HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1970-03-25 PLANNING BOARD PROCEEDINGS
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting March 25, 1970 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairman Putney, Vice Chairman Doney, Messrs. Schmidt, Reps, Conley, Burns
and Korf.
ALSO: Planning Director Kasprzak, Assistant Planner Meigs, City Engineer Schlieder,
Building Commissioner Jones, A. McPherson, D. McPherson, T. Parker, Atty. W.
Sullivan, Mrs. R. M. Putney, W. E4rald, J. Parkes and representatives of the
press and radio.
MINUTES of the last regular meeting of the Board, February .16, 1970, were approved as
published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Referral from the Common Council - The following resolution has been referred to
the Board from the Common Council:
14RESOLVED, that this Council, through the mayor, request that the City Planning
Board assign its Director to meet with the County and Town Directors to discuss
ways and means of combining these services and return a preliminary repert to the
Council by early summer; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an invitation be extended to these Directors to meet
with. the combined county and city cooperation committees at their next meeting,
March 19th, at 12:00 noon in the Hall of Justice Building."
Mr. Korf MOVED, ''the Board instructs Planning Director Kasprzak to serve in this function."
Seconded by Mr. Reps. CARRIED.
2. Letter from Department of Transportation, Third District, Syracuse - Director
Kasprzak read letter from E. E. Towlson, Regional Director of Transportation regarding
improvement which the State is planning for Routes 13 and 96 from Newfield Hill to Ithaca
to Trumansburg, respectively, and referred to a copy of Project Report enclosed for the
purpose of assisting interested agencies in the development of their views on this
project. The report indicated proposed alternate locations of the above routes and hope-
fully will serve as a starting point from which to begin State-local governments high-
way planning. Mr. Towlson requested that the Board' s views and comments be forwarded to
him within 30 days or less to expedite further planning.
A brief discussion followed during which Director Kasprzak explained the past and
present proposals and said that any expression of direction the Board can give at this
time will expedite the project and benefit the city.
Director Kasprzak was directed by the Board to continue negotiations with the State
on behalf of the city.
3. Letter from N.Y.S.U.D.C. re. scattered housing - Director Kasprzak explained
that the letter from N.Y.S.U.D.C. had been delayed. Mr. Burns MOVED, "the letter, when
received, be referred to Housing and Redevelopment Committee." Seconded by Mr. Conley.
CARRIED.
4. Referral from B.P.W. - Board of Public Works reported that a dangerous condition
for pedestrians exists on the 500 and 600 blocks of Spencer Road (from Cayuga Street to
Albany Street), and request the Planning Board to present a workable plan for sidewalks
on Spencer Road. Mr. Burns MOVED, "the Board directs Mr. Kasprzak to explore and report
back his findings at the next meeting of the Board." Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Codes and Ordinances Committee - Chairman Schmidt reported the committee has reviewed
three cases and offers the following recommendations:
1. T. Parker - ADD proposal - That the request by T. Parker for an ADD proposal at
Crescent Place be approved provided that by March 25, 1970 a proper map is presented
with the following items corrected per ADD requirements:
a. Driveway be at least ten (10) feet away from the property line.
b. The external parking for unit No. 8 be located in such a way as not to
obstruct the driveway at any time.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "the Board approves the recommendations of the Committee." Seconded
by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
2. McPherson subdivision request for conditional approval - The request has been
reviewed and approval is recommended. However, the Committee feels that the Board
should be aware of the following:
a. Lambeth Way has a grade of 11 percent, but since it is a secondary street
the City Engineer does not feel that it is of major magnitude and can be
handled within the normal city operation.
b. Determination should be made as to right-of-way of the Magnolia Pipe Line
Company. If the pipe is in use, then its relocation should be considered
so as not to interfere with possible house locations; if, however, the pipe
is not in use, then it should be eliminated from the property.
c. Park, as indicated on the map, should be allocated within the subdivision
and conveyed to the city at the time when the conveyance of all rights-of-
way for the streets in the subdivision is made to the city.
d. That all utility lines, including electric wiring, be placed underground.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "the Board approve recommendation of Committee, subject to the
following being carried out before final approval: 1) the developer study the possibility
of moving pedestrian walks from the location indicated on the map to Lambeth Way, and
2) further exploration be made into cost, etc. of placing utility lines underground."
Seconded by Mr. Conley.
MOTE: 6 yes, 1 no; Mr. Burns opposed underground wiring stipulation.
