HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1991-05-28 Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
May 28, 1991
PRESENT: S. Adams, R. Berg, S. Blumenthal (Chair) , C. Feuer,
J. Schroeder, A. Yale. Staff: Director H. M. Van
Cort. Also, applicants, and members of the public.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m.
2. Privilege of the Floor: No one appeared.
3. Preliminary Subdivision/361 Floral Avenue/Benson. Chair
explained to the Board that the Conservation Advisory
Council had not had ample time to meet for discussion of the
environmental review for this subdivision. She advised that
preliminary approval not be considered at this meeting.
The Board felt that it would be helpful to have some
discussion to determine the major technical and
environmental issues concerning the proposed subdivision.
Since a portion of the property is located within what is
believed to be wetlands, delineation and drainage issues
were addressed. Wetlands can be delineated through survey
by the Ichthyological Associates using soil samples. It was
noted that the City Engineer' s office had not made formal
comment. The Board advised that a meeting be held including
the Building Commissioner, City Attorney, City Engineer,
Planning Director and applicant to resolve specific issues.
Betsy Darlington reported that the property is located
within the 100-year floodplain. Also, there were questions
regarding whether the applicant could obtain a building
permit for construction in a wetland.
4. New Business
A. Cornell-City Relations Study Commission. Risa
Lieberwitz highlighted topics of interest to the
Planning Board in the Commission' s report including an
Intermunicipal Joint Planning Board, neighborhoods,
housing, and legislative initiative. Feuer, seconded
by Berg, moved a resolution to encourage Council to
invite and get a response from Cornell especially since
the issues are of broad concern, and it is very
important to have their input on many planning issues.
Carried unanimously.
B. Draft Bicycle Plan for the City of Ithaca. Carl
Lagoze, Chair of the City' s Bicycle Advisory Council,
asked the Board to contact the Bicycle Advisory Council
when they encounter an issue that concerns bicycles.
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Minutes of May 28, 1991
He briefly discussed the proposed plan and asked for
constructive comments on the report.
C. GIAC Neighborhood Pool/Park Development. Van Cort
presented the design sketch for a proposed neighborhood
pool, kiddie pool and play area. There was some
concern expressed for pedestrian movement in that area.
Some Board members made suggestions to close Court
Street near Central School for children' s safety,
installing speed bumps and a pedestrian crossing light.
This project will appear before the Board for site
development plan review.
D. Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) .
Patricia Norton described the report that the Community
Development Agency is required to prepare for HUD.
Norton described the strategy methodology agreed on by
the Planning and Development Committee which calls for
participation of a five-member technical advisory
committee and the Community Advisory Committee. The
strategy is due in October, 1991.
E. City Staff Training Needs. Because of the press of
time, this item was removed from the agenda.
F. Public Works Participation Committee Report.
Alderperson Blanchard discussed this report' s aim to
improve communications with the public and asked the
Board for advice on how to involve neighborhoods. The
Board agreed to meet in subcommittee to review the
neighborhood section of the report and offer
suggestions.
G. Expansion of Planning Board Membership. Board members
made the following comments: The responsibilities of
Planning Board membership were becoming overly time
consuming, there are too many liaison roles, and too
much time taken up with SDPR. Schroeder said he was
not convinced that adding to membership of the Board
would solve this problem. Several members felt that a
bigger Board would be of some help. It was noted that
most Board members are either liaisons from other
Boards or are committee chairs, thus, they already have
a great deal to do. It was suggested that these
problems could be solved, in part, if committees would
deal with most details at the committee level.
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Minutes of May 28, 1991
5. Old Business
A. 1991 Department Work Program. The work program was
approved unanimously.
B. Urban Design Studies/Scope of Services. Adams said
that she felt it was important to have a community
client group who would work with the urban designer.
Van Cort agreed and said that such committee had been
discussed with the urban designer. Van Cort invited
Adams to participate in this effort.
C. Community Survival in the 9O's. Deleted from agenda.
6. Zoning Appeals Report. The Board unanimously approved the
committee' s report which commented on appeals 2030 and 2031.
7. Reports
A. Committees of the Board. None
B. Director. None
C. Chair. Blumenthal reported that the site development
plan review surveys had been mailed.
D. Planning and Development Committee. Schroeder reported
that the P&D Committee is beginning to work on the
downtown zoning amendments.
E. Board of Public Works. Berg reported that the hiring
of new BPW personnel was proceeding.
8. Approval of Minutes. Minutes of March 26 (Yale/Feuer) and
April 23 (Schroeder/Feuer) approved unanimously.
9. Miscellaneous. The Board discussed the notice to Board of
Zoning Appeals applicants. Van Cort said he would try to
simplify the language in number 2 on this notice.
Meeting adjourned at 11:45 p.m.
PDBOARD/MINUTES-May.min