HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PLED-1994-05-16 PLANNING COMMITTEE
May 16, 1994
Regular Meeting, 7:30 pm.,Common Council Chambers
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members: John Schroeder, Chair; Pam Mackesey; Diann Sams; Roey
Thorpe
Non-Voting Committee Member: Benjamin Nichols,Mayor
Staff H. Matthys Van Cort, Director of Planning&Development; Chuck Guttman, City
Attorney; Doug Foster, Planner, Trish Norton, Deputy Director for Community
Development; Jon Meigs,Planner
Others: Flizabeth Mulholland, Rick Gray, Guy Gerard, Betsy Darlington, David
Nutter, Richard Driscoll, Sally Grubb, Paul Mazzarella, David Boyd, Susan Hurwitz,
press
L Inlet Island Land Use Plan (Potential Substitute Park Appraisals).
Following a resolution by Mackesey, seconded by Sams, the Committee moved
into executive session.
Committee then came out of executive session. Schroeder announced that the
Committee had discussed possible land acquisition as well as the possible sale of
City-owned land.
IL Traffic Mitigation for Upcoming D.o.T. Construction Projects.
After a brief discussion Mackesey moved and Sams seconded a resolution
requesting D.o.T. coordination for mitigation of construction impacts. Passed
unanimously.
III. ISTEA Transportation Enhancement Program Application.
David Boyd, director of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council,
joined the Committee for this discussion. Schroeder explained that the projects the
City submitted for ISTEA enhancement funding had been reviewed by the Planning
Committee of the MPO. The MPO endorsed all of the City's projects except the
Elmira Road pedestrian way, which was referred back to the City. A question was
raised at the MPO committee meeting as to whether the City had officially
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May 16, 1994 Meeting
endorsed this project. Schroeder noted that Common Council had unanimously
voted to apply for funding the pedestrian way on Elmira Road.
Mayor Nichols said owners were opposed to the construction primarily because of
the cost for which they would be, at least in part, charged. Arguments had also
been made that the construction of the sidewalk or pedestrian way along Elmira
Road would be dangerous for pedestrians, more dangerous than the existing
condition.
Schroeder said that he was strongly in favor of this project and recommended that
wherever possible it be designed to be at least 10 - 15 feet back from the curb, that
the variation in distance from the curb be used to aesthetic advantage, that
plantings be used extensively and that the City work with the owners to achieve
mutually beneficial results.
It was the consensus of the Committee that the City proceed in this direction.
Staff was directed to continue work on the ISTEA application for this project.
IV. Joint Management Contract With INHS.
Paul Mazzarella joined the meeting at this point and explained that the city had
applied to the State for $200,000 in money for no-payment loans for low-income
home-owners, under a program known as HOME. This money is to be
administered by INHS under a contract with the City. This arrangement, under
which the City is the applicant, and INHS actually does the grant-writing and the
administration,is very similar to the arrangement that the City has with INHS for a
number of different programs. It closely resembles our relationship with INHS
regarding the disposition of Community Development Block Grant funds. The
City has worked closely with INHS in administering several million dollars worth
of housing programs. Sams moved and Thorpe seconded that the Mayor, in his
joint capacity as chairman of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and Mayor of the
City of Ithaca, be authorized to sign such contracts and technical documents as
necessary (subject to the advice of the City Attorney and the Director of Planning
and Development) to implement state and federal community development
activities which benefit Ithaca's low and moderate income population. Approved
unanimously.
V. Route 96 Project Bridge Design.
Schroeder explained that the city has been working with the New York State
D.o.T. on the aesthetics of the Route 96 project bridges. D.o.T. has agreed to use
the standard City historic concrete rails and light fixtures on the bridges on
Buffalo, Seneca and State Streets over the old Cayuga Inlet. In addition, D.o.T.
will use a more elaborate concrete railing detail on the bridges over the Flood
Control Channel. Both railing systems will include pilasters at regular intervals.
The D.o.T. has also agreed to work with the City in providing sculptural concrete
piers rising from the bridge abutments at the four corners of both the Route 89 and
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May 16, 1994 Meeting
Route 96 bridges over the Flood Control Channel. The D.o.T. is considering
contributing an allowance of $20,000 towards construction of such piers; this
would cover the cost of concrete and basic geometric formwork. The City, if it
chooses to participate, would provide another $20,000 to cover the cost of
selecting an artist, providing the selected artist with a fee, and building the more
elaborate portions of the formwork. Richard Driscoll and Sally Grubb informed
the City of the involvement of the Advisory Commission on Art and Design for
Public Space in this project. Driscoll explained the concept of choosing an artist
through portfolio review. Schroeder said a committee would work with the
chosen artist to insure the finished work is acceptable to the City and D.o.T. and
within budget. Schroeder asked whether the City's $20,000 could be taken from
the West End Development capital project. Jon Meigs said the capital project had
$58,000 remaining,and this appeared to be an appropriate expenditure.
Thorpe said that the actual fabrication of the sculpture should be contingent on
Common Council's approval of the overall Route 96 project. She further stated
that an effort should be made to enlist the participation of women and people of
color as possible designers of this work. The consensus among the Committee
was that the City should proceed with this project. Schroeder will write a
resolution for Common Council to authorize city participation and the use of an
amount not to exceed$20,000 from Capital Project#207,West End Development.
VL Small Bed-and-Breakfasts.
Schroeder invited Susan Hurwitz of 228 Wood Street to address the Committee.
Hurwitz expressed an interest in opening a bed-and-breakfast in her home. Van
Cort distributed two articles from zoning publications regarding bed-and-
breakfasts. He advised the Committee, if it wishes to allow more bed-and-
breakfasts, that it should consider a number of items which may be included in
future regulations concerning bed-and-breakfasts. These include the treatment of
these facilities in various zones, the length of stay by guests, owner occupancy, the
number of guests allowed at any one time, etc. The Committee agreed this should
be on the agenda for discussion at a future meeting.
VII. Report of Task Force on Traffic Issues.
Schroeder allowed David Nutter to address the Committee. Nutter said that he
was generally favorably impressed by the report; however,he was concerned about
the suggestion in the report that roads be narrowed and on-street parking be
retained in order to slow traffic. He said this represented a real danger to
bicyclists. He was therefore opposed to these suggestions. Bump outs, if
improperly designed, can also be dangerous, which may also be the case with
street humps,though he felt the latter were worth investigating.
Guy Gerard then said parked cars provided safety for pedestrians and on-street
parking was necessary since there was no other place for many car owners to leave
their vehicles.
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May 16, 1994 Meeting
Schroeder said committee discussion of the report would occur at the June
meeting.
VIM Designation of Critical Environmental Areas.
The Committee expressed its interest in pursuing the designation of critical
environmental areas. Schroeder asked that staff make larger maps of the proposed
critical areas so that the Conservation Advisory can clearly indicate precisely which
parcels it wishes to protect.
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