HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1971-04-27 PLAra(`11i`,!G BOARD StillU ES
City of Ithaca
Regular i°fleeting April 27, 1971 7:3+0 P.rl.
PRESENT: Chrr. Putney, Vice Chm. Doney, ilessrs. Austin, Burns , Conley (arrived late) and
Schmidt.
ALSO; Acting Dir. Meigs , City Enqr. Schlieder, Bldg. Comm. Jones, Planning Bd. Comm. of
Council members Jones , Saccucci , and Slattery S. Peterson, and representatives of
the radio and press (Stewart, Horstman, Crissey).
ASSEi,Ta H. Shaw (at iICAC meeting).
i`.lINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, March 23, 1971 , +;-4ere approved as published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSIi-,IESS: Mone.
COMMUNICATIONS
a. C. i'�•iazza---Acting Director Heigs read a letter from Christina Mazza to Common Council
(received in City Clerk's office 3/16/71 ) which Alderman Boronkay informally referred to
this Board, as reported in April Council Minutes , in which Mrs. Iazza requests that property
on the west side of the 500 block of North Meadow St. be rezoned from B-1 to B-4 in the
Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Doney `4OVED, "Mr. ilei gs assemble available documentation for study by the Codes R
Ordinances Committee of the Board at its next meeting. " Seconded by "Ir. Schmidt. CARRIED.
b. Transportation Needs Study-41r. l
. ie i gs read a letter from the HYSDoT, dated 4/5/71 ,
which was attached to a summary of the preliminary transit proposals and standards submitted '
to them by the Ithaca Area Transportation Study staff, and which they would like the Planning
Board to consider and comment on. The information relating to future transportation system
needs will be given to the Federal Highway Administration as part of the National Transpor-
tation Needs Study to be presented to Congress in 1972. Mr. heias reported that he has
referred the material to Dept. of Public Uorks Supt. Dingman and J. Dougherty, and asked for
their comments.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "Acting Director i1eigs -is directed to reply to the letter and carry
on his examination of the material and report back to the Board. " Seconded by Mr. Doney.
CARRIED.
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c. Parking--By means of a letter from City Clerk Bl can, dated 4/6/71 , Pyr. Meigs was
informed of an action taken by the Board of Public lWorks, at its Plarch 24th meeting, as
follows:
"CLIFF STREET: By Comm. Downing: seconded by Comm. Golder.
RESOLVED, that the City Planner be requested to study the situation on Cliff Street
with respect to parking and traffic flow and make a report and recommendations. "
Carried.
Planning Board Committee of Council member Saccucci informed the Board that he understands
a review of parking throughout the entire city is to be done in the near future and that the
request was not meant for Cliff St. specifically. He believes that City Clerk Blean
misinterpreted the request.
Mr. Conley's interpretation is that a recommendation �viias requested for Cliff St. re-
garding any land at the rear of the houses which might be developable for parking.
Mr. Schmidt informed the Board that Coi,.imon Council requested that a survey of Cliff St.,
area be made and that the Board had done this survey 6 or 7 years ago. He wondered why
another study would be requested at this time inasmuch as Council did not use the results of
the previous survey in the same area.
It was suggested by Mr. Schlieder that -111-ho BPI,.! should request Common Council to make a .
decision as to whether streets are for parking or transportation. Mr. Burns said this had
been discussed previously, winich result-cad in the Engineering Dept. ruling that the streets
are for traffic, not parking, and therefore thio 24-hr. alternate side: parking came into
effect. He doesn' t believe the Planning Dept. should do a thorough study roti and if a study
is required, the request should come from Engineering Dept. through Common Council , because
Common Council must determine the policy.
Mr. Conley MOVED, "the request be returned to Board of Public Works and Common Council
for policy decision or clarification (Item 4c of Planning Board Agenda, not the letter from
M M
r. Blean). " Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED.
d. E. Seneca St. Parking Lot -Mr. 11eig& read a letter dated .4/15/71 frcm City Clerk
Blean as follows:
"The Council took action at its meeting held on April 7th as follows:
East Seneca Street Parking Lot: By Alderman Rundle: seconded by Alderman Jones.
RESOLVED, that the request of the Board of Public Works for establishment of a Capital
Project for the improvement of Parking Lot "C" (old Central Fire Station site) and for
an appropriation of $5,000.00 to finance this project be referred to the Planning
Board for study and report. Carried.
