HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1971-06-22 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting June 22, 1971 7:30 P.T .
PRESENT: Chm. Putney, Messrs. Conley, Austin and Doney.
ALSO: Acting Director Meigs, Jr. Planner Lawrence, Common Council Planning Committee
members Jones and Slattery, D. Cutting, and members of the press and radio.
ABSENT: Mr. Shaw (out-of-town), Messrs. Burns and Schmidt.
MINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, May 25, 1971, were approved as published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Letter from Daniel Garr re. employment--Acting Director Meigs read a letter from
Daniel Garr, dated June 8, 1971, in which he expressed interest in an urban planning
position with the city of Ithaca. Mr. Garr expects to receive his Ph.D. from Cornell
University in September; however, he is available for interview at any time.
Mr. Doney MOVED, "the letter and enclosed resume be referred to the Executive and
Liaison Committee for consideration." Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
2. (not on agenda) Letter from Acting Director Mems--Chairman Putney read a letter
from Mr. Meigs expressing his desire to be considered for the position of Planning Director
for the city of Ithaca and enclosing his application and job experience resume.
Mr. Doney MOVED, "the letters and enclosures be referred to the Executive and Liaison
Committee for consideration." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. CRP-HUD action on the request for extension of time--Mr. Meigs informed the Board
that approval of the requested extension of time to carry out the CRP program had been
indicated verbally on June 21 in a telephone conversation with the area representative who
informed him that the letter of approval is ready for signature and should be received in
this office later in the week. After receipt of the letter it will be necessary for the
city to sign the contract and transmit it to the consultant for signature.
Mr. Conley MOVED, "when the CRP-HUD letter of approval of extension is received, it
will be sent to the City Attorney for his approval and to obtain the signature of the Mayor."
Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
In connection with the above project, Mr. Meigs informed the Board he had received the
day before a letter from the consultant (Raymond, Parish and Pine, Inc. ) regarding their
vacation schedule. The firm plans to close all of their offices for a two-week period
commencing Friday, August 20, 1971 at 3:00 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday morning, September 7, ,
1971. This should cause no difficulty in carrying out the study.
2. BZA-PB meeting--Mr. Meigs reported that he had received a reply to one of the
questions directed to the City Attorney after the May 25th meeting, as to whether the BZA
can act on appeals referred to the Planning Board in accordance with Sec. 12-C of the
Zoning Ordinance before the Planning Board returns the requested recommendation to them.
It is the City Attorney's interpretation of Sec. 12-C of the Zoning Ordinance that the BZA
may not take any action in the granting of a variance or special permit prior to the passage
of 30 days from the date that the Appeals Board secretary transmits the proposal to the
Planning Board, irregardless of the date on which the public hearing is held. If the
Planning Board fails to make a recommendation within the 30-day period, the Board of Zoning ,
Appeals may proceed without it.
Mrs. Jones commented on the matter: "As a member of the Common Council I am somewhat
upset by the fact that zoning currently is not being done by Common Council; as a member of
Common Council's Committee to the Planning Board, I am actually upset that the Planning
Board is having the rug pulled out from under them. I sincerely hope that someone does
something about it."
Chairman Putney again expressed the wish that the Planning Board and Board of Zoning
Appeals meet for discussion of procedures and asked Mr. Meigs to arrange such a meeting as
soon as it could be cleared with the City Attorney.
3. Seneca St. Parking Lot %%-Mr. Meigs informed the Board that he and the Department
of Public Works have agreed upon a plan for the parking lot but that their cost estimates
indicate need for up to $10,000 for the entire project, of which roughly $3,000 may be
attributable for aesthetics. (The total is $5,000 over and above the amount originally
approved by Common Council. ) This will include some additional features outside the lot
itself but these are permanent improvements, while the lot is 'temporary. ' The plan will
eliminate 4 or 5 of the originally proposed parking spaces. Mr. Meigs has contacted some
Civic organizations, among them the Kiwanis and the Men's Garden Club, who are willing to
work with the city in improving the lot and who will meet with him and the DPW for discus-
sion of same.
