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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1972-12-19 PLANNING BOARD MEETING City of Ithaca Regular Meeting December 19, 1972 7:30 P.M. PRESENT: Chm. Doney, Messrs. Austin, Ewanicki, Shaw and Stein. ALSO: Pl. Dir. Meigs; Consultant Friedlander; Aldermen Saccucei, Henderson, Wallace, Meyer, and Jones; M. Van Marter, G. Kasprzak, F. Yahn, J. Ellis, Mr. & Mrs. J. Wooster, J. Cantrell, Mr. & Mrs. M. Hannan, Mr. & Mrs. S. Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. W. Alder, Mr. & Mrs. W. Ewald, M. LaFrance, Mr. & Mrs. H. Murphy, Mr. & Mrs. V. Logan, K. Arden, J. Dozier, P. Sarkus, H. Hunt Bradley, Jr. , J. Kallstrom, Mrs. R. Marshall and Mrs. G. McCauley. ABSENT: R. Burns and G. Schmidt. PUBLIC HEARING (John MacLean) was called to order at 7:30 P.M. John MacLean - portion of a plat entitled "Westwood Knoll Subdivision," N. 'Taylor Place and Campbell Avenue lots 5-12) of a 33-lot subdivision. Mr. Meigs informed the Board that Mr. MacLean has submitted certification of completion of water, sewer, and street paving ,as required by regulations. He also submitted certification to the effect that these details have been approved by the Tompkins County Department of Health, and that the City Engineer has approved the required street improvements. The Public Hearing notice quoted the minimum requirements of the Subdivision Regula- tions which caused a misunderstanding by several neighboring residents who understood it to mean that Mr. MacLean intends to change the specifications from those which received preliminary approval of the Board on September 10, 1956. About 20 of these residents were in attendance at the hearing. After studying the plans submitted by Mr. MacLean, they were satisfied that there have been no changes in specifications. However, they wished to go on record as "upholding existing map and zoning ordinance without alteration"; they agreed unanimously that they are in favor of retaining the map as presented at the 12/19/72 Planning Board meeting, assuming it meets all requirements. The hearing was declared closed at 8:00 P.M. and the Regular meeting of the Planning Board was called to order. MINUTES of the last Regular meeting of the Board, November 28, 1972, were approved as published. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None. COMMUNICATIONS: a) Director Meigs read a letter from Asst. Prof. Mary Winters, Dept. of Consumer Educa- tion & Public Policy, N.Y.S. College of Human Ecology, in which she expressed appreciation ' to the planning staff for assistance given to a group of her students who were assigned a project which required them to analyze a residential environment in the Ithaca area. COMMITTEE REPORTS: a) Community Facilities & Services - Chm. Stein presented a Committee Report (complete report in official Planning1d,)rd files) on Northside recreation and the relocation of the Northside minipool, containing the following recommendations: "that the Northside minipool be relocated to the GIAC, and that the Board and staff further consider plans and proposals for developing Conway Park, including closing adjacent streets, and report on these matters at the January meeting." Mr. Stein MOVED, "adoption of the Committee Report by the Board." Seconded by Mr. Ewanicki. CARRIED. Alderman Saccucci presented a petition signed by 19 residents of the area who are opposed to the minipool being located in Conway Park. Alderman Jones asked questions as to the reason for the decision of the Committee, and if the property on either side of Northside House had been considered. It was explained that there is no real concern on the part of the Youth Bureau that the pool be placed on the Conway Park site; it would be less expensive to place it on the GIAC location, there was a considerable amount of community friction over it being located in Conway Park, and there wokld be supervision and control at the GIAC location. Mrs. Jones expressed the opinion there might be less friction in the neighborhood if; there were something for the children to do, and pointed out the problem still exists and needs to be given attention regardless of location of the minipool. Alderman Meyer expressed hope that the programming which should exist at the housing development will soon be taken care of, and that we not start labelling it as something different--that we want to make sure that public housing works in Ithaca. OLD BUSINESS: a) Review of the CRP Technical Report Summary - Mr. Friedlander described an addition to the Action Program Section of the Technical Report. This was developed in response to. the need for guidelines for local action, in the event little or no federal assistance is available immediately, to implement the community improvements the CRP Studies show to be needed. Mr. Stein indicated favorable response in a general sense although he wishes to study the document more thoroughly and then offer suggestions. Mr. Shaw inquired as to what was expected of the Board in the way of acceptance of the program. Mr. Friedlander replied that it is desirable for the Board to make a recom- mendation to Common Council as soon as possible so that Council might take its action without excessive delay. Mr. Meigs listed the options open to Council at that point as 1) approval of the Technical