HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2026-02-19
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
215 N. Tioga St 14850
607.273.1747
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
Meeting Location: Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street, Aurora Conference Room
(Enter from the rear entrance of Town Hall, adjacent employee parking lot.)
Members of the public may also join the meeting virtually via Zoom at
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6750593272.
AGENDA
1. Persons to be heard.
2. Committee announcements and concerns.
3. Consider approval of January meeting minutes.
4. Review draft Resolution Supporting the Deconstruction and Reuse of the Built
Environment in the Town of Ithaca.
5. Staff updates and reports.
6. Discuss next meeting date and upcoming agenda items.
A quorum of the Ithaca Town Board may be present, however,
no official Board business will be conducted.
1
Town of Ithaca Planning Committee
Thursday, February 19, 2026
(3:00 PM Aurora Conference Room and on Zoom)
Minutes
Committee members present: Rod Howe, Chair; Diana Sinton; Dave McCune.
Board/staff members: Director of Codes Marty Moseley; Director of Planning C.J. Randall; Senior
Civil Engineer Justin McNeal; Town Sustainability Planner Hilary Swartwood; and Town Planner Nick
Quilty-Koval.
Guests: none
1. Persons to be heard: None.
2. Committee announcements and concerns: None
3. Approval of January minutes: Dave moved the minutes for approval as presented. Diana seconded,
the minutes were approved.
4. Draft resolution supporting the Deconstruction and Reuse of the Built Environment in the Town
of Ithaca. Following up from the previous committee meeting discussion, a draft proposed Town of
Ithaca resolution to support deconstruction was circulated for comments and consideration to
recommend to the Town Board. Hilary summarized the intent of the proposed non-binding resolution is
a starting point for research and development of a work plan for what a possible deconstruction
ordinance/code would look like for the Town of Ithaca. Engagement with CR0WD for technical
assistance throughout the process is anticipated upon passing the resolution as well. A template
resolution was initially provided by CR0WD and municipalities including the City of Auburn, Town of
Dryden, and Tompkins County have passed similar resolutions to the one presented. Planning will work
with the Town’s Code Enforcement Department to develop this initiative further.
The Planning Committee was in favor of recommending the draft resolution to the Town Board for
consideration.
5. Institutional Zoning Update-Comprehensive Plan Overview: C.J. provided an updated memo
which outlined the priority goal LU-5 in the town’s 2014 comprehensive plan to implement institutional
zoning. Research and initial drafts for transect based and general campus zoning were completed in
2020-2021. Planning Committee will develop a scope of work for the COC committee scheduled for the
2026 Work Plan. Both the Ithaca College and Cornell University Campus Master Plans are considered
current. A master plan update is anticipated for the Cayuga Medical Center. Continued meetings are
being held with both large higher education institutions and the goal is to develop partnerships with the
institutions in the town. Town Planner Nick Quilty-Koval is participating as a non-voting liaison on
behalf of the town for the City of Ithaca Zoning Advisory Committee, which is undertaking the rewrite
of the city zoning. The city’s zoning contains institutional and university districts, and Cornell’s campus
spans across the city and town. The municipal boundaries that cross buildings and properties make
permitting and enforcement difficult and the town zoning for both campuses includes low density
residential zones that conflict with the institutional uses. Sign regulations were given as a relevant
example, as the community character of a campus compared to a residential area is different and
1
Town of Ithaca Planning Committee
Thursday, February 19, 2026
(3:00 PM Aurora Conference Room and on Zoom)
Minutes
Committee members present: Rod Howe, Chair; Diana Sinton; Dave McCune.
Board/staff members: Director of Codes Marty Moseley; Director of Planning C.J. Randall; Senior
Civil Engineer Justin McNeal; Town Sustainability Planner Hilary Swartwood; and Town Planner Nick
Quilty-Koval.
Guests: none
1. Persons to be heard: None.
2. Committee announcements and concerns: None
3. Approval of January minutes: Dave moved the minutes for approval as presented. Diana seconded,
the minutes were approved.
4. Draft resolution supporting the Deconstruction and Reuse of the Built Environment in the Town
of Ithaca. Following up from the previous committee meeting discussion, a draft proposed Town of
Ithaca resolution to support deconstruction was circulated for comments and consideration to
recommend to the Town Board. Hilary summarized the intent of the proposed non-binding resolution is
a starting point for research and development of a work plan for what a possible deconstruction
ordinance/code would look like for the Town of Ithaca. Engagement with CR0WD for technical
assistance throughout the process is anticipated upon passing the resolution as well. A template
resolution was initially provided by CR0WD and municipalities including the City of Auburn, Town of
Dryden, and Tompkins County have passed similar resolutions to the one presented. Planning will work
with the Town’s Code Enforcement Department to develop this initiative further.
The Planning Committee was in favor of recommending the draft resolution to the Town Board for
consideration.
5. Institutional Zoning Update-Comprehensive Plan Overview: C.J. provided an updated memo
which outlined the priority goal LU-5 in the town’s 2014 comprehensive plan to implement institutional
zoning. Research and initial drafts for transect based and general campus zoning were completed in
2020-2021. Planning Committee will develop a scope of work for the COC committee scheduled for the
2026 Work Plan. Both the Ithaca College and Cornell University Campus Master Plans are considered
current. A master plan update is anticipated for the Cayuga Medical Center. Continued meetings are
being held with both large higher education institutions and the goal is to develop partnerships with the
institutions in the town. Town Planner Nick Quilty-Koval is participating as a non-voting liaison on
behalf of the town for the City of Ithaca Zoning Advisory Committee, which is undertaking the rewrite
of the city zoning. The city’s zoning contains institutional and university districts, and Cornell’s campus
spans across the city and town. The municipal boundaries that cross buildings and properties make
permitting and enforcement difficult and the town zoning for both campuses includes low density
residential zones that conflict with the institutional uses. Sign regulations were given as a relevant
example, as the community character of a campus compared to a residential area is different and