HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-P&DB-1997-06-18 (t, e iii
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
June 18,1997
In attendance were: Susan Blumenthal, Chair;John Efroymsom;Rick Gray;Pam Mackesey;
Jane Marcham; Diann Sams;Sara Shenk;Roey Thorpe;Pat Vaughan;Alan Cohen,Mayor;
Staff: H.Matthys Van Cort,Director of Planning &Development,Herman Sieverding,Deputy
Director Planning &Development. Others present: John Barradas;Barbara Blanchard,
Barbara Ebert Cynthia Yahn
Susan Blumenthal reported that she and several other City representatives had met with State
Senator James Seward and Cindy Rotelle, a representative from Governor Pataki's office. They
discussed the City's request for parking on Fulton Street during the off-peak hours. Seward and
Rotelle will report back to Governor Pataki and respond to the City within two weeks.
Public Comment:
Barbara Ebert identified herself as a member of the Tompkins County Environmental
Management Council (EMC) but told the Committee she was here to speak as a private citizen,
not as a member of the EMC. She made comments on what she referred to as the so-called
Tompkins County Waterfront Plan. She objected to the fact that the Plan has been termed a Plan.
She said the goals in the plan refer to environmental issues,but not many of the proposals are
specifically oriented toward the improvement of the environment. She said that it was not a plan
but was a series of ideas and proposals.
Susan Blumenthal read a statement on the Tompkins County Waterfront Plan that she had been
given by Dan Hoffman of the Citizens' Planning Alliance. That statement is attached.
1. Economic Development Plan Proposal
The Committee discussed a revised proposal for an Economic Development Plan which had
been distributed to all Council members with the meeting agenda. Pam Mackesey said that
she felt the Client Committee proposed in the scope of the Economic Development Plan,
should be appointed upon the direction of the Common Council,and that Common Council
should establish the size of the proposed Committee and which groups are to be represented
on it. Mackesey distributed an amendment to the scope dealing with the Client Committee.
There was agreement that Mackesey's proposal should be included in the scope. There was
further agreement that the Mackesey proposal should be amended leaving indefinite the
number of members of the Client Committee and the number of public forums which are to
be held as a part of the Economic Development Plan process. Mackesey asked that she be
part of the Selection Committee to appoint the Client Committee. There was some
discussion as to whether the approval by Committee should be postponed until the Client
Committee is appointed. The consensus was that there were enough other matters which
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needed to be attended to; such as,the drafting of a contract, signing,etc.,that the approval
could proceed while the Committee was being formulated. It was decided that the following
people will be members of the Selection Committee: Alan J.Cohen,Mayor; Susan
Blumenthal,Rick Gray,Pam Mackesey,Pat Vaughan. Susan Blumenthal moved and Diann
Sams seconded that the proposed scope be referred to Common Council for approval.
Passed unanimously. Barbara Blanchard said that she would incorporate Mackesey's
proposal into the scope.
2. Waterfront Plan
Van Cort made a brief slide presentation outlining the high points of the Plan.
Efroymson asked for assurance that approval of the Plan would not lead to automatic
implementation of some of its elements. Van Cort stated that the City could not be
committed to implementation of any of the Plan's recommendations without further approval
'by the common Council. Efroymson followed-up by asking whether the Plan had been
referred to the Conservation Advisory Council,the Board of Public Works and the Planning
and Development Board. He said he liked the Plan and asked whether it included a
recommendation for swimming in Cayuga Lake at Stewart Park.
Van Cort was directed to prepare a resolution for consideration at the next meeting of the
Planning and Economic Development Committee.
3. Department of Planning and Development Reorganization
Van Cort reviewed the recent actions of Common Council's Committee on reorganization of
the Planning and Development Department. The question whether to hire an Economic
Development Planner was discussed. There was consensus among most of the Council
members present that the Department should proceed with this recommendation of the
Reorganization Committee. Thorpe moved and Sams seconded that the Planning and
Development Department be authorized to hire an Economic Development Planner. All
were in favor with Marcham opposing. Marcham thought that budgetary issues should be
discussed with the City Controller.
4. Northside Design Study
A number of the Council members present stated that they were not familiar enough with this
Study to vote on it. Van Cort was directed to make copies of the Study with the latest
amendments and distribute it to all members of the Common Council. Staff was further
directed to set up a presentation of the Study to Cohen, Mackesey, Shenk,Thorpe, and
Vaughan.
5. CDBG Homeownership
After a brief discussion Sams moved and Mackesey seconded the approval of the proposed
program amendment. It passed unanimously.
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6. Sale of Taughannock Boulevard Right-of-Way
The Committee discussed the sale of Taughannock Right-of-Way in Executive Session. No
action was taken.
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-:, : . . Citizens' Planning Alliance Position on the January, 1997 Study
Called the Tompkins County Waterfront Plan
— adopted on May 22, 1997 —
WHEREAS, the study called the Tompkins County Waterfront Plan dated January, 1997
contains potentially positive proposals, if designed and realized in an attractive and envi-
ronmentally sensitive manner, and these proposals include:
• The Cayuga Inlet Trail (a multi-use trail that would link the Tompkins County Visitors
Center, Stewart Park, the Farmers' Market, Inlet Island, Cass Park and Allan Treman
State Marine Park), the Black Diamond Trail (a multi-use trail that would link four
Tompkins County state parks and the City of Ithaca's West End), and other biking/hik-
ing trails;
• Improved crossings over Route 13 for pedestrians and bicicylists; and
• Waterfront-related development in the vicinity of the Old Cayuga Inlet north of
Buffalo Street and on portions of Inlet Island; and
WHEREAS, the study also contains other proposals which are potentially problematic,
such as:
• Changes at the Allan Treman State Marine Park that could include such features as an
unnecessary new access road; and
• A new 200-boat marina at Portland Point that could promote increased motorized
boat use on Cayuga Lake;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Citizens' Planning Alliance asks that
one or more of its representatives be included in the next step of the planning process (the
development of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan), to voice the concerns of the C.P.A.
and report back regularly to the C.P.A. Core Group, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That until further detailed planning is completed, insuf-
ficient information exists for the C.P.A. to either endorse or reject the study dated January,
1997 known as the Tompkins County Waterfront Plan.
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