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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1967-05-24 PLANNING BOARD PROCEEDINGS City of Ithaca, N. Y. Regular Meeting May 24, 1967 7:30 p.m. (postponed from 5/17/67) PRESENT: Chairman Stallman, Mrs. Nordheimer, Messrs. Carpenter, Schmidt, and Alo. ALSO: Planning Director Kasprzak, City Controller Russell, S. Mitchell, Planning Staff; Mrs. Agda Osborne, Citizens' Advisory Committee; Mrs. Barclay Jones, South Hill Civic Association; Mr. Roger Patch, President of 89 Lumber Co. and Jerry Langdon, Ithaca Journal. MEETING called to order at 7:35 p.m. MINUT' S of the last regular meeting, April 24, 1967, were approved as prepared. COMMUNICATIONS: None COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Codes and Ordinances - 1. Rezoning of 500 Block of North Meadow Street - Mrs. Nordheimer, after reading the Committee Report, explained the prepared maps on the area in question. She referred to existing land use and general pattern presently developing, and this basically is: intra-city commercial use stretching from West to East and inter-city running from North to South within the city limits. The inter-city uses generally follow a heavy type of development, i.e. warehousing on the North side and larger commercial and automotive on the South side. The East-West use follows a smaller commercial type services. Further, Mrs. Nordheimer explained that the Planning Staff and Codes and Ordinances Committee are presently working on the zoning recommenda- tions for the whole Inlet Valley area. Mrs. Nordheimer then MOVED: "that the Planning Board recommend to the Common Council against rezoning at this time. However, pending further work by the Planning Staff, the zoning recommendations will be submitted to the Planning Board by the next meeting and Common Council by July 5, 1967 meeting." Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. CARRIED. 2. Clarification to Section 13 of Zoning Ordinance - Mrs. Nordheimer referred to a memo from Building Commissioner requesting a review of the presently con- fusing Paragraph 1 of Section 13 of the Zoning Ordinance. This generally refers to responsibility for fines and penalty for violations on any premises and whose responsibility should it be. Mrs. Nordheimer MOVED "that the Committee recommend, with the approval of the Planning Board, that this matter be referred to the City Attorney for clarification and suggestion that the word "tenant" be retained in the wording of the Ordinance." Seconded by Mr. Carpenter. CARRIED. 3. Underground Utilities - This item was not included in the Committee Report and no action is expected by this Board at this time. However, this matter has been discussed at the Committee level and Mrs. Nordheimer requested that the Planning Board as a whole give the Matter some thought. She then proceeded to explain that in future subdivisions and any other type of construction, utilities should be placed underground and this if possible, should be made a part of City Ordinances. She also suggested that the companies supplying utilities within the City should be contacted and the matter of placing utilities underground further explored. B. General Plan and Capital Improvements Committee - Sale of Property in the Flood Channel Project Area - Mr. Schmidt read the Committee Report of May 22, 1967 to be found in the Committee file. Mrs. Nordheimer MOVED: "that the report be adopted as read." Seconded. by Mr. Carpenter. A short discussion developed on the method by which the City disposes of the land it owns. It has been suggested to Mr. Patch who is interested in purchasing some of the city land that he contact the City Attorney for the possible leasing of the equivalent land taken from him by the Flood Channel Project. CARRIED. OLD BUSINESS: A. Urban Renewal Downtown II - Planning Director explained the status of the project, Downtown II; also he added that Mayor Johns urged that the matter be given first priority since the delay in completing this project is of some concern to him. Mr. Kasprzak further suggested that a contract be negotiated with a consultant on completion of this project in conjunction with the City Planning Staff. Discussion that developed centered on who the consultant should be. Should the Planning Board continue to hire the consultant that it did on previous occasions or should a change be made at this time? It has been concluded that the firm of Egner and Neiderkorn Associates, Inc. be re- tained to complete the project since they are more familiar with it than a completely new consultant would be. Mr. Schmidt MOVED: "that a contract for the preparation of the survey and application for the Urban Renewal Downtown II be negotiated between the City and the firm of Egner and Neiderkorn Associates Inc. This contract to be negotiated so that the above survey and application be executed by the City Planning Staff in conjunction with the said firm. The rate of charge, for the service by the above firm, to be as approved by the City's Common Council at the last meeting, May 3, 1967." Seconded by Mr. Carpenter. CARRIED. B. "MacDaniels" Park - Planning Director explained that an offer of sale of about 2 acres of land for the token sum of $1.00 has been made in writing by Mrs. Frances C. MacDaniels and that this offer requires Council's approval. The Board members expressed satisfaction that the matter has finally been brought to partial conclusion. It has been suggested that a letter be sent to MacDaniels family expressing gratitude for the offer of the above land for use as neighborhood pare. Also, a letter should be sent to the Council recommending approval of the offer. NEW BUSINESS: Administrative Reorganization - Planning Director informed the Board that in conversation with the departments of Urban Renewal, Ithaca Housing Authority and Building Commissioner's office, the matter of said reorganization should at this time be laid aside due to the fa.r+. tl,?.t G,a-c reoraa.rization would re- 2 quire charter changes. Since this was not possible at this time, the matter was postponed until such time as such change can be effectuated. In the interim it has been suggested that all the departmental heads, in City Administration, meet on a monthly basis to discuss and resolve any matters before them which then would lead to smoother functioning of all departments in the City Hall. The City Controller added that in the last two months a more satisfactory cooperation has developed between the Planning Department and other City functions. MISCELLANEOUS: Summer Employment - Planning Director informed the Board that Mr. Courtney Riordon, a student from Cornell, will not be able to take summer employment with the Planning Board as approved by the Planning Board at the January 23rd meeting. However, in his place he suggested that Mr. Gordon Jacobs be appointed in this position at the same hourly rate. The Planning Board had no objection to this change. Further he explained that Mr. Bill Giezentanner, a part--time employee, will not stay with us during the summer. Therefore, it was suggested that Miss Barbara Boyd who applied for employment be offered the summer position at an hourly rate not to exceed $2.77 per hour. Preferably a lower rate should be offered. Miss Boyd is a Cornell student at Environmental Housing, the College of Home Economics. Mr. Alo MOVED: "that Planning Director be given the authority to negotiate the hourly rate with Miss Boyd." Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. CARRIED. MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:05 p.m. gregory Kasprzak Planning Director 3