HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1979-06-26 MINUTES
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
June 26, 1979
PRESENT: Stuart Stein, Barbara Davis, Susan Cummings, Mary Crowley
ALSO
PRESENT: Tom Hoard, H. M. Van Cort, John Fuchs, Mrs. Slovik, Ferdinand
Stanchi, Miriam and Harold Scheraga, Pauline Wilkinson, Gary and Dale
Loomis, Jeffrey Kastel , Cass Petrillose, Richard Mellen-, David
and Seymour Turk
1 . The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m.
2. Ms. Crowley MOVED to approve the minutes of the May 29, 1979 meeting.
Ms. Cummings seconded. Passed unanimously,
3. None.
4. Mr. Stein announced that Mr. Cleveland has resigned from the Planning and
Development Board and the Board of Public Works will appoint a replacement.
5. ZONING CASES:
APPEAL 1261 :
Mr. Fuchs presented a _drawing of the site. He explained that the garage is a
22 story structure that was previously used as an auto body shop. The structure
is fully wired and has a concrete floor, Neighbors were sent a letter informing
them of the proposed home occupation and Mr. Fuchs had not received any negative.
comments. He further explained that he intends to live in the garage and rent
the house. Sufficient parking is available on the site.
Mrs. Slovik, a neighbor, presented a letter to the Board from neighbors at 604
and 608 Spencer Road who object to the granting of a variance in the neighborhood
that reflects commercial use,
Mr. Fuchs stated that he did not intend to advertise and he is not selling anything
out of the building.
Staff recommendation is to recommend approval , however, there is some concern about
commercial extension into the area.
The special permit could be revoked if misused but it would be hard to enforce,
Mr. Hoard emphasized that the special permit given to owner-occupant for a
particular type of activity cannot be changed if the property is sold.
Ms. Cummings was concerned about the proposed sign and was informed that five
square feet is allowable according to the sign ordinance.
Ms. Davis MOVED to recommend approval of the use and area variance provided
that the Planning and Development Department review the type of sign"so that
it would be compatible with a residential neighborhood. Ms. Cummings seconded,
Motion carried.
Page 2 Planning and Development June 26, 1979
APPEAL 1262:
Mr. Stanchi , stated that Mrs. Belcher, the owner of the property, would be
moving into the house after the conversion is complete. According to the zoning
ordinance there is sufficient parking.
Ms. Wilkinson asked that as a resident of the area the board not-grant'l
the variance to prevent further units from being changed to multiple dwelling
units.
Staff recommendation is to approve.
Ms. Cummings MOVED to recommend approval . Ms. Crowley seconded. Motion carried.
APPEAL 1263:
Mr. Scheraga explained that his neighbors approved of the proposed plan,
. Staff recommendation is to recommend approval .
Ms. Crowley MOVED to recommend approval of the area variance. Ms. Davis seconded.
Motion carried.
APPEAL 1264:
Mr. Loomis explained that the proposed changes will enable his brother to live in
the upstairs of the barn while the house is rented,
Parking is available for the proposed addition. Appellants have no intention
of entering into a business in the workshop area in the lower part of the barn.
Mrs,. Wilkinson, a neighbor, spoke very strongly against the variance. By changing
the homes in the area to multiple dwelling units, the area is rapidly becoming
a transient neighborhood. Other residents who live nearby are not in favor of
the additional unit because of the increased congestion in the neighborhood.
Staff recommendation is to approve based on the adequate parking and the fact
that the owners intend to fix up the property preventing the deterioration
of the present structures.
Ms. Cummings MOVED to recommend denial . For lack of a second the motion died.
Mr. Loomis was informed that his property is in the INHS target area for
rehabilitation. It was suggested that he talk with Mr. Pearce to see if any
funds could be made available to him.
Mr. Loomis said that the interior of the property had been remodeled in accordance
with 1970 standards and even though the outside of the building does not reflect
many changes the structure is not a fire hazard. `
Ms. Davi.s MOVED to recommend approval of the appeal and based on a concern for the
increased density of the neighborhood would like to stipulate that the home be
owner occupied and have no more than 6 occupants. Ms. Crowley seconded. A
PAQEE3 \\ Planning and Development June 26, 1979
vote was called; 3 for, 1 against (Stein)_°
APPEAL 1265;
Mr, Mellen explained that he has been doing business since January and neighbors
have had an opportunity to see what his business entails. After talking to
some of the neighbors, he has received no negative comments on his business.
Mr. Mellea also read 2 letters from adjacent property owners in favor of the
business.
Staff recommendation is in favor of the special permit.
Ms Crowley MOVED to recommend approval , Ms. Davis seconded. Motion carried.
APPEAL 1266.
Mr, Turk presented a drawing of the proposed two store structure, He explained
that he had sent out for bids for the construction of the building,
Mr Hoard said that the exterior of the building would have to be reviewed by
the Design Review Board.
Staff recommendation is to approve based on the fact that apartments were included
in the proposal in an area in need of more housing,
Mr, Van Cort noted that after looking at the plan for construction, the sidewalk
appeared narrow. The sidewalks should be consistent with the existing sidewalk.
Ms, Cummings MOVED to recommend approval of the variance with a strong
recommendation that the structure be 2 story, Ms. Crowley seconded,
Motion carried.
6, Communications
Mr, Stein referred to a communication from the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation
Commission which was sent to the Board for information concerning the actions to
date on the`Cornell University Agriculture Quadrangle matter, This material was
sent to the Board for information in order to keep them abreast-of the situation
and no action is required.
7, Committee Reports
Ms. Cummings presented a report from the Urban Design and Preservation Committee,
The report summarized the Committee's meeting to review the proposed map of down-
town points of interest and landmarks which is being prepared under the City graphics
contract with Carreiro Design, The Committee,_ in reviewing the proposed map, felt
that it could be revised and further detailed so that persons seeing it at the
locations where it's proposed to be displayed, the bus shelters around downtown and
also in the form of handouts, would be better able to understand the geography of
the central business district, Several suggestions were made for additions or
modifications to the proposed map including possible changes to the selection of
key colors, the perspective viewpoint from which the map is drawn, and certain other
PAGE 4 Planning and Development June 26, 1979
points of interest which seem to be points which the average person unfamiliar
with Ithaca would need to know. Ms. Cummings stated that she would return this
matter to her Committee and discuss it further with the consultant.
Signage for City. Parking Structures
Ms. Cummings' Committee also reviewed with Mr. Turner of Carriero Graphics the
matter of signage for the city parking structures, particularly for the Green
Street structure. The Commons Advisory Board and other interested parties have
made a strong recommendation that directional signage to and within the structures
be made a priority item for the City. Ms. Cummings' Committee agrees .with this
feeling and recommends that the consultant be requested to prepare design proposals
for such a system of graphics, which would include signs on the streets leading
to the structures, and then indicating circulation direction and point of exit
from the structures. She requested that the Committee be given power to act for
the Board in reviewing this matter and in making recommendations to Common Council
for funding for this purpose. The motion was seconded by Ms. Davis and passed
with a condition that the proposed limit of funding be $600 rather than the lesser
amount estimated by Mr. Turner for the complete job of designing and manufacturing
the resulting signage, but exclusive of installation, which presumably would be
effected by city forces. There was further discussion concerning the possibility
that temporary signage be erected to ease the traffic and circulation system while
this matter is being finalized but the consensus of the staff was that the exist-
ing signage is temporary and was intended to serve the purpose until a final
signage system could be devised; therefore the suggestion was discarded.
A motion was approved unanimously to give the Committee the power to review and
act for the Board.
Historic Signs
The Codes and Ordinances Committee met with interested members of other city
agencies on proposed revisions to the Sign Ordinance to permit certain historic
signs to remain past the date for which the .ordinance provides removal of non=
conforming signs. Committee Chairman Davis reported-that the meeting which her
committee had with the City officials and representatives::of various committees
and commissions resulted in agreement that the first draft specification for
standards for historic signs would be revised and tightened, so that relatively
few of the existing nonconforming signs would qualify for consideration for
historic designation, She reported that the proposed revision to the ordinance
would make the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission responsible for first
determining whether a particular sign in question was historic, according to the
standards, and that after the Commission had made their ruling, the Building
Commissioner would act on the sign permit request, referring any further matters
of question to the Board of Zoning Appeals in the normal method. The Planning
Board would, of course, also be consulted in case of such appeals.
