HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1971-07-27 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting July 27, 1971 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chm. Putney, Vice Chm. Doney, Messrs. Austin, Shaw, and Conley.
ALSO: Acting Director Meigs, Jr. Planner Lawrence, R. Saecucci, member of Planning
Board Committee of Council, Alderman Nordheimer; R. Marion, W. Woodruff and
E. L. Schuette, representing Hi-Fy Gas Stations; Mr. & Mrs. W. Ewald, Mr. & Mrs.
D. Winters and members of the press and radio.
ABSENT: Mr. Burns.
MINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, June 22, 1971, were approved as published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
COMMUNICATIONS: None.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a. Executive and Liaison - Office Space and Personnel--The Committee RECOMMENDS that the
Planning Board affirm that it requires the full-time services of its stenographer-
secretary, and that any contemplated sharing of the secretary's time by any other
department would not be acceptable to the Board, nor would it be at all feasible until
such time as the Community Renewal Program is completed.
Mr. Putney MOVED, "the Board accepts the Committee's recommendation." Seconded
by Mr. Doney. CARRIED unanimously. Chm. Putney directed the secretary to write the
accepted recommendation of the Committee as a resolution of the Board, to be delivered
to the Mayor, with a copy to Supt. of Public Works Dingman.
b. Codes and Ordinances - See Zoning Appeals below under MISCELLANEOUS.
OLD BUSINESS:
a. CRP - Acting Director Meigs gave a brief report on the status of and progress to date
of the program--HUD has granted an extension of completion date to 30 Nov. 1972, and
the Mayor has accordingly signed the consultant contract. An initial survey of
building and neighborhood conditions by this office and the consultant is nearly com-
plete.
Mr. Meigs also informed the Board that Mrs. Martinez is preparing the Workable
Program for recertification which is required to be done every two years, and which
is a condition for participation in many other federal programs.
b. Christmas Decorations - The Acting Director reported that he has met twice with the
Supt. of Public Works and others, and the matter has reached the stage that no
further planning involvement is necessary. A design has been agreed upon in con-
junction with business district merchants, who wish to contribute to this project to
decorate the city's main street. The policy of city participation in decorating the
core of the city (business district) is expected to be discussed at the next Council
meeting.
c. Seneca-Tioga Parking Lot "C" - Mr. Meigs informed the Board that with Council
approval of the revised design and budget, the Engineers are preparing construction
drawings. Project completion is hoped for in the Fall. Discussions with Kiwanis and
the Liberty Hyde Bailey Men°s Garden Club of Ithaca have resulted in offers of help
by contribution of the needed benches, and by providing some of the landscaping
material and the labor for landscaping.
d. (Item not on the Agenda) - Mr. Meigs reported that, as requested by the Board, the
staff has completed a parking study of the CBD. The Community Facilities & Services
Committee did not have time to review it before this meeting. Copies of the study
were distributed to the Board for their review, and for comment by the Co=ol ttee
after more detailed study prior to the next meeting.
Chm. Putney inquired about the status of the Master Plan and Mr. Meigs reported
that the remainder of the maps probably will be delivered to the printer within the
next three weeks and the Plan should be published by September.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
MISCELLANEOUS:
a. Zoning -
Chairman of Codes & Ordinances Committee Doney presented the Committee Reports on
the following appeals which were reviewed by the Committee (see official Planning
Board file for complete reports).
1. BZA Appeal 944 - Request by W. Seneca Cor . for a Variance to use remises
at 602 W. Seneca St. for a dacleaning plant. Though drycleaning plants are not
allowed in other than industrial zones by the Ordinance, the Committee could find no
particular objection to the proposed use in terms of long-range planning for the area,
which are for commercial use, and therefore RECOMMENDS that the Board recommend
approval of the appeal provided the use as a cleaning plant is acceptable from a fire
safety point of view, and provided the City Traffic Engineer and the Police review
the access and egress conditions of the site to insure the best traffic safety and
traffic pattern; the case must also be referred to the County Planning Agency since it
concerns property adjoining a state highway. Mr. Doney MOVED, "the Board accept the '^
Committee's recommendation." Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
2. BZA Appeal 945 - Request by Art Kahkonen, for a Variance to use �Qremises at
201 Tompkins St. as a Glass shop. The Committee RECOMMENDS approval of a variance for
use of an existing structure at 201 E. Tompkins St. for a glass shop only, subject to,
the following conditions :
a) that full account be taken of the approval or objections of neighborhood residents;
b) that any existing variance on the property, especially for use as an auto body or
mechanical repair shop, be nullified;
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c) that repairs and alterations to the exterior of the structure (including painting
and signs) be of a character compatible with and not detracting fron the primarily
residential neighborhood in which it is located;
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d) that vehicular traffic between subject premises and appellant's business at 206 E.
Tompkins St. be kept to a minimum consistent with residential traffic, and not be
disturbing to the neighborhood.
