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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1969-03-19 i PLANNING BOARD PROCEEDINGS City of Ithaca Regular Meeting March 19, 1969 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Chairman Schmidt, Vice Chairman Reps, Mr. Putney, Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Jones (arrived late). ALSO Director Kasprzak, D. Kueppers, Housing Director Armstrong, Building PRESENT: Commissioner Van Marter, Alderman Nordheimer, L. Caldwell, A. Emerson, D. Henry, and representatives of the press and radio. ABSENT: J. Parkes and R. Korf. MINUTES of the last regular meeting of the Board, February 19, 1969, were approved as published. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Mr. Art Emerson, secretary-treasurer of West Ithaca Civic Association, presented the views of the Association which disapproves of piecemeal annexation, and expressed . their desire to discuss the matter further with the Planning Board relative to road development, sewage, water, etc. , in addition to the zoning of such lands. They prefer that individual homes be built in the area rather than apartment complexes, and they ask that a great amount of consideration be given to the matter. Mr. Reps pointed out that neither of the two individuals who have requested annexation objects to R-1 zoning. Chairman Schmidt advised Mr. Emerson that the West Ithaca Civic Association should present the problem to the Greater Ithaca Regional Planning Board and the County Planning Director. He also informed him that approval of both the Town of Ithaca and City of Ithaca is required before the land can be annexed, and that at that time there will be an opportunity for a public hearing and a vote by the individuals involved in the area to express their views. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Director Kasprzak read a letter from the Ithaca City School District to Mayor Kiely which was referred to the Planning Board. In the letter Mr. Bardwell requested assistance in bringing to decision the following items needing attention: 1) the formal sale of the approximately 3.67 acres of land owned by the school district off Wood Street in Titus Flats to the city as a park, 2) the sale of approximately 9-10 acres of -the land owned by the school district off Cornell Street, across from the Belle Sherman School. Regarding the above two items the city has taken action in the form of offering a certain sum to the School Board. Also, application to the Federal and State governments has been made for funds with which to purchase these properties; as yet the State and Federal governments have not given their final decisions to the city. 3) The other item of immediate concern is the desire of the School District to arrange for transfer to the school of approximately 1 acre of land owned by the city at the north end of the high school site. Mr. Bardwell suggested that a group, consisting of two Common Council members, two Board of Education members, someone from Urban Renewal, two administrators (one from the city and Wm. Banner from the School District) plus Mr. Bardwell and Mayor Kiely, meet as soon as possible to consummate some agreement on the problems, and that the same group move to consider and plan relative to the additional long-range problems following: 1) the use of DeWitt Junior High School. The School would like to know fairly soon the desire of the city regarding this property; if the city is not interested, they would like to offer the building and/or land to the private sector. 2) The old South Hill School will be vacated at about the same time as space becomes available in the present Boynton Junior High School. The use of this land as a park, or for some other development in the best interests of the city, should be planned. 3) Regarding the block across from the present Central School, bounded by Plain, Albany, Court and Esty Streets, the School desires to retain part of the block as park and open space for,the elementary school population, public and parochial, that will be in the adjacent block. In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out that there is some question of the legality of one type of government selling a property to another public body. The city is presently working on the matter of the DeWitt Junior High School, and the matter should be resolved soon so that the School Board can take action. Mr. Putney requested that the title to the land be checked to clarify the stipula,- tions in the original deed. Mr. Schmidt directed Mr. Kasprzak to follow through on . Mr. Putney's request. The ;items mentioned will be taken up by the group as soon as it is organized. The Board expressed their desire that the City Planner be included as a member of the group. Mr. Kasprzak was directed to convey the reply to Mayor Kiely. 2. Director Kasprzak distributed to the Board copies of the memorandum from the Mayor's Citizens Advisory Committee which included resolutions regarding the studies by Cornell Business School passed on February 25, 1969 at the regular monthly meeting of the Committee. The memorandum indicated that comments or suggestions will be gratefully received. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Community Facilities and Services Committee met on March 11, 1969 for the purpose of establishing impelementation priorities for the Egner and Niederkorn Recreation Study. Mrs'. Jones explained the Committee Report briefly after distributing copies of it to the Board. Mr. Putney MOVED, "that the Report be approved and presented to Common Council." Seconded by Mrs. Hamilton. CARRIED. 2. Director Kasprzak read a letter from Morris Shulman, proprietor of Lou Barnard's Bowl-O-Drome, Inc. at 401 Third Street, Ithaca, N. Y. , requesting that an error in zoning be rectified: so that ,all the land on Adams Street between Third and First Streets be listed as "Industrial." 2 Codes and Ordinances Commit-tee met on March 14, 1969 to study the problem. As a result, it recommends that the whole block (bounded by First, Third, Franklin, Adams) be rezoned B-2 (See Committee Report for complete recommendation). Mr. Putney MOVED, "that Planning Board adopt the recommendation and refer it to . Common Council." Seconded by Mrs. Jones. CARRIED. Mr. Reps called attention to a procedure practiced in zoning known as contract zoning, whereby the property owner requesting zoning changes voluntarily agrees to place restriction on the property in form of a deed covenant, filed with the County Clerk. This procedure will permit certain commitments; with respect to property, to be perpetuated even if the ownership of land changes. The nature of this stipulation, can be in form of street landscaping, provision of buffer zones, fences, etc. Mr. Reps felt that Common Council should be made aware of this technique. 3. Codes and Ordinances Committee met on March 19, 1969 to discuss the possible rezoning in the "Island" area in the Cayuga Inlet. Mr. Kasprzak distributed to the Board copies of the committee's recommendation that the area should be zoned now to prevent establishment of uses we know will be out of place in the future no matter how the ultimate development is initiated and financed. Mr. Reps MOVED, 'o encourage the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee and the Planning Office staff to undertake to describe a new M-1 district for adoption by the Planning Board and then Common Council," Seconded by Mr. Putney. CARRIED. 4. Housing and Redevelopment Committee met on March 17 with the developer and the Housing Authority Director to review the proposal submitted by Mr. L. Caldwell for Turnkey Housing on Hancock Street. The Committee offered the following resolution for consideration and approval by the Board: "WHEREAS, in furtherance of its goals, the Ithaca Housing Authority has accepted a proposal from Mr. Larry Caldwell, for a project consisting of sixteen (16) unite of low-income housing; to be developed under the "Turnkey" method, and U,IMEAS, under Section 150 of the New York State Public Housing Law, the Planning_ Board has received and studied the Development Plan for said project, THEREFORE, B^ °"'' r .y7.�,"'D that the Plan, Project, and Site are hereby approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution and recommendation be forwarded without delay to the Common Council of the City of Ithaca for their action." Mr. Reps MOVED," to approve the Resolution." Seconded by Mr. Putney. CARRIED. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: 1. Mr. Kasprzak presented a request for a Special Permit at 326-330 E. State Street (Old Eagles Buildingl) from Donald Moore, owner, for a sign in excess of 50 sq. ft. Mr. Putney MOVED, "thePlanning Board has reviewed the request and concluded that this exception to the size of the sign offers no particular planning problems; there- fore,, the Planr .rg Board has no objections to the erection of the sign provided it does not exceed the 250 sq. ft. limitation. It is therefore recommended that the request be granted." Seconded by Mrs. Hamilton. CARRIED. I 3 I 2. Mr. Kasprzak was directed to have the matter of a "wild flower preserve," presented by Dr. Richard B. Fischer at the February meeting, placed on the agenda of the next Common Council meeting, and to notify Dr. Fischer so that he can be present to give a short talk on same to Council. MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:00 p.m. Gregory Kasprzak 4.2.69 Planning Director 4