There was discussion on the floor concerning methods of notification to owners
of historic signs, to alert them to. the fact that they had a potentially historic
sign, and to permit them to decide whether they wished to begin the process of
determining whether the sign in question would be eligible, Mr. Van Cort noted
that the draft of the revision had been presented to the Charter and Ordinance
PAGE 5 Planning and Development June 26, 1979
Committee of Common Council , where it received a mixed response, since there is
a certain feeling among members of Council that the ordinance has been sufficiently
tested and discussed in the nearly seven years that it has been in effect, and
that it would be potentially unfair to the owners of remaining nonconforming. signs
to be given variances where many others have already removed such signs. He noted
also that the proposal would provide basically that neon signs, signs painted
directly on buildings, and signs which are in a sense integral with the design or
construction of a building or its facade, such as those which are incised into
Carrara glass facades. The other criterion for determining a historic sign
threshold is that any sign which may be considered for historic status must have
been erected prior to 1950. Building Commissioner Hoard stated that in notices to
sign owners, mention of the potential historic nature of a sign will be made when
the ordinance goes into effect. After further discussion, Ms. Davis moved that
the Planning Board recommend enthusiastically the adoption of the proposed amendment
to the Sign Ordinance to permit variances for certain historic signs in accordance
with standards as specified in the most recent draft of the proposed ordinance
amendment. Ms. Cummings seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
8. Old Business
Mr. Stein called for items of old business of which there were none.
9. New Business
There were no items of new business.
10 Miscellaneous
Mr, Van Cort informed the Board that Rosalind Williams had resigned her position
on staff, and that he was beginning the process of seeking a replacement for herr,
He noted that it is a somewhat involved process to advertise and to make a selection
among applicants for this position, which is a regular Civil Service position with
the City. Chairman Stein requested that this matter be a subject of consideration
by the entire Board, if possible, and asked the Director to notify him and other
Board members when it would be appropriate to have such a discussion, Mr. Stein
requested that, in view of Ms. Williams' long and outstanding period of service,
a letter of appreciation be sent to her,
There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Plana
MEMORANDUM
TO Planning and Development Board
FROM; Sue Cummings, Chairman, Urban Design and Preservation Committee
SUBJECT; City Graphics/Parking Signage
DATE. June 26, 1979
In the course of discussing the Downtown Directory at its
meeting June 25th (see related memo) , the related matter of signage in
and leading to the parking ramps was raised, The committee is aware of
some feeling, among merchants and the general pubiic, that directions to
the structures, and directions for interior circulation etc, , are badly
needed.
The committee recommends that this matter be given priority
over the directory, and that the department prepare recommendations for
ramp signage as quickly as possible, using the most effective combination
of staff and consultant resources, Further, the committee wishes to
remain involved in this and other phases of the graphics project, and
recommends that in order to expedite review and implementation, this
committee be given power to act for the Board, including forwarding
its recommendation on ramp signage to the appropriate Council committee
and/or other city agency for final installation,
It was also suggested that if necessary to coordinate the ramp
signage system with the rest of the graphics system, serious consideration
be given to installing temporary signage, produced by the city sign shop,
as soon as appropriate locations are determined by the designers in
consultation with the committee,
MEMORANDUM
TO: - Planning and Development Board
FROM Sue Cummings, Chairman Urban Design and Preservation Committee
SUBJECT; City Graphics/'Downtown Directory
DATE, June 26, 1979
The committee reviewed the proposed directory at a meeting
June 25th.
It was felt that Carreiro Design should be asked to further refine
the proposal and bring it,' together with earlier proposals (_e,g. , one using
a standard street map based and examples from other localities for comparison,
to a later committee meeting, The Committee felt that color selection,
perspective viewpoint, and points of interest require reconsideration before
settling on the most effective designs For instance, it was suggested that
some thought be given to enlivening the area focused on -the CBD., by somehow
indicating all the buildings, perhaps by simple block shapes, against which
the colored points of interest would stand out, Features which should or
might be added include the Strand and the Historic District boundaries;
Women's Community Building, DeWitt Mall , various parks, and the Health
Clinic, Whiton House. (Community Arts School ) and the Fire Station might be
left out, Color differentiation between the base color and the "labels", and
perhaps a brighter color for the CBD area, also seemed advisable. There
appears to be a need to better indicate the distance between downtown and
the lake, perhaps by indicating more east-west streets, and Fall Creek, by
using a higher station point, or by screening the distance for an illusion
of depth,
The committee felt, however, that priority should be given to
development of a system of directional signs to and within the parking structures
Csee separate memo),
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