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The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee has delayed consideration of proposed action that would ask the Legislature to authorize the prospective developer to apply to the Town of Ithaca to develop the last remaining County-owned portion of the Biggs property, adjacent to the former Health Department building on Harris B. Dates Drive.

In October 2012 NRP Properties, LLC responded to a County Request for Proposals (RFP) for sale of the parcel, to develop nearly 26 acres of vacant County-owned land in partnership with Better Housing for Tompkins County.

As part of the proposed application process with the Town of Ithaca, a full State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process through the Town of Ithaca would be conducted, with the County an involved agency accompanying review of the proposed project by the Town Planning Board.

After discussion, the Committee voted 4-1 (Legislator Dooley Kiefer dissenting) to table consideration until the next committee meeting July 22, such delay to permit review also by the Legislature’s Planning, Development and Environmental Quality Committee, and to await word of the decision in a pending court case filed by neighborhood opponents to the development proposal.  Close to 20 West Hill residents attended the meeting, several addressing the committee urging delay.

Committee Chair Nathan Shinagawa said he believed that proceeding with consideration now would produce disconcerting perceptions regarding the action, and both Legislators Mike Sigler and Dave McKenna, who moved to table, indicated that moving ahead right now would not be prudent.

Responding to legislator questions, Planning Commissioner Ed Marx explained that County authorization for application would be necessary, since the Town Planning Board would not be expected to proceed with review of an application from NRP, without permission from the County, as the property’s owner.  Marx said it was always expected that this would be the way in which a complete and coordinated SEQR review of the proposed project would be conducted.

It is noted that the County recognizes the Town’s authority to determine appropriate land uses in the Town and to review any development of the Biggs parcel in accordance with Town of Ithaca land use regulations, and also that any authorization to apply would not represent a County decision to sell the Biggs property or commit the County to further action with regard to the property.

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