HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1996-09-16 , eje jc,i6
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 16, 1996
Present: Susan Blumenthal, Chair;Rick Gray;John Johnson;Jane Marcham.Non-voting
members: Alan J. Cohen,Mayor. Staff. H.Matthys Van Cort,Director of Planning and
Development;Herman Sieverding,Deputy Director Planning and Development;Paul Stevenson,
Community Development Administrator. Others present:Betsy Darlington,Dan Hofmann,
Guy Gerard, Charlie Trautmann, Cynthia Yahn.
1. Chairpersons Report
Steep Slopes Ordinance
Chairperson Susan Blumenthal reported that she had met with Planning Director Van Cort
regarding the proposed Steep Slopes Ordinance. Planning staff will prepare maps of the
proposed area to be rezoned. Blumenthal will try to get a graduate student who will do
research on Hillside Zoning Ordinances in other communities.
Parking Lot Control Equipment
Blumenthal reported that Lynn Yost will prepare a quarterly report for Common Council
regarding the status of the acquisition of new parking lot control equipment.
2. Committee Members' Reports
Rick Gray distributed a resolution from the Conservation Advisory Council asking that
Common Council retain ownership of the festival lands and a parcel known as Parcel B
contiguous to the Allan H.Treman Marine State Park.
Gray further reported that the Youth Bureau is working with the Town of Ithaca on
developing a safe path between Ithaca High School and Boynton Middle School to the
Youth Bureau and Stewart Park.
3. Staff Report
Herman Sieverding reported that the Planning and Development law student intern is
drafting amendments to the City's subdivision regulations which will simplify the approval
process for minor subdivisions. Susan Blumenthal reported that Matt Howard,a student
intern working out of the Mayor's office,has completed his research on review criteria
and standards for Site Plan Review and will be presenting a report in the near future.
1. Sciencenter
Sieverding explained that the City is transferring title of land to the Ithaca Urban
Renewal Agency (IURA)which will in turn transfer the land to the Sciencenter.
The steps for this disposition include identification of the Sciencenter as a project
sponsor,review of the sale terms by the Common Council and a legal
advertisement in the newspaper of record containing the sale terms. Sieverding
distributed a copy of the proposed sale terms between the IURA and the
Sciencenter and reviewed the highlights of the sale terms with the Committee.
The Committee directed Sieverding to bring the sale terms to Common Council for
action at the October 2 meeting.
2. Mutual Housing Association--Phase II
Paul Stevenson explained that Common Council needs to take action on the terms
for the sale of land by IURA to the Mutual Housing Association for the Phase II
construction. He stated that MHA wanted to start construction this fall on the
second phase. Johnson expressed reservations about selling the land for$1.
Marcham spoke in favor of the sale terms stating that there is a serious need for
new affordable housing.
3. Awning Ordinance Revisions
Several Committee members and the Planning Director inspected the awnings and
canopies on The Commons. The consensus was that the colors on The Commons
were,with a few exceptions,very acceptable. It was not clear whether this was a
result of the review by the Commons Advisory Board and others or whether it was
due to decisions by merchants and property owners. After a brief discussion,the
Committee decided it would recommend new regulations that would permit any
color awning and would only regulate the size and location. It was also agreed
that odd shaped awnings were acceptable. The Committee directed staff to
prepare the necessary legislation for an amendment to the regulations regarding
awnings and canopies. Johnson asked whether it would be possible to redraft the
process chart showing how this action would simplify the permit process for
awnings and canopies.
4. West End Parking
1. Parldng Study For West End
Cynthia Yahn addressed the committee,requesting that a parking study be
conducted in the West End. She stated that,in her opinion,it was critical that
there was adequate parking in the West End during the transition years which will
follow construction of Route 96. She was highly complimentary of the
Community Development staff for their efforts in securing funding for the West
Buffalo Street parking lot.
It was agreed that Susan Blumenthal would try to get a planning intern to work on
an off-street inventory of parking in the project area. Van Cort will supervise the
work of the student.
