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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 Planning Committee Minutes 2 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 Planning Committee Minutes 3 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. Planning Committee Minutes 4 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. /jhp P&DNotes.M16