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3. Amendment to MacLean Subdivision - The amendment, as approved by the Board on
November 19, 1969, has been considered and the following recommendations for amendment
are made:
a. Since parcels 5 and 6 were not part of November 19, 1969 approval,
therefore they cannot be considered .for this amendment.
b. Parcels 19 and 20 do not have sufficient frontage, therefore, again they
are not considered subject for this amendment.
c. Since parcels 21, 27 and 29 can be changed so as to satisfy all code
requirements, therefore amendment for these parcels is recommended.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "the Board approves recommendation of the Committee." Seconded by
Mr. Doney. CARRIED.
Community Facilities and Services Committee - Chairman Burns reported the cemmittee has
reviewed the two referrals from the Common Council and recommends as follows:
1. Strawberry Fields Forever Petition -
a. That the area be left wild and the grass be permitted to grow.
b. That the baseball diamond and a strip of land along the rear property
lines of houses facing Mitchell Street be retained and maintained properly.
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e. That the city's Parks Department be notified of the final resolution con-
cerning this property.
d. That the area be called "Strawberry Fields Play Area."
The committee feels strongly and so recommends that the area be left wild which is in
keeping with the sentiments of the Strawberry Fields Forever petition.
Mr. Burns MOVED, "the Board approves the recommendation of the Committee."
Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. CARRIED.
2. ftstivFa Lease -
a. That this is a matter of legal nature between the Festival and the city and
should be handled as such.
b. That the city should press the state to build the park and marina as agreed
under the Tri-party agreement--even if the marina needs to be modified due
to uncertainty of Festival, though we would hope such plans allow for
building the lagoon if the Festival goes ahead.
Mr. Burns MOVED, "the Board approves the recommendation of the Committee." Seconded
by Mr. Schmidt. CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS: None
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NEW BUSINESS:
_Presentation of recommended circulation and traffic plan by Cornell University - Mr.
J. Parkes, Assistant Planning Officer, Cornell University, presented a proposal by
Cornell University whereby the center of the campus would be restricted or closed off
to random traffic. This would necessitate better operation of the Cornell Bus System,
improvement of v-.sitor parking and construction of a circumferential road around the
University.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Review of Zoning Cases -
1. Request for exception to minimum front yard requirement of 10 feet at 614 W.
State Street - B.Z.A. Case #872.
MOVED by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Korf, 91to refer to Codes and Ordinances Committee
for review, and empower the Committee to make decision for the Board."
VOTE: 5 yes - Messrs. Korf, Burns, Doney, Conley and Schmidt; abstained, Mr. Reps, who
contended that since the Zoning Ordinance does not specifically require the Planning
Board to review on requests for exception, therefore he feels the basis for recommedda-
tion does not exist.
2. Request for exception to the lot coverage requirement at 207 W. Court Street -
B.Z.A. Case #868. .
MOVED by Mr. Doney, seconded by Mr. Burns, "to refer to Codes and Ordinances Committee
for review, and empower the Committee to make decision for the Board."
3. Request for special permit to increase size of sign from 80 to 128 sq. ft. by
Cutting Motors at 315 Elmira Road - B.Z.A. Case #867.
MOVED by Mr. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Conley, 1°to go by default to the Board of Zoning
Appeals." CARRIED.
4. Request for special permit to erect sign in excess of that allowed by Zoning
Ordinance at southeast corner of State and Corn Streets - B.Z.A. Case #864 (former Case
#858).
MOVED by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Schmidt, "to go by default to Board of Zoning Appeals."
CARRIED.
5. Request for exception to lot coverage requirement of Zoning Ordinance at 321
Mitchell Street - B.Z.A. Case #832.
MOVED by Mr. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Burns, "the appeal to the exception be granted."
CARRIED.
6. Request for special permit to erect sign at 205 South Meadow Street - B.Z.A.
Case #874. (former Cases #813, #834)
MOVED by Mr. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Doney, "the Board reviewed the request and finds
that until the city develops a general policy regarding sign control, with view toward
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beautification of the city, the Board must fall back upon existing safeguard, which at
the moment is the Zoning Ordinance. Included in it are restrictions on sign regulations.
The Board therefore concludes that this exception be not recommended."
VOTE: 3 yes - Messrs. Reps, Schmidt, Doney; 3 no - Messrs. Burns, Korf, Conley. Mr.
Putney voted no, thus the motion was defeated.
MOVED by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Korf, "Since the Tompkins County Supreme Court
referred it back to Board of Zoning Appeals for reconsideration, the Planning Board has
no recommendation to offer." CARRIED.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 10:45 P.m.
G.' Kasprzak
4.9.70 Planning Director
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