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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1989-09-05 MINUTES Planning and Development Board September 5, 1989 PRESENT: S. Blumenthal (Chair), M. Cochran, T. Cookingham, J. Daley, D. Gooding, S. Killeen, A. Yale. Staff: Director H. M. Van Cort, Deputy Director P. Mazzarella, P. Weed. Also, Applicants, Other Interested Parties, Media. 1. Meeting was called to order at 7:42 p.m. 2. Privilege of the Floor. No comments. 3. Subdivision: Parcel at First and Franklin Streets/Paolangeli. Director Van Cort reported that after the August 22, 1989 meeting, Peter Weed of the Department staff prepared a cluster plan for the site, and subsequently on Friday, September 1, Mr. Paolangeli submitted his own cluster proposal. Staff completed its review of the environmental assessment for the conventional plat, and while most questions are answered in the assessment, there is one area which has not been adequately addressed: The entire site is in the 100-year flood plain, and no mitigating measures have been identified in the long form regarding that issue. Since under local environmental law any construction in the 100-year flood plain is a Type 1 Action, staff recommended that the Board ask the applicant to provide additional information on measures to mitigate any possible impacts from construction in the flood plain. Director Van Cort presented a flood plain map and explained the need for more research regarding any possible negative impacts. In answer to a question from Mr. Cookingham, staff responded that the city ordinance adopted in 1987 is believed to reflect the state's model. Mr. Mazzarella stated that the City of Ithaca is participating in both the state's model and the federal program in which the federal government made a study of the entire corporate area of Ithaca including all streams and tributaries, defining the various flood hazard area boundaries. Director Van Cort explained that in order for the Board to move expeditiously on the matter, more information would be requested under the assessment portion of the review. Yale MOVED, seconded by Daley, that additional study of the effects of the 100-year flood plain coinciding with the location of the proposed project be undertaken through the environmental review process so that the application will be complete. The motion PASSED 7-0. Mr. Daley and resident Laura Lewis commented on the applicant's behavior. Ms. Lewis felt intimidated by applicant's actions. Chair Blumenthal halted further discussion between residents and the applicant since it was not deemed productive. Marjorie Olds read a prepared statement outlining concerns of the neighborhood with regard to need for open green space, impact on the area, etc. Planning & Development Board Minutes Page 2 Several suggestions were presented by staff and Mr. Daley as how best to use the lot. The applicant presented his latest plan. Since the amount of green space appeared to be of considerable interest to all involved, Mr. Paolangeli offered to sell property to the City for the green space. The possible rezoning of the proposed subdivision was discussed. If R-2c zoning comes into effect, this parcel may fit into the guidelines. It could be four months before Common Council acts on this. The Board then considered the proposal of moving Lake Avenue at the expense of the developer. Further discussion resulted in the request that Mr. Daley bring the proposal, with the consideration that the City may pay the costs involved with moving Lake Avenue, before the Board of Public Works on September 6. Daley MOVED, seconded by Gooding, that the Board would prefer to look at a plan that included moving Lake Avenue. The motion PASSED 7-0. Daley MOVED, seconded by Cochran, to urge Common Council to speedily enact R-2c zoning and then apply it to the Pogo parcel so that Mr. Paolangeli could make use of it. The motion PASSED 7-0. Applicant asked for guidance from the Board. Mr. Daley explained that if Mr. Paolangeli wishes to proceed immediately, the feeling of the Board is that he should look at something along the lines suggested during the meeting; if he is willing to wait for Council to approve the R-2c, it is also the feeling of the Board that he would get an "optimistic" look at whatever proposal were presented by him under R-2c zoning. If he wishes to wait until R2C is in existence, it is an option he could be assured this Board would look at with favor. Chair Blumenthal will contact Charter and Ordinance Committee Chair Booth to inquire about how R-2c is proceeding. Chair Blumenthal then commented that the concern about needing direction from the Board that is raised by the applicant's lawyers could be answered by stating the development issues that are not satisfactorily met in the original submission to the Board. Those concerns include: relationship of the development to the creek, lack of easy and direct general public accessibility to green space, utility of open space to the general public, inefficient use of side yard space. Blumenthal MOVED, seconded by Daley, that the development issues listed above make the original proposal unsatisfactory to the Board. The motion PASSED 7-0. Further questions and discussion regarding the applicant's cluster proposal were postponed until�BPW has the opportunity to discuss the , possibility of relocating Lake Ave., which Mr. Daley will put on their September 6 agenda. If there is new material to discuss, the Paolangeli parcel will appear on the next Planning Board agenda. Planning & Development Board Minutes Page 3 4. There was discussion about the necessity for the City Attorney's presence at these meetings, or at least keeping the City Attorney's office well informed of Board proceedings. 5. Site Plan Review: Center Ithaca Expansion. Discussion of environmental review. The Conservation Advisory Council referred to pedestrian safety, especially at night, loss of valuable parking spaces, and aesthetic appeal of shop design and recommended a positive declaration. Issues identifed for discussion were security/safety (must be mitigated); jay-walking on Green St. and pedestrian traffic (arcade location may help); large physical change; no mitigation possible. It was determined that the major issue is public safety/security which should be mitigated through design. Killeen MOVED, seconded by Daley, Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance contingent upon mitigation of the major issue identified (public safety and the narrow passageway at night) and the motion PASSED 7-0. Doug Look, HOLT architect for the project, discussed ideas for site plan which included a gate at Home Dairy alley, locking the arcades at 10:00 PM and 24-hour security which incorporates cameras. It was MOVED by Cochran, and seconded by Killeen, to grant preliminary approval in concept with conditions as stipulated in Peter weed's memorandum of August 18, 1989. The motion PASSED 7-0. Chair Blumenthal also asked that the security plan be reviewed by the Police Chief. 6. Miscellaneous. Cornell meeting date set for September 27. Brief discussion about sign ordinance amendments (painted signs on buildings and neon signs) . The Board asked staff to write to the C&O Committee to examine/prevent installation of newspaper tubes. Meeting adjourned 11:30 p.m. EPJ-PDB0ARD/Septmbr5.min