Well the board met for the project variances requested in the project from the above post (#1492), and all was defered. But there is good news ref: the Marriott Hotel project (see post #1488). From the Ithaca Journal:
Ithaca zoning board defers on Collegetown Crossing
Time constraints lead to adjournment until next meeting
7:10 PM, Nov 7, 2012
Written by
David Hill
ITHACA — The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday deferred a decision on variances for the Collegetown Crossing apartments and retail project.
The board heard from applicant Josh Lower and his development team, and began the public hearing on the matter. It set aside 15 minutes per interested party and heard from three in favor of the project and one against. But given the board’s goal of adjourning by 11 p.m., a large number of people wanting to speak and two other matters before it, the board suspended the case until a subsequent meeting.
“I don’t think we can decide this case this evening, given the complexity of it,” board Chairman Steven Beers said.
Lower wants to demolish a two-story commercial building at 307 College Ave. and build a six-story building with 50 apartments housing 103 occupants. In conjunction, the apartment building at 226 Linden Ave. would be kept.
The principal variance would be for 57 total parking spaces required under zoning regulations. Lower and his development team maintain that providing parking would lead more tenants to bring cars, while making redevelopment of the neighborhood prohibitively expensive. Some board members expressed skepticism, though, at Lower’s contention that parking cannot be provided on the site.
Variances also are sought regarding off-street loading space and rear-yard setback.
Two Cornell University students spoke in favor, saying Collegetown needs more housing and improved retail grocery options. Lower and GreenStar Cooperative Market plan a market on the first floor of the apartment building.
A TCAT representative endorsed the plan for an indoor bus stop. A nearby property owner also endorsed it, while another spoke against it as potential spot zoning and asserted there’s a difference between impossible designs and those less profitable.
On other matters, the board granted variances on off-street loading, height and setback for a planned Marriott hotel at the eastern end of the Commons at Aurora Street.
The board also deferred action on an apartment complex planned by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services for a site on Spencer Road at Stone Quarry Road.
Here's the link:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE