ITHACA, N.Y. — There might have been a day in not-too-distant past where someone said, “You know what Ithaca needs? Mini-golf.”
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Downtown Ithaca Bingo
Shop, Dine, & Play To Win
Apparently someone heard those wishes. The Town of Ithaca’s Planning Committee will be looking at a possible zoning modification down near the intersection of Elmira Road and Seven Mile Drive that would allow a mini-golf establishment to move forward.
What do you think: Does Ithaca need a mini-golf course? Take our poll:
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Stretching my memory here a bit, I seem to recall a mini-golf place up by Trumansburg, but if my google search is any indication, it closed a couple of years ago. I suppose there’s a niche to be filled. (Visit Ithaca.com also lists “Galaxy Golf” at the Sciencenter for seasonal “science/math-themed mini-golf.)
Now comes the question of, “Does this fit with the town’s new Comprehensive Plan?”
Here’s the description the town proposes for the Inlet Valley Gateway, including the area in question:
The Inlet Valley Gateway district is intended to be a setting for a mix of office, small-scale retail, hospitality, and tourism and agritourism uses, with low-impact light industrial, artisanal industrial, and skilled trade uses.
The scale, architecture and landscaping of future development will need to be carefully designed and articulated.
This area should retain a semi-rural character, with deep setbacks from arterial streets, wide spacing between uses, landscaped front yards, and vehicle parking sited on the side and/or rear of structures. Shared curb cuts will reduce potential conflicts with highway traffic. Sidewalks should follow streets, with connections to adjacent areas planned for residential development.
Architectural design, landscaping, and site planning regulations should apply to all uses in this area, including industrial uses. Agglomeration of mechanical commercial uses, and incremental expansion of commercial zoning resulting in strip commercial development, will be strongly discouraged.
It sounds like that if the site is designed right, it could be a good fit. Probably a better fit than the Maguire’s dealership/HQ plan that was shelved a few months ago.
