Finger Lakes Reuse seeks parking and circulation upgrades at 214 Elmira Road; board asks for circulation diagrams and stronger curbing
January 28, 2026 | Ithaca City, Tompkins County, New York
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Finger Lakes Reuse told the Planning and Development Board it plans to repave and restripe the parking, relocate storage containers, add landscape islands, formalize a multi‑lane drop‑off and add two 10'x60' awnings at its Ithaca reuse center at 214 Elmira Road.
Diane Cohen, CEO of Finger Lakes Reuse, described the nonprofit’s goals: improving the donor and shopping experience, increasing safety for staff and customers, and greening the site where a large proportion of the surface is currently paved. “We are turning to a redesign, repaving, and restriping of the parking lot with an eye toward making the shopping and donating experience more inviting and safer for our workers, our donors, and our customers,” Cohen said.
Key design elements: the plan would remove a former lumber yard to free parking, relocate most storage containers to the northwest corner with screening, add formalized ADA parking and a dedicated drop‑off lane with bypass lanes and employee-only parking on the east side. The team proposed two 10'x60' awnings (one at the west lot, one at the east drop-off) and landscape islands to break up expanses of asphalt. The team said some choices (fabric awnings vs. structural) were driven by grant funding constraints.
Board questions and concerns: board members supported the project but requested additional detail: whether there will be a curb between lawn and pavement (staff explained the design intended a flush lawn-to-asphalt edge but members recommended a concrete curb for safety and definition), truck access for roll-off pickups (the team said pickups will likely back in and be staged with a sliding gate), pedestrian access from Elmira Road (requests for a clear pedestrian aisle were made), electric vehicle charging placement and concerns about a potential circulation pinch point near the southeast corner of the building.
On canopies, board members asked the design team to show structural drawings and details; project staff said they are working with a fabricator and will provide drawings and clarified that the awnings will have posts and will not be purely cantilevered. The planning staff and board requested a circulation diagram and signage plan to demonstrate how drop-off and parking functions will be made legible and safe.
Lead‑agency vote: the board moved and voted to declare itself lead agency for SEQR review of the project; the roll call was unanimous. The project team agreed to provide a circulation diagram, canopy elevations and a tree‑planting/curb plan for the board’s next review.
Ending: Board members praised the nonprofit’s goals and encouraged the team to return with the requested technical materials and with a signage/circulation plan to ensure safe operations when the site is busy.
Diane Cohen, CEO of Finger Lakes Reuse, described the nonprofit’s goals: improving the donor and shopping experience, increasing safety for staff and customers, and greening the site where a large proportion of the surface is currently paved. “We are turning to a redesign, repaving, and restriping of the parking lot with an eye toward making the shopping and donating experience more inviting and safer for our workers, our donors, and our customers,” Cohen said.
Key design elements: the plan would remove a former lumber yard to free parking, relocate most storage containers to the northwest corner with screening, add formalized ADA parking and a dedicated drop‑off lane with bypass lanes and employee-only parking on the east side. The team proposed two 10'x60' awnings (one at the west lot, one at the east drop-off) and landscape islands to break up expanses of asphalt. The team said some choices (fabric awnings vs. structural) were driven by grant funding constraints.
Board questions and concerns: board members supported the project but requested additional detail: whether there will be a curb between lawn and pavement (staff explained the design intended a flush lawn-to-asphalt edge but members recommended a concrete curb for safety and definition), truck access for roll-off pickups (the team said pickups will likely back in and be staged with a sliding gate), pedestrian access from Elmira Road (requests for a clear pedestrian aisle were made), electric vehicle charging placement and concerns about a potential circulation pinch point near the southeast corner of the building.
On canopies, board members asked the design team to show structural drawings and details; project staff said they are working with a fabricator and will provide drawings and clarified that the awnings will have posts and will not be purely cantilevered. The planning staff and board requested a circulation diagram and signage plan to demonstrate how drop-off and parking functions will be made legible and safe.
Lead‑agency vote: the board moved and voted to declare itself lead agency for SEQR review of the project; the roll call was unanimous. The project team agreed to provide a circulation diagram, canopy elevations and a tree‑planting/curb plan for the board’s next review.
Ending: Board members praised the nonprofit’s goals and encouraged the team to return with the requested technical materials and with a signage/circulation plan to ensure safe operations when the site is busy.
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