Planning board approves preliminary subdivision for Creekside Plaza

The Ithaca Planning & Development Board declared itself lead agency under SEQR and unanimously approved a preliminary subdivision for Creekside Plaza on Nov. 24.

Phoebe Parkin, senior paralegal for Chase Properties, told the board the applicant seeks to reconfigure four existing tax parcels into six to even parcel sizes between buildings and make future leasing and tax allocation easier. Parkin said the company bought Creekside Plaza a little over a year ago and has been doing upgrades to the property.

Board members asked mostly clarifying questions about previously promised intersection improvements and pedestrian visibility. Lisa Nicholas, director of planning and development, told the board that most work at the intersection next to the former gas station has been completed and that signs will be moved to increase pedestrian visibility. Several board members said they were satisfied with the applicant’s responses and materials.

After discussion, the board voted to declare itself lead agency for environmental review (motion by Elizabeth Gauden; second by Andy Roman) and to issue a negative declaration. The board then approved the preliminary subdivision in a roll-call vote (motion by Jenny; second by Andy Roman). The applicant was told to return for final subdivision approval at a future meeting, expected in December.

The board recorded no public testimony on the project during the hearing. Conditions and any outstanding engineering or curb‑cut issues that arise during permit review were left to staff and the applicant to resolve before final signoff.