HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1969-11-05 PLANNING BOARD PROCEEDINGS
City of Ithaca
Special Meeting November 5, 1969 3:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairman Schmidt, Vice Chairman Reps, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Hamilton and Messrs.
Putney (arrived late), Parkes and Korf.
ALSO: Mayor Kiely, Planning Director Kasprzak, Asst. Planner Meigs, Jr. Planner
Monroe, City Engineer Schlieder and members of the press and radio.
The Special Meeting of the Board was called to consider the following items:
1. The recommendation of the Board of Public Works to increase speed limit on
Route 89 within the city; and
2. The recommendations to the Common Council on the Ithaca Housing Authority's
Project as presented to the Board at the last Regular Meeting October 15, 1969•
1. Increase of meed Limits on Route 89. Director Kasprzak reminded the Board
that the 90-day trial period to increase speed (to 40 m.p.h. ) on Route 89 which runs into
the "Octopus" is about completed and asked the Board for comments regarding their
thinking on the matter. He pointed out that this particular strip of road was meant to
be temporary, the problem of exit from Cass Park exists, the road is curvy, therefore
already dangerous and he advised against the increase in speed to 40 m.p.h.
The Board questioned City Engineer Schlieder as to the reason for increasing the
speed from 35 to 40 m.p.h. and he answered that the traffic is already driving at
40 m.p.h. and the road is built for it.
After a brief discussion the Board recommended unanimously to the Common Council
that the speed be not increased on Route 89. (See official correspondence file. )
2. Ithaca Housing Authority's Project. Mayor Kiely spoke briefly to the Board
regarding the Elderly and General Occupancy Housing Project; expressing concern over any
delay in the approval of the project and presenting recommendation to the Common Council
for their action. He was hoping that any differences between the Housing Authority and
the Board on the project could be resolved soon and the project will move ahead without
any further delay. He sincerely suggested to the Board that approval with recommendation
be granted so that the Common Council can consider it and speed it along to the next
stage of development. At this point the Mayor left the meeting for another engagement.
The Board has briefly discussed the project and what changes to the design could be
made without delaying the progress of public housing in Ithaca. It has not been clear
what will constitute a major or a minor change in the project and what changes will
necessitate resubmission of the plans to the Regional Office of the HUD. Some members
of the Board agreed that changes would have to be made before approval is granted.
At this point Mr. Reps explained that he was not sure but believed that the Board
could take one of three actions--approve the project, disapprove with reasons, or approve
the project conditionally.
It has been suggested that perhaps the best solution would be to approve the
drawings with conditions, submit this to the Common Council with a request that the
Board meet with the Architects and Ithaca Housing Authority to resolve any differences
so that the project move ahead with the next stage of development.
The discussion then turned to specific suggestions on changes to the plans; i.e. :
1) the second and hidden entry be designed to the service elevator on the lobby
level only in the elderly housing,
2) in the general occupancy housing, the spacing of the buildings be such as to
afford more privacy to the occupants, also location_ of the pool parking be such
as to eliminate, if possible, the "project" look.
At this point Mr. Korf MOVED, "that
WHEREAS, in furtherance of its goal in the production of approximately 220 units of
low-rent housing, Project NY54-1, in response to the City of Ithaca Common Council,
the Ithaca Housing Authority has, through its architects, Sargent, Webster,
Crenshaw and Folley, caused to be designed a project consisting of 165 units for
elderly and 58 units for general occupancy, and
WHEREAS, the New York Regional Office of the Housing Assistance Administration has
found this phase to be acceptable in form and substance, and
WHEREAS, under the New York State Public Housing Law, Section 150, it is necessary for
the local Planning Board to approve or disapprove, Project and Plan and make its
recommendation, by resolution to the Common Council, and
WHEREAS, after examining documentation on said project NY54-1, find it to be acceptable
in form and substance.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Development Program, project and plan be and the
same, is hereby approved, subject to the following conditions:
1. That in the Titus Flats portion of the project the freight elevator be so
designed that it is not directly visible from the lobby, and
2. In order to meet the Planning Board's objection with reference to spacing of
buildings and the privacy of the occupants the Council should instruct the
Ithaca Housing Authority to have the Architect consult with the Planning Board
with a view to resolving these minor site problems."
Seconded by Mrs. Jones. CARRIED.
MEETING ADJOURNED 5:20 p.m.
Gregory Kasprzak
11.17.69 Planning Director
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