HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1977-05-26 MINUTES
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD -. CITY OF ITHACA
Regular Meeting, May 26, 1977,,.West- Hill School, 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson LeGrace Benson, R. Hildreth, M. Crowley, R. Bordoni,
D. Fuller
ALSO: H. M. Van Cort, R. Williams, R. J. McDougall, J. D. Reid, W. Burbank,
W. Wallitt, P. Ecotree, S. Sterling, S. Lerner, K. Cail,' A. Yale,
L. Smith, H. E. Romanowski, W. B. Ames, R. Cudlin, H. Teeter,' E.
Teeter, A. Slaght, S. Spott, M. Kish, R. Trowbridge, P. Trowbridge,
P. Carlson, M. Carlson, E. Bloom, G. Sheldon, E. Harrison, R. Brooks,
J. Romm, D. Cummings, A. Garbett, H. Neuman, P. Baxter, J. Burns,
S. Wilson, H. R. Willson, D. Hunt, B. Woodard, D. Wille, R. A.Albanese,
A. J. Albanese, T. Hoard, P. Zaharis Sr. , J.W. Boodley, L. Engstrom,
T. Mackey, D. Hoffman, C. Chock, C. Galaska, B. Galaska, A. Grossman,
M. Butkereit, M. Nygaard, H. Missirian, W. Dill&n>i;, H. F. Crass, S.
Williams, R. E. Davidson, R. Romanowski, H. S. Brown, N. Meyer, D.
Slattery, M. Clynes, R. Saccucci, S. Snyder, W. D. Leboeuf,
S. Mench, J. Hamilton, J. Parkes, B. Rhodes, R. Slaght, J. Crowley,
C. Baxter
1. The Chairperson called the meeting to order. She explained that the Planning
and Development -Board was conducting meetings in various city neighborhoods to
better acquaint the public with the Board's work and to encourage public partici-
pation. She noted that this was particularly important on the issue of Route 96
in view of decisions on the proposed highway changes. She explained the Planning
and Development Board's function, and then called for a motion to revise the agenda
so that persons who had come to speak on Route 96 might be heard before other plan-
ning business was covered, and so that staff might outline the problems faced on
Route 96. Mr. Bordoni so MOVED. Mr. Hildreth seconded. CARRIED.
Ms. Benson introduced Messrs. Slattery, Saccucci and Clynes. Mr. Van Cort then
explained the Octuopus problem, giving some background information on flood plain
renovations, the elimiation of the four previously existing bridges and replacement
by the one existing bridge. He broke the problem down into three sections:
1. The Octopus bridge and the eight roads which create the Octopus draw more
traffic than a configuration that complicated can handle.
2. Cliff Street is too narrow for the number of cars that use it. This is an
old problem.
3• Railroad tracks cut off east-west access. Trains run only during the day.
This is a problem for general traffic, but is an especially serious one for emer-
gency vehicles
He said the state feels the volume on Cliff Street can only be handled by building
a four-lana road from Meadow. Street to the hospital. Any,.solution will have an
environmental impact, but the problems most feared are (1) that this will further
increase suburbanization on the west end, (2) widening the road will cause changes
P & D BOARD MINUTES - 2 - May 26, 1977
in traffic patterns inside the city, especially increasing traffic on Court and
Buffalo Streets, and (3) there will be an impact on areas through which the new
facility goes, and business and homes may be taken. Council must make the judge-
ment on whether the traffic problems are serious enough to warrant building a new
highway.
He :explained the state plan and noted that the Planning and Development Board was
concerned with that part of the highway which would be within the city limits. An
environmental impact statement has been done by the state. There are no immediate
plans to improve Route 13, which would be affected by the state's plan. He noted
that the most popular plan at the moment is county plan U-3 modified, which takes
less residential property than any of the other state solutions. The county plan
would not change the Octopus except to take traffic off it and off Cliff Street
as well. There is a local proposal to build a new bridge straight onto Buffalo
Street. This would take much less land, and would not require a new road to the
hospital. The disadvantage is that there is no separation from the railroad tracks,
no improvement to Cliff Street, and it would put much more traffic on Buffalo Street.
Mr. Van Cort described the Devereux proposal and the TCEMC proposal, saying they
were both impractical, since both took park land which would require a 4F hearing
as well as an Environmental Impact Statement, and there still would beno assurances
that taking the land would be approved. He also clarified statements made in a
recent Ithaca Journal article, noting that they spoke only of a staff recommenda-
tion, and not of city policy. The staff feels that a four-lane road is not a good
choice.