Mr. Doney MOVED, "the Board accept, the• Committee's recommendation." Seconded
by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
Though the Board is reluctant to allow establishment of non-residential uses in a
residential zone, it recognizes the problems of existing structures not convertible to
residential use.
3. BZA Appeal 950 - Request by Westons Shoppers City, Inc. for a Special Permit
to allow a building-mounted sign of 216 sq. ft. (in excess of the 50 sq. ft. allowable)
at 744 S. Meadow St. The Committee RECOMMENDED that the Planning Board, finding nothing
in the proposal which would affect long-range planning for the area, recommend to the`.
BZA that Appeal #950 for Special Permit to erect a building-mounted sign totaling not
more than 216 sq. ft. , be approved. Mr. Doney MOVED, "the Board accept the Committeefs
recommendation." Seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED.
This Appeal must also be referred to the County Planning Agency for review before
final approval.
4. BZA A eat 946 - Request by BywayHolding Corp./CenturyCorp./Century for an Exception and
Special Permit to erect a sign of over 50 sq. ft. within 25 sq. ft. of a public right-
of-way and within 50 ft. of the property line of the new Century warehouse premises at
100 Commercial St. This is a resubmission of an appeal which was denied by BZA on
grounds that the sign area (both sides) was over the maximum allowable 250 sq. ft. ;
BZA made no reference to the requirements for exception to location. The current
appeal is for 168 sq. ft. of sign only, on one side of a 301 high pylon.
The Committee felt that there were sufficient questions about the heightand
location of the proposed sign that the members should make an on-site investigation,
and resolved to visit the site individually prior to the Planning Board meeting. Thus
no recommendation was forwarded, pending this visit. After discussion by the Board,
Mr. Shaw MOVED, "the Board RECOMMENDS approval of the request insofar as it concerns
the size of the sign, and RECOMMENDS approval of the request for exception subject to "
the relocation of the sign on the lot so that the set back requirements from the
adjacent lot lines are met." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
It is noted that this appeal must be referred to the County Planning Agency for
its review before final approval.
Alderman Nordheimer informed the Board that the Chairman of Charter & Ordinance
Committee of Council has delegated him to be responsible for collecting background
information for preparation of a sign code. To that end Charter & Ordinance Committee
is planning to meet regularly with that one topic in mind. Inasmuch as they are just
beginning the task, it will be some time before they will have a finished code. Mr.
Nordheimer mentioned he has a copy of Princeton, N.J. Ordinance which prohibits signs
entirely, and suggested that perhaps the Planning Board would like to take a look at it.
5. BZA Appeal 942 - Request by Mrs. Hazel Soyringr for Interpretation and/or
Variance to allow use of properties at 614-20 W. Clinton St. for a Co-op employee
parkin; lot. The Appeal was discussed by the Committee. It was noted that there are ,
several considerations involved in the case which are of basic importance, such as the,
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needs of commercial facilities for expansion, retention of neighborhood character,
adherence to the guidelines of the General Plan, methods of neighborhood improvement,
and interpretation of the ordinance.
The Committee felt that the issues involved require discussion by the whole Board
without prior determination, and therefore returned the matter to the Board without
recommendation.
It was noted that the Southside Cormunity Organization had called a special
meeting to express their disapproval of the use of the property for a parking lot.
Mr. Shaw MOVED, `"Planning Board interprets that the proposed use by Co-op Store
is consistent with residential parking and recommends approval of interpretation and
variance." Seconded by Mr. Austin. VOTE - Ayes - 0, motion defeated.
Mr. Conley then MOVED, "the Board RECOMMENDS the request be denied as it feels it
would be a definite infringement on the residential character of the neighborhood."
Mr. Doney MENDED the notion, "the Board does not feel it is in the best interests
of long-range planning for the area which should retain its residential character. In
addition, the appeal states that the requested use will be in harmony with the genera
purposes and intent of the Zoning Ordinance which is contrary to the views of the
Planning Board." The motion, as amended, was seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED.
The Board does not feel the solution to the problem of substandard property is
necessarily the removal of the buildings thereon, or that Mrs. Soyring, has exhausted
the potential of selling the properties for a reasonable price.
If, notwithstanding this Board's recommendation, the final decision is to grant
the Appeal, it must first be referred to the County Planning Agency since it concerns
property within 5009 of a State highway.
6. BZA Appeal 951 - Request for Special Permit by Hi-Fy Gasoline Stations for
Special Permit to erect a sign in excess of 50 sq. ft. , the proposed location of
which does not meet the lot line requirements or set back requirements of the Zoning;
Ordinance, at 366 Elmira Rd. This appeal was not reviewed by the Codes & Ordinances
Committee. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "the Board refers the Appeal to Codes & Ordinances Committee
with power to reconnend to the Board of Zoning Appeals prior to its August 2nd meeting."
Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:30 p.m.
Following adjournment of the Regular Meeting the Board met in Executive Session
for the purpose of discussing the Director's position and to review the applications
received for the position.
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan C. Meigs
8.2,71 Acting Director
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