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Council adopts College Town zoning changes after debate over additional parcel amendments
Summary
The Common Council adopted an ordinance updating the College Town area form district and related zoning text; an alderperson proposed additional up‑zonings for several parcels but withdrew the amendment after staff said changes would require relisting and additional outreach.
The Ithaca Common Council on April 2 adopted an ordinance amending parts of the College Town area form district, including changes to height and district designations for sections of Collegetown, after a period of discussion among council members and staff.
Alderperson Kiel summarized the ordinance on the floor as changes intended to align parcels with the neighborhood plan's intent and improve development consistency. Kiel then proposed a separate amendment to upzone six additional parcels (239 Linden Ave, 308 Bryant Ave, 233 Linden Ave from CR‑3 to CR‑4; and 228, 224 and 214 Dryden Road from CR‑4 to MU‑2), arguing those changes would close holes in the map and help equitable development in Collegetown.
City zoning administrator Megan Wilson told council the proposed parcel changes could not be made that night because state law requires relisting and additional circulation when map boundaries change materially. Wilson also cautioned that some of the parcels Kiel named already have area variances or nonconforming conditions and would need further analysis; staff recommended more outreach and analysis before formal amendment.
Kiel moved the amendment and Alderson Shapiro seconded it; council members debated the timing and potential impacts on development projects. Several councilmembers, including Shapiro and Brown, said they would support taking more time for public comment. After discussion, Kiel withdrew the amendment rather than proceed with a relisting that would delay adoption by an uncertain number of months.
With the amendment withdrawn, council proceeded to a vote on the main ordinance and adopted it by voice vote (recorded as 9 to 0). Council also declared itself lead agency for the relevant SEQRA review and issued a negative declaration on environmental impact during the meeting.
Ending: Staff said the comprehensive zoning rewrite will examine College Town and other neighborhoods more broadly; councilmembers agreed to continue neighborhood-level conversations and staff outreach as the city moves toward a larger zoning update.
