HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1991-03-26 APPROVED 5/28/91
Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
March 26, 1991
PRESENT: S. Adams, R. Berg, S. Blumenthal (Chair) , C. Feuer,
J. Schroeder, A. Yale. Staff: Director Van Cort,
L. Tsang. Also, applicants and media.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m.
2. Special Joint Meeting with Planning and Development
Committee. Barbara Blanchard was only representative from
the Committee in attendance. There was general discussion
about Blanchard' s memo which outlined goals for several of
the items in the Planning Department work program.
Blanchard asked whether the Planning Department is too
involved in public transit, parking, GIAC and court facility
activities? It was suggested that grants management should
be taken over by the Finance Dept. Van Cort explained
Department' s relationship with city housing organizations
such as the Community Development program, and its
participation on Boards of INHS and MHA where the City plays
a very important role. Van Cort stated that the Department
played an important role in capital projects, acting as a
facilitator. He also noted that Finance had little
experience in writing grant applications. In addition, he
said that transferring activities to other departments (e.g.
grants to Finance or Capital Projects to Engineering) would
not save the City any money unless it could be demonstrated
that other departments could provide these services at lower
cost. It was agreed that the Board needs to debate the
goals and objectives of the work program.
After some discussion Van Cort agreed to draft 1992 goals
and objectives for the Board' s consideration at their August
meeting. Yale suggested devoting time each Board meeting to
discuss aspects of future work programs. The Board decided
to meet again with the, Planning Committee at the Committee' s
April 15 meeting to try to finalize the 1991 work program.
3. Site Development Plan Review and Public Hearing:
529 S. Meadow St. /Meadow Court Motel addition. Linda Tsang
explained proposed demolition and addition of office and
guest rooms. Tsang made comments and suggestions on
parking, storm water drainage and landscaping. It was noted
that the applicants were considering possible future
expansion, and therefore would not want to install
landscaping that would have to be removed at a later date.
Tsang suggested that some fast growing shrubs could be
planted which would not be expensive, and also made
suggestions for an improved parking configuration.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - March 26, 1991
Page 2
After a brief discussion of the environmental review,
Schroeder, seconded by Adams, moved for a Negative
Declaration of Environmental Significance, and the motion
passed 6-0.
A public hearing opened by the chair. No one appeared to
speak, and the hearing was closed.
Tsang suggested that landscaping be designed to separate the
sidewalk from the parking area, and the applicants proposed
instead to install bollards in the area between the sidewalk
and parking area since they felt that plant materials would
not survive.
Yale moved, seconded by Schroeder, that the Preliminary Site
Development Plan is approved with modifications in the form
of conditions, and that it shall be considered to be the
Final Site Development Plan and approved as such.
Conditions:
1. The revised final site plan will show:
a. all property lines and rights-of-way between the
motel and its neighboring properties;
b. barriers, preferably planting barriers, between
the end spaces in the main parking area and the S.
Meadow St. sidewalk subject to the approval of the
Planning and Development Department;
C. a revised planting scheme with adequate planting
around the new building subject to the approval of
the Planning and Development Department.
2. The revised final site plan will show site improvements
in the area south of the proposed addition to include:
a. regrading and installation of new catch basins or
other means as necessary to correct the current
poor drainage;
b. planting of trees and vegetative groundcovers to
further mitigate the poor drainage situation and
the unsightliness of this vacant lot.
This condition may be deleted or re-negotiated if there
is an accepted purchase offer for the area in question
by the time the proposed new structure is completed.
Otherwise a temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be
granted if condition #1 is satisfied until the site
improvements called for in Condition #2 can be properly
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - March 26, 1991
Page 3
installed. The issuance of final Certificate of
Occupancy will be contingent on the total compliance
with the approved site plan to include the southern
portion of the site if it is not sold.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. Subdivision at 216-218 Second Street/Ithaca Fitness Center.
Van Cort noted for the record that he was a member of Ithaca
Fitness, and he might be seen to have a conflict of interest
regarding this request. He said that he could only answer
questions and could not state his opinion for the Board' s
consideration. Elizabeth Bixler, attorney for the
applicant, Robert Martin, explained the original subdivision
proposal which was given final approval in March of 1989.
The applicant claimed to misunderstand the conditions of the
final approval and, as a result, never had the final plats
approved by the Planning Department. After discussion Yale,
seconded by Berg, moved to grant a time extension for
finalizing the approval, and the motion was carried 6-0.
5. Central Business District - proposed zoning change. The
Board felt that they are valuable ideas and should be
developed in detail; Board endorsed the concept memo.
6. Zoning Appeals Report. Yale, seconded by Berg, approved a
memorandum referring appeals 2021-24 without comment or
recommendation for BZA action, and the motion was carried.
7. Reports
A. Committees of the Board. No reports.
B. Director. A draft of the Carpenter Business Park
design review criteria will be circulated.
C. Chair. Discussed format for April 9 site plan review
public information meeting. It was learned that the Board
felt the meeting should be postponed until a survey could be
completed with applicants who had been through site plan
review, before having a public meeting. Van Cort agreed to
draft a survey for the Codes & Administration Committee to
review at their next meeting. After the survey is approved,
it would be mailed to applicants who had gone through the
process. After this information is collected, it would be
followed by proposed amendments to the ordinance, and then a
public meeting would be held.
Planning and Development Board
Minutes - March 26, 1991
Page 4
D. Planning and Development Committee. Schroeder reported
on a proposed bike/pedestrian Trail from Buffalo St. to the
Farmer' s Market.
E. Board of Public Works. Berg reported that the BPW
passed a resolution which was accepted by the Budget and
Administration Committee to enter into a contract with Peter
Weed to develop a schematic design and feasibility study for
Elmira Road sidewalks.
8. Approval of Minutes. Berg, seconded by Feuer, moved for
approval of the Minutes of February 26, 1991 with two minor
amendments; motion was carried unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 10: 15 p.m.
epj-PDBOARD/Minutes/March.min