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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1985-04-23 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD MINUTES APRIL 23, 1985: PRESENT: Chair Blumenthal , I . Kramnick, S. Jackson, M. Sampson, B. Nichols, R. Romanowski ALSO: Members of the Press, Appellants, Other Interested Parties 1 . Call to Order 7:40 p.m. 2. Public Hearing for Final Subdivision Approval: Taylor Pl . and Campbell Ave. Motion to open the public hearing was made and seconded Romanowski and Sampson) . There was no one present to speak for or against the subdivision request. Motion was made and seconded to close the public hearing. 3. Zoning Appeals - see Minutes attached. 4. Plant Closing Legislation: Mr. Jackson reported that the Economic Develop- ment and Transportation Committee in conjunction with Paul Bennett, Esq. has drafted proposed legislation to cover plant closings. He distributed copies of the draft. Jackson asked for comments, changes and additions. Ms. Blumenthal suggested the addition of a fourth purpose to the three listed: "The legislation seeks to avoid major disruptions in the local economy which result from sudden plant and business closings, relocation, or substantial workforce reductions." Portions of the draft legislation were dicussed such as: 'reduction of the workforce' , the meaning of 'direct or indirect financial assistance from the city' , and the statement that the legislation seeks to promote the creation and maintenance of jobs. Mr. Van Cort stated that he believed the legislation as written would discourage rather than encourage the crea- tion of new jobs and may, indeed, act as an impediment for any company con- sidering locating here. Mr. Jackson said he felt this legislation would give the city more information regarding business problems; would provide the city with information to avoid problems; and would encourage businesses to work with the city at _an early stage when faced with work reductions and/or plant closings. Mr. Sampson agreed with Director Van Cort's comments that the legislation could have an opposite effect on job promotion/creation. Michael Cohen, co-chair of the Unemployed Council , addressed the Board. He stated that job layoffs are devastating to the individual and disastrous to the family. He asked the Board to keep this in mind while contemplating the proposed legislation. Discussion continued regarding employers' obligations and responsibilities to their employees and the desirability of attracting responsible employers to the community. Mr. Jackson stated this proposed legislation would be presented to the Chamber of Commerce by Mayor Gutenberger in May if the legis- -2- lation is recommended by the Planning and Development Board to Common Council . Mr. Jackson will prepare a second draft of the legislation incorpor- ating the changes suggested by the Board. Motion: Jackson, seconded by Nichols, moved the following Resolution: WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board finds that the well-being of Ithaca.'s residents depends, in part, on the vitality and stability of our local economy, and WHEREAS, the Board believes that unannounced closings pose a particular challenge to efforts to provide a vital and .stable economic environ- ment, and WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board has endorsed the prinicple of protecting workers and the city from the consequences of unannounced closings by employers, and WHEREAS, the Board has consulted with the office of the City Attorney, Planning Director, .and others concerning the legal and practical limitations of city action, and' WHEREAS, the Board has considered the attached legislation and found it to be in the best interests of promoting vitality and stability in the economy of the City of Ithaca, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning and Development Board recommends that Common Council adopt the attached employment maintenance legislation, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution of the Board, with the attached legislation, be sent to the Mayor by the Planning Director. in time for its communication to the Common Council at their meeting of May 1, 1985 (Mr. Sampson stated that although he was in favor of the relief sought in the legislation he believes that it would discourage new companies from locating here and he would, therefore, vote against the resolution.) Voter 4-yea, 1-nay (Sampson) , I-abstention (Romanowski ) . Carried. 