HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1974-05-28 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
City of Ithaca
Regular Meeting May 28, 197+ 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Mrs. Benson, Messrs. Brock, Conway, Doney (arrived late), Moran and.Stein.
ALSO: Planning Director Van Cort, Alderwomen Jones and Meyer, Bldg. Comm'r.
Jones and members of the press and radio..
Vice Chm. Stein presidedAthe first part of the meeting in the absence of Chm.
Doney. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Chm. Doney took over at 8:3,0, P•M.
- Mr. Stein noted that Mr". Schickel had been. appointed to the Board of Public Works
and had accepted that appointment and, as a result, had sent a letter of resignation .
to Chm. Doney. 11r, Stein noted Mr. Schickel's years of service to the Board, and
suggested that a letter thanking him, wishing him well in his new position, and hoping ,
for continued cooperation between the two boards, would be" in 'order.
ngr. Brock MOVED and Mrs. Benson seconded, the above. CARRIED unanimously.
Mr. Moran. MOVED and Mr. Brock seconded, approval of the minutes of the meeting of
April 23, 107 4. Mr.' Stein offered a friendly amendment stating that 4°in. the April 23.
mintites,. under. Old"Business, Item b) Soutliside Community Center, the words landscape
architect should"be changed to landscape architectural student." That amendment was
accepted and the motion passed unanimously.
Acting Chm. Stein then asked whether any members of the public were- there to
discuss any of the items on the agenda, and since Mrs. Robert Knorr was present re-
garding the subdivision case ,that is Item 7, Old Business: (c) Request for .final
approval of Robert KncTr subdivision, that item was moved to the beginning of the
agenda.
Planning Director Van Cort explained that the Board was asked to give final
approval contingent upon the subdivider meeting all requirements of the Department
of Public Works. Acting Chm. Stein then opened the public .hearing- on the subdivision.
When no one asked to be heard, Mrs. Benson MOVED, Mr. Brock seconded, "that the
public hearing be closed." CARRIED unanimously.
After a brief discussion; Mr. Moran MOVED, Mr. Conway seconded, "the Planning
Board grants final approval to the Robert Knorr subdivision, subject to completion
of all requirements of the Department of Public Works." CARRIED unanimously.
ZONING:
a. BZA Appeal 1048 Request by Cornell- Radio Guild, Inc. for Variance to
Sec. 30.25, Col. 2. of .the Zoning Ordinance, at 227 Linden Avenue in R®3 District.
Planning Director Van Cort explained that the owner of the property.has requested a
use variance to permit rental of part of the .space in subject building: to Domino's
Pizza. He further explained that the business would not serve the public„at this
bakery, but rather, that the ,product would be delivered in l of 4 trucks which would .
be parked in the building. Van Cort said further that the appellant stated that the
bakery trucks and the vehicles used by the staff of W1TBR would be parked in the
building and that the operation of the bakery is "essentially,noiseless.41
Comm'r. ,Jones rele.ted the history of the building as follows: He said the building
was originallybuilt as an automobile agency, subsequently used for many years as a
laundry, and then purchased by WVBR FM which rented part of the space to the Card and
Cue Club which has now gone out of bxsines . Comm'r. Jones further stated that the
Board of Zoning Appeals has ruled that all non-residential uses in that building must
come to the BZA for variance.
It was noted that Domino's delivers pizzas until 1:30 in the morning. A member
of the public stated that most of the residents in the area are students who rent rooms
or apartments, and that there is little traffic on Linden Avenue. However, Mr. Stein
noted that the back of the building is on Delaware Avenue and that there are many
single-family homes on that street.
Mr. Conway noted that the company serves many residents on East Hill and in light
of that fact he MOVED, "to recommend approval of the variance.." The motion died for
lack of a second.
After further discussion, Mr. Brock MOVED, Mr. Moran seconded, "the Board
recommends that the request for variance be denied." Motion CARRIED with 4 Ayes,
1 abstention (Mrs. Benson who had a conf ict of interest since she is a member of the
Board of WVBR).
b. BZA Appeal 101+9 - Request ]2y Wirthrop and Andrea Wetherbee for a variance to
Sec. 30.25, Cols. 2-12 of Zoning Ordinance at 402 Chestnut St. , in.R-1 district.
Planni:.+.g Director Van Cort explained thal the Board had heard this case in their.
March 26 '74 meeting, and that when the case had gone to the Board of Zoning Appeals
it had been referred to the City Attorne3 for an interpretation of the Zoning
Ordinance as to whether a second unit in a R-1 zone could be in a building other than
that in which the primary unit was located. Van Cort further explained that the
Attorney had given an advisory opinion sating, however, that opinion was not binding.
upon the BZA since it is their responsibility to interpret the Zoning Ordinance.
