HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1974-01-22 PLANNING BOARD MI1TTUTES
Zity of Ithaca
Regular Meeting January 22, 197+ 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chm. Doney, Mrs. Benson, Messrs. Brock, Conway, Moran, Schickel and Stein.
ALSO: Dir. Van Cort, Alderwoman Meyer, Bldg. .;Insp. Stickler; P. Campbell, J.
Cantrell, A. Cerracche, D. Hoffman, L. Kolar, and members of the :press and
radio.
Chm. Doney called the meeting to order at 7:301P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of last Regular meeting, December 20, 1973, and of Special
meeting, December 27, 1973:
Mr. Schickel MOVED., and Mrs. Benson seconded, "that,the minutes of both meetings
be approved as published."' CARRIED unanimously.
ZONING:
BZA, Appeal`1035 - This was a request for an exception to the Sign Ordinance
under Sec. 5,
Par. B and C, at 315 College Avenue in a B-2 zone. According to their
appeal form, Collegetown Cameras '& Cards wanted to replace the panel in the existing
sign with one that would have their name included as the one there now was for the
prior business in the building. The Ordinance allows t; sign to project only 18"
from the front of a building and the one they wish .to use projects 5' . Mrs. Benson
MOVED, "the Planning Board recommend approval of -the appeal provided that it only
entail the changing of the words on the existing sign and that the signs on the
building would be,,in full compliance by 1979.". Seconded by Mr. Stein. Motion
defeated 3-4.
VOTE: Ayes - Benson, Conway, Stein; Nays - Brock, Arran, Schickel. Chm. Doney
broke the tie by voting 'no' thus defeating the motion.
BZA Appeal 1036 — This was a request for a variance to Sec. 10-D, and an
exception to Sec. 9-F4a, at 407 Cliff,Street in an"R-3 zone. Mr. Lawrence Kolar
explained the plans to the Board. He said there is an existing house on the land
that Mr. Kolar's father had lived in for many,.years. Kolar machine intended to
demolish the house and utilize.the existing foundations for the new structure. The
new building will be a fireproof structure. The area along front of the building
is presently used for customer parking and is behind the line of the sidewalk.
Director Van Cort expressed his concern and the concern of'the Department of Public
Works about the parking situation. Director Van Cort also felt that the bank at the
back of the existing,,and proposed structure is terrible eyesore, especially from
Cass Park because of the huge concrete slabs and other rubble which are visible from
the road below. He felt that when. the project was all finished there should be
planting and screening to make the entire .site-more attractive k1r. Schickel MOVED,
"the Planning Board recommend approval, of the variance and the exception with the
condition that Mr. Kolar make some provision for lanc:scaping the back when the
project is completed." Seconded by Mr. Moran. CARRIED unanimously. '
BZA Appeal 1037 - This was a request for an exception to Sec. 7, Cols 14, 169
Sec. 9, Subsection f, at 200 Hancock Street ina. B-2 zone. The reason exceptions
were needed was that the proposed building is required to have a side yard of at least
5' on both sides and the plans show only 1'6" on one side. Also a back yard of 20'
is required while the appellant has 81 shown on the drawing. Finally, the' store that
was formerly located on that site had front yard parking.-as is shown for the proposed
store. The ordinance does not allow front yard parking in a B-2 zone. However, the
location of parking in the front yard i in fact a technicality caused by the fact
that the store's address is on Hancock Street. Mr. Angelo Petito explained that he
would like to use the existing footings on the Adams Street side where the;building
was originally and those on the Lake Street side. Combined, the footings are worth
at least $3500.00 The A & P requires at least a 25,000 sq. ft. minimum for new
stores. The incorporated size is needed to comply with the minimum size requirement.
The exception on the Lake Street frontage is needed to provide space for loading and
unloading. Mr. Schickel MOVED, `'the Planning Board recommend approval of the
exceptions." Seconded by Mr. Moran. CARRIED unanimously.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
C011 UTTICATIONS
The following letter was read to the Board:
January 5, 197+
To the Editor,
Ithaca Journal:
The Executive Committee of thBryant Park Civic Association commends the
Ithaca Planning Board and Common C until for actions taken recently to clarify
the regulations pertaining to zoni g in ,the City of 'Ithaca.
The Committee believes that tie proposed new zoning map and new regulations,
which will be in effect for the next decade and which are to be considered by
the Common Council for adoption at the public hearing scheduled in the Council
chambers Thursday, January 17, at :30 P.M. , should be fully publicized in
advance.
It is the consensus of the Colmnittee that the Ithaca Journal is in the
unique .position of being able to r nder a valuable service by publishing the old
='and the new zoning maps and regulations prior to the public hearing.
Sincerely yours,
Raymond V. Hemming, President
Bryant Park Civic Association
cc: City Planning Board
COIS1ITTEE REPORTS:
Chm. Doney explained there are none, but. the committees have been appointed as
follows:
2
Chm. Doney will continue as Chairman; Stuart Stein will be Vice Chairman.
EXECUTIVE & LIAISON CO,S1ITTEE: Doney,Chm. ; Stein, Schickel.
HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT COW ITTEE: Brock, Chm. ; Benson, Moran.
GENERAL PLAN & CAPITAL IMPROVE?-TENTS COW4ITTEE: Stein, Chm. ; Schickel, Conway.
CODES & ORDINANCES COI-TKITTIEE: . Schickel,, Chm. ; Benson, Conway, Moran.
COM"IUNITY FACILITIES & SERVICES C0144LITTEE: Moran; Chm. ; Doney, Stein, Brock.
