HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1991-02-26 AP101fot1e- 3 1�_qf
Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
February 26, 1991
PRESENT: R. Berg, S. Blumenthal (Chair), T. Cookingham, C. Feuer, J.
Schroeder, A. Yale. Planning and Development Committee:
D. Hoffman, R. Booth, B. Blanchard, J. Daley. Staff: Director
H. M. Van Cort, L. Tsang. Also, applicants, others.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m.
2. Special Joint Meeting with Planning and Development Committee. Dan
Hoffman agreed to act as chair of this joint meeting. Cookingham
suggested that an attempt be made to identify time necessary for
administration and other absolutely required items, and that this time
be subtracted from the total time available leaving a remainder for
discretionary projects. Schroeder stated that he felt that the Downtown
Vision Task Force work was very important.
In response to a question, Van Cort explained that the 1990 Work Program
had been very significantly d by staff turnover and the
appointment of the Downtown Vision Task Force in mid-year.
Blanchard said that she felt this year's work program was an improvement
over last year's in form; however, she said that a work program should
be based on a master plan, and ours is not. She stated that the work
program would be difficult to rationalize without basing it on a new
master plan.
Mayor Nichols suggested that the work program should be thought of as an
attempt to identify policies and priorities rather than time
allocations.
Booth said it would be useful to know how much time was actually spent
on various work items in the past. He felt it would be important to
know which items are required and which are optional. He said only
those items mandated by law should be thought of as required.
Hoffman would like the Committee to identify specific objectives for
each item.
After further discussion, it was agreed that the joint committee would
meet again on Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. Van Cort was directed to
prepare an abbreviated version of the work program with provision for
designating each project as low, medium or high priority. In addition,
this abbreviated version should provide space for the listing of
objectives for each item. Each member of the joint committee is urged
to rate each project and to identify objectives where possible. At the
next meeting Van Cort is to explain each project,and the committee is
going to try to reach consensus on a priority and objectives for each.
3. Privilege of the Floor: No requests made.
4. Public Hearing and Final Subdivision Approval - Carpenter Business Park.
No one appeared to speak at the public hearing. Feuer, seconded by
Cookingham, moved for final subdivision approval. Passed unanimously.
5. Final Site Development Plan Review- Wanzer Block/105-07 N. Aurora St. &
300-04 E. State St. Doug Look, of HOLT Architects, presented the design
for Wanzer Block, Linda Tsang explained that the comments raised during
preliminary site plan review had been addressed by HOLT, and she
recommended approval of the project.
j
Planning and Development Board
Minutes February 26, 1991
Page 2
Schroeder, seconded by Berg, moved Final site Development Plan approval
with conditions':
1. The architect will submit, as soon as possible, specifications of
building materials as presented and approved at the Board's meeting;
2. Documentations of contract limits and all construction logistics
will be submitted as soon as possible and before construction begins;
3. There will be a performance bond posted to guarantee no damage to
the three existing street trees in front of the proposed structure.
6. Preliminary Site Development Plan Review and Public Hearing -
Wecfman's Food Market Expansion at 600 S. Meadow Street. Barbara Dudek,
of Wegman's Engineering Division, explained the reason for the expansion
to the Wegman's Store. Russell Porter, also of the Wegman's staff,
explained the details of the proposed site plan changes. Mr. Porter
said that the exterior of the expansion would use the same materials as
the main part of the store. The store would be expanded from roughly
80,000 sq. ft. to 95,900 sq. ft. The site is roughly 17.5 acres and
before the expansion there were some 628 parking spaces.
Betsy Darlington, of the CAC, recommended a negative declaration
conditioned on the owner's adequately addressing the following issues:
1. Mitigation of impacts of impurities in stormwater runoff including
silt and dirt, as well as other substances from vehicles.
2. Drainage from the area at the rear of the building directly into the
drainage canal to the west. There appears to be an erosion problem in
this area.
3. Landscaping as recommended by the Planning and Development staff.
Mr. Porter said that they would be willing to flush the storm drainage
system trapping the materials which have settled into the pipes in
accordance with recommendations of the City's engineering division.
In response to questions from Carl Feuer, Porter stated the followings
a. There would be some marginal increase in employment from this
expansion.
b. There has been no adverse comment from people living in the
adjoining trailer park. Notice has been given in the form of signs
listing Wegman's number.
C. There would be a marginal increase in traffic. Mr. Porter further
stated that there had been a traffic analysis done before the store was
built which indicated that even at a complete buildout of some 160,000
sq. ft. there would not be a significant degradation of quality of
service regarding traffic on Meadow St. if mitigating measures were
taken. This means that with the addition of the turning lane and the
traffic signal, Meadow St. could accommodate the significant additional
traffic generated by the Wegman's store and other activities to be built
out in future years. Wegman's estimates that there are some 400 cars
entering the parking lot at peak hour.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - February 26, 1991
Page 3
Regarding storm drainage, Mr. Porter said that there might be some
measures they could take to mitigate the impacts of silt and oils
running off their site into the storm drainage system. They would like
to know what standards they are to use in trying to mitigate these
impacts. Betsy Darlington expressed the opinion that they should do
whatever is technically possible. van Cort suggested that since this is
an existing parking area, the standard should be what is practical and
economically reasonable.
