HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1973-04-24 PLAN`dING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting April 24, 1973 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: C11=_ Doney, Mirs. Benson, Messrs. Austin, Clynes, .Shaw and Stein.
ALSO: P1. Dir. Van Cort, Consultant Friedlander, Mayor Conley, Aldermen Jones,
Nichols, Slattery and Spano, Mr. & Mrs. W. Ewald, M. Hannan, E. :Brown,
W. Wiggins, J. Cantrell, P. Evans, L. Barbuzinski, and members of the press
and radio.
ABSENT: Mr. Schickel.
MINUTES of the Last Regular meeting of the Board, March 27, 1973, were approved as
published.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
COMMIMEICATIONS: None.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) CRP: Meir. Friedlander presented. a mock-up of the CRP brochure which includes
a brief description of each action area with space allowance for photographs rela-
ting to the areas, a statement of the two high-priority items, and essentially the
remainder of the material is text-implementation of proposed activities, funding,
administration, code en'o_rce?ient, implementations, etc. The brochure is 8 1/2 x 11",
on white stock which pro- des the most suitable bacl=_£?;rouiZd for the photographs; the
cover has not yet been out and it is not cle :.^ _' a photograph will be used
for its background. Mr. '-.r'_..dlander answered que:' =.:�-s of the Board concerning
budgetary consideration (preD.aration of the brcchL:,:< the responsibility of the
consultant) , and reference to the relation of the _')_r e:'_»^e paging to the items in
the Comr:iunity Renewal Prograi-ii. He said a minimum of a. ronth, more likely six weeks,
is required for completion of" the brochure, at which time it will ,be submitted to
the Board for review and comment.
Mr. Stein MOVED, "the Planning Board directs the Consultant to proceed to the
next stage of preparation of the brochure." Seconded by Mr. Shaw. CARRIED.
b) Parks:
1) Conwa,y Park - Pyr. Van Cort reported he had attended a meeting of the
community for discussion of the project and the types of activities for
which -the park could be used. The western corner was chosen as being
desirable for use as a passive area and would include shrubs, trees,
tables and benches. It was decided that no children's play equipment
will be located in Conway Park; instead it will be provided. by the ,
Housing Authority and located in the Hancock Housing Project, It was
decided the baseball diamond, as originally planned, would create a
dangerous situation with balls being hit into the street. The teenagers
at the meeting suggested turning the baseball field around so the balls
could be hit along the length of the park (which is the way they presently
play) , and the plans were changed accordingly. A basketball court (slight-
ly less than regulation size) could be included, and consideration was
given to constructing a wall for a handball court. Closing of Madison. St.
as suggested in the master plan, is not a. consideration at the present
time; however, the plan is so designed that if at a later date it is de-
cided to close the street, the plan can be expanded. A boccie-ball court;
or horseshoes, is being considered also. A fence, possibly 6 feet in
height, is proposed for enclosing the park except for the passive area and,
there should be a barrier erected between it and the remainder of the park.
If the schedule is adhered to, the bids will be placed and construction
begun sometime in May. An estimate of cost will be prepared and presented
to Common Council with the plan for approval. Mr. Clynes suggested that
another look be taken at the plans for a handball court after the cost
estimates are completed.
2) DeWitt Park - Mr. Van Cort reported that four boxwood trees have been
given to the city by Kr. MacDaniels , and it is expected they will be
planted in the vicinity of the Boar(hian House. The fountain in the park
reeds some work done on it, this work will be put out to bid. Because of
the continued diagonal flow of pedestrian traffic through the park it has
been proposed that shrubs be planted to redirect the flow to the existing
paved paths.
For the information of the Boanrd Mr. Van Cort reported that the
Board of Public Works has been requested by Common Council to begin work
on MncDaniels Park. A cost estimate has been prepared, and it turns out
that only part of the work can be done. Paths already exist and there is
some play equipment at the upper end of the park. There is money available
to do the grading, which Mr. Dingman thinks is a good starting point.
Seeding will also be done. Mr. MacDaniels will check out the plans and.
come back to t; e: �itaff with a report.
c) Routes 96 & 13:
1) Timetable for _co~ a_dor desiLn`!,,tion, ince option to buy Catholic Youth
Organization land: Mr. Van Gert reported that asreb-,.ult of a corridor hearing; on
July 3, 1970 regarding; Rts. 96 & 13, the R.Y.S. DoT is required to submit a corridor
Location Request to the Federal Highway Administration within 3 years of that hearing,
or by July 9, 1973. Messrs. Van Cort and Meigs met on April 12 in Syracuse with
Messrs. Shub, Shad, Tennant and Venner to discuss intermediate deadlines and actions
necessary to meet the final deadline of July 9, 1973, as follows:
(a) April 20 - City obtain option on lend proposed for exchange and notify
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (through Chuck Dunlop, Finger Lakes State
Parks Commission) , requesting the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to
notify DoT Syracuse Legion 3 of BOR acceptance of proposed exchange.
