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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1971-02-23 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES City of Ithaca Regular Meeting February 23, 1971 7:30 P.M, PRESENT: Chm. Putney, Vice Chm. Doney, Messrs. Austin, Burns, Conley, Shaw and Schmidt (arrived late). ALSO: Acting Director Meigs, Jr. Planner Lawrence, Mrs. A. Jones and D. Slattery (members of Council Planning Laak;,iCommittee), Mr. and Mrs. W. Ewald, and members of the press and radio. MINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, January 25, 1971, were approved as published. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Letter from Wm. S. Downing, Jr. (Chm. B.P.W. Parking & Traffic Committee)--Mr. Meigs read a letter from Mr. Downing in which he requests a report showing the need for parking in the downtown area and comparing the location the Mayor has proposed (the location of the former Central Fire Station on Seneca St. between Tioga and Aurora Sts. ) to the one on Green St. Mr. Downing plans to hold meetings on the subject in the latter part of February or early March. Mr. Meigs indicated he plans to study the previous parking studies available in the Planning Department to aid in preparing the report. Mr. Conley MOVED, "the matter be referred to the Community Facilities & Services Committee for review. " Seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Committee of the 'Whole Boa-rd--On January 28 the Planning Board and the Planning Board Co mittee of Common G-)uncil met with Mr. Friedlander (representative of the con- sulting staff of Raymond, Parish and Pine) for the purpose of discussing preparation of the contract between the consulting firm and City of Ithaca for the CRP program, and to discuss the scope of the program, outlining what the consulting firm expects to do and the capabilities of the staff of this department. Mr. Friedlander is working on the final contract form and the Board expects to hear from him within the next few days. At this time Mr. Conley suggested discussing the staff which would be needed to handle the city's portion of the CRP program. Mr. Meigs explained that, in our applica- tion to HUD for funds to conduct the program, the following staff was anticipated: a Planning Director, a Assistant Planner (project captain), 2 Junior Planners (to super- vise portions of the study to be carried on in the department, gather data and analyze same, etc. ). Mr. Meigs informed the Board that only yesterday a letter,dated 2/17/71, was received by Urban Renewal Director Daley from the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment, and forwarded to this office, which reads as follows: Subject: Status of CRP No. R-268 Ithaca, New York "A recent evaluation of the CRP in Ithaca indicates that the city is not staffing its Planning Department in accordance with its commitment to HUD in the recently executed CRP contract. "Please indicate what steps the City Administration is taking to meet its obligation to this department. "A written reply is requested within two weeks from the date of this letter." Mr. Meigs was directed to reply to the Deputy Director of Production Division at BUD, informing him that we have 4 full-time persons available and we feel this will allow us to carry out the CRP program properly (contingent on Mr. G. Lawrence being appointed as full-time junior planner). OLD BUSINESS: 1. Appointments of Junior Planners--The Board discussed the resolutions -concerning the appointments of Mrs. B. Martinez and G. Lawrence which are expected to be presented at the next Council meeting for action. Chm. Putney informed the Board that these appointments necessitated action by Council due to the salaries ($6,746) being below the minimum for grade 31 ($7,146). He explained that at the time the Planning Department salary budget was cut by the Finance Committee of Council, there remained $6,746 (one- half year Planning Director salary) in addition to the $6,746 originally requested for 1 junior planner; in order to hire 2 full-time junior planners, both items of budget were being utilized but did not allow appointment at minimum for the grade. All members of the Board agreed they are not in favor of hiring personnel below minimum of the grade except for possible reason of incomplete training, lack of experience, or such, which is not the case. Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "Resolved, the Planning Board of the City of Ithaca retract their original resolutions requesting Common Council to appoint Mrs. Belen Martinez to the position of ,junior planner, effective retroactive to December 1, 1970 at an annual salary of $6,746; and Mr. George Lawrence to the position of junior planner at an annual salary of $6,746, effective 8 February 1971." Seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED unanimously. Mr. Schmidt then MOVED, "Resolved, the Planning Board of the City of Ithaca appoint Mrs. Belen Martines to the position of junior planner (provisional), effective retroactive to 1 December 1970, at an annual salary of $7,146; and that the Civil Service Commission be requested to hold an examination for the position." Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED. Mr. Schmidt again MOT:TED, "Resolved, the Planning Board of the City of Ithaca appoint Mr. George Lawrence to the position of junior planner (provisional), effective at the beginning of the next payroll period, March 1, 1971, at an annual salary of $7,146; and that the Civil Service Commission be requested to hold an examination for this position." Seconded by Mr. Doney. CARRIED. Chm. Putney directed Mr. Meigs to prepare a memorandum to the Finance Committee of Common Council from the Planning Board, informing them of the action taken by the Board, and which Mrs. Jones will carry to the Committee. 2. Meeting with Council Planning Committee and County representatives--Due to Chm. 2 Spano submitting his resignation from the Planning Board of the Council, a meeting was not set up as planned with the City Planning Board and Tompkins County Planning Committee to investigate the possibility of combining the city and county planning bodies at some time in the future. It is expected that Mayor Johns will appoint a chairman to replace Mr. Spano at the next meeting of the Council. In the meantime, Mrs. Jones agreed to arrange a meeting tentatively set for Thursday, March 11, 1971, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Planning Office, and to invite the Tompkins County Planning Committee, as well as the City Planning Board, to attend. NEW BUSINESS: None. MISCELLANEOUS: 1. Zoning Case--Request for Exception to Sec. 7, Col. 4 of the Zoning Ordinance at 207 Elmira Road (formerlY 324 W. State Street) - B.Z.A. Case #915. An appeal for an exception to sign size has been made by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. for the reason that the standard identification for exterior front of building is in excess of the city's 50 sq. ft. restriction. Their identification will be approximately 203 sq. ft. and will consist of one free-standing sign 5'x15' and one sign on building 4'x321. Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "The Board feels that until the City develops a general policy regarding sign control, with view toward improving the appearance of the City, the Board must fall back upon the existing safeguard, which at the moment is the Zoning Ordinance. Included in it are restrictions on sign regulations. The Board therefore concludes that, because of this and the lack of complete information, this Exception be not recommended." Seconded by Mr. Conley. Carried. 2. Mr. Slattery, Chm. of the Youth and Recreation Committee of Council, informed the Board that his committee meets with the Youth Board on the third Thursday of each month at the Youth Board at 8:00 a.m. and requested that a member of the Planning Board attend these meetings. Mr. Shaw volunteered to attend as representative of the Planning Board. Mr. Putney suggested that other members attend, if possible. 3. Mr. Conley inquired concerning the Planning Board's interest in the Tripartite Agreement between the City, Ithaca Festival and the State. The Festival lease expires on June 30, 1971 and the Youth Bureau has asked to lease the old airport building. Mr. Schmidt asked that Mr. Meigs review past motions and material concerning the Inlet Park agreement, including the Recreation Study, as soon as possible and report back to the Board. MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jonathan C. Meigs 2.26.71 Acting Planning Director 3