5. Final Approval (MacLean Subdivision - Taylor Place and Campbell Ave .) Brief discussion was held regarding the lot lines for this subdivision request. Mr. MacLean, owner, said a new deed is being prepared and it will be reviewed by Jon Meigs when complete. Planning staff recommends approval of the request. Motion: Romanowski , seconded by Sampson, moved to grant final approval of the subdivision. Vote: 6-0-0. Carried. -3- 6. Section 17 - New York State Rental Housing Rehabilitation: Kathe Evans, Community Development Planner, addressed the Board to clarify this portion of the Community Development application. A -pre-application for funds under this program ($125,000) was made to the State and administrative funds were included in the Community Development application to be sub- mitted on May 1 , 1985. The proposal calls for rehabilitation of 25 rental units in three census tracts (South Hill , West Hill , Northside and South- side Neighborhoods) . The program provides federal grants of up to $5,000 per housing unit to subsidize up to 50% of the cost of rehabilitation of _. rental units in a low-income neighborhood. In addition, the city would receive .an allocation of Section 8 vouchers for each $5,000 grant. These vouchers would provide long-term rent subsidy for the low- and moderate- income families who qualified for the program. Information was distributed to the Board listing the criteria that would be followed in selecting proposals for financing. The program would help to improve the housing stock for low- and moderate-income families without an appreciable rent increase. Discussion followed regarding the rental units if they were owner occupied and how the grant would be di.vided. The Board asked if once a grant was given was there a time limit before the property could be sold. Ms. Evans explained that there would be a ten- year period before the property could change hands without penalty. If the property was sold before the ten year interval , a portion of the grant would have to be repaid to the city. Ms. Evans presented a Resolution to the Board requesting their support for this portion of the Community Development application which reads as follows WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board has discussed the opportunities presented by the New York State Section 17 Program to improve rental housing, especially housing which serves low- and moderate-income . households NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning and Development Board supports a second phase application to the State for an initial program which will rehabilitate 25 rental units, and recommends that Common Council pass a resolution at its upcoming meeting to support Ithaca's participation in the program. Motion: Kramnick, seconded by Jackson, moved to approve the Resolution as presented. Vote: 6-0-0. Passed. 7. Director's Report: Mr. Van Cort informed the Board that a new set of drawings has been received from the DoT regarding the Route 96 proposals. Anyone interested should stop by the Planning Office to review the maps. A public hearing will be held on April 29, 1985, 7:30 p.m. , at Boynton Middle School -4- 8. Committee Reports: A Codes and Administration The Board decided to continue hearing zoning cases as they are now handled with the Codes and Administration Committee screening the requests each month. Mr. Kramnick's Committee was commended on performing an excellent job of screening the cases It was suggested .that the Committee confer with the Building Department to insure that the neighbors as well as the appellants were receiving the proper information regarding procedures for discussion of zoning appeals requests. B) Neighborhoods, Housing and Facilities The Committee met with Andrea Lazarski for an update of neighborhood problems and Ms. Lazarski 's involvement with the neighborhood groups. She is receiving inquiries from interested parties, answering questions relating to codes and regulations and/or referring them to the Building Department. She is also dealing with the removal of trees and the BPW policy governing their removal . Ms. Lazarski is also working with the East Hill Civic Association; continuing her work on the Ag Quad issue; and dealing with housing preservation through Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. Pleasant .Street Rezoning - Paul Mazzarella, Deputy Director, spoke about the rezoning requests from this South Hill area. Impetus for the rezoning followed a complaint lodged against a landlord because of over-crowding of a duplex apartment house at 230 Pleasant St./3.16 So. Aurora St. Under the existing zoning, 14 people are allowed there; the present occupancy is 23. Numerous violations of the zoning code were uncovered. The Certificate of Occupancy has been revoked and litigation is in process. The residents of the area have requested rezoning to R-2. Next month, Andrea Lazarski , along with residents of the neigh- borhood, will make a formal and detailed presentation to the Board. At that time, the Board will be asked to make a recommendation regard- ing. rezoning of the area. It would be helpful if the Board members would review the area in question before the next Board meeting. In this regard, a street map of the district will besent to. the Board members before the May meeting. C) Economic Development and Transportation - Mr. Jackson. said that discussion will continue next month regarding sites for the Farmers' Market when the remaining questions relating to the five sites under consideration will have been answered. Viable sites will be reviewed at the next Board meeting. 