Mr. Conley MOVED, "the Board reaffirms its position in the matter - which was referred
by Common Council to Acting Director Meigs and DPW for recommendation - of improving the
Seneca St. lot and endorses the plan whihh may raise the cost to $10,000 to include
aesthetics and drainage." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consolidation of departments, etc.--Mr. Meigs informed the Boaxd he had been asked,
the previous day, to attend a meeting in the Mayor's office with other department heads to
discuss the possible consolidation of the Planning Department with some other department
(Urban Renewal, Building or Engineering). The County Welfare Department needs more space
in City Hall and the Mayor feels the Building Department should move into the empty space
next to the Planning Department (which it vacated a year ago when moving to third floor)
and possibly take the Planning Director's office in addition. Welfare could then rent the
third-floor front which it is interested in, one reason being that it is iituated adjacent
to the Council Chambers which could then be made available to it as needed. There also was
some discussion of the possibility of Urban Renewal moving into the space next to Planning
Department and their present quarters could then be rented to Welfare Department. Further,
whichever of these departments move next to Planning, it might be possible to effect further
economies through a decrease in personnel. The Mayor promised to make a decision but
nothing further has been heard from him.
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MISCELLANEOUS:
a. Zoning:
1. Request for a special permit for placement of signs, in excess of size permitted by
Sec. 7, Col. 4 of District Regulations Chart and Sec. 8, Subsec. A. 2a of the Zoning
Ordinance, at 780 S. Meadow St. , in a B-4 district - BZA Appeal 938--The proposal indicates '
the 4 signs would total 246 sq. ft. , or 44 sq. ft. in excess of the maximum. The plan calls
for 2 driveway entrances off the curve of Meadow St. which would be extremely hazardous;
Mr. Meigs suggested that further consideration be given to this problem, in consultation
with the City Engineer and the Chief of Police for determinations of traffic flow and public
safety. Also, this appeal must be reviewed by the County Planning Agency, since the property
is within 500 feet of a State highway. Mr. Conley MOVED, "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 con-
cludes that this Exception be not recommended." Seconded by Mr. Austin.
VOTE: Ayes - 2
Nays - 0
Abstained from vote - 2 (Mr. Doney, Chm. Putney)
CARRIED.
Mr. Doney said he didn't feel he could vote without knowing the legal opinion on figuring
the sq. ft. of signs.
2. Request for sign permit which is an exception to Sec. 7, Col. 4 of the Zoning
Ordinance, at 100 Commercial St. , in an I-1 district - BZA Appeal 939--Mr. Meigs pointed
out that the Ordinance required the sign to be placed 50 feet inside the property line.
Also, this appeal must be reviewed by the County Planning Agency, since the property is
within 500 feet of a State highway. If sq. ft. is figured for one side of the sign, the
total would amount to 168 sq. ft. ; if figured for both sides, then the total would be 336
sq. ft.
Mr. Conley MOVED, "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 this exception be not
recommended." For lack of a second, Mr. Austin then MOVED, "the Board recommends granting
the request for the exception." Seconded by Mr. Doney. The motion was CARRIED with Mr.
Conley voting 'no. '
Mr. Austin then MOVED to rescind his previous motion on Appeal No. 938. Seconded by
Mr. Doney. The motion was CARRIED with Mr. Conley voting 'no. '
Mr. Austin MOVED, "the Board recommends approval of request for special permit."
Seconded by Mr. Doney. The motion was CARRIED with Mr. Conley voting 'no. '
3. Request for a building permit which is an exception to Sec. 7, Col. 7 of the Zoning
Ordinance, at 201 College Avenue, in an R-3 district - BZA Appeal 941--Although Mr. Ledger
wishes to convert the existing dwelling consisting of 10 rooms and 1 apartment into a
rooming house only, of 15 rooms, he fails to meet the lot size requirement of 1,000 sq. ft.
per room in conversions, or a total of 15,000 sq. ft. Further, the Ordinance requires a
provision of 1 parking space per 2 persons housed, or a total of 8 spaces on which the
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proposed conversion falls short. The information submitted does not substantiate a claim
of hardship or special circumstances; the proposed conversion does not appear to be nece-
ssary for reasonable use of the dwelling.
Mr. Conley MOVED; "the Board recommends denial of the request for exception." Seconded
by Mr. Doney. The motion was CARRIED with Mr. Austin voting 'no. '
b. Summer help--Mr. Meigs informed the Board he had hired as a summer employee (Jr. Planner.,
Part-time) David Brockway, a senior in Political Science at Colgate. Mr. Brockway has had
some courses and intern work in planning, and will be helping fill in for Mrs. Martinez in
general technical and administrative work on the CRP, commensurate with his experience. The
Board indicated approval.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:4o P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
04- 1
J
Jonathan C. Meigs
6.2$.71 Acting Planning Director