Attached are two letters from the Downtown Business Women and the Ithaca Garden Club
expressing their concern about plants, etc. for the lot."
Mr. Conley explained that the information in the letter is incorrect; $5,000.00 is the
estimate for blacktopping the parking lot and installing parking meters on a temporary basis
while a study is being made to determine whether the permanent parking facility will be fora
ramp parking or surface parking. Revenue of $9,000 per year is expected which will more
than pay for the cost in the first year. Mr. Conley said he believes Common Council are in,.
favor of spending a little more in order to have a more attractive lot.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "Mr. Meigs be directed to make a sketch design and try to obtain a
cost estimate and have ready for presentation at the ;lay 5th meeting of Common Council . "
Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
a. CRP--Mr. Heigs informed the Board that the draft of the contract with Raymond,
Parish and Pine, consultant, has been sent to HUD regional office for review, and may be
returned by early May, at which time it will be negotiated by the City of Ithaca. Mrs.
Jones asked for the timing of the project after the contract is signed. Mr. Meigs explained
that after negotiation of the contract by the three parties to it (Federal Government, City'
of Ithaca and Consultant, with approval by HUD), the period of time is 18 months. The City
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will have to ask HUD for an extension of time: as they originally calculated tjie time from
the date of their approval of the application and tentative budget. Mir. Meigs has dis-
cussed the matter with the area representative of HUD who suggests that when the cit'v
applies for the extension, it remind HUD that the contract was mislaid in their office for
approximately 8 months and therefore the city requests an appropriate extension.
b.. UDC-41r. Heigs informed the Board of his r,,ieeting with 11r. Joseph lerna, UDC Regional
Executive Director, on 12 Apr. as directed by the Board, and that Mr. Ierna stated his in-
tention to coordinate ,,,.iith- Planning Board and staff on all projects; he i,,ill also work
through the Board of Public t>lorks and Common Council , as necessary.
c. Parking--For information of the Board, "vlr. !'Ieigs reported that in connection with
the Hotel Block development, and with the BPW request for a downtown parking study referred
by the Board to the Community Facilities and Services Committee,, it is noted that it is
BPNI policy that the city provide adequate parking for the needs of the CBD, and that
Council has resolved tihat "the City will , in any feasible araay, supply the parking necessary
to the further development of the Ithaca Hotel Block. "
d. Sale of City Property at Spencer & Clinton Sts.--In accordance with its 1965 reso-
lution on sale of city property, Common Council , at its April meeting, requested BPI,,;l to
compile a list of city-owned properties and present it to the Planning Board for its con-
sideration and recommendation as to whether or not the city should retain title to them or
offer them for sale. Mr. Conley asked if the list had been received by the Board and City
Engineer Schlieder explained that a member of his department is presently engaged in com-
piling the list which will then be given to the Planning Board, who will have the parcels
assessed for.value and recommend to the Council the best use of them.
e. Festival-4.1r. Meigs reported this item for the information of the Board--Council
has expressed support of the principles of the i.1aster Plan for Cass Park, and requested its
Planning Bd. Committee, among others , to consider actions which might be taken in accordance
with intent of Sec. 5-19 of the Charter, with respect to use and development of old
municipal airport lands currently leased to the Festival for its development.
f. Boynton-Central Community Center--Mr. Meigs informed the Board that he has partici-
pated in the Interim Organizing Committee for this proposed facility, which has been en-
dorsed in principle by the County Supervisors. He fools the Planning Board may wish to
study it preparatory to making an eventual recommendation to Council .
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "the- matter be referred to Community Facilities and Services
Committee for review and report back to the Board at its next meeting." Seconded by Mr.
Burns. CARRIED.
At this time Chairman Putney asked 1,4r. wigs what the status of the Master Plan is at
present and was informed that the plan , with the exception of a few maps , is at the printer
and these maps will be delivered to the printer within the next two weeks. The chairman
directed that completion of the maps be expedited.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Subdivision--Mr. Meigs recommended that an amendment be made to the Subdivision
Regulations, to control the subdivision of small parcels of existing city lots. City Engr.
Schlieder suggested that a simple procedure should be developed whereby the owner be required
to ask the Zoning Officer or Planning Board for administrative approval before subdividing
and developing, in order to safeguard surrounding properties.
Mr. Burns MOVED, "the matter be referred to Codes & Ordinances Committee for study. "
Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. CARRIED.
