HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1971-11-30 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting November 30, 1971 7:30 P.M.
;postponed from 11/23/71)
PRES'E'NT: Chm. Putney, Vice Chm. Doney (arrived late), Messrs. Shaw, Hemming, Conley and
Austin (arrived late) .
ALSO: Director Meigs, Chm. Jones of Council Committee on Planning, City Engineer Schlieder,
Mrs. R. M. Putney, J. Aufheimer; P. Walsh, Ithaca Journal; J. Ellis, WHCU; and
A. Pryor, WTKO.
ABSENT: Mr. Burns.
MINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, October 26, 1971, were approved as published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
a) Letter dated November 8, 1971, from James D. Parkes preliminary to requesting City
acceptance and paving of Williams Glen Road. Mr. Parkes and his neighbors will request
paving of this road.
Brief discussion followed the reading of the letter, and it was remarked that careful
consideration should be given to this matter, due to terrain difficulties and the short
length of road inside the city; emergency vehicle access and possible future development
served by the road should be studied when the matter is officially presented.
b) Mr. Meigs informed the Board of receipt of an Invoice for Professional Services
:rendered from Raymond, Parish & Pine, consultants, for the completion of Study Design, Phase
of the CRP in the amount of $7,000 less 5% withheld, or $6,650, under terms of Item VI-C of
contract dated 7/9/71.
she Committee of the Whole Board met on November 18 in a Special meeting and reviewed
the study Design Phase of the CRP.
It was MOVED by Mr. Shaw, seconded by Mr. Conley, "Planning Board accepts the Study
Design Phase and recommend payment of the bill from Raymond, Parish & Pine, subject to
approval by HUD, and the City of Ithaca receiving the first Grant payment from HUD." Carried.
c) Chairman Putney read a letter received by him from City .Controller Russell regarding
the University Avenue Study supposedly completed by Mr. Steven Peterson in 1969. According ,-
to Mr. Russell's letter, he has checked and cannot find any evidence that the Board received
the written report of the study even though Mr. Peterson was paid in full in 1969. The
Agreement signed by Mr. Peterson and the City of Ithaca specified that "the contract shall
terminate upon final presentation and acceptance of the findings to the City Planning Board
and transfer of all reproducible maps, charts and written material." Since two years have
elapsed since the completion date specified in the contract and all information and material
referred to has not been transmitted to the City of Ithaca, Mr. Russell discussed the matter
with City Attorney Fred Weinstein who wishes to know what action he should take. Mr. Russell
suggested that the Planning Board should make that decision and advise him.
Mr. Shaw MOVED, "the Planning, Director communicate with Steven Peterson and give him
three weeks to fulfill his agreement with the City (submit the written report of the study)
or the matter will be referred at that time to the City Legal Counsel for legal action to be
taken." Seconded by Mr. Doney. CARRIED.
d) Citg Engineer Schlieder expressed the desire that the subdivision procedure be re
viewed and revised to include the review of minor subdivisions, citing as a case in point,
the property involved in the request of Mr. Parkes and neighbors , above, part of which lies
in the City and was subdivided some time ago, perhaps in violation of the City Subdivision
regulations, but never approved for subdivision.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) Mazza/N. Meadow St. rezoning. As a result of Mrs. Mazza's latest request to rezone
the 500 block, west side, of N. Meadow St. , as a B-4 zone, on which the Board recommended
denial, Councilman Bangs proposed a motion to rezone the entire west side of N. Meadow St.
as B-4s involving the 500, 400 and half the 300 blocks. Council requests the Planning Board
to study the matter further and to report its findings to Council when such study is com-
pleted.
In the discussion which followed, reference was made to prior Planning Board recommenda-
tions on rezoning the Mazza property, and to the recommendation contained in the proposed
zoning ordinance revision. Mr. Conley maintains that to rezone the area to B-4 would change
the character to auto-oriented uses, and says that if hardship exists, the property owners
can appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals for variances. Both Messrs. Austin and Hemming
think the Board should be realistic and favor the rezoning of the area to B-4 which would
allow those who have the ability to buy the properties and operate businesses there, and
which should protect the property values in other parts of the city by lessening pressure
for commercial development elsewhere. Chm. Putney doesn't think anything can be done to
Meadow St. to hurt it.
Alderman Jones asked what would happen to the area if, with state re-routing , Meadow
St. ceased to be Rt. 13, and she felt perhaps it is too soon to make the decision.
Mr. Austin MOVED, "that Planning Board study the matter further and report its findings
to the Common Council when its study is completed." Seconded by Mr. Shaw.
VOTE: Ayes - 4. opposed by Mr. Doney.
CARRIED.
The matter was referred to the General Plan and Capital Improvements Committee for study.
b) Copies of the General Plan were distributed to Board members and Alderman Jones.
Mr. Meigs informed the Board that the printer has overprinted the colored Maps and have
offered the excess to the Board for the flat price of $69,56/1600 maps if they wish to
purchase them. It was felt that there would be considerable demand for them, especially if
they could be resold at a nominal fee of 10¢ apiece, and having them on hand would save
reproduction time.