Report and its recommendations as the City's analysis and specific plan for action in the areas covered, thus committing the City to a fairly definite set of actions, though these would be subject to change as conditions warranted; 2) acceptance of the report and recommendations as in general conformance with the goals and objectives of the City's General Plan, with the effect of acknowledging that the CRP study authorized by Council had been completed according to contract, but that its analysis and recommended program of action were not necessarily wholly concurred in by Council, 2 and that action needed and to be taken would be subject to further review. Under the first option, Council would approve the CRP Technical Report by resolution; under the second option, Council would determine that the report conforms to the City's General Plan and make a resolution to that effect, and the Mayor would endorse the report. A third option, which would only be interim pending action on one of the first two, is to forward the report to HUD as a draft, with a statement that approval or endorsement would follow. It was felt that in view of current conditions of timing and funding, the second option seemed the most acceptable. After discussion of the time required for these reviews and approvals, and of the consultant's reetionsibility under contract, it was MOVED by Mr. Stein, "the action taken at the November meeting of the Board, requesting an extension from HUD to February 28, 1973, should be taken to represent an authorization by this Board for the extension of the con- tract without penalty to the consultants for such extension, but otherwise in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the current contract between the City and the consultant." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED. i It was agreed that a special meeting of the Committee of the Whole Board would be set'_ up for sometime during the coming week to review the Action Program of the CRP in detail and make recommendations. The Planning & Development Committee of Common Council will be invited to attend this meeting. b) Request for final a roval of the MacLean subdivision--Westwood Knoll, off Hector Street - Mr. Shaw MOVED, "final approval of the MacLean subdivision lots nos. 5 thru 12 which received preliminary approval on September 10, 1956) be given by the Board inasmuch as all necessary conditions have been met." Seconded by Mr. Ewanicki. CARRIED. c) (Item not on Agenda) Proposed Zoning Map - Alderman Meyer presented a map which is a composite of all the maps reviewed previously. She requested approval of the Board on the following: that the area between State and Court, Fulton and the old Inlet be zoned Business instead of Marine; that instead of the proposed two Marine zones, there be only one, with the combined characteristics of both as proposed; that the present Industrial zone in the area between Third, Hancock and Rt. 13 be changed to Business to be more compatible with the adjacent Residential area. Mr. Austin MOVED, "that the Planning Board accept the changes as suggested by Alderman Meyer; and further, that it suggests the Charter & Ordinance Committee and all others concerned with the zoning map give consideration to locating zone boundaries at mid-block or on the rear lines of properties, wherever possible, rather than at the middle of the street." Seconded by Mr. Stein. Mr. Doney asked for clarification that the map was what the Board had approved, and expressed the desire to see a detailed fine-line map, showing boundaries where possible, with a list of the proposed changes before the Board takes action. Mr. Shaw expressed the opinion that the Board was not ready to adopt the change. The motion was withdrawn by Messrs. Austin and Stein, and Mrs. Meyer agreed to prepare a map as described above to present to the Board at its January meeting for action before it goes to the Common Council in February. NEW BUSINESS: None. MISCELLANEOUS: a) Zoning - 1) BZA Case 992 - Request by L. Kallstrom and H. Hunt Bradley, Jr. for a 3 Variance to Sec. Col. 2 of the Zonin& Ordinance at 326 E. Falls St. , in an R-3 district. This appeal is for continued use of the property for commercial use but for a business different from that for which the original variance was granted. The Board finds that the long-range plans for the area would not be seriously affected by continued commercial uses on this scale. Mr. Stein MOVED, "Planning Board recommends approval of the variance for use of subject property as an ice cream and sandwich shop, provided that written assurance; of the long-term availability of off-street parking, in the amount specified for such use ` by the zoning ordinance, is presented by the appellants." Seconded by Mr. Ewanicki. CARRIED. b) (Item not on Agenda) - Employee Parking - Mr. Stein observed that a problem is experienced by members of the planning staff in regard to parking and thinks possibly other City Hall staff have the same problem. He MOVED, "Common Council and the Board of Public Works be asked to work out a method to alleviate the employee parking problem." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED. MEETING ADJOURNED at 10:35 P.M. The Board then called an Executive Session. Respectfully submitted, onathan C. Meigs 12.27.72 Planning Director 4