City letter to BOR must include evidence of appraisals and option
price; description of land proposed for exchange (size, topography,
adjacent uses, etc. ) ; reason for proposed exchange; and should be
accompanied by 2 copies of a map showing locations of respective
parcels, surrounding uses, etc.
(b) April 30 - Receipt by DoT of BOR approval of city's offer of land
to replace the approximately ten acres DoT will need for construction
of Routes 96 & 13. BOR's letter must state the reason for the ex-
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change (BOR-City agreement - based. on BOR regulations) : amount, tape
and characteristics of land to be exchanged; and possible uses.
(c) April 30 - Receipt by DoT of two copies of map forwarded to BOR plus
correspondence describing property, etc.
(d) May 1 - .DoT Syracuse forward Draft Environmental Impact Statement to
Albany DoT" and FHWA for their review. This gives thenthe possibili-
ty of making additional comments on the Draft, which Syracuse would
then have to answer, prior to FHWA approval of the Draft.
(e) May 7 - Syracuse forwards corridor Location Request to RIM. This cen
be done prior to publication and local review of the DEIS because FHWA
is aware of the situation and the July 9 deadline.
(f) May 15 v FHWA returns (hopefully approved) DEIS from city and others.
(g) July 10 - FHWA Washington will notify DoT of its approval of one or
more corridors for 96 and 13. There may be some communication between
Feds and State to clarify some points on this before final approval,
but hopefully this will not require anything from the City.
As requested by Common Council in its resolution of April 4, Mr. Van Cort
presented an evaluation of the CYO land which included six possible uses
for the property which can be limited to low-traffic special interest
recreational activities.
Mr. Clynes MOVED, "the Planning Board expresses to the Common Council
that in their opinion the recreational value of the CYO property is equal
to or greater than that of the land to be sacrificed; in the interest of
good planning; the Board supports the designation of the CYC property as
the parcel of land to be purchased and substituted for subject land."
Seconded by 1,7r. gra?r. Unanimously CARRIED.
2) Discussion of --natives for corridor >:-ion - Mr. Van Cort .re--
ported that ILr. 4. felt there were rx ents for a modified corridor.
A, instead of th ;?odified corridor C 1._e had previously proposed and
which is the corridor wnich the Location 1tcqucst recommends. If the city
feels that another corridor for 13 (other than modified C, which may on-
danger the Station) is desirable, that fact should be communicated to DoT
immediately.
If the city wishes to advocate one of the Rt. 13 corridors in particu-
lar, there are two possibilities for action:
a) Submit a recommendation to DoT, or
b) Ask DoT to separate the Rt. 13 project from the Rt. 96 project, and
carry the latter on full-speed.
Under either alternative, Mr. Shub feels that no particular problem will
develop with regard to either route, and that in either case Rt. 13 is so
far off in the future that a new corridor selection hearing will be neces-
sary.
If alternate B above is the course the city" wants to take, the request
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should be made to Syracuse as soon as possible so that they can revise the
Location Request before submitting it to FIHWA.
Mr. Van Cort was directed by the Board to contact Mr. Shub as soon as
possible and inform him that alternate B above is the course the city
wishes to take.
3) Discussion of proposal for hiring summer help to do study of 96_& 13
corridors and design, using Federal monies: Mr. Stein informed the Board
that he is exploring the possibility of getting a. small amount of funds
under the Appalachian Program to use to explore alternatives and develop-
ment possibilities.
d.) 14all: Discussion of planning and design for State Street Mall - IFr. Doney ex-
pressed the wish that the planning personnel play a role in the next stage of the
mall (design) and that, if appropriate, Corrion Council be asked to include them. Mr.
Stein said he would like to see the department become more involved in the mall and
other downto-.m projects. Mrs. Benson MOVED, "the Board recommend to Common Council
that the Planning Department be included in the important next stage of the mall which
is the design concept.`
Mayor Conley expressed the opinion that the development of the mall should be under
the ultimate direction of the Planning; & Development Conaittee of Common Council, that
the program should not be turned over to the Planning Board. Mr. Doney said the Plan-
ning, Board would have to retain control of its staff. Mrs. Benson withdrew her motion.
e) Ramada Inn: Presentation of zoning problems related to expansion of Ramada
Inn Plans: BZA Ap eal 1_0_10 _— Request b Atlantic--Richfield Coripany .
