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Council adopts citywide PUD overlay to allow planned unit developments across Ithaca
Summary
The Common Council voted 9–1 to remove the PUD overlay and allow planned unit developments citywide; councilors framed the change as a tool to support redevelopment while some raised concerns about transparency and review processes.
The Ithaca Common Council on May 6 adopted an ordinance removing the previous PUD overlay and allowing planned unit developments (PUDs) throughout the city. Councilor Wynne summarized the ordinance and a roll‑call vote recorded a 9‑to‑1 approval.
Council discussion on the ordinance was brief on the floor; the mayor conducted a roll‑call to record individual votes. The Council framed the change as a way to encourage redevelopment opportunities—an item viewed as timely given the discussion that evening about the Seneca Street garage parcel and the $10 million downtown revitalization grant.
The ordinance now makes PUDs an allowable mechanism across municipal zoning; specific project approvals and SEQR (environmental review) processes will continue to apply at the project level. One council member recorded a dissenting vote during the roll call.
The ordinance passed on the council floor; implementation will proceed through the city’s normal development review channels, including disposition and development agreements when public property is conveyed.
