HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1979-05-29 MINUTES
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
May 29, 1979
PRESENT: Stuart Stein , Mary Crowley, Ray Bordoni , Barbara Davis
Sue Cummings, Rich Moran
ALSO: Tom Hoard, Al Kelly, William Dillon, Carmen and Vriginia Canestaro,
David Taube, Mark Kielmann, Ken Butler
1 . The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p,m.
2. Ms. Davis MOVED to approve the minutes of the April 24, 1979 meeting.
Ms. Cummings seconded. Motion carried.
3. None.
4. None.
5. ZONING CASES;
APPEAL 1252: Area Variance to permit additional seating capacity for
Kelly's Dockside Kafe, 319 Taughannock Blvd. , in a M-1 zone.
Ms. Crowle ,. Chairman-Neighborhood Development and Housing Committee, read the
committee's recommendation which stated that while some problems exist with the
use of parking space available for the various businesses in the vicinity,
adequate parking does exist in the area, and that these needs do not conflict.
Accordingly, the committee recommends that the Board recommend approval of the
variance on the grounds that off-street parking, more than adequate for the
requirements of the proposed expansion, is available within 500 feet of the
premises.
Ms. Crowley MOVED to recommend approval of the variance. Mr, Bordoni seconded.
Motion carried,
APPEAL 1259: Area variance to permit conversion of single-family dwelling
at 503 Chestnut Street, in an R-2a zone, to two dwelling units,
Mr. Meigs explained that the area is zoned for two family units and notes that
several of the homes in the immediate area already are two-,family units.
Appellants explained what the proposed changes to the structure would include.
A committee of the Planning and Development Board went to the site and found
that the property appeared to be lacking in parking space availability.
A letter was read from Jeffrey Letchworth, nearby property owner, saying that
he was in favor of the, proposed plans provided that the variance stipulated that
the owner occupy one-half of the home. Lie went on to say that rental housing
PAGE. 2 May 29, 1979. P & D MINUTES
in this area is a problem because they are in a constant state of disrepair.
Homeowners who contribute to this problem by renting their houses to people who
have no interest in the maintenance should not be granted a variance.
Staff recommendation is to approve the variance.
According to Mr. Hoard, to stipulate that the home must have an owner-occupant
is possible, but hard to enforce.
Ms. Davis MOVED to recommend approval . Mr. Moran seconded, A vote was called:
4 for, 1 against (Cummings) . -
APPEAL 1260: Area Variance to permit enlargement at rear of
rooming house at 205 Linn Street, in a R-3b zone.
The property has enough parking necessaryfor'.the number of individuals .li'ving
in the home.
The continued use of the property will in no way affect the character of the
neighborhood,
The proposed addition will provide space for an additional bedroom as well as
a large kitchen which improves the facilities for those living there.
Mr. Taube, representing Canestaro, indicated that the zoning regulations permit
6 individuals to occupy the home- 5 are presently in residence,
Mr, Moran MOVED to recommend approval , Ms, Cummings seconded, Motion carried.
6. None.
7. Urban Design and Preservation Committee:
Ms. Cummings said that after review, her committee was unanimously in favor
of the proposed new stationery.
Ms,,; , Cummings MOVED to send a recommendation to Common Council from the Planning
and Development Board in favor of the stationery, envelopes and business cards
designed by Carreiro. Ms. Davis seconded, Motion carried.
8. Cherry Street Industrial Park:
Mr, Van Cort explained that design and engineering was proceeding on schedule,
He is going to meet with. Common Council , at their next regularly scheduled meeting,
and propose that the administration and the leasing of the land in the park be
turned over to the IURA or the County IDA. The County IDA is more experienced in
administration of industrial parks, and has the ability to make loans to finance
projects 100% through IDA bonding (a tax-exempt revenue bond) , The TURA does have
some experience with land management and has the power under local and state law
to do so,
Mr, Van Cort stressed the importance of action now because of pressure on one of the
proposed tenants to expand in, the immediate future.
