Minutes of the Meeting of the Page 2 of 8
City Planning Commission
December 10, 2012
Minutes of the Meeting of the City Planning Commission
City Hall, Syracuse, New York
December 10, 2012
I. Summary of cases discussed herein:
Z-2755 / SP-04-56 M1 / SP-12-21 / R-12-41 / SP-98-20 M1SP-11-10 M1 / R-12-34 / CA-12-01 A / Z-2727 M1 / CS-10-58
CS-12-225 / CS-12-201 / CS-12-263 / CS-12-247 / CS-09-17
CS-09-55 / CS-12-272 / CS-12-273 / CPC Rules / Z-2756
Z-2757 / Z-2758 / Z-2759
II. Attendance
Members Present Staff Present
Dr. Ruben Cowart Ms. Heather Lamendola
Ms. Linda Henley Ms. Meghan McLees Craner
Mr. Steve Kulick Mr. Jeff Harrop
Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary
III. Meeting called to order at 6:15 p.m.
IV. Approval of the minutes
Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 19, 2012 meeting of the City Planning Commission. Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
V. Public Hearings
1) Z-2755
City of Syracuse Comprehensive Plan 2040
City Planning Commission
Mr. Andrew Maxwell and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff spoke to the Commission about the proposed City of Syracuse Comprehensive Plan 2040, which consists of a city vision for the future, policies, goals and recommended actions, an implementation plan, a bicycle infrastructure component, a historic preservation component, a land use and development component, a public art component, and a sustainability component.
Nine people spoke in favor of the Comprehensive Plan. Seven people spoke in opposition to the Comprehensive Plan. Two people were neutral on the Comprehensive Plan.
After further discussion and review, the Commission agreed that no action could be taken until a response from the Common Council with respect to Lead Agency was received.
2) SP-04-56 M1 (Continuation-LH, RL, AK)
Special Permit Modification-Restaurant
Modify Floor Plan, Signage, Exterior Elevations,
210 Park Street
Elia Sousou (owner)
Ali M. Zokari (applicant)
Business, Class A
Mr. Maad Zokari, at 111 Cloveridge Drive, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of modifying the floor plan, signage, and exterior elevations to an existing Special Permit for a Restaurant on property situated at 210 Park Street.
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the proposal. One person spoke to express concerns regarding parking over the sidewalk area.
After further discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration and granting waivers for parking and signage. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3) SP-12-21 (Continuation-LH, RL, AK)
Special Permit-Restaurant
2646 Erie Boulevard East
Maliakal Group, LLC – Bijo Cherian (owner/applicant)
Commercial, Class B
Mr. Bijo Cherian, at 5907 Venus Path Drive in the Village of Solvay, appeared before the Commission to speak about the proposal, which consists of establishing a restaurant on property situated at 2646 Erie Boulevard East.
Mr. Cherian withdrew the application and no action was taken.
4) R-12-41 (Continuation-LH, RL, AK)
Resubdivision
Combine Two Parcels into one New Lot
723 Ackerman Avenue
Mark Linder and Julia Czerniak (owners/applicants)
Residential, Class A
Mr. Mark Linder, at 4307 Taylor Road, Jamesville, New York, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of combining two parcels into one new Lot to create a single residential lot to legalize an existing garage with driveway on property situated at 723 Ackerman Avenue.
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the proposal.
After further discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
5) SP-98-20 M1
Special Permit Modification–Restaurant
Modify Site Plan, Floor Plan and Signage
2719 James Street
NAA James St. Corp. (owner)
Maria Campanella (applicant)
Business, Class A
The applicant’s attorney, Mr. Richard Storto with Melvin & Melvin, PLLC, at 217 South Salina Street, and Ms. Maria Campanella, at 2719 James Street, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of modifying the site plan, floor plan, and signage to an existing Special Permit for a Restaurant in order to maintain an outdoor customer area, establish live entertainment, and maintain four existing window signs on property situated at 2719 James Street. The proposal requires a parking waiver, a screening waiver, a sign waiver, and a waiver to allow live entertainment within 300 feet of a residential district. During the public hearing, Ms. Campanella stated that she was not requesting a screening waiver, and that additional parking was available on a neighboring “Key Bank” parcel, which was not part of the application and no information was submitted by the applicant for this property.
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the proposal.
After further discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration and granting a sign waiver and a parking waiver which was conditioned that additional off-street parking spaces for this establishment be provided on the property the applicant referred to during the public hearing as “Key Bank”. Dr. Ruben Cowart seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of three to one, with Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary voting against the motion.
- Minor Modifications
1) SP-11-10 M1
Special Permit Modification – Restaurant
Modify Floor Plan, Signage, and Elevations
400-408 Velasko Road
CRT L, LLC (owner/applicant)
Business, Class A
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of modifying the floor plan, signage, and elevations to an existing Special Permit for a Restaurant on property situated at 400-408 Velasko Road.
After discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
- Old Business
1) R-12-34
Resubdivision
Combine Three Parcels into two New Lots
408, 410, and 412 Hawley Avenue
Vincent Corasaniti (owner/applicant)
Residential, Class B
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of combining three parcels into two new Lots in order to extend the lot width on properties situated at 408, 410, and 412 Hawley Avenue. During the public hearing on November 5, 2012, an error was discovered in the subdivision map. The Commission agreed to close the public hearing and defer action on the request until the applicant submitted a corrected subdivision map. The applicant submitted a revised subdivision map dated November 26, 2012, with the corrected lot widths.
After discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2) CA-12-01 A (Appeal)
Certificate of Appropriateness Appeal
Window Removal-Holy Trinity Church
407, 501, 503 and 507 Park Street and 121-123, 125-127 and 129 Jasper Street
Catholic Diocese of Syracuse (owner/applicant)
Residential, Class A
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of appealing the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board’s (SLPB) denial of an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove 22 stained-glass windows from the former Holy Trinity church building on property situated at 407, 501, 503 and 507 Park Street and 121-123, 125-127 and 129 Jasper Street. A public hearing was held on November 5, 2012. The applicant’s attorney provided additional information on November 19, 2012, regarding the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
After discussion and review, during which the Commission members and Legal Counsel adjourned momentarily and went into Executive Session, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to deny the request. Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
- New Business
1) Z-2727 M1
Project Plan Review Modification – Student Housing
Modify Site Plan and Elevation to Add Signage
605-611 East Raynor Avenue
Syracuse University (owner/applicant)
Planned Institutional Development
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal, which consists of installing eight signs related to the Starbucks Coffee and West Campus Express stores, consisting of one ground sign, one wall sign and two window signs for West Campus Express, one wall, one projecting and one window sign for Starbucks, and one window sign for the Department of Public Safety, on property situated at 601-609 University Avenue.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2) CS-10-58
Certificate of Suitability
745 Euclid Avenue-Single Family
Erendira Cronkhite
Residential, Class AA
After discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3) CS-12-225
Certificate of Suitability
201 Berkeley Drive-Single Family
Joseph Tupper
Residential, Class RA-1
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
4) CS-12-201
Certificate of Suitability
741-743 Lancaster Avenue-Non-Conforming Two Family
Michael Albanese
Residential, Class A
After discussion and review, Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
5) CS-12-263
Certificate of Suitability
310 Stratford Street-Single Family
Michael and Beth Theiss
Residential, Class A-1
After discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
6) CS-12-247
Certificate of Suitability
813 Euclid Avenue-Single Family
Euclid House, LLC
Residential, Class AA
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
7) CS-09-17
Certificate of Suitability
560 Allen Street-Non-Conforming Two Family
Stampede, LLC
Residential, Class A-1
After discussion and review, Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
8) CS-09-55
Certificate of Suitability
204 Harvard Place-Single Family
Harvard House, LLC
Residential, Class A
After discussion and review, Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
9) CS-12-272
Certificate of Suitability
209 Harvard Place-Two Family
Vah, LLC
Residential, Class A
After discussion and review, Mr. Arpad Kolozsvary made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
10) CS-12-273
Certificate of Suitability
711 South Beech Street-Non-Conforming Two Family
Diligent Sloth, LLC
Residential, Class AA
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
11) Planning Commission Rules of Procedure
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to approve the request with a negative SEQR declaration. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
- Discussion
1) Z-2756
Change of Zone
Inner Harbor/Lakefront
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (Petitioner)
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to determine the proposal to be a Type I Action under SEQR and declare the Planning Commission as Lead Agency. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2) Z-2757
Change of Zone
Near Eastside
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (Petitioner)
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to determine the proposal to be a Type I Action under SEQR and declare the Planning Commission as Lead Agency. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3) Z-2758
Change of Zone
West Genesee Street Corridor
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (Petitioner)
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to determine the proposal to be a Type I Action under SEQR and declare the Planning Commission as Lead Agency. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
4) Z-2759
Change of Zone
Butternut Street Corridor
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (Petitioner)
Ms. Heather Lamendola, City of Syracuse Zoning Administrator, spoke to the Commission about the proposal.
After discussion and review, Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to determine the proposal to be a Type I Action under SEQR and declare the Planning Commission as Lead Agency. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
X. Authorizations
Mr. Steve Kulick made a motion to authorize those cases listed for Monday, January 7, 2013 meeting. Ms. Linda Henley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
XI. Adjournment
Ms. Linda Henley made a motion to adjourn at 9:45 p.m. Mr. Steve Kulick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.