CITY OF ROCHESTER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION mtg info:
LOCATION: CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 302-A
HEARING DATE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009
TIME: BEGINNING AT 6:30 P.M. CASE NO. 7
APPLICANT: STEPHEN THOMPSON, BERGMANN ASSOCIATES
ADDRESS: 1100 S. GOODMAN STREET
FILE NO.: E-041-08-09
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Thank you Bill for informing us. I was unaware of the expansion plan. I also have concerns and hope your initial thought is considered. Perhaps there is room for discussion in the planning phase? I will watch for updates. Sincerely, Eckmans
ReplyDeleteWow - that is really hideous (the plan as shown)! Thanks for keeping us up to date. I understand their motives but it seems like a poorly-designed plan in light of the actual slope of that hill.
ReplyDeleteSigne K.
Thanks for letting us know - it was the first I heard of it, and it doesn't look like a harmonious use of the space. Are other options for parking being considered?
ReplyDeletePaul D.
Seems that our part is to voice our concerns about the impact this will have on a residential neighborhood. Given the dumping ground CRDS has created between my house and Summit, and the Walmart-style lighting, we have reason to be very concerned about the impact this plan will have on a very unique neighborhood.
ReplyDeletePOSTCARD:
ReplyDeleteCITY OF ROCHESTER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN
SCHEDULED AS FOLLOWS:
LOCATION: CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 302-A
HEARING DATE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009
TIME: BEGINNING AT 6:30 P.M. CASE NO. 7
APPLICANT: STEPHEN THOMPSON, BERGMANN ASSOCIATES
ADDRESS: 1100 S. GOODMAN STREET
FILE NO.: E-041-08-09
ZONING DISTRICT: INSTITUTIONAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
(IPD) - COLGATE ROCHESTER DIVINITY SCHOOL
SECTION OF CODE: 115-69C (1975 ZONING CODE)
PURPOSE: To establish overnight patient/family accommodations
in the Trevor-Eaton Dormitory for American Cancer Society and expand
the existing parking facilities; actions requiring Planning Commission
approval.
THE FILE IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW IN THE DIVISION
OF ZONING , ROOM tass. CITY HALL, 30 CHURCH STREET
(585) 428·7054~
"
Too bad that a seminary doesn't feel the need to dialogue with its neighbors. I feel for them as they try to deal with their economy, but the lack of openness makes me suspicious. That driveway is very close to opening up an easy access to Highland Parkway. Why aren't they simply applying for a variance? Why comply with City codes so eagerly? (Remember the adage about letting a camel put his nose in your tent - soon the whole camel is inside...)
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your substantial efforts in investigating and publicizing this worrisome issue. Do you have a sense of WHY the CRDS might be undertaking the project as planned when your alternate version would save so much effort and money? I'm planning on showing up at 1 today. Decaf, please.
David Brickman, 378 Rockingham
Case 7 INFORMATIONAL MEETING
ReplyDeleteFile Number: E-041-08-09
Case Type: Special Permit
Applicant: Stephen Thompson, Bergmann Associates
Address: 1100 S. Goodman Street
Zoning District: Institutional Planned Development (IPD)-Colgate Rochester Divinity
School
Sector #: 6
Section of Code: 115-69C (1975 Zoning Code)
Purpose: To establish overnight patient/family accommodations in the Trevor-Eaton Dormitory for American Cancer Society and expand the existing parking facilities; actions requiring Planning Commission approval.
SEQR: Type I
Lead Agency: Director of Zoning
I copied and pasted the agenda entry from the City Planning commision website. As I read it this is an application for a special permit to use the property for non conforming use.It is stated as an informational meeting but not sure what that means. Current zoning for this property is R1 according to City records. This is a major change for this area and I think the community should be provide much more information before it is decided to use this property in this way. The parking lot as outlined is a misuse of the property for many of the reason already outlined in today gathering. I also think that more information needs to given in regards to how many people are going to be using this facility. If it adds 40-50 people that is a much different scenario than if it adds 200 people. Given it is to provide 30 or more rooms how many beds is that? How much support staff? How many Cancer Society staff? How much additional truck traffic to support the Society and the "accommodations" If it is a 24 hr facility how will that impact the surrounding area, lighting noise etc? Is the Divinity School going to redo the lighting of the existing parking lots to reduce light pollution. I am assuming that more information than we have now is available at City Hall to answer these questions. If not then before the City allows a special use permit these questions need to be answered.
ReplyDeleteI have always considered the Divinity School to be a wonderful neighbor, and I hope that we can work together to find a solution that enhances the space for their new partner, the American Cancer Society, and also maintains the character of our shared neighborhood. The creation of this convenience parking lot appears to do neither, and I think there are alternatives that could do both.
ReplyDeleteAs I look at the development plans, and after walking the grounds at the Divinity School, I am struck by the fact that the plan actually eliminates 14 parking spaces from the existing lot at the top of the hill and moves them to the proposed convenience lot. If the 14 existing spaces were left intact, an equal or greater number could be added by converting a section of the existing driveway at the north east corner of the lot to parking spaces, and broadening that existing paved ground to shift the driveway slightly to the south. There appears to be ample space to accommodate this with very little regrading. This would provide almost the same number of parking spaces as the proposed convenience lot, without the negative impact.
It certainly appears that this parking lot is entirely a convenience and there is little or no justification for its creation. What a tragedy if this were to go forward, spoiling this green space for the new residents of Trevor and Eaton Halls, and seriously impacting the aesthetics of the Summit Drive and Highland Avenue residential areas. This unique and thriving neighborhood is also small and vulnerable, and the proposed convenience lot would be directly visible from the lawns and windows of many of our homes.
If the goal is to enhance the entrance to Eaton Hall for the American Cancer Society, I'm sure that the money for the proposed convenience lot could be used instead to provide a beautifully landscaped walkway system. This would enhance the existing space instead of destroying it, would dramatically reduce the environmental impact, and would probably cost substantially less than the existing plan. The new residents might need a few more seconds to reach the door, but would gain a beautiful space to enjoy throughout the day.
David Lutz, Summit Drive
Have you informed all your neighbors on Summit/Howland about this, Bill? And do you have any plans on informing people on Greenview and Highland Parkway about it?
ReplyDeleteI just happened to notice the hearing postings at the divinity school, but I doubt many people will do the same.
It seems to me that paving over a beautiful view (both from the top of the hill and looking up from the bottom) is a last resort. This proposed area really is the only flat area on the grounds, which is great for people who might want to picnic or play frisbee, including new residents/visitors to the building. I was just sledding in this spot today actually.
One area that may indirectly impact me is that if the old driveway will be opened up for access from Greenview, then this may increase traffic on Greenview/Highland Parkway. But that is probably unavoidable in this plan, and it's hard to protest a new cancer patient hotel facility.
Thanks for the information, and hopefully we can get the neighborhood in the know about this with small notes in mailboxes.
Misha Cohen, 211 Highland Parkway
PS I had to load up Opera on Mac to get this comment to post correctly (the letters for verification weren't showing up)
ReplyDelete