HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1973-02-27 PLANNING NING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting February 27, 1973 7:30
PRESENT: Chm. Doney, :essrs. Schickel, Shaw and Stein, Mrs. Benson, '!Iessrs. Austin and
Clynes (arrived late).
ALSO: Director Meigs, Consultant Friedlander, P.layor Conley, Aldermen Spano, Jones and
Wallace, 1,Irs. J. Cantrell and members of the press and radio.
I11I1'1UTES of the last regular meeting of the Board, January 23, 1973, were approved as
published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
C01,11UA ICATIONS:
a) (Item not on Agenda) - Director Meigs recommended payment of the invoice received
from Raymond, Parish & Pine in the amount of X3,277 for services performed by the con-
sultant for period ending February 23, 1973. Approximately 95/ of the work is now com-
pleted in all phases of the program.
241r. Shaer MIOVED, "on -Mr. Meigs' recommendation the Planning Board RECO1.221FTI.DS payment
of the invoice." Seconded by 1;r. Stein. CARRIED.
OLD BUSI1,1ESS:
a) Conway Park - Mr. Meigs informed the Board that, with the assistance of volunteer
Barbara Lewellyn, wife of a planning student, he will have the report on Conway Park ready
to give the Board of Public Works in a couple of days. irs. Lewellyn intends to enter
Planning School in the fall; on recommendation she has started work in the City Planning
office, and Mr. ::•Meigs feels her background and involvement in social planning, recreation,
and things of that nature will be of value to her in working on the Conway Par'_. project.
She has started contacting people in the neighborhood--residents, representatives, people
related to the community by their work; i.e. , the Youth Bureau Director, pastor of the
local church, etc.--and has discussed the needs of the neighborhood as they perceive them.
To date she has talked with at least a half dozen persons ,rho respond as though they are
very much in favor of renewing the park this season and indicate they would like to have
it go farther. After a complete survey of spokesmen in the community, including some
younger people, it will be planned on paper and presented to the neighborhood for its
.reaction. Hopefully, this will lead to a general neighborhood meeting which will provide
ideas to Common Council and the Board of Public Works of what the neighborhood wants.
So far, there has not been much indication that the community grant plans limited to any
particular age group; the facilities possible in a park of that size can be used by any-
body unless strict enforcement is imposed. The Board expressed encouragement and the
hope the city could carry through with the plans.
b) DeWitt Park - 1r. 4eigs reported the DeWitt Park Improvement Committee has been
listening to the community's criticisms of existing; conditions in the park. The Committee
has reviewed the original plan and believe that some of the dissatisfaction is due to the
staging, over a number of years, of the improvements. ^hey sympathize with the community,
and wish to meet with the Planning Board, either as a whole or those members of the Poard
who are interested, and with the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, since the park
is in the Historic District, for discussion of modifications to the plan for improving;
DeWitt Park, both for the coming season and the long-range redevelopment and redesign
plans.
Alderwoman Jones explained that work in the park had been staged primarily because
of funds. About X1,000 are left in the appropriations for previous years which, together
with current resources, might be enough to carry out the committee's plans. One of the
biggest expenses will be the planting of large trees to replace the huge ones removed,
and there may be money in the tree budget to help defray that cost.
The Committee will meet Thursday, February 29 at 4:00 p.m. in the Planning office and
would like to have input from the Planning Board. If the Board recommends, and cost
figures are presented to Common Council at the same time, the Council could act and the
Board of Public Works could plan its part in carrying out the work to be done.
Mr. Stein I•IOVED, "the matter be referred to the Community Facilities w Services
Committee, with power to recommend action." Seconded by P=1r. Shan..*. CARRIED.
c) CRP - Air. Meigs informed the Board the draft report of 150+ pages, some of which
they are not familiar with, is in the process of being typed and should be available to
the Board by Friday of this week for their review and approval. He requested the Board
have a special meeting prior to the Common Council meeting of I" ch 7 so that the report
can be presented to Council at its meeting.
The consultant is presently preparing a brochure summary. The first draft has been
finished and should be received by the Planning Director within the next couple of days.
A.1r. Stein I'10VED1 "the consultant's contract be extended to April 4, 1973, and the
Board authorizes extension of the contract without penalty to the consultant for such
extension in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the current contract between the
City and the Consultant." Seconded by I.1r. Schickel. CARRIED.
NEv''7 BUSIWESS:
a) Chm. Doney announced that tentative agreement with a nei, Planning Director,
H. 14atthys Van Cort, to commence work for the Board on April 2, 1973, has been reached,
but it must go before Common Council because the salary exceeds the minimum set for the
grade. '-Ir. Doney gave a brief description of -1r. 'Van Cort's background and asked the
Board for their approval to present the item to Common Council for approval of salary and
provisional appointment. It was "so MOVED" by :Ir. Clynes and seconded by 1,41r. Austin.
CARRIED.
?4ISCELLXlEOUS:
a) Zoning -
1) RZA Case 995 - Request by Robert R. Flumerfelt for an Fxce >tion to Sec. 7,
Col. 13 of the Zoning Ordinance at 115 Campbell Avenue, in a R-1 district.
This appeal is for the purpose of widening a one-car garage to two-car capacity,
reducing the required side yard. Ir. Austin "OVER, "Planning; Board approve
grantin of requested exception.f9 Seconded by 1,1r. Shaw. CARRIED.
2
r
2) BZA Case 996 - Request bJr Bill Avra-is for an Exception to See. 7_,_Col. 2;
of the_ on1nr Ordinance at 609--l7 0--id cer ?'oad in a F-3
district. The appeal for exception for the purpose of building a 36-unit anart-
ment development with 36 off-street parking spaces along the street frontages of
the lot was reviewed. T>"r. Shaw I-'_OVED, "the request be referred to Codes z
Ordinances Committee for site visitation and reviev-, with power to recorunend to
the Board of Zoning Appeals; also the Board requests the Board of Zoning; Appeals
to postpone action on the case until the Committee can review it and report to
them." Seconded by r. Schickel. C:!RRIED.
3) BZA Case 917 - Request by the Ithaca Gun Co. , Inc. for an Exception to Sec. 7,
Col. 12 of the Zoning Ordinance at 123 Lake Street, in an I-1 district. The
appeal for exception to front yard requirement for the purpose of building an
addition to the front of the main manufacturing building; of the Ithaca Gun
Company was reviewed by the Board. It was 3�_OV�ED by 'Ir. Austin, seconded by
ir. Clynes , "Plannin;g Board approve granting the exception."
1,4r. Stein believed the Board should see plans of the proposed char_nes as
it is a substantial project. TIrs. Benson said the Board should not set the
precedent of approving a case without plans or information. 'Jr. Clynes said he
thought the Board should cooperate with some kind of vote. Messrs. Clynes and
Austin withdrew their motion and second, and ','r. Clynes then 17OVED, "the Board
approves in principle and wish to encourage the Gun Company in snaking the
proposed improvements, but request details be provided before final approval
can be given." Seconded by '-,Ir. Schickel. CARRIED.
b) (Item Not on Agenda) - For the information of the Board, Alders-Tor an Jones read a
memo which the Downtown Development Committee, of which she is chairman, mailed to
interested organizations, informing thea of a meeting which will be held at 7:30 p.m. on
1.1arci 13, 1973 in the Common Council Chambers for general discussions of the mall and
asking for input from the various groups.
i-7EETI dG ADJOURNED 9:30 P.i'.'.
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan C. "Tei.-Is,
3.9.73 Planning riredtcr
3