Planning board approves special permit for DeWitt Park House bed-and-breakfast inn

The Ithaca Planning Board voted unanimously June 24 to approve a special permit allowing DeWitt Park House at 308 North Cayuga to operate as an owner-managed bed-and-breakfast inn.

The approval came after the board declared itself lead agency for the project’s environmental review and conducted a public hearing with no members of the public speaking. Crystal Wright, who identified herself as the owner of DeWitt Park House, told the board the operation is not a change of use from the property’s prior permitted status and said the effort is mostly to regularize permitting she had missed after buying the property in late 2021.

Wright described the house’s history and restoration work by previous owners Nancy Medsger and Tom Sini, and said the property is intended to operate as an owner-managed inn rather than an owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast home. She said the inn typically hosts about 10 guests on a fully booked night and that staff have configured the back garden to discourage late-night social gatherings.

Board members asked about parking and inspections. Wright said six reserved parking spaces are provided off Buffalo Street, with one space saved for guests with limited mobility. Planning staff member Nikki Serra confirmed that building inspections raised no red flags during the review.

After the hearing, the board took roll-call votes on the lead-agency resolution and on the special-permit resolution. Both measures passed by unanimous vote. The board instructed staff to prepare the formal decision and conditions for filing with the clerk.

The decision allows DeWitt Park House to operate as an owner-managed bed-and-breakfast inn under terms set out in the approved special permit; Wright was told staff will send approved conditions to her by email.

The project will proceed under any standard follow-up steps set by planning staff, including the filing of the signed resolution and adherence to the permit conditions.