_ for an exception
to Sec. '7�Co1. !} sign size) of the Zoning Ordinance at 222 South Cayuga Street, in a
BL4 distr?.ct. The appeal is for a sign. of 77 sq. ft. with the words ARCO and CAR WASH
on a pylon at the N.E. corner of their property. In addition a Community Message Board
is proposed on the pylon u . ^?T the other sign. The Company also requested permission
to have three smaller size `J signs with their logo on. three sides of the car wash
building and three similar s'_: -is, one on each side o` 2--i-eg.:-standing kiosk in front
of the building. The signs _e to be Located on tl., ge of the roof of the kiosk.
Since the Ordinance allows for only one sign of no more than 50 s.f. on a pylon,
Mr. Shaw MOVED, "this Board. recommends denial of the request for exception for the 77
sq. Ift. sign or for the Community Message Board." Seconded by I�7r. Clynes. Unanimously
CARRIED.
It was then MOVED by Mr. Stein, seconded by Mr. Clynes, S7the Board recorziends
approval as requested of the graphics on the building and on the kiosk, in view of
their superior design." Unanimously CARRIED.
f) Operating; Budget: Mr. Doney presented the proposed final request as approved
by the Budget and Finance Committee of the Council and Mayor Conley. The amended
budget includes adjustments in some accounts to cover items which the Board felt were
necessary, but does not increase the request.
At this point, it was decided to review the remaining two BZA appeals.
g) BZA Appeal 1011 - Request by Philip J. Casciot_ta for an exception to Sec. 7,
Col. 11 of the Zoning; Ordinance at 420 Linn Street in a R-3 district: This appeal is
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for a permit to replace his present attached garage with a lamer-garege which requires
an exception to side yard requirements, and which will increase total lot coverage Iso
that he will be 131" s.f. over the allowance.
111r. Austin MOVED, "Planning; Board, recommends granting the exception, subject to
inspection by the chairnan of the Codes & Ordinances Committee." He then withdrew the
Motion and lir. Shaw MOVED, "Planning Board recommends granting the .exception, subject
to site inspection by the Codes & Ordinances Corumittee." Seconded by Mr. Austin.
Unanimously CARRIED.
h) BZA Appeal 1012 - Request by Donald Randall for Exception. to Sec. 7, Col�7 of
the Zoning Ordinance at 804 East State Street, in a R-3 district: This appeal is for
a, permit to convert an existing two-family dwelling into three apartments and requires
an exception to lot size as the conversion would leave a deficiency of 875 sq. ft.
Mrs. Benson MOtiTED, "The Planning Board refer the appeal to its Codes & Ordinances CorL-
mittee for review, with power to forward its decision to -the Board of Zoning Appeals,"
Seconded by Mr. Clynes. Unanimously CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) South Side Housing; Proposal: Mr. Van Cort presented a Southside Renewal Area
Study Proposal which Mr. Doney, directed be reviewed by the Housing & Development Com-
mittee of the Board.
b) Off-street .residential parking study: Mr. Van Cort expressed the opinion that
the entire question of off-street parking in the city should be studied. This will be
a considerable job. Mr. Stein said he would like a broader study than just parking as
increased housing pressures will have impact on some areas. It was finally decided
that the staff should study the whole question of transition in the East Hill Area.
c) Iters not on Agenda: Atty Wiggins raised the question of whether or not the
proposed sale of land by 4,0:1e Alpha, Delta Phi Fraternity constitutes a subdivision, and
argued that in his opinion, eand. that of the City Att- n=y, it does not. The City
Attorney advised, and the Ec,-z d. agreed on, the nese: ..sty of getting another legal:
ruling,
'MISCELLANEOUS:
a) Zoning cases: Handled under Old Business above.
b) Mr. Van Cort informed the Board the Building Commissioner has requested a
change in the order of business so that the BZA Appeals can be handled earlier in the
meeting, The Board had no objection and 1x1r. Stein MOVED, "the order of business of
the Planning Board be amended as requested." Seconded by Mr. Austin. CARRIED.
c) Item not on Agenda: Mr. Clynes asked why the resolution of the Board of Public
Works concerning the designation of the Park Road (temporary Rt. 89) as a city street,
and which was passed at its March 28th meeting., did not appear on the Planning; Board
Agenda so that it could be acted upon. It was explained to him that the item had not
as yet been received by the Board. The Board directed Mr. Van Cort to get the in-
formation from the Board of Public Works and refer it to Community Facilities &
Services Committee.
MEETING ADJOURNED 10:40 P.M,
Respectfully submitted by M. Van Cort
5 Planning Director