Ms. Benson then turned the meeting over to the public, asking that speakers hold
remarks to five minutes per speaker, and asked to hear from West Hill residents
first.
Ellen Harrison spoke for the citizens .group which has been involved in Route 96
plans. She said it was important to them to preserve the quality of life in Ithaca,
and to conserve non-renewable resources. Her group sees the problems as emergency
access and peak-hour traffic. They are also concerned for property owners along ,
Cliff Street, and businesses along the waterways which are a valuable resource,
especially those on Inlet Island. They. feel that the State plan does not help
mitigate the problems of traffic stoppage caused by trains, and they feel the trains
should be run at night rather than during the day.
Mr. Jim Boodley of Iradell Road noted that when Milliken Station begins working
up to capacity, train traffic will increase four-fold. He suggested a tunnel,under
the tracks. Mr. Van Cort agreed that a tunnel would have a much lower impact on
the. surrounding area, but said it was impractical because tunnels are much more ex-
pensive then elevated roads and that the state would not even consider this as an
alternative. Mr. Boodley asked whether the state would consider a two-lane. im-
provement, to which Mr. Van Gort replied that the state will bring in experts
from the Federal Highway Commission to investigate the practicality of a smaller-
than-four-lane alternative. Mr. Hennessy of the state DOT has expressed doubts
that the federal government would buy less than a four-lane road:.°_
Ms®Leona Smith asked- if, as proposed in the Devereux plan, playground land is ta-
ke weren"'t alternates tes 4vail ble for playgrounds, Mra Van, Cort an
swered that as long as it was possible to build the highway away from park land,
it would be difficult to get permission from BOR to build on park land.
P & D BOARD MINUTES - 3 May 26, 1977
Mr. Will Burbank noted that Cayuga Station is still in the proposal stage,. and
may never be built, but that NY SEG is asking the taxpayers to pay for their ease
of fuel delivery.
Mr. Chet Galaska asked if it would be possible to drop the train below grade. Mr.
Van Cort replied that it would be necessary to drop the train 25' because of clear-
ance requirements, and that the cut would have to be approximately two miles long
to accomodate the change in grade.
Mr. Jack Anderson asked whether the tunnel would cost about $80 million.. Mr. Van
Cort replied that he did-not-have the figures, but that the state would not build
because it is too costly, certainly much more than the $20 million they estimate
as the cost of building the road. He noted that the state originally planned to
build the entire road at grade. Mr. Anderson suggested moving the fire station on
West State Street, as well as a police substation, across the tracks. He also sug-
gested the bounty look into obtaining a medicopter financed by federal or state
funds. He noted that this would also service people in outlying areas who have
difficulty getting emergency service.
Ms. Benson explained that Chief Weaver has said a fire station on the other side
would help, but a major problem is that the fire department is staffed in part by
volunteers who do not have the right-of-way in traffic getting to the station.
Also, because of the traffic which is often backed up from the Octopus and from
train traffic, street traffic becomes congested, and the fire department has dif-
ficulty getting their engines into the street because of the congestion. Mr.
Anderson suggested that the firemen could park their cars on the east side of the
flood control channel and walk over a footbridge. Ms. Benson added that acquisi-
tion of a medicopter would be nearly impossible.
Ms. Helen Romanowski said she lived on the west end and did not feel Ithaca needed
a four-lane, $20 million highway, and that other solutions could be found to the
traffic problems.
Mr. Bill Ames of Ames Plumbing said he did not think that Buffalo or Court Street.
should be used. He felt that new `,traffic patterns would force businesses to.move
and he favored the Devereux plan. Mr. Van Cort answered that Buffalo and Court
Streets did seem the best way of distributing car traffic.
Mr. Bill Tempesta (?), a West Hill resident, noted that areas under elevated
highways usually decay rapidly. Mr. Van Cort replied that the Department of
Transportation is much more concerned than ever with environmentalimpact, but
they are still constrained by their need to move traffic
Mr. Peter Trowbridge, who lives on Cliff Street said that traffic has been de-
toured around his house. He is concerned that improving Cliff Street will in-
crease the speed of traffic and make the area less livable.
