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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1974-07-25 r PLANNING BOARD MINUTES City of Ithaca`;. Regular Meeting July 25, 197+ 7'30 P.M. (postponed) PRESENT: . Chm. Doney, Mrs. Benson (arrived late), Messrs. Brock (arrived late), Hildreth and Saggese. ALSO: Planning Director Van Cort, Councilman Donald Slattery, 'Bldg. Comm'r. Jones and members of the press and radio. ABSENT: Messrs. Moran and Stein. The meeting wascalledto order at 7:55 P.M. Chairman Doney introduced the two new members, Mr. Patrick Saggese and Nit. Rexford Hildreth, to the Board, and explained that they would be replacing Messrs. Conway and Schickel. /Ir. Brock MOVED and Mr. Doney seconded approval of the minutes of June 25. The motion CARRIED unanimously. ZONING: a. BZA Appeal 1055--Request for a Variance by Jonathan H. Parker at 144 E. Spencer St. in R-3 District. Planning Director Van Cort pointed out the site in question on a. map and explained that the appellant wants to. build a second apartment in the building. He added that a variance was required for '2 reasons:- (1) the lot size is too small - requires 4750 sq. .ft. and it has only 1920, sq. ft. , and (2) there is too much coverage - requires no more than 35% and he has 41% coverage. - Bldg. Comm'r Jones explained that the- appellant's hardship claim was that he was left this building by his parents and he needs an extra apartment in order to meet the mortgage payments. At this point, Chme Doney explained to the new members that the Planning Board was expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals. It was also mentioned that there was parking near the building in a municipal lot. There is also a small driveway by the building, which could accommodate 2 cars. Mr. Brock MOVED that the Board recommend that the variance be granted, with the suggestion that BZA consider the parking in more detail. Mr. Hildreth seconded the motion. CARRIED unanimously. b. BZAA-o eat 1056•-Request for a 'J'se Variance by Guy J. Natali and Mary E.NNatali at 515-519 N. Cayuga St. , in�a B-2 District. Planning ,Director Van Cort described the property at the corner of Marshall and Cayuga.. Streets. He went on to explain, that, this property was once a filling station which has since gone out of business. The. appellants would now like to use it as an automobile repair shop. He added that a variance was needed because it is located in a B-2 zone. Alderman Slattery stated that there .had been a .problem with the previous operator of the filling station because -of cars parked in on the sidewalk blocking sight lines for vehicles entering Cayuga from Farm Street. He expressed the hope that this would not again become a problem, should the variance be granted. He .added that he hoped that the Board would stipulate in its recommendation that such a problem should not be allowed to recur. 1,1r. Van Cort then added that the appellants argued that the property was suited only as a gas station and that the,. would use it to do only minor tune-ups and repairs, and on foreign cars only, that tleY would operate on a basis of 8:00-5:00 daily, and on 5:00-12:00 on weekends. Pers. Benson MOVED that, due to the location of the building in a residential neighborhood, the request for variance be denied. Mr. Brock seconded the motion, emphasizing the fact that this decision w s wise from a planning standpoint. The motion CARRIED unanimously. c. BZA Appeal 1057--Request for a Use Variance by Egg Specialties., Inc. at 407 W. Seneca Rd. , in a B-2 District. Asir. Van Cort explained that this was an operation which boiled, peeled, packed, and shipped eggs to different merchants in the area. The appellants wish to move out of their present location because they require a good supply of water, which now presents a pro#lem. They wish to relocate at 407 West Seneca Street, which is in a B--2 zone, and for which they require a variance. Mr. Doney stated that the factors to be considered in this case were 1) the number of trucks required for this operation, and 2) the fact that this type of operation i,Tould very likely produce an offensive odor clue to the natural chemical reaction. Mr. Van Cart added that the appellants ha, e stated that the building is particularly well suited to their use and that they wi 1 not change the character of the neighbor- hood. He added that there is a loading a ea nearby, which will allow them to load off the street. Mr. Brock 14OVIM that the Board recommend to BZA to accept the request as long as they adhere to Sectionl30--41F of the Zoning Ordinances which reads: "No amount of dust, dirt, soot, or cinders, odors, or fumes shall be emitted in violation of city ordinance. Every use shall be so operated as to prevent the emission into the air of dust, or other s lid matter, odors or fumes in amounts which exceed the maximmm standards of the New York State Board of Health. No objectiona.tble, noxious, toxic„ or corrosive fumes or cases shall be emitted. A noxious or objectionable odor concentration shall be deemed to be present at the point at which it can be perceived by smell, or otherwise affects the breathing process." Mr. Saggese seconded,the motion, Mrs. Benson opposed. The motion CARRIED. