HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PDB-1993-09-28 Amended & Approved 10/26/93
Planning and Development Board
MINUTES
September 28, 1993
PRESENT: S. Adams, A. Clavel, D. Kay (Chair) , P. Mackesey,
D. Rusoff, J Schroeder. Staff: Director H. M. Van
Cort . Also, Floyd Forman (Town of Ithaca Planner) ,
applicants 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 . Preliminary Subdivision Approval
A. 408 Hector St./Desch The proposal is to adjust a lot
line with property located at 316 Hector Street which is
also owned by the applicant. A minor technical shortcoming
in the notification requirement was brought to the Board's
attention and discussed briefly. It was agreed that the
problem was remedied to the satisfaction of both the Board
and staff. Clavel, seconded by Schroeder, moved for a
Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance, and it
passed 6-0 . Schroeder, seconded by Adams, moved for
preliminary subdivision approval . The motion carried 6-0 .
4 . Zikakis Development on Commercial Ave. At last month's
meeting, the Board adopted a resolution which included a
conditional negative declaration on the environmental review
of this site development plan. Upon further review, staff
recommended that, due to mitigating measures submitted by
the applicant, the conditions be removed from the Negative
Declaration. Clavel, seconded by Rusoff, moved the
following resolution, and it passed 6-0 .
WHEREAS, at its 8-24793 meeting the Board of Planning and
Development conducted an environmental review of the
proposed development on Commercial Avenue by William
Zikakis, and
WHEREAS, a resubmitted site plan has incorporated the
mitigating measures identified in the LEAF Part 3, and
WHEREAS, the Approved Site Plan containing these measures is
a binding document for the Building Permit and Certificate
of Occupancy, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Planning and Development does
hereby rescind the conditioned Negative Declaration that it
approved on August 24, 1993 , and does hereby approve a
negative declaration on the environmental impacts of the
proposed development by William Zikakis on Commercial
Avenue.
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Minutes of September 28, 1993
5 . Old Business
A. City Bicycle Plan, Chair Kay reported on the meeting
that was held on September 21 to discuss the bicycle plan
and get public input . He said that approximately 25 people
spoke at the meeting, and very substantive issues were
brought forth. Discussion then focused on the following
resolution:
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the City of Ithaca, as
expressed in official policy, to encourage the use of
bicycles for transportation and recreation, and
WHEREAS, the City's Bicycle Advisory Council has prepared a
Bicycle Plan which identifies four major areas of emphasis
(Infrastructure, Education, Legislation and Enforcement) in
furthering this policy, and
WHEREAS, public input to date has demonstrated the need for
greater specificity and thorough evaluation of plan
elements, including broad public participation in plan
review, before a detailed implementation plan is brought to
Common .Council for funding approval, and
WHEREAS, assistance in preparing an implementation plan is
available through the Transportation Enhancement Program of
the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
of 1991, for which grant applications must be submitted by
November 1, 1993, and
WHEREAS, the existence of a formally-recognized plan is of
crucial importance to the success of an Enhancement grant
application, be it
RESOLVED that this Board adopt the City Bicycle Plan as an
official planning document, which shall be refined through a
review process, conducted under the auspices of the Board,
to include substantive public participation and
consideration of relevant issues and differing points of
view, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that this Board supports the submission of
a Transportation Enhancement Program grant application for
funding assistance in the preparation and implementation of
a detailed Bicycle Plan for the City of Ithaca.
Tracy Farrell asked to address the Board and said that the
plan needs a lot more input before it is implemented. She
believed that when funding is received to develop a plan,
the funding drives the plan. Pat Frantz also commented
stating that very few city residents made public comment on
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Minutes of September 28, 1993
the plan and urged communication with the people who live on
the streets proposed for the route.
