Planning board approves Visom's Cherry Street site plan with landscape and management conditions

The Ithaca Planning and Development Board unanimously approved preliminary and final site plan for the 132 Cherry Street development on March 24, requiring applicants to return with a more detailed planting plan and clarifications on pedestrian connections and site management.

The vote followed a lengthy review of landscape and operations. Developer representatives described several design responses to neighborhood concerns — including a fenced courtyard with key-fob access, integrated camera coverage of common areas and exteriors, and a commitment to limit uncontrolled points of entry. "We propose that we limit access points into the building with each of those access points being electronically controlled with a key fob system," said Chris, an applicant representative, outlining security features including floor-level access control and exterior surveillance.

Board members signaled that design improvements alone would not be sufficient without operational commitments. Several members pressed for firm plans on trash handling and prompt hazardous-waste removal, citing recent examples in other large residential buildings. "The specifics of management and operations are really, really important," said Mitch Glass, a board member, adding that the city has seen projects fail when on-site operations were not robust.

Public comment earlier in the meeting highlighted circulation and micro-design issues in the Collegetown crossing. Brody Smith, an attorney representing the owners of 307 College Ave (Collegetown Crossing LLC), told the board his clients support the applicant's proposed elimination of columns and the proposed recessing of the trash room, and urged removal of a planter in a dark alley that has performed poorly in prior installations.

The board's resolution (as read into the record) requires the applicant to submit a revised planting plan that includes soil replacement specifications, a planting schedule with shade-tree counts and species (notably birch and maples where shown), explicit materials for the toe path (with alternatives to simple asphalt), benches and details for any pervious pavers in fire-access areas. Staff reviewability was authorized for certain planting adjustments, and the applicants were asked to secure or document easements needed to connect the site to adjacent public paths.

Board Chair Max Feffer cast the final motion and took a roll call. Emily Petrina, Andy Roman, Peggy Tully, Mitch Glass and Jenny Sliff joined the unanimous approval; the board recorded the motion as approved with the conditions described.

Next steps: applicants must submit the detailed planting and materials package and a written response on management and trash-handling procedures for staff review before final clearance. The project team agreed to return to the board next month with those materials.