal has been conducted through the completion of the full EAF parts 1,2, and 3, and according to procedures described in the CEQR, and WHEREAS, this Board has reviewed all the application materials and supporting documents,including comments from the Conservation Advisory Council on the environmental review of the subject proposal,and comments from the Town Planning Department as well as the County Planning Department,pursuant to § 239-1 and-m of the New York State General Municipal Law, and C:Kely\llrys\Planbrd'627mtg.doc Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 3 WHEREAS, no significant environmental impact has been identified in the review process, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Planning and Development determine that the proposed development will have no significant adverse impact on the environment, and a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law be filed according to the requirements contained in Part 617. WHEREAS, an application for site plan approval for the site improvement of a parking area for approximately 140 vehicles has been submitted by Cornell University, and WHEREAS, the environmental review of the proposal has been conducted according to procedures described in the CEQR, and it was determined that the proposed development will have no significant adverse impact on the environment,and WHEREAS, the public hearing for the purpose of considering approval of the proposed site development plan has been concluded,and WHEREAS, the development proposal has been reviewed by the City Planning and Engineering offices,as well as by the Town Planning and Engineering offices as well as the County Planning Department pursuant to § 239-1 and-m of the New York State General Municipal Law,and WHEREAS, the proposal was also reviewed by the Codes and Administration Committee at its 6/20/95 meeting where it was determined that all site plan review criteria were satisfied,now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval be granted. Carried unanimously. 5. Discussion of Status of Site Plan Review Ordinance The Board decided not to get into a full discussion on this issue. Kay requested input from the Board as to what it wanted to set as a goal for the revisions to the ordinance being done. Van Cort stated that several years ago a subcommittee was appointed which came up with a recommended draft of amendments to the ordinance. This draft was sent to the City Attorney's office for its comments,where it has been for years. Adams suggested that a subcommittee be put together to work on this issue. Clavel stated that site plan review takes an enormous amount of time and proposed that the Planning Board consider recommending that a site plan review committee (three people) be appointed by the Mayor and Council. Adams disagreed and thought the Planning Board should be involved with site plan review. She stated that a smaller committee does not have the same authority as the Board. Schroeder stated that the latest ordinance draft C:Ke11y\1hyssPlanbrd'6-27mtg.doc F Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 4 calls for smaller site plans to be done by staff,and that he was willing to join Codes Committee if it could meet at a time consistent with his schedule. Van Cort stated concern about having yet another Board to be staff for. After some discussion on this matter,Kay stated he would like to have a committee review the status of the ordinance and whether the Board needed to push the ordinance or not. A subcommittee of Clavel, Schroeder,Adams and Peterson was established and a meeting set up for Thursday,July 13, at 12:30. 6. New Business A. Colin Forth's Summer Work Program Schroeder reported a meeting was held regarding Colin Forth's Summer Work Program, and there were three suggested specific items Forth was to work on including the"Floating"Affordable Housing Zoning District,the Cluster Subdivision Development and the R-2c Zero-Lot-Line,Row-House Zone. There was some discussion on the affordable housing issue as to whether it would be permanent and that there should be certain standards imposed. Van Cort stated that after Forth makes recommendations,it will then go through the legislative process. Schroeder stated that the first step was to do research and get it to the Planning Board and Planning Committee. A subcommittee consisting of Schroeder, Clavel and Rusoff was established to work with Forth. Adams questioned whether all of these things could be dealt with or whether they should just deal with one or two of them. It was decided that Forth would have completed ordinances on the Cluster Subdivision Development and the R-2c Zero- Lot-Line,Row-House Zone,but possibly just an outline on the"Floating" Affordable Housing Zoning District. B. Presentation by Anne Clavel on Planning Issues for Housing Families and Neighborhoods Clavel provided a handout to the Board which listed statistics on neighborhoods, housing and incomes which she thought the Board should be aware of. After much discussion, Clavel concluded her presentation by stating that Ithaca will always have extremely high rents and people with low incomes. Schroeder stated that the Board should return to this subject and possibly set up a subcommittee to talk about affordable housing issues,neighborhoods,etc. Blumenthal agreed that this was a big issue and suggested that since it was almost time for the work plan for 1996, a brief meeting of interested people could be set up. Schroeder stated that this year's work plan was to include a statistical analysis of neighborhood trends. The Board decided to put the issue of neighborhood statistics on next month's agenda and requested that members come up with a list before the Codes Committee meeting. C:Ke11y■Thys\Planbrd■6-27mtg.doc Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 5 7. Zoning Appeal Reports Blumenthal moved and Schroeder seconded approval of the following memo. Peterson was absent for the vote. The Board has determined that none of the appeals involve matters of long-range planning concern. they are referred to the Board of Zoning Appeals with the following comments: Appeal 2263 The Board is generally concerned about allowing a multiple-dwelling use in a two-family zone. The Board considers this use to be improper and not consistent with this type of zone. Appeal 2265 This request for a special permit to allow the construction of an eight-foot wide satellite dish and sixty-foot high transmission tower for the Tabernacle Baptist Church to broadcast a radio signal is inappropriate in an R-1 residential zone. In particular the location, size and use are not in harmony with the character of the neighborhood. The Board recommends that this special permit request be denied. Appeal 2266 This request for a special permit to conduct a home occupation in a R-2b zone addresses all the conditions specified in sections 325-3 and 325-9 of the Zoning Ordinance. The Board believes granting this special permit will not result in a use inconsistent with the general character of the neighborhood. The Board recommends that the request be approved subject to locating the exhaust fan for the dessert kitchen such that the noise it may create is minimized. Appeal 7-1-95 The Board generally seeks compliance with the City's Sign Ordinance. Variances to the standards prescribed in this Ordinance should only be considered when there are compelling and extraordinary reasons. No such case appears to be made in this particular appeal. 8. Reports A. Director No report. C:Kelly\lhysTlanbrd\6-27mtg.doc Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 6 B. Chair Schroeder and Clavel volunteered for the Capital Projects Review Committee. Kay stated he received a request from the Mayor and the County for a restructured County Planning Board. Kay volunteered to be the representative from the City at the County Planning Board. C. Board of Public Works Rusoff reported that a few individuals from the Department of Public Works went through all of the positions in the department and proposed upgrading many of them and also hiring another engineer. The BPW felt upgrading the positions was justified and approved hiring an engineering technician(lower level),but put off hiring an engineer. They voted on the resolution and then it was to go to the B&A Committee. Van Cort was very supportive of the idea. D. Planning Committee Schroeder reported that the Planning Committee was discussing the rezoning of Cornell University. There was a short discussion about the"future sidewalk" shown on the approved site plan of Buttermilk Falls Plaza. Van Cort stated he thought it was the Planning Board's intention to make sure the sidewalk was included in the design elements,but that the Board was not requiring it, so that in case the City,at some point, said that everyone had to have sidewalks,there would be a place to put them. He stated he believed that is why it showed up on the plans as a"future sidewalk." 9. Approval of Minutes Blumenthal moved and Schroeder seconded approval of the March 14, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. Adams moved and Blumenthal seconded approval of the March 19, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. Clavel moved and Blumenthal seconded approval of the April 11, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. C:Kelly\Tlry s\Planbrd'6-27mtg.doc Minutes of June 27, 1995 Meeting 7 Blumenthal moved and Schroeder seconded approval of the April 25, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. Blumenthal moved and Clavel seconded approval of the May 23, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. Adams moved and Schroeder seconded approval of the May 30, 1995 Minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously. cKelly\Thys\Planbrd'6-27mtg.doc