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b. Christmas Decorations--Chm. of Planning Bd. Committee of Council Jones asked if the
Planning Board would consider having its staff work up a scheme and alternatives for holiday
decorations for Ithaca, and following this, that costs for the plan be worked out by the
Dept. of Public Works (firs. Jones has discussed the matter in a mecting with Supt. Dingman).
It was the feeling of most members of the Board that this is not a function of the City
Planning Board, but rather of the Chamber of Commerce. Chm. Putney disagreed with the
Board.
Mr. Schmidt NtOVED, "the Planning Board request the Planning Dept. personnel to develop
a scheme and alternatives for holiday decorations in the business district. Planning staff-
should discuss with Supt. Dingman the structural , electrical and operational aspects of the
various alternative decorating schemes that are developed. " For lack of a second to the
motion, no action was taken by the Board.
c. UDC-West Hill--Alderman Saccucci informed the Board that residents of the llest Hill
area adjacent to the UDC project have complained to him about the noise and excessive dust
created by the equipment used at the project and they feel this is due to poor planning
(due to the Planning Board having approved the project). City Engr. Schlieder explained
that the dust was caused by dirt deposited in the street by the wheels of the large trucks
and said the DPW has scraped the street and washed it so that there should be no problem.
The Board also pointed out that noise and dirt are normal in any construction project in
greater or lesser amounts depending on its size, but that when the development is completed,
so is the nuisance; it is not the job of planning or public works to deal with this short-
term problem, but there are ordinances which require care to be taken by builders, which
can be invoked.
MISCELLANEOUS:
a. Zoning:
5) Request for a Special Permit for erection of sign in excess of size permitted
by Sec. 7, Col . 7 of the Zoning Ordinance at 744 S. Meadow St. in B-4 District
BZA Appeal #929--Westons Shoppers City representative claims the success of
business at this location requires proper identification for business of the
size of subject; lack of clear identifying sign will result in hardship to the
operators of Westons.
Mr. Schmidt MOVED, "that until the city develops a general policy regarding
sign control with a view totiiard 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 approval of this request should be denied." Seconded
by fir. Austin. CARRIED.
1 ) Request for Variance to SEc. 7, Col . 2 of Zoning Ordinance at 358 Elmira Rd.
in I-1 District - BZA Appeal #925--Mr. Kramer claims that strict application of
the Ordinance would produce undue hardship because his business requires addi-
tional storage area and the property is suited for development of apartments
above the storage area.
fir. Doney MOVED, "Planning Board recommends the request for the Variance be
denied as the area is zoned for Industrial use only." Seconded by ',.r. Conley.
CARRIED.
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2) Request for Exceptions to Sec. 7, Cols. 5 and 7 of the Zoning Ordinance at
415 E. Seneca St. in R-3 District - BZA Appeal #926--The appeal for exceptions
was made because the size of the existing structure will not permit space for
off-street parking, and sir. Peterson claims he cannot afford to operate the
building without renting 2 apartments. After reviewing the appeal , Mir. Conley
MOVED, "the Board recommends approval of the request for exception to Sec. 7,
Col . 7 lot size. No recommendation is required to request for Exception to
Col . 5 parking inasmuch as them is off-street parking provided within 450 feet
of the structure. " Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED.
4) Request for Exception to Sec. 7, Col . 7 of the Zoning Ordinance at 209 Williams
St. in R-3 District - BZA Appeal #928-41r. Serrano appealed for Exception in
order to convert the interior of a barn into an apartment and claimed it is
impractical and financially prohibitive to change the structure so as to meet
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
Fair. Burns MOVED, "the Board recommends the request for exception be denied."
Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
3) Request for Variance to Sec. 7, Col . 7 of the Zoning Ordinance at 802 N. Cayuga
St. in R-3 District - BZA Appeal #927--.14r. Corbin wishes to convert a 2-family
dwelling to 4 dwelling units (efficiency units). Mr. Maigs noted that this
appeared to be a case for exception, not variance.
Mr. Burns MOVED, "the Board return the request because- of lack of sufficient in-
formation." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
Mr. Meigs informed the Board that he received very scant information on the above cases,
despite periodic requests to the Secretary of the Board of Appeals for complete information;''
on Appeals referred to this Board. Only one or two of the above cases had enough informa-
tion initially on which to base a recommendation, without further research.
Respectfully submitted,
i�
Jonathan C. Meigs
4.30.71 Acting Planning Director
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