Mr. Doney MOVED, seconded by Mr. Conley, "that the Board buy the maps." CARRIED.
c) Mr. Meigs informed the Board that he has not yet solved his residency problem; he is
still looking for a home in the city to purchase but has found a tight market. Mr. Shaw
MOVED, "the Planning Board grants an extension of six months to Mr. Meigs to resolve the
matter." Seconded by Mr. Conley. CARRIED.
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NEW BUSINESS:
a) Mr. Meigs informed the Board that Junior Planner Martinez had to resign 'due to her
husband accepting a position elsewhere. Mr. Meigs has placed an ad in the ASPO TAB Journal
for a junior planner, and as a result has received several inquiries from applicants. He
expects , within two or three weeks, that he and the Board can meet to review some of the
applications submitted and hopefully choose a junior planner to fill the vacancy created by
Mrs. Martinez' resignation.
b) Mr. Conley asked about the status of the circulation study, what progress has been
made to date, and how traffic will be handled as a result of the closing of S. Tioga Street
as agreed to by Common Council. He asked when Council can expect a report on the circulation
study. Mr. Meigs said he has not been approached in any way in regard to the study. He
understands the engineers are working on basic data and expects to be contacted when the
enineers need to consult with him.
City Engineer Schlieder commented that Corson Council agreed to close Tioga St. without
a recommendation from Engineering, He said the problem is in getting traffic off Green St.
to Aurora St. and feels there should be a ramp from .Green St. to S. Aurora to alleviate
traffic.
d) Mr. Austin expressed the opinion that the housing needs in Ithaca should be reviewed
by a competent group of people, with a view toward rehabilitation of existing housing.
MISCELLANEOUS:
a) Zoning
The Codes & Ordinances Ccamittee reviewed the following appeals and recommended to the
Board:
1) BZA Appeal 962 - Request by Iry Lewis, Inc. for a variance to use premises at 303
W. St. for a small electric appliance repair shop. The current appeal was
reviewed, taking into account the concerns of business in the area, the possibility
of open storage, possible parking requirements (unknown and undetermined), and the
need to maintain existing space in front of the building in decent condition so as to
have no ill effects on adjacent properties. The Committee RECOMMEND approval of the
variance for specific use of small electric appliance repair operation, provided:
there be no open storage; the Board of Zoning Appeals assure itself there is adequate
parking; that the green area in front of the building be maintained in a neat fashion;
and that any sign to be required by the business be in character with the existing
sign on the adjacent business to the west (Cayuga Electric Co. ) in general size and
style, and not obtrusive on the neighborhood.
Mr. Doney MOVED, "the Board accept the Committee's recommendation."
Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
2) BZA Appeal 963 - Request by West Seneca Corp. for a Special Permit to erect signs in
excess of the 50 sq. ft. allowable, at 602 W. Seneca St. The appeal for a 41 x 6'
road sign (double-faced fluorescent lighted) in addition to a building sign of 50 sq
ft. , the total of which is 98 sq. ft. , or in excess of the 50 sq. ft. allowed by the,
Zoning Ordinance, was reviewed by the Committee who RECOMMEND the appeal be granted
with the proviso that the location of the street sign be such that it does not inter-
fere with traffic movement or visibility.
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Mr. Doney MOVED, "the Board accept the omit, °s re)oo=endati0n " Seconded
by Pri Austin. CARRIED.
3} BZA Appeal .964 - Request_by John Lowry for an bcceRt on to construct a four-unit
apartment building at 110 Hawthorne Pl. - The Committee strongly RECOMMEND this
exception be denied because the "lot size Is definitely underside for this type of
development-.- # is not wide enough, does not contain 064'gh basic area (the lot
being only 54° wide: would not allow groper yards all around), there is no design
submitted with the application., and ,no .assurarice that the development would be either
in character with the neighborho"od", or conform to- :other requirements of .applio-able
regulations,
Mr. Dorney MOVED, "the $oard accept the Committee's recormendatt- Seconded
by Mr. Austin:, CARRIED.
4) BZA Appeal 965_ Re
uQst by Pfir, Aufheimer,. agent for Chicken house of Ithaca,, ,Ino
r_
for ,Special Permit to alter aexisting sign to .a size in exeess .of the 50
a1low�ble, at 367 Elmira Rd. The Committe"e RECOMMEND this permit be panted nth t
proviso that the "total ariaunt of sign area, on the, property, including both sides, of,
this sign and the size o:f .all existing signs on the buildig, be nat an ;excess of
250 sq. ft.
Mr. Doney MOVED, "the, Board accept the C"omm tt.eers recorimendSeconded
by Mr. Austin. CARRIED:.
MEETING ADJOURNED 10 P.M.
The December Regular Meetingg will be held on December -. st 7.30 P.M.
Respect: l submitted,
than C. Meigs
12.6.71 atnng Director '
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