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: None. COTTOIDETICATIONS: None. CO!14ITTEE REPORTS: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: a. Permanent app Iointment of Director Var Cort. At the suggestion of Mr. Doney, this matter was postponed until the next meeting in order to allow involvement of the new -members. b. Provisional appointment of Judith Be edict, Jr. Planner. Chm. Doney read the resol,.ition. appointing Judith Benedict prcvisionally to the position of Junior Planner: RESOLVED, That the Planning Board appoints Judith S. Benedict to the position of Junior Planner, effective July 229 1974, and that the salary shall be the minimum provided for the grade. The appointment is provisional, and the Board hereby requests that a Civil Service examination be held for the position. 2 Mr. Brock MOVED, and Mrs. Benson seconded, that the The Motion CARRIED unanimously. c., Chm. Doney asked the Board to act upon a resolution :on the appointment 'of Mrs. . Rosalind Williams as follows: RESOLVED, That the Planning Board appoints Rosalind F. Williams to the position of Assistant Planner, effective July 1, 1974,' and that the salary shall be $9,500. The appointment is provisional, and the Board hereby requests that a Civil Service examination be held for the position. Mr. Brock MOVED and Mrs. Benson seconded that a recommendation to accept the resolution be. made. The motion CARRIED-unanimously. ,d.. Proposal for amendment to new Zoning Ordinance. Chm. Doney explained that this referred to the property at 327-329 Cayuga St. , in the 300 South block, specifically the east side, which was formerly a B-4 zone, changed to an R-3 zone. He added that it is primarily residential, although there are some commercial uses within ite . At this point, Jim Kerrigan spoke. He introduced himself as the laveyer representing Margaret Tripp9 owner of said property. He further stated that her family has owned the property for many years and that she is now trying to sell it; but is encountering . numerous difficulties due to the nature of the district. He added that consequently the building is now in poor sha?e since she has been unable to sell, and the building has been vacant for a year. He asked the Board why the zone had been changed from B-4 to R-3 and what the chances were of re-establishing it as a B-4 zone. After further discussion, Chm. Doney suggested that the matter_ be- brought before the Codes and Ordinances Committee and that the department gather more information on this matter. Chm. Doney added that it should also be mentioned to the General Planning Committee and that background work should be done in order that a decision may be. made at .the next meeting. The suggestions were favorably received. e. Recommendation of proposed sale of city land at 227 Cliff St. Director Van Cort explained that this matter was brought before the Board in referral from the City Clerk as the result of a Board of Public Works meeting. He added 'that this land is presently city property, and went on to read the BPW referral as follows: RESOLVED, That the City Engineers-report with respect to- the availability of City Property at 227 Cliff St. be declared surplus property and be sent to Planning. Board. He then stated that Mr. Kolar wrote to .the Board, informing it that he wishes, to buy the property in order to use it as a parking lot for his business, for which the Board has previously granted a variance to enable him to enlarge the building. Mr. Kolar would like to have access to Temporary Route 89 - Park Road. Director Van Cort mentioned at this point. that the. Board had previously considered a virtually identical request for access to Rte. 89 and had recommended against it. He- further stated that this property is in an R-3 zone which does not allow for commercial parking facilities, and would therefore reguire,a variance. Mr. .Van Cort commented_ that while driving by the property and viewing it. from the Park Road side, he noticed that children used it as. a.sliding slope during the winter, and .as a .park ' during the summer, and that since the property is used by children in the area, he felt it might be advisable to retain it as such. He then said that in the City Clerk's memorandum it is stated '.hat a formal request from Plr. Parker has been- sent to the Planning Board, .but that it has not yet been received. Mr. Van Cort pointed out the 3 property on the map and described it as �ei-ng 283 feet deep and 81 feet wide. Fie then read the letter from Kolar to the B}P'W and informed the Board that the City Engineer had already approved it. _!rs. Benson MOVED that, whereas the property was presently used as a park by the children in the area, and whereas use of the property required a curb cut which precedent suggested ;could have to be denied, now.-therefore be it resolved that the Planning Board recommends this request be denied. Mr. Brock seconded, adding a suggestion that a i;:emprandum be written to the BPW informing them of the Planning Board's wish to retain said property as city land. The motion, with added suggestion, CARRIED unanimously. MISCELLANEOUS: done. ADJOURI`TMENT: 9:25 P.i?. Respectfully submitted, � r H. Matthys Van Cort Planning Director 8>19.74 4