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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PLED-2018-10-10 Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, October 10, 2018 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Donna Fleming, Stephen Smith, and Laura Lewis Committee Members Absent: None Other Elected Officials Attending: Mayor Svante Myrick (left at 8:10 pm) Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Planning and Development Department; Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development Department; Jennifer Kusznir, Senior Planner; Nels Bohn, Director, IURA; Anisa Mendizabal, Community Development Planner; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Scott Whitham and Associates; Jeff Goodmark, Limebike Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review No changes were made to the agenda. 2) Special Order of Business a) Public Hearing – Allocation of CDBG Funds (Cherry Street Industrial Park Road Extension / South Aurora Street Sidewalk Extension) Alderperson Brock moved to open the public hearing; Alderperson Lewis seconded it. Carried unanimously. Tim Carey, Assoc. Vice President of Ithaca College, he stated that the college supports this project. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting John Graves stated the lack of sidewalks on South Hill is very dangerous and problematic. Numerous students walk from the IC campus to downtown. The City needs to join forces with Ithaca College to continue the sidewalks through to the town of Ithaca. Alderperson moved Brock to close the public hearing; Alderperson Lewis seconded it. Carried unanimously. b) Public Hearing – HUD Entitlement Program, 2018 Action Plan, Program Amendment (INHS Scattered Sites Project) Alderperson Lewis moved to open the public hearing; Alderperson Brock seconded it. Carried unanimously. No one from the public spoke on this topic. Alderperson Brock moved to close the public hearing; Alderperson Lewis seconded it. Carried unanimously. 3) Public Comment Joe Wilson, 75 Hunt Hill Road, spoke on the SEQR forms used by the City and the upcoming change in the use the forms. He questions the 50+ year cumulative. The standards in the green building policy have been dismissed by Cornell because the policy is not law yet. It is a mistake not to make this law. There are discrepancies between the way the Town and the City evaluates projects. Victoria Armstrong, 2 gave a big thumbs up on the Aurora Street sidewalk extension. She also spoke regarding the Limebikes, the Ebikes, and now the scooters. This is a great initiative for the City. She welcomes and promotes a trial basis for these Limebikes. Chair Murtagh thanked all who have spoken on the Limebikes as well as Joe Wilson for bringing his thoughts on the Town and City SEQR process. JoAnn Cornish stated the City is the lead agent. The Town is a participatory agent that will hold their own review. The October 30 th Planning Board meeting will be solely for the review of the SEQR documents Alderperson Brock also thanked those who spoke on the proposed sidewalk expansion. She gave her own son’s experience working on South Hill. Alderperson McGonigal would like to see another option. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting 4) Presentations a) Carpenter Business Park Development Mayor Svante Myrick joined the meeting. Whitham and Associates provided a quick glimpse as to what they would like to do at this site. The Community Gardens will remain, affordable housing will be included, and CMA (Cayuga Medical Associates) will occupy part of the mixed-use project. Alderperson Lewis asked about the number of affordable housing. Alderperson Fleming questioned whether the affordable and market value appointments would be separate or together in the same building. The answer was to separate them into two different buildings. Alderperson Brock encouraged the developers to include the two types of housing together. She further stated that this project sits very close to the Wastewater Treatment Plant which will not be going away. Alderperson Lewis asked whether the affordable housing units will be rental or condominium. The answer is all rental. Alderperson Lewis also asked whether the Community Gardens will remain intake and at the same level. The answer is yes. Alderperson Brock stated her concern of segregation. She is the chair of the City’s Sewage Treatment Plant making her very aware of the traffic and hauling in the area. If the affordable housing is part of the project, she encourages the developer to bring the Waste Water Treatment Plant into the discussions, and further stated that the affordable housing shouldn’t be subject to looking out their windows directly to the plant. Alderperson Kerslick agreed with his colleagues. He would like to see more emphasis made on the landscaping and green space. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting b) Limebike Jeff Goodmark, lives in Ithaca and has been with this company for six months now. Limebikes are now in Ithaca, Dryden (TC3), Watkins Glen, and the City of Elmira. There are 75,000 of a combination of all electric bikes and pedal bikes. That averages 450-500 rides per day. He sees a very early in the morning and late at night usage which indicates possibly lower paying jobs who cannot get to and from work. There is an online registration for many low income individuals. Line access is $5.00 for 100 rides. Those who sign up using an ( .edu ) mailing address will receive a 50% discount. Alderperson Lewis asked whether the company will do away with the peddle bikes and stick solely with the peddle assist bikes and scooters. Alderperson Fleming asked if any insurance fees are charged to the cities in which they run their business. The answer is no. Alderperson Smith stated he thinks this bike sharing is a great business. It improves our transportation. He further stated that Limebike usage does take business away from the bus service. There is some inconvenience for residents who have to move the bikes left by riders in their lawns in order to mow or handicapped individuals not able to pass through on the sidewalk because the bike is in the way. Alderperson Brock stated the City’s tree lawns, etc. are being used. The Limebikes are being used for storage, etc. with no payment back to the City for such use. She sees people driving in erratic behavior, helmets are not being worn, etc. She would like to see Limebikes educate the users. Mr. Goodmark stated that there are many screens a user must read and go through in order for the bike to even unlock. He stated that we don’t have the one-on-one training. We do our best to follow through with those that are doing what they agreed to do. Alderperson Lewis thanked Mr. Goodmark for bringing these bikes to Ithaca. She also commends Limebike for helping to provide helmets to those who need them. She asked about the winter use of the bikes. Will they be taken away? Mr. Goodmark stated that less bikes will be available due to the lower usage from the public. Areas where the bikes are located will be maintained by the company. Alderperson Kerslick stated he is very much in favor of this program. His main concern is the cycling on sidewalks and the impacts on pedestrians. Education is key for this program to work. A balance of the lime bikers and other individuals needs to be met. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting Alderperson McGonigal asked how you keep track of the usage. He further stated that Bike/Walk Tompkins is not the City. They do not make the rules as to where the Limebikes should be left. Alderperson Nguyen stated the Limebikes will help make the City more bike friendly. Chair Murtagh stated the City and the Limebikes should have some sort of agreement in place. If the scooters or ebikes are used more so than the Limebikes, this might not match up with the City’s comprehensive plan. It was acknowledged that an RFI was distributed by the City Engineering Office to bring the Limebikes to Ithaca. Alderperson Lewis stated she just recently saw a copy of the MOU. The MOU is strictly for bikes only. She asked then whether scooters are even legal to ride. The driver of a scooter must be 18 years of age. Any scooter out of the service area would drop down to 1 mph until the scooter is brought back into the service area. The Ebikes’ top speed is 14 mph; the scooters are 15 mph. Alderperson Brock stated that it would important to see the presentation that was planned for the meeting but was not able to be presented due to computer incompatibility. The MOU needs to be reviewed also. Chair Murtagh stated that all of the above needs to be reviewed and discussed in order to come up the best approach going forward. Alderperson Kerslick stated that the breakdown in communication falls on the City. He would like to see other City’s experience with the scooter trial plan. Ari Lavine, City Attorney, stated the BPW (Board of Public Works) will be reviewing this as well. The current MOU was not done illegally. It was a lack of communication. If a scooter trial is to go forward, an addendum to the current MOU would need to be done. Ari Lavine further stated we as a City can refuse or reject any other bike company coming into the City. Alderperson Nguyen stated his full support of the scooter program. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting 5) Action Items (Voting to Send on to Council) a) Allocation of CDBG Funds (Cherry Street Industrial Park Road Extension / South Aurora Street Sidewalk Extension) Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried Unanimously. Whereas, New York State has announced a policy change regarding retention of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income by current and past recipients of the CDBG program administered by New York State, and Whereas, New York State now requires communities in possession New York State (NYS) Administered CDBG Program Income to use such funds for CDBG-eligible uses by March 31, 2019 or return the funds to New York State, and Whereas, the City of Ithaca received CDBG grant awards from New York State Small Cities competitive CDBG program from 2000-2003, before being designated as a HUD Entitlement grantee in 2004 and transitioning to federal administration of CDBG funds, and Whereas, CDBG program income is created when initial CDBG investments result in income received by the grantee, such as loan repayments, and Whereas, in 2003, the City of Ithaca received CDBG funds to provide loan assistance for the Hilton Garden Inn hotel project to create jobs for low- and moderate-income persons, and Whereas, CDBG program income in the form of loan repayments from this economic development activity are projected to total over $561,000 by March 31, 2019, and Whereas, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) administers CDBG funds on behalf of the City, and Whereas, the IURA recommends NYS administered CDBG program income be invested in the following projects:  Cherry St. public road extension, and  S. Aurora Street sidewalk extension (Hillview Place to City/Town line), and Whereas, the Cherry St. public road project is an eligible CDBG economic