Mr. Pete Zaharis, owner of Pete's', said that the state seems unresponsive to the
city's needs. He felt the traffic should be brought onto Meadow Street andZ-_allowed
to disperse from there. He thought the county plan would have .detrimental effects
on Court and Buffalo Streets, and that the city should try to stop further suburLan-
ization. Mr. Van Cort said he was opposed to providing a left-hand turn on Meadow
Street, since it would tie traffic up unless major changes are made in the way
• •
P & D BOARD MEETING - 4 - May 26, 1977
Meadow..Street works.
Mr. Douglas Reid of Sage. Road in Enfield spoke in favor of a two-bridge proposal..
He feared a four-lane solution would create a situation similar to that at Trip-
hammer. He also suggested timing traffic lights as a possible solution to some
of the traffic problems. He further suggested that trains be truly limited to
their five minute legal limit.
Mr. Stan Sterling of West Buffalo Street noted that the plan of the group for whom
Ms. Harrison spoke would put a heavy traffic burden .on West Buffalo Street, which
would severely damage the quality of life of the residents.
Mr. H. Stillwell Brown of Cliff Street said that Cliff Street has the highest
traffic rate in the city, and that its problem was similar to the old tuning fork
problem. He said he was in favor of building a new road.
Mr. Andrew Yale, a West Hill resident, encouraged the formation of carpools and
expansion of the bus system as other solutions to the traffic problem. He felt
a change in lifestyle was in order for Ithacans.
Mr. William Dillon, owner of Old Port Harbor, read some selections from the En-
vironmental Impact Study done for Route 96 improvements, pointing out how ridicu-
lous they seemed. He also noted that the State of Michigan has just declined a
$69 million federal highway project. Mr. Slattery asked him what he proposed to
improve the situation. He replied that a highway was needed for direct access to
the hospital, but that a two-lane road would be viable. He said that for personal
reasons, he would like to see it further north than has been proposed, and that he
favored the Devereux plan.
At this point, Ms. Benson explained that there was time for only one more speaker,
and George Sheldon had offered to give a slide presentation on the beauties of
Ithaca and the damaging effects of traffic.
Ms. Benson then took a vote by show of hands on opinions of various solutions to
the highway problem. The alternatives were (1) that nothing be done (no votes),
(2) that the Planning and Development Board look into various two-lane solutions
(approximately 45 votes), (3) that the county plan be implemented (2 or 3 votes) .
Mr. Misserian of the County. Planning Office felt that more specific suggestions
were needed on alternative (2). He said that County planners could not support
building a new bridge .tied to Cliff Street.
Mr. Kraft asked how NYSEG had acquired a right-of-way along Route 89. Mr. Van
Cort replied that they had bought it.
Mr. Benson said that there had been an indication from the State that they would
be willing to consider impact of a highway beyond the corridor of the highway.
She then read the following resolution:
WHEREAS the New York State Department of Transportation has caused studies
to be made and alternative plans to be prepared for relocation and
improvement of a portion of State Route 96 in the City of Ithaca,
each of which alternatives may have substantial negative effects on
traffic and the urban environment in a sizable part of the city's
a
busand residential districts through which such traffic must pass.
•
P & D BOARD MINUTES 5 - May•26,1977
WHEREAS the State Department of Transportation has not made a study of the
impacts of the proposed project on the area east of North Meadow
Street which will be affected by. the serveral alternatives,
BE IT RESOLVED that this Board request (the Common Council of the City of
Ithaca to request) the New York State Department of Transportation
to fund a comprehensive study of the potential impacts of the pro-
posed alternative solutions to the improvement of State Route 96 in
the City of Ithaca east of North Meadow Street, specifically including
all streets and properties fronting on or between Court and Buffalo
Streets from Meadow to Aurora Street, such study to be (conducted by/
conducted with the assistance of) the staff of the Board of Planning
and Development (and of the Board of Public Works) , and to be com-
menced at the earliest possible date in order to provide Common
Council with necessary .information on which to base a decision con-
cerning the proposed project.
Mr. Fuller MOVED the resolution and Mr. Bordoni seconded. CARRIED unanimously.
Ms. Benson added that she would recommend it strongly to Council.
5. Zoning Cases:
a. Appeal 1158: Request for an Area Variance to reconstruct a parking area
for five automobiles in the front yard at 120 Highland Place, in an R-3 use
district.