There was some discussion of pesticide use on the site. Darlington
recommended that if Wegman's does intend to use pesticides they should
do it under an integrated pest management program. she said that this
was a recommendation only. Further, she recommended that energy-
efficient lighting be used in the parking lot. Mr. Porter said that
they do use energy-efficient lighting, and that the store uses waste
heat from the coolers to heat the store.
Vat le-
Schroeder
moved, and Berg seconded, a Negative Declaration of
Environmental Significance on this project, with the condition that the
impacts of storm water runoff be mitigated to the extent practical.
Vote 5-0-1 (Berg abstained, possible conflict) .
Linda Tsang explained her recommendations regarding the proposed
landscaping for the site. she recommended that the planting strip along
Meadow St. be widened, and that islands be built at the end of each main
parking lane. she also stated that the design for the landscaped areas
to be planted near the building and between the building and the flood
relief channel should be altered in order to improve their
attractiveness. '
Mr. Porter explained the proposal for landscaping the expansion. van
Cort stated staff position requiring increased landscaping in the
parking lot. van tort said that this recommendation was made not only
because it would have significant positive aesthetic impacts, that is,
it would make the parking lot more attractive, but also because of
safety considerations. He said that it was staff's position that the
landscaped areas at the end of each parking lane would help define those
lanes and prevent cars from driving diagonally through the parking lot.
Mr. Porter asked whether there were standards for such landscaping
improvements. cookingham explained that the Board had chosen not to
have rigid standards for landscaping so that there would be more
flexibility for an applicant.
It was suggested that staff look into the possibility of including
' standards as recommendations in an amendment to the site development
plan review ordinance. Mr. Porter said that some communities require
five percent of the unbuilt area to be landscaped. He said that he
would mail a typical set of standards to the Planning and Development staff.
Schroeder stated that he felt the proposals by Tsang would make the
parking lot both more attractive and safer. Van Cort commented on the
design presented by Wegman's. He suggested that it appeared that
Wegman's had not used the services of a qualified landscape architect,
and he suggested that the work could be improved if a landscape
architect were retained. Yale and Feuer felt the trees in the parking
lot would be a great improvement.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - February 26, 1991
Page 4
Mr. Porter requested that the Board also approve the construction of an
additional parking area. Van Cort said that this new parking area
should also have planters at the end of the aisles.
Cookingham moved, seconded by Blumenthal, that the Preliminary site
Development Plan is approved with modifications in the form of
conditions, and it shall be considered to be the Final Site Development
Plan and approved as such.
Conditions:
1. The final site plan will incorporate any changes required by the
Fire Department;
2. Documentation of proposed procedures and schedules of mitigation
measures (approved by the City Engineer and Department of Public Works)
concerning the effects of storm water runoff on the Flood Relief
channel. These measures will include, but not be limited to, effluent
trapping and erosion control;
3. The final site plan will include additional tree plantings in a
widened planting strip along S. Meadow St. and in new planting islands
to be installed at the end of each parking aisle in the main parking
area, and the selection and arrangement of all woody plant materials
will meet the approval of the Department of Planning and Development;
4. The final site plan will include a revised landscape plan for the
southeast corner of the building for a more effective breaking-up of the
monotony of the excessive length and horizontality of the structure;
5. The final landscape plan for areas along the Flood Relief Channel
will include a naturalistic planting scheme and bank erosion controls;
6. Any proposed additional parking areas will include tree planting
on both ends of each parking aisle.
The Board also recommended an integrated pest management program and the
use of energy-efficient exterior lighting, as suggested by the
Conservation Advisory Council.
It was explained to Mr. Porter that the building permit would be
conditioned upon their meeting all conditions set forth in the
resolution, and that such approval would be conditioned upon review by
the staff. Vote: 4-yes 1-no (Feuer) 1 abstention (Berg) , carried.
8. Zoning Appeals Report. Cookingham explained that the Committee
requested deferral of appeal 2018 for one month to permit more detailed
evaluation of the implications of the requested action. Moved by
Cookingham, seconded by Yale, passed unanimously.
9. Reports
A. Committes. No reports
B. Director. No report.
C. Chair. Blumenthal asked the Board to schedule a date for a public
hearing on the site development plan review process. Tuesday, April 9
at 7:30 p.m. was chosen.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - February 26, 1991
Page 5
D. Planning and Development Committee. Schroeder noted that the
committee had approved the establishment of a Parks Commission,
recommended zoning changes on W. State St., and had discussed the
conditions for construction of the central Processing Facility on Elmira
Road.
E. Board of Public works. Berg reported that the BPW is in the process
of interviewing candidates for the Assistant Superintendent for Streets
& Facilities position. They were also in the process of filling the
Assistant Superintendent for Water and Sewer position. A study of
possible consolidation of BPW facilities is ongoing.
11. Miscellaneous. Cookingham suggested that a meeting be held to
familiarize the Board on State Environmental Quality Review. It was
noted that Jim Hanson, the Tompkins County Planning Commissioner is
holding a series of meetings on various land use laws.
Blumenthal noted that she needed a volunteer for the County Affordable
Housing Board.
12. Approval of Minutes. Schroeder noted certain changes which were to be
made in the January 24 minutes. Berg, seconded by cookingham, moved for
approval as amended. Carried unanimously.
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