Loading...
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 pedc0618 1 7,7197 fir 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. pedc0618 2 7/7/97 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. pedc0618 3 7/7/97 .t 41 -:, : . . 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. C A(j1 -j a-;4 4 416 onto ii,I;(/°1 lid.