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Council votes to send citywide PUD ordinance to May agenda; members urge both flexibility and guardrails
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Summary
The Ithaca Common Council voted unanimously April 15 to move an ordinance that would replace PUD overlay districts with a citywide planned unit development (PUD) framework to the May agenda. Supporters said it streamlines opportunities for housing and other projects; some urged clearer standards for predictability.
The Ithaca Common Council voted April 15 to place an ordinance on the May agenda that would remove references to PUD overlay districts and allow planned unit developments citywide.
Councilmember Wynne moved that the ordinance be placed on the May agenda; Councilmember Trumbull seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The mayor said the proposal will not go to consent because it is an ordinance and noted the change mainly simplifies the map while leaving existing zoning rules in place.
Proponents framed the change as an interim tool while the city completes an extensive zoning rewrite. "This is an excellent interim step that can allow us to achieve more diverse and larger useful projects for the city of Ithaca pending what will be an extensive zoning rewrite," said John King, a public commenter who urged adopting the citywide approach but recommended objective thresholds for projects.
Council members emphasized different priorities. Councilmember Trumbull said residents and developers alike have expressed excitement about additional opportunities, and Councilmember Keel argued the process should allow maximal flexibility to encourage creative uses of space. Councilmember Fabrizio said she supports expanding flexibility but suggested council and staff develop guardrails on density, height, open space, tree preservation and how "community benefit" is defined.
City staff described the PUD process as concept approval followed by site-plan and environmental review. A staff presenter said applicants typically bring a proposal with the zoning sought and visualizations; if council grants conceptual approval the project still must proceed through standard reviews before construction.
The council’s action on April 15 only moved the ordinance to the May agenda for further consideration and does not itself change zoning. The council then recessed briefly to receive advice of counsel on an unrelated collective bargaining matter.