It was the Attorney for the City's opini n that if the secondary unit is not in thesame _
building a variance is needed. With that knowledge the BZA turned down the request ,
for exception. The appellants have therefore submitted a new application including'a
request for variance if it is necessary. The application also contains 3 pages of
argument for the request for variance including the facts that Robert 0. Dingman,
who is an immediate neighbor of the prop rty, has no objection, that the Planning
Board has previously approved the request , and that the Planning Director has
inspected the site and approved the request in terms of impact on the appearance of
the neighborhood and other planning criteria.
Mr. Jones then noted that the other -neighbors in the area have no objection to
the request. Mr. Stein noted that it is the Planning Board's responsibility to
advise on the planning impact of zoning applications, leaving the legal questions
to the BZA.
After some discussion, Mrs. Benson MOVED, and Mr. Moran seconded,"the Planning
Board recommend approval of the variance but that such recommendation is not to be
construed as setting a precedent for allowing secondary units in accessory structures
in R-1 zones." CARRIED unanimously.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None.
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COP,4MUNICA^1 IONS
Planning Director.Van Cort read, for the record, 2 memoranda received from the
City Clerk, on May 10, 19749 as follows:
1.) `Re; Common Council meeting of February 6, 1974, RESOLVED, that this matter
be referred to the Board of Public Works, the Planning Staff and the Planning and.
Development Committee. Carried. (See attached. )
LETTER FROM WILCO' PRESS: City Clerk Rundle read the following letter:
Mr. Joseph A. Rundle, City Clerk
City Hall
Dear Joe:
The enclosed copies of old letters, I hope, are self-explanatory. Would you be good
enough to present this request to city council? I am asking that the City get
authority from the New York State Legislature to sell ,the subject six fort wide strip,
Wilcox Press wants to build another addition and would need that strip?..
We have &rown more than fivefold since 1950 and expect to do at least as well in the
next twenty years. In 1973 alone, employment jumped from seventy-five to over one
hundred employees. Any immediate consideration of this request will be most
appreciate,:', as we would like to start construction in the summer or fall of 1974.
Very truly yours,
William R. Wilcox, Jr.
President & General Manager
By Alderman Jones: seconded by Alderman Nichols
RESOLVED., that this matter .be referred to the Board of Public Works, the Planning
Staff and. the. Planning & Development Committee. Carried.t9
2) P°Re: Common Council meeting of March 6, 1974 LETTER FROM LANDMARKS PRESERVA. -
TION COMMISSION (see attached)
Mayor and Common Council
City- of Ithaca
Dear Mayor and Member, of Council:
On February 14, 1974, this Commission held a Public Hearing for the purpose of
receiving public statements on the proposal to designate St. James' African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, 116 Cleveland Avenue, as a Landmark of the City of Ithaca.
At this hearing, held in accordance with applicable city regulations no adverse
comments were made. The .church's minister stated that church officials, congregation,
and others in the neighborhood were unanimously in favor of designation.
Following the hearing, the Commission took judicial notice of the information
previously presented in support of the proposal, which established that St. James'
was founded in 1833 on the initiative of an ex-slave in Ithaca's small Negro
community; was built in 1836, making it the oldest church structure in the city;
and played a part in, the underground Railroad system prior to Emancipation.
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After some further discussion, the lommission, on motion by Mr. Hering seconded
by Mrs. Gerkin, unanimously (6-0) RECONDED to Common Council, `that St. James"
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 116 Cleveland Avenue, be designated a
Historic Landmark of the City of Ithaca n accordance with Seca 2-35 (c) of the City
Code.
Very truly yours,
E. F. Roberts, Chairman
By Alderman Jones: seconded by Alderman Barber
RESOLVED.,. that this matter be referred t the Planning Board. Carried."
3) A third communication from Donall Slattery, Common Council Intergovernmental
Relations Committee, dated May 24, 1974, regarding South Hill_ Fire Station, was read
to the Board, as follows:
.`'The city and Town of Ithaca wish tD investigate the possibility of constructing
a fire station somewhere on South Hill. Will the Planning Board and Department
please consider site location for a station and give us your recoimnendations?1,
, A discussion of the question followed. Alderwoman Jones said that it was her
understanding the question should be exp ored with the Town of Ithaca.
After further discussion Mr. Brock. gOVED,, Mrs. Benson seconded, "the department
should meet with Ithaca Town planners, ire Chief Weaver, and others to l. ok into the
background of the problem and report bac at the next meeting on the kind of study
which will be needed to make a recommendation on the fire station location."
CARRIED.
