HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1986-09-23 IT.
Approved10/28/86
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CITY OF ITHACA
108 EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
DEPARTMENT OF TELEPHONE:272-1713
PLANNING &DEVELOPMENT CODE 607
H.MATTHYS VAN CORT,DIRECTOR
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
MINUTES - September 23, 1986:
PRESENT: Chair Blumenthal , S. Jackson, M. Sampson, M. Albanese, R. Moran
S. J. Cummings. Director Van Cort. Press and interested parties.
1. Call to Order: Ms. Blumenthal called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
2. Privilege of the Floor Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest Drive, representing
Citizens to Save Stewart Park was present and distributed a Statement of
Position from that group. She also read a statement in which the
citizens group asked the Board's support in their efforts to save the
park from being drastically changed at great expense. They would like
the Master Plan which was prepared by Thomas Niederkorn in September
1984 discarded. The Statement of Position presents their viewpoint
and analyzes in more detail their concerns. A petition circulated this
summer was signed by 6,000 individuals; she claimed people are eager to
sign the petition because the citizenry overwhelmingly does not want the
park. altered and changed The Board thanked Ms. Higgins for her state-
ment; there were no questions from the Board.
3. Zoning Appeals:. The Codes and Administration Committee found that Appeals
1715 through 1721 and Sign Appeal 10-1-86 do not involve matters of city-
wide or long-term planning effect, and recommends that they be passed to
the Board of Zoning Appeals with no recommendation. S. .Jackson so moved,
seconded by M. Sampson Vote:- 5-ayes, 1-nay (Cummings) . Motion carried.
4. Liaison Reports:
a. Board of Public Works - Mr, Albanese said he had no report. : Director
Van Cort then referred to the discussion held at the Planning and Develop-
ment Board meeting in .July regarding the Board of Public Work's role in
subdivisions. He told the Board that a memorandum of clarification is
being prepared.
Ms. Cummings asked for an update on the open positions in the Public
Works Department (Assistant Superintendent and City Engineer) . Mr.
Albanese said interviews for an Assistant Superintendent have been held.
A decision should be made shortly. Advertising for the City Engineer's
position resulted i'n no applicants at this tame. . .Engineering projects
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - Sept. 23, 1986 (continued) -2-
under way have been put out to bid and are being completed by hired
engineering firms.. Ms . Cummings suggested that a member of the
Planning staff .be included in.the review of 'resumes and the inter-
views to.. be .held for a City:.Engineer since the Planning and. Develop-
ment Director.and the City .Engineer very often work closely on city
projects and subdivisions. Ms. Cummings made a :motion to that effect,
seconded by S: Jackson. Vote: .6-0. Carried.
b. Planning and Development-Committee Ms. Cummings referred to
the: Committee. agenda for the meeting on September .24:. 1) East Hill
Rezoning process of putting together package on the East Hill
Moratorium area, parking. related issues,. and review of special projects;
2) Housing Strategic Plan. - update; 3) Housing and Public Works Code
Inspectors - discussion of `implementing by. paid staff, input from neigh-
borhood civic associations, etc. ; 4) Brick .Reuse Policy.; 5) Stewart .
Park La.ndmarks 'Designation.
Mr. Jackson questioned the singling out of items from the strategic
plan which involve expenditures of money_ by the city (i .e. , Code
Inspectors) . Ms. Cummings said Jackson.'s comment was timely and well
taken and Council:would have to take cost priorities into consideration.
She said however that discussing some of these topics. individually by
.Council before the entire plan is presented. will benefit the overall
project:
5. 1987 Budget and Work Program. DirectorVan C.or.t stated that the budget
for 1987 .was. similar to last :year's request with the exception of a
request for $45,.000 to continue work on the strategic economic plan.
A consul.tant..would "be hired to work in an advisory role to assist staff
with methodology and ,design study. The. consultant would then assist in
analyzing. th.e data collected and in formulating recommendations. Mr.
Jackson stated his belief that the $459000 figure was too low that
$65,000 to $70,000 would be more-realistic. He hopes. that-a portion of
these funds could be obtained from. other sources such as the Tompkins
County Area Development Corporation and Tompkins County. He also be
lieves there are. state grants available and he offered to. research this
source of funding.
The request .of '$3,150 'for an additional personal., computer for:' he
Department was discussed. Mr. Van Cort. explained that there is an .i.n
creasing demand .in the Department for computer use which .he expects
will continue to escalate.
