HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-031 Adopt LL 4 of 2025 Maplewood II PDZMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
Monday, March 24, 2025
TB Resolution 2025 -031: Adopt Local Law 4 of 2025 Amending Zoning Chapters 270 and 271 of the Town of Ithaca Code to Provide a Planned Development Zone for the Maplewood II Development
Between Maple Avenue and Lena StreetWhereas, Greystar, in association with Cornell University, is proposing to redevelop the former East Hill (Maple Hill) Apartments with new construction
ofup to 650 new units of housing for graduate and professional students in six new mid-rise, mixed-use buildings, on a +/- nine acre sitelocated between Maple Avenue and Lena Street
(Town of Ithaca Tax Parcel No.’s 63.-2-5, 63.-2-6, 63.-2-7.1, and 63.-2-7.3)that Cornell University would continue to own, andWhereas, the Maplewood II Graduate and Professional Student
Housing Redevelopment Project is consistent with the Town Comprehensive Plan, which includes the Maplewood II site in the “TND High Density” category on the Future land use / character
map, intending the area for a mix of higher density housing types, “built to create an intentional neighborhood with linkages and proximity to services, employment, public transit, and
recreational areas,”and Whereas, the Planning Committee reviewed draftPDZ language, prepared by Applicant Whitham Planning and Design, D.P.C. utilizing a form-based code approach based
on the Maplewood I PDZ, at their meetings on June 20, 2024, July 18, 2024, August 15, 2024, and September 16, 2024, and referred the draft to the Town Board for referral to the Planning
Board, and Whereas, the Town Board at their meeting on October 7, 2024 referred the draft PDZ language to the Planning Board for review and a recommendation, and on October 15, 2024
the Planning Board discussed and gave preliminary considerationto thePDZ language, and Whereas, the Planning Board reviewed the final draft Maplewood II PDZ local law at their meeting
on December 17, 2024 and recommended that the Ithaca Town Board enact the proposed local law, andWhereas, notices were duly advertised in the Ithaca Journal for public hearings to be
held by the Town Board on March 10, 2025at 5:30 p.m. and March 24, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., respectively, to hear all interested parties on a proposed local law entitled “A Local Law to Amend
Zoning Chapters 270 and 271 of the Town of Ithaca Code to Provide a Planned Development Zone for the Maplewood II Development Between Maple Avenue and Lena Street,” and Whereas, said
public hearings were duly held on said dates and times at the Town Hall of the Town of Ithaca and all parties in attendance were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of or in
opposition to said proposed local law, or any part thereof, andWhereas,pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and its implementing regulations at 6
NYCRR Part 617, adoption of said local law is a Type I Action for which the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca, acting as lead agency in a coordinated environmental review with respect
to the projectmade a negative determination of environmental significance on December 17, 2024, and
Whereas, the final draft Maplewood II PDZ local lawwas duly delivered to the Tompkins County Planning and Sustainability Department per New York State General Municipal Law §239-l et
seq., and such Department responded in a January 10, 2025, letter from Katherine Borgella, Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning, pursuant to §239-l, -m, and -n of the New York State
General Municipal Law, determining that the proposed action will have no significant county-wide or inter-community impact, andWhereas, the Town Board finds it is in the best interests
of the Town and its citizens to adopt the local law; now, therefore, be itResolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby adopts Local Law No. 4 of 2025entitled “A Local Law
to Amend Zoning Chapters 270 and 271 of the Town of Ithaca Code to Provide a Planned Development Zone (PDZ) for the Maplewood II Development Between Maple Avenue and Lena Street,” and
it is furtherResolved, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file said local law with the Secretary of State as required by law.
Moved:Susie GutenbergerSeconded:Pamela Bleiwas
Vote:ayes- Howe, DePaolo, Bleiwas, Levine, Johnson, Gutenberger and Rosen