Van Cort said the construction of the off-street lot on Buffalo Street was a high
priority of the CD staff. It was one of three projects that we hope to complete in
1996. There was some discussion of how the Buffalo lot could be regulated.
There was concern that all the spaces would be used by the businesses in the area
leaving none for the residents. It was decided that the decision regarding regulation
would be made after the lot has been constructed.
Yahn asked that parking be permitted on Buffalo Street at least until the off-street
lot is constructed. She asked that the City formally request DoT to permit one
lane of parking on Buffalo Street until the off-street parking is constructed. She
suggested that the curb cuts should be installed while they are doing the curbs on
Buffalo Street. She also requested that Council continue to request that parking
on Fulton Street be retained.
The Committee directed that a resolution be drafted for consideration by the
Common Council requesting one lane of parking on Fulton Street between Esty
and Buffalo.
The Committee asked that the Mayor and Van Cort speak with Charles Moynihan,
Regional Director,regarding the outstanding parking issues in the Route 96
project area including provision of one lane of parking on Fulton Street between
Esty and Buffalo,provision of one lane of parking on each of Seneca and Green
between Fulton and Meadow, and a temporary provision of parking on Buffalo
Street between Fulton and Meadow.
It was noted that the City's main bus station on the west end,is unlit and locked at
night. This results in new arrivals to the City coming to an unlit and locked bus
station that does not have a telephone. There was a consensus on the committee
that this was a bad situation. Van Cort was asked to discuss this with the private
sector to see if anything could be done to improve these services at the bus station.
Yahn stated that the dust conditions in the project area had worsened and that the
dust was having a significant impact on computers,copiers,coolers and other
equipment sensitive to dust. She also stated that buildings were settling in the
area. Owners think this is a result of the use of heavy equipment in the Route 96
project.
The Mayor announced that he did not give permission to cut down the trees on
Cayuga Street in front of Clinton Hall. He said that he has heard a great deal of
negative comment from the public and he wanted to set the record clear. It had
not been his decision and he did not issue the permit. He stated the BPW would
be discussing this issue on Wednesday.
2. New Southwest Park/Provisions of public Access from Elmira Road
The Committee discussed a request by the CAC regarding access to the proposed
substitute land for Southwest Park. Betsy Darlington and Dan Hoffmann joined in
the discussion.
Blumenthal listed a number of reasons why the City should not act at this time
regarding the land owned by the County. Dan Hofmann argued that ownership by
the City of the land would give the City control over development along the Elmira
Road frontage. Blumenthal stated that any necessary control and access could be
achieved through the site plan review process. Blumenthal pointed out that the
Parks Commission had not been consulted about the use of the substitute park land
and whether access should be encouraged from the Elmira Road.
Dan Hoffmann suggested that the proposed substitute park land would benefit
from automobile access. Committee members questioned whether access by
automobiles might be advisable.
No consensus regarding any communication with the County was reached. The
Committee took no action.
3. Southwest Area Land Use Study.
It was reported that the Planning Board at the last meeting unanimously endorsed
the concept of rezoning part of the MH-1 zone to B-5,based on the assumption
that this would not be an acceptable housing site because of previous use as a City
dump. The next step to rezoning would be to name a lead agency and perform an
environmental review on a draft zoning change.
Mayor Cohen stated that it would be advisable not to spend the money on that
environmental review at this time and instead to see whether there was private
sector interest in rezoning the area. If there is interest,the cost of the
environmental review for the zoning change could be borne by the private sector
developer who would in all likelihood need to do an environmental impact
statement on any development proposal. The Committee unanimously supported
this suggestion. No further action would be taken on the zoning change until staff
has an opportunity to see whether there is private sector interest in development of
the site.
4 Environmental Bond Act
After a brief discussion,Rick Gray moved and Susan Blumenthal seconded a
resolution provided by NYCOM in support of the 1996"Clean Air, Clean Water"
bond act.
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