Director Van Cort gave .a brief description .of the work program; many
items are over-lapping. from. .1986 through 1987 (i .e. , the housing study) ;
_ Planning and Development Board
Minutes Sept. 23, 1986 (continued) -3-
others are on-going projects. The problem of listing the Director on
every -project or not listing him at all continues. He has at least
two items, which are his projects exclusively (Cable and Day.Care) .
Perhaps a ..paragraph of explanation should be _added to the report. .
Discussion continued regarding some of the -Neighborhood Planner pro-
jects which were designated as new Ms. Cummings suggested that.
many of .these were not new. projects but continuations of'Ms. Lazarsk:i 's
work program.. Also .discussed was the role of Community Development
for 19 ,.they were not listed on the work program because of the. u.n
certainty, for this department'for the coming year. Mr.. Van Cort.
stated that he hopes there will be sufficient funds to .continue CD.
staff .through: July 1987.. By. that time .he hopes the city will receive
a notice of funding availabil.ityto continue Community Development
work`; if not, the department wil.l. lose approximately one-third of
its planning personnel . The work program will be`revised according
to suggestions received from .the Board and an explanatory paragraph
added to the final product,
6. City Charter - Proposed :Amendment: : Mr. Jackson .distributed a proposed.
amendment regarding lease or sale of city-owned land. Presently the
city can dispose of land only through the Ithaca Urban Renewal <Agency
or ;by public auction under Municipal Law (with. approval . by 3/4 of Common
Council ) If. Council approves disposition of property, a permissive
referendum may be called for by. petition. State law also 'allows the.
city to change the requirements with certain stipulations (1) 'sale
must be for full value, and (2) permissive referendum cannot be waived
but a change in how it takes place is allowed ;The city may change.. .
the 3/4 .vote to. a majority, vote or to some other .fraction as they
decide. The time .limitations for the referendum may change; for in
stance`under. . this provision there would have to be- a. 30-day notice. ..
State law .requires each_ signature. to be notarized; under this —
pro-vision the signatures need not be. notarized. Mr. Jackson stated
that sufficient information should be distributed i.n advance of; he
voteto ensure anA nformed vote by the citizenry... : The Board disc.
cussed the provisions stated'`above.,
Ms. Cummings suggested 'that. the Planni.ng..Board :make a recommendation .
to Council listing certain concerns or changes and suggested that the
resolution as written should not go. forward. Mr. .Jackson .suggested
three. specific changes:; . (!), .change the 3/4 requirement. to a majority;,
(2) a time deadline should he. set for permissive referendum, i ..e. , 3.0
days to call for th.e referendum during which time signatures would be
gathered, then if approved by. Counci.l the referendum.would be held i.n:
60 days, (:except by. mutual agreement between. city and potential he.
(3) distribution of information to all voters..
Planning and Development Board
Minutes..o Sept. ,23, 1986 (continued) -4-
Mr—Jackson moved to recommend to Council strong disagreement with.
the 3/4 vote rule and to enumerate the following. concerns regarding
the referendum: timely execution of the referendum and dissemination
of information .to. all voters.. Seconded by" M, Albanese. Vote: 6-0.
Carried.
7. Motion:. M. Albanese moved .to approve the July 1986 minutes; seconded by
S, Jackson and approved.6.0.
8. Chairman's Report::
a. Ms. Blumenthal : re.ported. that a third public hearing for .the strategic
housing plan will be held in October. One of .the topics for discussion
will be the alternate-side parking system. Alderman Killeen was present
and addressed the Board stating that alternate parking was important to
the overall success of the neighborhoods plan. The: Board will receive
information and the agenda prior to the public meeting
b. Ms. Blumenthal asked the Board to consider electing a Vice Chair to
act in her absence. She asked the Board members to reflect .on this and
.elect a Vice. Chair at the October Board meeting..
9. Miscellaneous: Mr. Albanese asked if the Board. intended to make a
recommendation regarding Stewart Park. Ms. Cummings stated that there
would be resolutions presented at the next :Council ;meeting and she ex-
pected some referrals would. be made to the Planning and Development
Board and to. the Planning and Development Committee. Ms. Blumenthal
suggested this .topic be referred..to the Human and Cultural Resources
Committee (M.." Sampson, Chair.) .and placed on the Planning Board meeting
agenda for October:
10. Adjournment 10:00 p.m.
/mc