HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1991-04-23 APPROVED 5/28/91
Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
April 23, 1991
PRESENT: S. Adams, R. Berg, S. Blumenthal (Chair) ,
T. Cookingham, A. Yale. Staff: Director H. M. Van
Cort, L. Tsang. Also, applicants, media and members of
the public.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m.
2. Privilege of the Floor: No one appeared.
3. Site Development Plan Review and Public Hearing
A. Tompkins County Trust Company/Parking and Drive-
thru/775 S. Meadow Street
Linda Tsang presented a map showing the proposed development
plan and existing site conditions. She also noted that the
City Engineer' s office requires specific details regarding
the proposed drainage improvement. Mr. Hank Wilhelmi, the
landscape architect for the project, declined to make
further comments on the project. During environmental
review, there was a brief discussion of the Conservation
Advisory Council ' s (CAC) concern about whether the new catch
basin would trap effluents (specifically petroleum) from the
parking lot. Cookingham, seconded by Berg, moved that the
Board adopt the CAC' s recommendation for a Negative
Declaration of Environmental Significance. The motion was
carried unanimously.
Chair opened a public hearing. No one from the public
appeared to speak, and the Chair closed the hearing.
Berg, seconded by Cookingham, moved that the preliminary
site development plan is approved with modifications in the
form of conditions, and that it shall be considered the
final site development plan and approved as such.
Condition: Existing and new spot elevations where drainage
improvements are proposed are to be incorporated into the
site plan. The motion was approved 5-0.
E. Kolar Machine, Inc./Expansion/407 Cliff Street
Linda Tsang displayed the SDPR map showing the proposed 4073
sq. ft. expansion of the machine shop. She described the
debris found on the rear embankment which she advised be
cleaned up and revegetated. She also recommended
realignment of the parking area.
A public hearing was opened by the Chair. Mr. George
Frantz, 604 Cliff Street, appeared before the Board in
support of the project. He commended the shop as a clean,
well-maintained, quality job providing enterprise. He spoke
in favor of cleaning up the bank, and asked the Board to
consider rezoning the site to relieve Kolar from having to
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Minutes of April 23, 1991
apply for variances for future improvements. Van Cort
agreed to meet with Mr. Frantz, who is a town planner, to
discuss possible methods for rezoning. Chair then closed
the public hearing.
Yale, seconded by Adams, moved to recommend a Negative
Declaration of Environmental Significance, and the motion
carried unanimously. Cookingham moved that the preliminary
site development plan is approved with modifications in the
form of conditions, and that it shall be considered the
final site development plan and approved as such.
Condition: An engineering report of the existing condition
- of the six-foot culvert pipe and a proposed plan for its
repair and other drainage-related improvements approved by
the office of the City Engineer are to be part of the
supporting documents of the final site plan. The motion was
seconded by Berg and passed unanimously (5-0) .
4. Zoning Appeals. Cookingham explained the actions taken by
the Codes and Administration subcommittee regarding subject
appeals 2024 and 2025. Yale, seconded by Cookingham, moved
to adopt the recommendations as detailed in the memorandum
and the motion was carried unanimously.
5. New Business
A. Site plan review applicant survey. After editing the
draft, the Board asked staff to mail the survey and follow
up after two weeks. After the surveys are returned the
staff will draft proposed amendments, after which a public
meeting would be scheduled.
B. Urban design study. After discussion, Van Cort was
asked to distribute a scope of services proposed by Roger
Trancik for a central business district urban design
project.
C. Planning Board representatives to the Citizen' s
Advisory Committee and Capital Improvements Review Committee
Blumenthal asked for volunteers to serve on these
committees. Board members were reluctant because' of
obligations aside from the Planning Board.
D. Community Development block grant application. Trish
Norton described the 1991-92 application for $600, 000 which
is the maximum amount allowed. She feels it is a strong
application and said that authorities at the Department of
Housing and Urban Development have commented favorably. Ms.
Norton explained the requested budget and briefly outlined
the proposed projects at Challenge Industries, the Task
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Minutes of April 23, 1991
Force for Battered Women and the INHS House Recycling.
Cookingham, seconded by Berg, moved that the Board support
the application, and the motion was carried unanimously.
E. Joint transit facility design. Deputy planning
director Herman Sieverding presented the proposed plans for
55,000 sq. ft. bus storage and maintenance facility.
Cornell University, Tompkins County, the City and Gadabout
will share the structure. After some discussion, it was
agreed that Sieverding would keep the Board apprised of the
progress of architectural plans and exterior design.
F. Concept memo regarding proposed zoning change in
B zone. The Board briefly discussed this proposal which
would permit light manufacturing by special permit in the B2
and lower zones, and agreed that it has merit. Chair asked
Van Cort to report in writing to the Planning and
Development Committee.
6. 1991 Department Work Program. Van Cort described criteria
for priority system. Will make changes and bring back.
7 Reports
A. Committees of the Board. Andy Yale reported that the
City' s Bicycle Advisory Council will hold a public meeting
on Thursday, April 25 to present the draft of its plan for
bike routes and other bicycling-related improvements for
Ithaca. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit comments
on the plan before it is presented to Council in June.
B. Director. Van Cort mentioned a conference in Owego
titled CommunitV Survival in the 90' s. Cookingham said that
he would be attending and report to the Board.
C. Chair. Blumenthal rearranged the subcommittees of the
Board and distributed new assignments. Some Board members
expressed reluctance in their ability to effectively serve
these committees. Chair agreed to reconsider the committee
structure.
D. Board of Public Works. Berg reported on a proposal to
introduce some chemicals in the form of phosphates in the
City' s water supply to deal with copper and sludge.
8. Approval of March 26 minutes deferred until next month.
9. Miscellaneous. Sarah Adams asked if the Planning department
staff could seek Land and Water Conservation funding from
the NYS Office of Parks Recreation to develop a park on the
"Pogo parcel" land. Van Cort agreed to speak to Bob Gonet
and the Mayor about the possibility of applying for a grant.
PDBoard-Minutes/April