development activity that will create at least 5 jobs for low- and moderate-income persons at Emmy’s Organics, Inc. who is constructing a production facility at the end of the road extension, and Whereas, the S. Aurora Street sidewalk project is an eligible CDBG public facility activity serving a low- and moderate-income neighborhood, and Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting Whereas, the Town of Ithaca has been awarded federal funding to construct sidewalks along Rt. 96B from Ithaca College to the City/Town boundary leaving an approximately 1,500 linear foot gap to connect with the existing city sidewalk network that ends at Hillview Place, and Whereas, CDBG funding for the S. Aurora Street sidewalk project is estimated to provide sufficient funding for approximately 1,200 linear feet of sidewalk, and Whereas, environmental review was completed by the Board of Public Works for the Sidewalk extension on May 15, 2018, and by the Planning and Development Board September 25, 2018 for the Cherry St. project on September 25, 2018, which resulted in findings that the projects will result in no significant impact on the environment and issuance of negative declarations, and Whereas, an October 10, 2018 public hearing was held on this matter; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby allocates up to $561,583 New York State administered CDBG program income in possession of the City of Ithaca as follows: 1. Project: Cherry Street Industrial Park Road Extension Funding: Up to $175,000 Description: Construct approximately 400 ft. linear feet of public street at the end of Cherry Street extension; 2. Project: South Aurora Street (Rt. 96B) Sidewalk Extension (east side of ROW) Funding: Up to $386,583 Description: Construct approximately 1,200 linear feet of sidewalks along the east side of the ROW of Rt. 96B from Hillview Place toward the City/Town boundary; And be it further RESOLVED that the IURA is authorized to request approval from the NYS Office of Community Renewal of the intended use of CDBG program income funds and demonstrating that the use will meet a national objective and all CDBG requirements. Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting b) 2018 Action Plan, Program Amendment (INHS Scattered Sites Project) Proposed Resolution Planning & Economic Development Committee October 10, 2018 HUD Entitlement Program, 2018 Action Plan - Program Amendment #2, INHS Scattered Site 2 (project #7) Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried Unanimously. Whereas, the City adopted 2018 Action Plan allocated $100,000 in HOME funds to assist the Scattered Site Phase 2: New Construction project (Project) sponsored by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS), and Whereas, the Project included redevelopment of the site located at 150 N. Albany Street, owned by the Salvation Army, for new construction of an approximately 42-unit affordable housing project, and Whereas, on September 6, 2018, the IURA received notice from INHS that the 150 N. Albany Street project will not be ready for submission for the annual NYS Unified Funding in December 2018, and requested re-allocation of the HOME funds to a substitute affordable housing project including reconstruction and rehabilitation of 29 rental housing units at the following locations:  203-209 Elm Street  111 W. Clinton Street  406 S. Plain Street  227 S. Geneva Street  502 W. Green Street, and Whereas, development of the 150 N. Albany Street project is now projected to be submitted for State funding in December 2019, and Whereas, the HUD Citizen Participation Plan requires a public hearing and Common Council approval for substantial amendments to the Action Plan, and Whereas, a change in the location of the original Project and a change in the use of funds from new rental housing construction to reconstruction and rehabilitation of existing rental units qualifies the requested action as a substantial program amendment, and Whereas, at their September 27, 2018 meeting, the IURA recommended approval of reallocation of HUD funds for the proposed substitute INHS affordable housing project; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Ithaca hereby approves program amendment #2 to the 2018 HUD Action Plan, as follows: REVISED PROJECT – Program Amendment #2, 2018 Action Plan Sponsor: Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Project Name: Scattered Site 2 Funding Amount: $100,000 Funding Source: HOME Project Locations: 203-209 Elm St. (demolition and reconstruction) Approved at the November 14, 2018 PEDC Meeting 111 W. Clinton St. (rehabilitation) 406 S. Plain St. (rehabilitation) 227 S. Geneva St. (rehabilitation) 502 W. Green St. (rehabilitation) Project Type: Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Rental Housing Number of Housing Units: 29 ORIGINAL PROJECT – To be defunded in the 2018 Action Plan Sponsor: Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Project Name: Scattered Site Phase 2: New Construction Funding Amount: $100,000 Funding Source: HOME Project Location: 150 N. Albany St. Project Type: New Construction of Rental Housing Number of Housing Units: 42 . Mayor Svante Myrick left the meeting at 8:10 p.m. 6) Discussion a) Chainworks: Zoning The group reviewed the concerns and responses made in previous meetings. Design Guidelines and request for circulation will come back next month. 7) Review and Approval of Minutes a) September 2018 Moved by Alderperson Brock seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried unanimously. 8) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.