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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1972-08-22 a PLANNING BOARD MINUTES City of Ithaca Regular Meeting August 22, 1972 7:30 P.M. PRESENT: Chm. Doney, V. Chm. Shaw, Messrs. Austin and Burns. ALSO: Planning Director Meigs, Mayor Conley, Bldg. Comm. Jones, 'City Eng'r Schlieder, Pl. & Dev. Comm. of Council members Jones, Spencer and Slattery; Alderman Myers, A. Golder, D. Saperstone, Mrs. Mary Weiner, K. Barned, P. Wallace, J. Beck (WBBR), ., F. Yahn (Ithaca Journal), Dr. Reuben Weiner, D. Stomka, W. Wieland and B. Harms. ABSENT: Messrs. Steinke Schmidt'4 hi F wa-h lck ' . Minutes of the last Regular meeting of the Board, July 25,1972, were approved as published. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None. COMMUNICATIONS: a) Raymond, Parish & Pine, Inc. - See OLD BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS: None. OLD BUSINESS: a) Director Meigs and Board members DoneY, Shaw, Austin and Ewanicki met on Aug. 16 with Dr. Weiner to review his request for final approval of his proposed Mobile Home Park. The Board were satisfied with Dr. Weiner's presentation and answers to their questions but took no specific action at that time. Mr. Meigs presented letters to the Board from Fire Chief Weaver informing the Board that the plot plan of the trailer park as proposed by Dr. Weiner is acceptable to him; from Stephen Herman, Director of Environmental Health to Dr. Weiner approving the plans subject to certain conditions; and from Ithaca School District to Dr. Weiner informing him of the arrangement made for school children at the trailer park, and asking that he notify the tenants. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "the Planning Board RECOMMEND that the Building Commissioner approve the request for the building permit as requested by Dr. Weiner." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED. Dr. Weiner asked that the Minutes show that the name of the park will be "Nate's Floral Estates." Mr. Meigs recommended that Phase 1 of the project be approved; Phases 2 and 3 be held in abeyance to see how things go. Mr. Austin replied that he could see no reason to delay approval of permit for all phases. Raymond, Parish & Pine, Inc. (from COMMUNICATIONS) Mr. Meigs recommended payment of. the invoice received from Raymond, Parish & Pine in the amount of $3,192 for services rendered from 6/20-8/10/72. He explained the cost breakdown and informed the Board that the Preliminary Application for NDP funds had been submitted on Aug. 18. Mr. Austin asked if the Preliminary Application was part of the original CRP work for which the consulting firm was retained and Mr. Meigs replied that it was and that they are currently in the final third of their work. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "the Planning Board RECOMMEND payment of the invoice." Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED. b) CRP/Early Action Program Status - Mr. Meigs reviewed the status of the plans for the first ,year of the program and explained that we have to receive some indication from HUD as to whether or not there will be funds available. Mr. Doney asked if we can make the application from this department, or if we are committed to Raymond, Parish & Pine. Mr. Meigs replied that there exists the possibility that we might have to. NEW BUSINESS: a) Zoning Map, - Alderman Meyers presented suggested changes to the Zoning Map and Ordinance being presently discussed by the Charter & Ordinance Committee of Council, and asked for the advice of the Board after they have had a chance to study the suggestions. Mrs. Meyers plans to return to the Board as the Committee progresses. b) Rt. 13 - Mr. Meigs presented the Draft Statewide Master Plan for Transportation, which does not show Rt. 13 as a new, controlled-access highway which city and county have been working and planning on for ,years. Mr. Meigs feels recommendation should be made to DoT for Rt. 13 to be included in the Plan. A new Rt. 13 could be a considerable boost to the economy of the area. Mayor Conley asked Planning Board to recommend, with Common Council, that this is the position of the City of Ithaca. Mr. Burns MOVED, "Planning Board directs Mr. Meigs to draft a statement that it strongly supports the idea of the originally planned Rt. 13, or that we have it as an additional road, and that the statement be transmitted when completed to the N.Y.S. DoT." Seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED Unanimously. (See Official Planning Board files. ) c) Historic Landmark - Mr. Meigs presented a letter from the Ithaca Landmarks Preserva- tion Commission to Mayor Conley and members of Common Council recommending that the city approve its designation of the Clinton House Hotel as a historic and cultural landmark of the city. Mr. Saperstone, owner of the hotel, is in favor of the designation, and is agreeable to wait until Council can ratify the designation, and a 90-day period for a decision by the city or public as to whether there will be funds to restore the building. There was some discussion regarding the "Y" and other unspecified groups using the building. Mr. Austin MOVED, "Planning Board goes on record as being in favor of the Clinton House being designated for preservation by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission." Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED. d) Traffic Consultant - Mr. Meigs presented a letter and preliminary proposal from Raymond, Parish & Pine, outlining services to be performed as a traffic consultant in connection with a study of the downtown traffic conditions surrounding the proposed mall. They estimate $6,000-10,000 for the traffic study, or $15,000-30,000 for the study to be done with engineering recommendations. The Mayor informed the Board that the State of New York said they would do the traffic study but not at the present--probably next ,year. There is some doubt by Board members as to whether the study by the State would take into consideration the solutions to the city's problems or if their study would concern the State's problems only. It was the consensus of the Board that the decision on whether to retain a consultant 2 4 be held in abeyance pending what the city will proceed to do. They also advised the Mayor to contact the State and get in writing an idea of the type of study the State can do. e) Capital Improvements Program - The staff was unable to prepare a list of projects for tentative approval and forwarding to the Capital Improvements Review Committee. Mr. Mems suggested the list be developed by the General Plan and Capital Improvements Committee There will be meetings of the Capital Improvements Review Committee on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 in Rm. 209 of City Hall at 7:30 P.M. f) S. Hill Playground - The Board was requested to approve the plan prepared by the Department in 1,971 for the improvement of the playground to serve as a joint school- neighborhood recreation facility. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "Planning Board supports the development of the playground and endorses the project enthusiastically." Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED. MISCELLANEOUS: a) Zoning Cases. - 1) ases -1) BZA Appeal 986 -_R_eque9t for an Excel+ion at604Taylor_Pl in an R-1 district. Mr. Sudre wishes to build an�apartment, using 50% of the floor area of the existing home, and requests an exception to lot size requiremen=t because of a 5,000 sq. ft. deficiency. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "Based on the information available, the Board RECOMMEND denial of the request for Exception." Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED. 2) BZA Appeal 987_- Request for an Exclption at Q09 N.TTior-a St. , in an R-3 dis- trict. Mr. Bodine wishes to wild an efficiency apartment in the basement of the existing home, to increase his income to pay for repairs which need to be made to the foundation of the house. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "Based on the information available, the Board RECOMME7D denial of the request for exception." Seconded by Mr. Burns. CARRIED. b) Transfer of Funds - The Board was requested to authorize a transfer of funds from ` Account 312, Equipment Parts & Supplies, to Account 435, Advertising, to cover extra advertising expense. Chm. Doney directed M_=. 11eigs to Iran sfe2 $150 from Account 312 to Account 435. c) Rothschild-Caldwell Devel Trment - The Mayor presented a model and plans of the proposed development and explained the proposed city parking ramp. Mr. Shaw MOVED, "Planning Board wishes to ro cn record as approving the concept of the proposed Rothschild- Caldwell Development, as presented by Mayor Conley." Seconded by NO. Burns. CARRIED. Meeting Adjourned 10:25 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Jonathan C. Me-iFs 8.28.72 Planning Director 3