HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1996-08-19 Planning and Economic Development Committee
August 19, 1996
Present: Susan Blumenthal, Chair, Rick Gray;Tom Hanna;John Johnson; Jane Marcham.
Staff: H. Matthys Van Cort,Director of Planning and Development Other interested persons.
1. Committee Members Reports
Rick Gray asked that the Committee keep a running list of items to be included on future
agendas.
Johnson asked the status of the Cliff Street parking area. Van Cort reported that it was
under construction.
2. Public Comment on Planning Issues
Cynthia Yahn spoke about the Route 96 construction project She said there was a crisis
on the west end and she asked that the public be allowed to comment on the upcoming Common
Council Committee of the Whole meeting. She stated that several businesses were failing naming
The Paddock as one that had closed during the period of construction. There are owners who
have reported that their buildings are sliding and believe it is due to heavy construction equipment
in the area.
She asked that the City support a request by the property owners in the West End for a
tax abatement to compensate them for damages to their properties and businesses during
construction. She said her group is getting legal advice regarding the possibility of suing the state
because they feel the state has not been responsive enough to their concerns. She said that the
state refers complaints to the City, and the City refers them back to the state. She stated that her
organization wants the Regional Director of Transportation to come to Ithaca and tour the site to
see first hand the problems that have been caused by this construction project. She concluded her
remarks by saying that Valley House is in very serious economic trouble,and that they have been
treated unfairly by the state. After a brief discussion,the Committee decided to take the West
End problems up as a second item on the agenda.
3. 400 Block East State Street--Rezoning
After a brief discussion,a motion was made to call for a public hearing in October. The
Committee voted unanimously to recommend this zoning change to Common Council.
4. Route 96 Construction/West End Businesses
Susan Blumenthal noted that the City has assigned Leslie Chatterton of the Planning
Department to work with the merchants in the West End. A lengthy debate followed.
Jane Marcham asked how much abatement was being requested and for how long a period
of time. The Committee again considered whether to ask Council to allow discussion of this item
during the COW meeting. In response to another question, Yahn said that the West End Business
District Working Committee was meeting regularly. This committee consists of seven members
including Cynthia Yahn,Susan Blumenthal,Joe Spadolini,Elizabeth Rudan,Linda Daybell,Pat
and David Mikula. Blumenthal advised that the association be as specific as possible with their
list of concerns and requests to the City and the State.
Regarding tax abatement,it was noted that the state government would have to approve
such an abatement and it would require the agreement of the City, State and school district as
well. John Johnson asked whether the West End Business Association has communicated their
concerns to the county. Yahn replied that they had not but that have gotten the City to assign a
staff person to assist them and they have made a list of the businesses in the West End.
5. Northside Land Use Plan
Van Cort described the Northside Land Use Plan and told the Committee it had not been
formally approved by Council or made part of the City's comprehensive plan. The Committee
members were given copies of the report and a revised June 21, 1994 supplement. This
information was to be forwarded to the Planning and Development Board for their comment
before the Common Council would consider adoption of the plan as part of the City's
comprehensive plan after further review.
6. Awning Ordinance Revisions
Blumenthal and Van Con explained the work that has been done by the Building
Commissioner,Planning Director,Blumenthal and others on trying to revise the ordinances that
control awnings. An agreement had been reached regarding the size specifications for an as-of-
right permit for awnings. The working group had bogged down in its discussion of colors. The
committee proceeded to do the same. In a lengthy and spirited discussion of the alternatives for
regulating colors, one group felt that it would be easiest to specify certain colors as being
permitted and as-of-right by the Building Commissioner with other colors requiring a
discretionary approval by the Commons Advisory Board or other discretionary agency. Another
group felt that it would be appropriate to give the Building Commissioner broad guidelines
including language in the ordinance that described the types of color that would be permitted for
example(muted,dark muted,neutral,etc.)but not actually listing color choices. There is
evidently a book which specifies all colors used in commercial art. Colors could be identified in
that book as being permitted. There is a relatively limited number of different colors available in
awning material and the appropriate colors could be specified. Committee members could not
come to a conclusion on this item and Blumenthal said it would be brought back to the
Committee at a future meeting.
7. B-1 Zone/Medical Offices
Van Cort explained the proposed zoning change that clarifies the types of uses allowed in
B-1 zones. At Marcham's suggestion the word computer services was added to the list of
approved professional businesses. Hanna moved and Gray seconded that a resolution be sent to
Council authorizing this amendment.
8. Flood Control Channel Dredging
Van Cort stated that there was money available through the Army Corps of Engineers for
dredging and bank stabilization along the flood control channel. A motion was passed
unanimously urging the Army Corps of Engineers in New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation,to perform the necessary remediation work in the South and of the
flood control channel from the State Street bridge to the"fish ladder".
9. Staff Presentation
Van Cort explained some of his duties to the Committee. His presentation included an
outline of his management philosophy,the goals for the Planning Department,how direction is
given by the Council,the Board and the Mayor, Council regarding priorities,the work program,
the projects for which Van Cort is the lead staff person and those in which he is intensively
involved beyond management,and the meetings that Van Cort attends regularly.
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