PAGE 3 May 29, 1979 P & D MINUTES
In order to arrive at lease terms satisfactory' to'-the-City .and this potential
lessee, it is important that the administration of the project be transferred
to either the IDA or the IURA as soon as possible.
The DEIS and FEIS have been prepared, circulated and made available to the
public, A public hearing was held on the DEIS which brought forth two comments,
neither unfavorable, but asking for clarification,
Favorable comments have been received on both the DEIS and FEIS,
Mr, Van Cort went on to say that environmental assessments are done routinely
as part of the Community Development Program; and that though staff reviewed
an EIS last summer, as lead agency, this is the first full EIS which the
Planning and Development Department has prepared. The Department prepared
the assessment for Cherry Street because it is the responsibility of the
property owner, in this case, the city, to do sop
Mr, Stein said that since continuing demand on staff time is anticipated,
in view of the fact stricter regulations will result due to state SEQRA
mandates, there may be a need for increasing the staff in the near future,
9. Sign Ordinance
Since Council requested that the signs in the City be reviewed for compliance
with ordinance, staff has been preparing changes to the sign ordinance which
would protect signs of some historic merit. Mr. Van Cort gave Board members
a copy of the proposed changes, which provide basically that a limited number
of otherwise noncomplying signs would, after approval by the Landmarks
Commission, be exempted from compliance on historic grounds.
Mr. Schnock was introduced as the Building Department staff person conducting
a complete inventory of all signs in the city, He finds that 40-50% of
the signs inventoried are out of compliance, including signs for advertising,
public signs, billboards, etc. He estimated that there are approximately
1400 signs to be inventoried, and projecting signs seem to be the biggest
offender, The Building Department will notify all non-compliers before the
deadline, In order to make provision for those sign owners who apply for a
historic sign permit, a variance will be needed.
Mr, Meigs began to explain the proposed amendment, After determining that the
Board wished to identify a special group of signs of a historic nature, the
process for defining that type of sign would have to be established, The
proposed changes to the sign ordinance indicate that the Building Commissioner
establishes a list through application by the sign owner, and approves applications
on recommendation by the ILPC,
Determining the procedure for establishing the list created a good deal of
discussion, as a result .of which the sign ordinance revision was referred
to the Codes and Ordinances Committee for further debate, with the power to
make a recommendation to the Charter and Ordinance Committee of Council , A
public hearing will have to be held before the amendment can be enacted.
PAGE 4 May 29, 1979 P & D MINUTES
City Graphics
Mr, Van Cort said that Carreiro Design was asked to prepare a map for the
City, as part of the City GraphicsProject, indicating points of interest in
the downtown. The maps will be printed and made available to the public as
well as being displayed in appropriate places in downtown, such as the main bus
shelters, Since the trust company underwrites the printing of the bus route
maps, perhaps another bank or other business would be interested in underwriting
the cost of these maps, in exchange for a bit of publicity on them, This item
was referred to the Urban Design and Preservation Committee.
The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m,
MEMORANDUM
TO: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
FROM: M. Crowley, Chairman, Neighborhood Development and Housing
SUBJECT; BZA Appeal 1252, Kelly's Dockside
DATE; May TJ_, 1979
The committee met this date to visit the site and discuss the appeal for
an Area Variance to the on-site parking requirement which is requested
by Mr. Kelly in order to permit construction of a bar on the second floor
of the premises, and use of the second,floor deck for customer seating.
No parking exists on the site. The present capacity of the restaurant
is 76, which would be increased to 90 by the new construction; this would
raise the parking required from 16 spaces (@ 1 space/5 seats) to 18 spaces.
The construction would include a second stairway, to be added inside the
building,
The committee determined that while some problems exist with the use of
parking space available for the various businesses in the vicinity, adequate
parking does exist in the area, and that these needs do not conflict.
Representatives of adjacent and nearby businesses concerned with this issue
were present for the discussion, or were contacted subsequently, and seemed
satisfied with the commit,.ee's findings,
Accordingly, the committee recommends that the Board recommend approval
of the variance requested in Appeal 1252, on the grounds that off,-street
parking more than adequate for the requirements of the proposed expansion
is available within 500 feet of the premises,
Pf