[HISTORY: [1]Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca 12-7-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-14. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building Code enforcement — See Ch. 146.
Business improvement districts — See Ch. 149.
Use of City real property — See Ch. 170.
Housing standards — See Ch. 210.
Landmarks preservation — See Ch. 228.
Site plan review — See Ch. 276.
Zoning — See Ch. 325.
[1]
Former Ch. 160, Design Review, adopted 5-4-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-06, was repealed 7-6-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-11.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "City of
Ithaca Design Review Ordinance."
A.
This chapter is intended to promote the general public welfare by:
B.
The intent of this chapter is to provide for the review of plans
for construction, exterior alterations, additions, or demolition of
structures in certain zones of the City or under certain conditions,
which zones and conditions are hereby deemed special in nature in
terms of architectural character, intensity of existing use and development,
sensitivity to the effect of change in use, or other reason.
B.
MANDATORY DESIGN REVIEW
In addition to the definitions in Chapters 276 and 325, the following terms shall be used in this chapter as they are defined in this section:
The required review of plans for construction, exterior alterations,
additions, or demolition of structures.
[Amended 1-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05]
Mandatory design review shall apply to all proposals for:
A.
New construction, exterior alterations, addition or removal of exterior
signs, or additions to any structure within the zones designated B-1b;
B-2c; B-2d; all CBD zones, including CBD-60, CBD-85, CBD-100, and
CBD-120; C-SU; WE/WFD, CSD, ND, MD; and on any parcel within the 2009
Collegetown Planning Area as designated on the map entitled "2009
Collegetown Urban Plan and Conceptual Design Guidelines Planning Area,"
dated November 2011, a copy of which is on file in the Ithaca City
Clerk's office.
B.
New construction, exterior alterations, or additions to any structure
60 feet in height or greater in any zone.
C.
Demolition of any primary structure within any zone, and demolition
of any portion of any structures within the zones designated B-1b;
B-2c; B-2d; all CBD zones, including CBD-60, CBD-85, CBD-100, and
CBD-120; C-SU; WE/WFD, CSD, ND, MD; and on any parcel within the 2009
Collegetown Planning Area.
D.
New construction of a primary structure on a parcel within any zone
within two years following a demolition of a primary structure on
that parcel.
E.
Changes to the site, such as the addition of new or alterations to
existing hardscape elements, including but not limited to paving,
retaining walls, or fences on any parcel within the 2009 Collegetown
Planning Area.
Design review recommendations shall not be binding, unless such
recommendation shall also be incorporated into a decision by the Board
of Zoning Appeals or as a condition of site plan approval by the Planning
and Development Board.
A.
Any action pertaining to any structure locally designated as a landmark
or within a locally designated historic district shall be reviewed
by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, and is therefore
exempt from the requirement for design review. All decisions of the
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission are binding.
B.
Any action pertaining to any parcel within the 2009 Collegetown Planning
Area on which a single-family home is and will remain the primary
use shall be exempt from the requirement for design review.
[Amended 1-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05]
[Amended 6-5-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15[1]]
A.
The Director
of Planning and Development or his or her designee shall determine
whether design review is required when an application for a building
permit or demolition permit is submitted.
B.
If the
Director of Code Enforcement or designee determines that design review
is required, the Director of Planning and Development or his or her
designee shall determine whether the proposal shall be subject to
a limited or full design review.
C.
The Director
of Planning and Development or his or her designee shall have the
authority to conduct a limited review of proposals of Type II actions.
All proposals for Type I or unlisted actions must go to the Planning
and Development Board for full review.
D.
If a proposal
may cause public controversy, the Director of Planning and Development
may refer the proposal to the Planning and Development Board for full
review.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2014.
A.
The Director of Planning and Development or his or her designee shall
determine whether design review is required when an application for
a building permit or demolition permit is submitted.
[Amended 6-5-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2014.
B.
If the Director of Code Enforcement or designee determines that design
review is required, the Director of Planning and Development or his
or her designee shall determine whether the proposal shall be subject
to a limited or full design review.
[Amended 6-5-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2014.
C.
Any individual or group proposing new construction or development
anywhere within the City of Ithaca may request an informal design
review and advisory recommendation.
D.
When the proposal is determined to be subject to full design review,
the individual or group making the proposal shall submit an application
to the Department of Planning and Development with the following information
(as appropriate):
(1)
Name and contact information of the applicant;
(2)
Location and photographs of the property;
(3)
Building permit application number;
(4)
Architectural plans, site plans and drawings of building facades;
(5)
Lists and/or samples of materials to be used;
(6)
Where the proposal includes signs or lettering, a scale drawing showing
the type of lettering to be used, dimensions, colors, method of illumination,
and a plan showing the sign's location on the property;
(7)
Any other information necessary to visualize the proposed work.
E.
The Planning and Development Board shall review the proposal within
65 days from receipt of the completed application or, if the project
is subject to environmental review, from the date of completion of
environmental review. The failure of the Planning and Development
Board to act within 65 days, as described above, unless an extension
is mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the Board, shall be deemed
to constitute approval.
F.
All design review recommendations shall be communicated in writing
no later than 10 business days after the meeting at which the recommendations
are made. A copy shall be sent to the applicant by mail and a copy
filed with the Director of Planning and Development.
[Amended 6-5-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15[3]]
[3]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2014.