HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1987-11-24 Approved 12/22/87
Planning & Development Board -
Meeting - Nov. 24, 1987, 3 : 30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chair Blumenthal, J. Daley, M. Sampson, T. Cookingham
Staff J. Meigs, Planner; W. Gray, City Engineer;
E. Olmstead, Fire Chief; B. Wilbur, Deputy Fire Chief
1. Call to Order - 3 :45 p.m.
2 . Zoning Appeal 1807 :
This appeal for an accessory apartment was discussed by the
Board. The appellant was not present. Neighbors, Mr. and
Mrs. Gelberg, 100 Homestead Road, addressed the Board
respecting concerns for the safety of the tenants of the
apartment; the fact that the apartment is currently occupied;
and the impacts that the apartment's use has upon their
property. They expressed concern regarding the proximity of
the apartment entry to the adjacent ravine. The tenants also
use the Gelberg's driveway to move household items/furniture
in and out of the apartment; thus, a trespassing problem .
exists
During the discussion which followed it was suggested that
the erection of a physical barrier such as a fence would
prohibit use of the Gelberg driveway.
Motion: Blumenthal moved, seconded by Daley, to defer action
until the appellant could provide additional information for
the Board's review and to request BZA to defer hearing the
appeal for one month pending receipt of further details .
Vote: 3-0-0 . Carried.
3 . Public Hearing: Final Subdivision Approval/Wetzel.
The public hearing was opened; no one from the public was
present to address the issue; the public hearing was closed.
Mr. Gray, City Engineer, stated that his concerns were
addressed in a memorandum and are related to requirements as
specified in the Municipal Code; specifically, driveway slope
and separate water and sewer service. He recommends
following the Code requirements as outlined; no additional
recommendations are warranted.
Brian Wilbur, Deputy Fire Chief, stated that the driveway
accessibility would affect fire service. Since the plan is
not yet definite, it is difficult to comment further without
specifics .
Planning & Development Board Minutes
Nova 24, 1987 (continued) : -2-
Mr. Cal Warren, realtor, representing Mr. Wetzel, stated that
the plan before the Board is a subdivision request only - not
a request for development approval. The initial concept of a
common driveway and sewer service were mentioned as
possibilities; these ideas have since been abandoned. The
owners of the lots will be bound by applicable building codes
and their plans will require approval of the Building
Department.
Motion: Daley, seconded by Cookingham, moved final
subdivision approval. Vote: 4-0-0 . Carried unanimously'.
4 Valentine Place Appeals :
The Board considered appeals 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1810 as a
group. Ms . Jane Pederson addressed the Board regarding
appeals 1805, made by her, and 1803 by Rishi Raj , stating
that they were essentially the same. It was reported that
the ownership/status of 'Woodcock St. ' has not been .
definitely established, according to the City Attorney and
others; this status may be a relevant consideration in the
issue of transition regulations . It was also observed that
some of the parking area for the proposed development is
closer to the edge of the gorge than the nearest proposed
structure; this, plus the fact that a short environmental
assessment form was prepared for the project at some point,
contained two affirmative answers, and was not followed by at
least a completed long form; and that the City Engineer had
concerns about such matters as site drainage, leaves some
uncertainty as to whether necessary environmental
considerations have been dealt with.
Motion: Cookingham, seconded by Daley, recommended that in
hearing and deliberating Appeals 1803 and 1805 the BZA give
serious attention to the matter of the unknown status of
Woodcock St. as it may bear on the issues; to the matter of
the accuracy of the zoning map as it affects determinations;
and to the uncertainties surrounding the matter of
environmental review of the project. Vote: 4-0-0 . Carried.
While the Board makes no specific recommendation on Appeals
1804 and 1810, this is not intended to indicate that the
Board feels they do not warrant discussion any the less, with
respect, where applicable, to matters specified in the
recommendation on Nos . 1803 and 1805 .
5 . Farmers' Market:
Various members of the Planning and Development Board,
Planning and Development Committee, and the Ithaca Farmers '
Market Board met last week to discuss the Farmers ' Market
license application for calendar year 1988 . Council had
requested the Planning and Development Committee to obtain
Planning & Development Board Minutes
Nov. 24, 1987 (continued) : -3-
comments from the Planning and Development Board and the
Board of Public Works regarding license renewal . Anna
Steinkraus, Chair, IFM Board, addressed the Planning Board.
She stated that the Market wishes to demolish its existing
open structure at Taughannock Blvd. and build a temporary
replacement west of it. This would essentially increase the
parking lot area by at least 100 cars and alleviate the
parking problems . The proposed structure would be assembled
by bolting components together, thus allowing for reassembly
elsewhere should such action be necessary at some future
time. There would be no loss of trees for the proposed
construction; better use of the available space would result.
Because a final decision regarding disposition of the
Taughannock Boulevard site by the City cannot be made in time
for the Ithaca Farmers ' Market to find a substitute site for
calendar year 1988, Daley moved to recommend that the BPW be
given permission to negotiate with the IFM a one-year license
for the present Taughannock Blvd. site. Seconded by
Cookingham. Vote: 4-0-0 . Carried unanimously.
In addition, the following resolution was adopted by the
Board (moved by Cookingham, seconded by Daley) :
WHEREAS, it is not likely that the issue of a permanent site
for the Farmers ' Market will be resolved prior to the
Market' s Spring 1988 operating season, and
WHEREAS, the City has taken into account the concerns
expressed by the neighbors of the Market at the West End
location, and
WHEREAS, the City has also taken into account the efforts of
the Market to address those concerns,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning and
Development Board recommends that the City proceed with
negotiations with the Farmers ' Market for a temporary use
permit for next year, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the issuance of such a permit be
on condition that the Market prepare and implement, subject
to City approval, a plan for substantially improving existing
problems with traffic flow, circulation, and parking which
does not involve principal use of the public thoroughfare,
and for improving the physical appearance of the market
structure, and that all such improvements must be flexible,
removable and temporary in nature, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City does not accept these
improvements as the plan for permanent development of the
Taughannock Boulevard site, and
Planning & Development Board Minutes
Nova 24, 1987 (continued) : -4-
,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Farmers ' Market must
continue to work with its West End neighbors to resolve any
conflicts arising from their presence there.
Vote: 4-0-0 . Carried unanimously.
6 Adjournment 6 : 00 p.m.
disk #4/mc
12/17/87