9. Liaison Reports: AF Mr. Nichols (Board of Public Works) stated that the Committee spoke about charges for the use of city property by the Station Restaurant and the Farmers' Market. The rate, if any, should be consistent. Motion will be made that no charge be made for either parcel . This will result in a $500 savings for the Farmers' Market. Also mentioned at the BPW meeting was alternate-side-of-the-street parking and/or permit parking. The Council requested the Mayor to appoint an ad hoc committee to study alternate parking. It is the BPW's understanding -5- that a study of permit parking will be undertaken by the Planning Department with a report to follow in the next few months. B) Mr. Romanowski _ (P&D Committee) stated that discussion of the Community Gardens ordinance is continuing, as well as most of the same issues discussed by the Planning and Development Board. C) John Johnson, liaison between the Planning and Development Board and the County Planning Board, was present. He 'stated that the Board was looking at various ways to become an active working Board to be more useful to the County. Planning Department. He said at their last meeting they reviewed the history of computers and their utilization in Tompkins County government. 10. Capital Budget Planning Process: Mr. Van Cort stated that three meetings have been held on this topic at the Mayor's request. The following pro- posals have been suggested: 1 ) the Planning Department to be put in charge of compiling the first draft of each year's capital budget and a five-year capital program incorporating all departments' requests ; 2) elimination of the present system whereby the Mayor, Controller, Director of Planning and Development, and the Superintendent of Public Works make up a first draft of the budget and that these individuals be added to a Capital Project Review Committee thereby streamlining the process and invigorating the five-year plan; 3) a fund to be established to review project costs to determine approximate costs of future expenditures. 11. Proposed zoning Amendment - Section 30.40: Information regarding this topic was distributed to the Board. The proposed ordinance deals with aesthetics of properties and environmental issues. Review of this pro- posed ordinance was referred to the. Codes and Administration Committee and will be discussed next month.. 12. Disposition of City-owned Property: Parcel #6, Mini Golf Course - Mr. Meigs studied this parcel and in his determination it is a buildable lot. According to established criteria, if the lot is of no further municipal purpose it should .be.disposed of through competitive process. Mr. Nichols reported that the BPW considered this lot at one time and determined it had no BPW purpose. After discussion it was recommended that Mr.. Nichols con- vey to the BPW that the Board recommends sale of the parcel . At a later time, the Board will make recommendation regarding the conditions of sale and the criteria to be established in the transaction Committee chairs will meet again to continue discussion of this topic. 13. Miscellaneous: Mr. Sampson brought to the attention of the Board the situation where property owners having produced evidence of sufficient park- ing for their rental units were granted variances. In some instances, there- after, the parking spaces have been eliminated. When this occurs there seems to be little control or recourse by the city. After brief discussion, it was recommended that a memorandum be sent to the Building Commissioner mentioning this problem and requesting possible action by the Building Department. Adjournment - 11 :40 p.m. me 5/7/85 ZONING APPEALS MINUTES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD April 23, 1985: Isaac Kramnick of the Codes and Administrat%on Committee explained the procedures presently employed by the Board for hearing zoning appeals cases. The Committee met prior to this meeting to review: this month's appeals. Their recommendation to the Board was as, follows: The following cases: need not be discussed Appeal #1616 - 318-20 Pleasant Street Appeal #1617 114. Highland Place Appeal #1619 - 115 .21 Dryden Road Appeal #1620 - 106 Short Street Appeal #1621 - 520 E. Buffalo Street Appeal #1622 506 S. Cayuga Street Appeal #1618 -, 106 Washington Street should be reviewed by the Board, Motion: Kramnick, seconded by Sampson, moved to pass on to the Board of Zoning Appeals the above mentioned appeals without recommendation or comment as proposed by the Codes and Administration Committee. Appeal #1618 will be discussed. Vote: 6-0--0. Passed. Appeal#16:18 R 10.6 Washington Street: Appeal of D. Kirkpatrick for a special permit to allow a home occupation (weaving, with. no employees b.ut an occasional student) . Public Comment: Leonard Ferris, 1.04 Short St. , was: present on behalf of the First Assembly of God Church and indicated that the Church had no objection to Ms. Kirkpatrick's request for a home occupation. The Board discussed in general the ordinance governing home occupations, production and sales It was determined that the requested use would have little effect on the neighborhood and approval should be given. Mr. Romanowski stated that having just learned of the request, he had not talked to any of the residents in the area, and therefore., he-would abstain from voting on those grounds. Staff .Recommendation: Grant. Motion: Jackson, seconded by Kramnick, moved to recommend approval to The-Board of Zoning Appeals. Vote: 5-0-1 (abstention-Romanowski) . Passed. /mc 4/29/85