In addition to these appointments it would be desirable to have board members
serve in other capacities. First, a volunteer was requested to attend BZA meetings
occasionally when the Planning Board has strong opinions on an appeal. Also, it was
pointed out the Board should communicate with the Youth Bureau. Mr. Brock explained
that as a member of the Human Services Committee of Council he was also on, the Youth
Bureau Board and would be glad to act as the Planning Board representative. nor.
Doney said the Board should be represented on. the County Planning Commission. Mrs.
Benson volunteered to act .in such capacity.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) Chm. Doney read letters of appreciation to former Board members Clynes, Shaw
and Austin, and requested members Benson, Stein and Schickel, and Director Van Cort
to sign same, and directed the letters be mailed. A copy is in the Official
Planning Board files.
b) Report on Human Services Planning - Director Van Cort explained that since
.August the staff has been going to many.meetings on Human Services Planning and
Revenue Sharing. The idea grew out of the fact that revenue sharing was intended to
replace the categorical grant programs that have traditionally put money into human
services in the,county and the city. Since most of these programs were either in
moratorium or dead, the people involved inhuman services got together and tried to
set up an organization that would first find out what services were being provided .
in the county and then try to come to some conclusions about the program overlap,
coordination of services and priority of service programs.. Human services planning
is a relatively new field. and although the planning organizations in the area have
relatively little experience in it, it is an extremely important function which
should be pursued. Atpresent there is an organization with representatives of many
local service groups that is working ,on these problems.and trying. to set priorities
for human services in the county. The Planning Department has been working with this
group and recommends that it he allowed to continue in this effort. Although there
was no board action required on this, it was the consensus of the Board that the
e.f"fort should be continued.
c) Re-port on Office .for. the Agin; - Director Van Cort explained that he attended
the last meeting of the County Planning Commission. The Commission's Subcommittee
on Aging has prepared a proposal for establishment of an Office for the Aging in
Tompkins County. At present the county does not have such an office..and. Title 3 of
the Older Americans Act as rassed in 1965 and amended in 1973 has monies for estab-
lishment of such offices through which. a number of important services can be pro-
vided for the aged. In addition; the State Office for the Aging has indicated that
it will favor those areas which have established offices for the Aging in awarding;
money for the programs for the elderly. That is a very strong incentive for having
3
this kind of a program in our area. Van Cort said that he believed the city would
not have to make any contribution to tY� program. Aboard member asked what services
would be offered by the proposed officethatthe Senior Citizens Council does not
presently provide. Van Cort said that ..e was not entirely familiar with the details
of the proposal. He said that he had mainly brought this to the Planning Board in case
they felt they would like to declare support for the county's proposal. After dis-
cussion, the Board decided that no motion should be taken since members felt that
there was not enough information to makE an informed judgment.
NW BUSINESS:
a) Route 13 Corridor between Ithacan and Cortland - I.44 ector Van Cort explained
that the question of corridor designati n for Route 13 between Ithaca and Cortland
is another item the county has referred to Common Council, as well as many.other local
governmental bodies for their informati n and support. Van Cort briefly described
the process for planning a new state highway as follows: The first step involves
examining a number of different corrido s between the two end points of the highway.
A corridor is a 500' wide strip of land on which the highway may be located. The
corridor --Wdy examines the benefits and problems of building a highway in each of
several locations. A public hearing is held on the several corridors and after the
State DoT chooses a corridor, and when federal funds are involved, they recommend their
choice to the FMTA for official desiZna ion. After a corridor is chosen, design
hearings are held on the details of des gn: :)f the highway. Although the corridor
designation process is very important, it is possible to make desirable changes in
the one finally selected through the process of holding hearings on the desi;n of the
route within the selected corridor. In the case of Rt. 13 between Ithaca and Cortland
the State DoT has chosen the corridor which both the city and the county went on
record several gears ago as opposing. The county has already gone on record as
opposing this corridor choice .as have several municipalities along. its route. At the
last Council meeting the question was referred to the Planning Board andto the
Planning & Development Committee of Common Council. Van Cort explained that he
didn't think action could be taken at this meeting but that the Board and staff should
look into the question further.
Dan Hoffman asked for permission t speak to the question of corridor selection.
He said that he felt the county. plan fo an entirely new highway from Ithaca to
Cortland should not be endorsed for a n ber of reasons. He read as follows from a
prepared. statement:
"I think ecologically a whole new oad is more unsound and that. it takes over a
good deal of farmland and goes through the Fall Creek Valley which is
supposedly going to be protected f r recreational use and in some places-it. gets
dangerously close to some environmental unique lands around McClean. It seems
financially.unsound to spend the ount of money that would be required to
build an entirely new road when there already is a road there that accommodates
the present amount of use. Finally in terms of long-range planning,' I think-
we
hinkwe need some deeper discussion on he consequences of building new expressways
in the Ithaca area."
r1m. Doney directed the Planning Lard staff and. the Board's General Plan
Capital Improvements Committee to look further into this. .' Ctaff is to look up the
record of the hearing held by the count on the corridors.
4
b) Proposed Work Program for 197+ a Van Cort distributed and explained a work
program which he prepared outlining the projects that he anticipated the staff would
be undertaking or continuing in 1974. (A copy is attached to. the Official Minutes. )
Chairman Doney stated that he felt the program was a good first step toward developing
a useful management tool for planning the staff's work. It was agreed that the
Planning Director and Chairman would develop a further refinement of the Work Program
for presentation at the March :hoard meeting.
1EETING ADJOURNED 9:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
1',�i 9 4 �"t�� ✓ "�'f/'� `� IFS! � i ✓�i y.'
H. .if!atthys Ven Cort
2.21.7 + Planning Director
5