The owner would like to build a small retaining wall and rearrange present parking
to accomodate more vehicles A larger curb cut would be required, but staff did.
not see this as a problem, since there is very little traffic on this street. The
building houses four ts, and although parking is close to neighboring property,
staff recommended in .favor of the appeal. Staff felt the situation is presently
dangerous since vehicles must back into a street at an upward grade, often on ice.
Staff noted it would like to have parking re-graded to, street level.
Mr. Bordoni MOVED to recommend in favor of the appeal. Ms. Crowley seconded.
CARRIED.
b. Appeal 1159: Request for an. Area Variance to construct a parking area with
screen wall enclosure and garden storage shed within the Brookfield Road front
yard at 1002 Cliff St./ 200 Brookfield Road, converting the existing garage to
a bedroom, in an R-1 use district.
A variance was requested because the building covered more of the front yard than
was allowable. Staff recommended in favor of the appeal. The residents would
still be able to park on their property.
Ms. Crowley MOVED that the Board recommend approval. Mr. Fuller seconded. CARRIED.
c. Appeal 1160: Request for a Use Variance to add the following uses to the
premises at 102 Adams St. : (1) a small construction company involved in re-
modeling and renovations; (2) an electrical fixture repair shop; (3) a sign
shop; and (4) an appliance repair shop and warehouse. The four businesses
will occupy between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet -of the first floor of the
building, the former Ithaca Calendar Clock building, which is located in an
R-3 use district.
P & D BOARD MINUTES - 6 May 26, 1977
The building'sowner and a representative of the construction concern explained
that the builders would be using the space for cabinet-making and an office, and
would be soundproofing the walls to cut down on noise within the building. The
representative stated that they could put the office between the work area and the
street windows to further eliviattenoise problems. The building's owner noted
that there was previously a construction company in that space with no noise problem.
Staff suggested the builders provide further insulation against noice on the street
side. Representatives of the electrical repair shop said they did not expect to
generate much traffic, and that their business was quiet and compact. The buil
ding owner stated that the sign shop did all its signs by hand, and that there
would be no spraying on the premises. For this reason he felt there would be no
problem with offensive odors from the paint. He further explained that the appli-
ance storage business would require only a small space for repairs, and would
generate minimal traffic. Staff explained that lighted signs were not permitted
in residential zones, and that any signs over the allowed size would require vari-
ance.
Mr. Bordoni MOVED to recommend approval of the appeal. Ms. Crowley seconded.
CARRIED.
d. Appeal 1161: Request of the Tomkins County Chapter of the American Red Cross
fora variance to enlarge the parking areas at its headquarters at 201 West
Clinton St. , in an R-3 use district.
Staff recommended against the appeal, finding the additional paving of a front
yard in a residential neighborhood unacceptable. A representative of the Red Cross
noted that parking was difficult in that neighborhood because of demands placed on
parking by Titus Towers, the Reconstruction Home, and Henry St. John School. Ms.
Benson asked whether the lied Cross Board had ever thought ,of moving to another
building, since they seem to be outgrowing their facility. The representative re-
plied that a move was not feasible now. He explained that there were complaints
from the neighbors that present parking arrangements were damaging their shrub-
bery. Ms. Benson explained thatadditional paving decreases drainage and would
thus cause further problems. She suggested possible joint occupancy of facilities
with a local school. The representative explained that the current space was do-
nated to the Red Cross in 1915 and is traditionally the location of the (-,rganization
in Ithaca. He said it is difficult to raise funds to move because United Way
places limits on organizations waging capital campaigns.
Mr. Bordoni MOVED to recommend denial of the appeal. Ms. Crowley seconded.
CARRIED.
6. Communications: None.
7. Committee reports: None.
8. Old Business: South Hill Neighborhood Park.
Mr. Van Cort noted that the Planning Department is investigating state funding for
neighborhood parks.
Ms. Benson, in the absence of a prepared resolution, referred this to executive com-
mittee with power to act.
0 •
P & D BOARD.MINUTES 7 May 26, 1977
9. New Business:
Ms. Crowley MOVED and Mr. Bodoni seconded a motion that the Planning and Develop-
ment Board meet on the last Tuesday before the first Monday of the next month, so
that Zoning cases could be handled by the Board of Zoning Appeals with as little
lag time as possible. CARRIED unanimously.
At 10:40 Ms. Crowley moved adjournment of the meeting. Meeting adjourned.
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