HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1991-01-24 AMENDED AND APPROVED 2/26/91
Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
January 24, 1991
PRESENT: S. Adams, R. Berg, S. Blumenthal (Chair), T. Cookingham,
Cookingham, C. Feuer, J. Schroeder, A. Yale. Staff: Director H.
M. Van Cort. Also, members of the public.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. . Chair introduced a new member
to the Planning Board, Carl Feuer. Mr. Feuer replaces Moncrieff Cochran
on the Board.
2. Privilege of the Floor: No requests made.
3. Public Meeting -- Pogo Parcel Development Guidelines. Andy Yale
summarized the proposed guidelines for development of the "Pogo Parcel,"
a block in the Northside neighborhood bounded by Lake, First, Franklin
and Adams Streets. The guidelines were developed by the Neighborhoods
and Housing subcommittee of the Planning Board and approved by the Board
at the December 20, 1990 meeting for transmission to Common Council.
Some of the criteria discussed included density, affordability, physical
form and° tenancy. Mr. Van Cort explained that the guidelines are goals
only, and there are still decisions to be made dependent upon who
disposes of the land--Common Council or the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency.
The Board then opened the discussion to the public.
Mr. Tony Petito, owner of the P&C Block, presented his proposal for
development. He discussed the number of units he thought would
sufficiently fit the site. His proposal included design, detailed floor
plans, and approximate cost. He also proposed an on-the-job training
program which he has utilized on similar projects with good success
which might also include the potential homeowner.
Spokespeople for Mutual Housing Association presented a proposal for
rental units. They also detailed a floor layout plan. They commented
on the social goals of the proposal Mr. Petito presented (such as job .
training) as being too complicated to achieve.
Cookingham moved, and the Board recommended, that Council adopt the
guidelines as amended.
4. Carpenter Park Preliminary Subdivision. A grassy, 5,320 sq. ft. strip
of land (an approximately 10 ft. strip along the common property line)
is to be sold at a cost approved by Council and the IURA to Ironics,
Inc. and would bring a proposed building addition on their lot into
compliance. Sale would be conditioned on Ironics, Inc. executing an
option agreement with the City for one of the Carpenter Business Park
sites. Board members indicated that Giordano's property needs to be
cleaned up.
Regarding environmental review, the Conservation Advisory Council had
not had time to properly review the environmental assessment. It was
moved by Blumenthal, and seconded by Cookingham, that Negative
Declaration of Environmental Significance be approved contingent upon
satisfactory review by CAC. Motion carried unanimously.
The Board agreed that in order to expedite this project, they would hold
a special meeting for the sole purpose of granting final subdivision
approval. The meeting was scheduled for February 12, 1991 at 7:00 p.m.
in Council Chambers. Board members Berg and Adams requested to be
excused from attending, and this was granted.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes
Page 2
5. Old Business.
A. West Hill Master Plan - update. Blumenthal reported that the West
Hill Civic Association has agreed to prepare the environmental review
for the master plan beginning in February, 1991. The Planning
Department will provide limited assistance.
B. Area Variance Criteria. Mr. Van Cort explained it was felt there
should be grounds for granting a variance other than the narrowly-
defined grounds which BZA has been using. This would broaden options
for granting variances. The Board suggested minor revisions. It was
then moved by Blumenthal, seconded by Schroeder, and carried unanimously
that the amended report be passed on to the Planning and Development
Committee.
6. Zoning Appeals Report. It was moved by Schroeder, and seconded by Berg
to pass Zoning Appeals 2015-17 on to BZA without comment. Motion
carried unanimously. Schroeder requested that materials to be
distributed to the Planning Board be kept to a minimum in order to
minimize waste.
7. Reports
A. Committees. No reports.
B. Director. No report.
C. Chair. 1991 Work Program status - Director Van Cort stated that the
first rough draft has been edited, but not for substance. Mr. Van Cort
plans to meet with staff to discuss the program, and invited Board
members with questions or comments to contact him. He also said that
there were too many projects proposed to be realistically undertaken.
D. Planning and Development Committee. Schroeder reported the
Committee felt East Hill Shuttle was a good idea, but Downtown Vision
Task Force was not in agreement. Northside land use recommendations
approved. Six-Mile Creek Report endorsed.
E. Board of Public Works. Seeking to down-size DPW while attempting to
fill key positions such as Superintendent of Public Works, Assistant
superintendent of streets and Facilities, Director of Water and Sewer,
Transit Manager.
8. Approval of Minutes. Minutes of December 20, 1990 approved with minor
change (item 3b, first WHEREAS in resolution change "Pogo" to "Frank".
9. Miscellaneous. Resolutions of thanks to Mon Cochran and Peter Weed were
amended and approved unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
EPJ-PDBOARD/MINUTES-January.min
"POGO PARCEL" DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
January 29, 1991
1 . Affordability - Long-term affordability for housing of good
quality. LThere is reason to believe this goal is attainable given local
contractor estimates of the cost per square foot to construct housing of
the sort examined in Syracuse ($50-60/sq. ft. ) .]
2. Density - No more than the approximately 38 units permitted by current
zoning, and compatible with the neighborhood. [Investigations indicate
that in fact it will be very difficult to fit more than 30 units on this
relatively small site. ]
3. Households served - The goal is for a socio-economic mix. With long-
term affordability the intention is to create a stable mini-community,
where households stay for an extended period because they can afford the
housing, and have a commitment to participation in the development.
4. Physical form - Compatible with other housing in the neighborhood in
building type (siding, windows, etc. ) scale, parking surface (pavement) ,
grid and streetscape, treescape.
5. Tenancy - As many units as possible offered at below-market rate
subsidized) , with the possibility of a small number at market rate if
needed to make the project financially feasible. , [A mixed tenancy
(owned and rented; subsidized and market rate) would be ideal , but this
may be extremely difficult to achieve with so few units.]
6. Private vs. non-profit ownership - Consistent with maximizing long-term
affordability.
7. Energy Conservation - The project should incorporate significant energy
conservation measures, including provision for passive solar gain, if
possible.
Pogoland.doc