COM_MIT.TEE REPORTS
a) Executive Committee: Re ort on hiring junior planner. Acting Chm. Stein
reported that advertisements for the opening for junior planner had been run, both
in the Ithaca Journal, and in the bulletin of the American Society of Planning
Officials which is a national planners' association. Numerous applications had been
received and after several meetings with the Executive Committee, the field had. benn
narrowed to 5 or 6 candidates who were to be interviewed in the very near future.
Mr. Stein further reported that the preliminary selection had been made, ,primarily.by
Planning Director Van Cort, .and that thE Executive Commi,'...ee had reviewed and approved
the selections.
Report on hiring summer help. Acting Chm.. Stein further reported that it had
been decided to hire 2 or 3 junior planner-summer employees who were to be paid from
the monies allocated for ,part-time and temporary help and the unexpended junior.
planner line item. An advertisement would be placed in the Ithaca Journal regarding
these jobs. Mr. Stein then listed for the Board the jobs which were recently added
to the work program, several of which would be done using these employees.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) Ithaca Mall progress report. Van Cort reported to the T)oard that the mall
bids had been accepted and the contract has been awarded to Streetor Construction
Company by the Department of Public Works. Acting Chm. Stein said that withh the
completion of the planning phase of the 'project the Board would be phasing out of its
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role in the mall. He further noted that in May of last year a schedule_.had been set
up when the Board was asked to become involved in the mall., and- the mall is now going
into construction on schedule. He then said that much of the credit for getting; the
project to this point and leeping it on its schedule was due to Planning Director
Van Cort.
b) Southside Center progress report. Van Cort reported that the work on the
Southside playground was progressing; roughly on schedule and that if no problems
came up, it would be possible to complete construction before the end of the year.
At this time, Chm. Doney assumed chairmanship of the meeting.
NW BUSINESS;
a) Outline of administrative storage space needs of the Youth Bureau (Tin Can
Study_). Van Cort explained to the Board that the Planning & Development and Human
Services Committees of Common Council had jointly requested that the Board undertake
a study of the Tin Can and the space needs of the Youth Bureau. At the present time
the City owns the land on which this facility is located, and the Navy owns the
building. The Navy has shown interest in selling the building and the City is now
under some pressure to make a decision regarding the structure since the Town of
Ithaca has shown interest in buying the building for a Town Hall.
Mrs. Jones said that the Navy has renewed their lease for l year. Van Cort said
that a summer employee would soon be hired who would undertake this study and that it
would be completed by the end of the summer at the latest.
b) Bikeway proposal. Van Cort reported that Planning Board had been asked by
the Environmental Commission to undertake a study of bikeways for the City and its
environs. A proposal had been made to the Environmental Commission for a bikeway
connecting Stewart Park to the Cass Park bikeway. Also, the Finger Lakes Parks
Commission are in the process of preparing a proposal for a bikeway connecting Cass
Park to Buttermilk Park and ultimately Treman Park. The long-range plans call for .
this bikeway ultimately to be connected to Taughannock ?ark. The study would include
investigation of Class A bikeways, completely separated from vehicular roadways, to
bikeways on existing, streets.
c) Sale of Land Adjacent to Purity Ice Cream Store. Common Council requests the
Board to make a study and recommendation as to whether a parcel of city-owned right"of-
way northwest of Purity is excess to city.needs, and thus could be put up for sale,. '
The parcel, approximately 21,000 sq. ft. ; is now used mainly -by Purity customers for
parking.
Board members noted that there seemed to be no problem with selling this land
as far as the General Plan is concerned. However, it was felt that there was a
problem with access to Meadow Street. A board member suggested that if the city -sold
this land to Purity, it should be recommended that all access to the store be made
off Cascadilla St. Mrs. Meyer said that she felt this was not fair to Purity Ice
Cream since there were so many other busineeses which did have access off Meadow St.
Another board member mentioned that the problem with Purity was particularly
dangerous since traffic coming southbound on Rt. 13 often exceeds the 30 mile per hr.
speed limit when it passes the subject property.
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Mr. Stein .MOVED, T'ir. !bran seconded `'the Planning Board judges that the subject
sale of land has no detrimental_ effect o the General Plan and that it would therefore
recommend its sale as surplus property- It further recommends, however, that access
to the property should be made in the fu ure 'from Cascadilla Street, not from Meadow
Street, and finally, that a study of the need for a traffic light at the intersection
of Cascadilla and Meadow Streets again be undertaken by the proper authorities."
CARRIED unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Mrs. Meyer brought to the Board's attention her feeling that there was need for
a traffic .light at the intersection of Madow and Green Streets. Board members pointed
out that this is an operational problem., and not properly under the purview of the
Planning Board. It was suggested that t is problem be brought to the attention of the
Board of Public Works.
ADJOURMMENT. 9.03 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
X/1
H. Matthys Van Cort
6.21.74 Planning Director
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