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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 Planning and Development Board -2- 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 Planning and Development Board -3- 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