Clavel expressed concern about the proposed resolution
before them. She felt that the Board had made a commitment
to the public at the previous meeting to carefully consider
their concerns before taking any action. She generally
agreed with the ideas and policies in the plan such as bikes
on buses . Clavel suggested that the route map be removed
from the plan and recommended that significant changes be
made to the map
Schroeder said it is important to be clear that what is
being approved is a general idea that needs more work and
public input . Rusoff also suggested eliminating specific
routes from the plan.
It was agreed that the bicycle plan should be responsive to
the needs of the broad Ithaca community. Some of the issues
to be considered are loss of parking, traffic (speed,
volume, congestion), quality of life in neighborhoods,
public awareness, coordination with other plans,
enforceability, safety, ISTEA funding, and general
education.
David Nutter, who is a member of the city's Bicycle Advisory
Council, said there is a very good chance to get ISTEA
funding for three years to help implement the plan,
including planning. After this grant cycle, there may not
be another opportunity for funding.
The; Board made several amendments to the resolution and
requested that the revised version be brought back for
consideration at next month's regular meeting.
B. Wal-Mart Van Cort reported that only one response to
the RFP for economic analysis impact study was received;
this was not within the price parameter of the RFP. The
economic impact study group recommended sending out RFPs
again to the same companies without a fixed budget amount .
6 . New Business
A. Zoning Amendment, Parking Regulations - deferred
B. Downtown Design Plan Van Cort had completed an
environmental assessment of the plan which included a fairly
detailed examination of possible parking impacts. He
recommended adoption of the plan as a guide. Some concern
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Minutes of September 28, 1993
was expressed about the public's reaction to the plan.
Clavel suggested that use of the term guidelines, rather
than plan, might be more desirable. Other recommendations
included adding a policy statement, preparing an interim
plan, and a market conditions statement .
C. Southwest Area Land Use Study Schroeder explained that
the Planning Committee has asked the land use committee to
do more work on the report, regarding identification of
substitute park lands, the location of a north-south road
and other issues, before it is submitted to the Board.
7 . Zoning Appeals Report Approval of attached memo moved by
Adams, seconded by Clavel, passed unanimously.
8 . Reports
A. Director
B. Chair
C. Board of Public Works No report.
D. Planning and Development Committee See item 6C. above.
9 . Approval of August 24 Minutes Schroeder amended and moved
approval of the Minutes. Motion was seconded by Mackesey,
carried 6-0 .
Adjourned at 10 :20 PM
epj-28Sept93 .min-11/23
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CITY OF ITHACA
10B EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
DEPARTMENT OF CODE:607
PLANNING&DEVELOPMENT TELEPHONE:274-6550
H.MATTHYS VAN CORT,DIRECTOR FAX NO.:272-7348
MEMORANDUM
To: Board. of Zoning Appeals
From: Board of Planning ,& Development
Re: Appeals 2197-2202, Sign Appeal 10-1-93
Date: 29 Sep 93
Review of subject appeals indicates that, with the possible excep-
ton of 42202., none appear to have potential impacts on citywide or
long-range planning. Subject appeals are referred to the BZA for action,
with comment as follows:
Appeal 2199, Area Variances to permit redevelopment of 602-12 W.
Seneca, in a B-4 zone, for commercial'-uses. The area to be redeveloped,
as shown on the proposed site development Sketch plan, exceeds 5000 SF,
thus requiring Site Development Plan Review before the BZA takes final
action.
Appeal 2202, Use Variance to pdrmit development of 715-19 Hancock
St. , in an R-2b zone, for commercial parking, may affect long-range plan-
ning for the Meadow Street corridor. This area will be substantially
affected by the proposed Route 96 Improvement project within the next
fe* years, and is currently the subject of an extensive land-use study
which will in particular address the issues raised by encroachments of
commercial use into adjoining established residential neighborhoods.
This Board hag previously urged the BZA to deny a similar appeal without
prejudice,in order to allow the completion of the corridor stildy.
Further, Use Variances of this type, because they run with the land,
essentially rezone the property for a completely different class of land
use than that for which it is intended. Such action should properly be
undertaken by Common Council.
cc: applicants
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