Planning board approves vendor parking surface at Ithaca Farmers Market with condition to revisit

The Planning and Development Board of the City of Ithaca on Feb. 25 approved proposed site‑plan changes for the Ithaca Farmers Market parking lot that will allow vendor parking adjacent to the pavilion to be finished with a stabilized gravel system in time for market opening, with a condition requiring the applicant to revisit a more permanent surface in a later phase if the gravel proves difficult to maintain.

The change addresses construction sequencing and seasonal constraints: contractor representatives said porous asphalt cannot be relied on before the market’s April opening because asphalt plants are weather‑dependent. Vendors told the board they preferred a compacted, stabilized gravel system — a plastic grid filled with small aggregate and a stabilizing layer — citing safety, grease, and maintenance concerns for asphalt surfaces directly adjacent to the pavilion.

Why it matters: The vendor parking area functions as a cooking and back‑of‑house zone for food vendors, who must meet fire‑safety rules and operate safely near pedestrians. The choice of surface affects vendor operations this spring, ongoing maintenance costs, and long‑term durability.

What the board approved and why - Approval and condition: The board voted to approve the proposed parking‑lot changes but added a condition that if the vendor gravel spaces prove too difficult to maintain, an alternative surface such as porous asphalt (exact material to be decided) will be installed in phase 2 or 3 of the site plan. The motion was moved by Basil Kori and seconded by Andy Roman and passed by roll call. - Contractor and vendor input: Project staff said the stabilized grid system distributes vehicle loads while allowing infiltration; the manufacturer will warranty the grid product for one year, and the design team said the product is heavy‑duty rated and used elsewhere on site. Vendors emphasized the timeline and operational concerns: cooking with propane, grease, rainwater runoff from pavilion downspouts, ice risk in cold weather and heat in summer on asphalt surfaces.

Vendor testimony and operational details - Vendors said porous asphalt could make cooking areas slippery and would require more frequent maintenance and power washing. One vendor representative said installing and later removing temporary structures to meet the April opening and then repaving would be “a lot of work we’d like to avoid.” - The planner explained the proposed grid system would sit under a layer of gravel, reduce migration, and increase porosity compared with compacted crusher‑run stone; occasional sweeping or raking may be required. Project staff said the grid is rated for heavier service (fire lanes) and that weekend market traffic is expected to be within its capacity.

Other site changes discussed - Bike racks and shelter: the project will add approximately 17 new bike racks. The applicant proposed removing an overhead bike shelter from this phase to avoid removing a mature willow tree that was missed on the survey; instead, new racks will be installed adjacent to existing racks without a canopy. Board members and staff encouraged revisiting covered bike parking in a later phase tied to pavilion improvements.

Vote and conditions - Motion: Move to approve proposed parking‑lot changes with the added condition that if the vendor gravel spaces prove too difficult to maintain, an alternative surface such as porous asphalt will be installed in phase 2 or 3. - Mover: Basil Kori; Second: Andy Roman. - Vote: Andy Roman — yes; Basil Kori — yes; Max Pfeffer — yes; Emily Petrina (chair) — yes. Outcome: approved. The board recorded the condition so the pavement choice can be revisited in later project phases.

Ending: With the condition in place, construction can proceed to meet the market’s spring schedule; the board asked project staff to monitor performance and return with updates if maintenance issues arise.