Tonight, the Ithaca Common Council will hear a debate on the Collegetown Urban Plan and Design Guidelines that consulting team Goody Clancy developed last fall. We applaud the student-lead effort to lobby Common Council and implore students to head downtown tonight to ensure that the student voice be heard.

However, up until this point, we feel this student voice has been misinformed.

The detailed guidelines provided by Goody Clancy address important issues of design, architecture, parking and transportation. These original guidelines provide extensive analysis of the Collegetown area and recommend measures to increase density, particularly around the intersection of College and Dryden Avenues where students are concentrated. Given the constantly increasing demand for housing in this area, this development is essential.

Until now, the student voice has stood behind Goody Clancy’s proposal and the student activism has been admirable. However, some critical issues have been left unaddressed by much of the student support behind the plan.

Yes, the population of students living in Collegetown is growing. And no, the current infrastructure of Collegetown will not sustain future generations of Cornellians. We agree, something needs to be done. But simply increasing building heights will not do the trick. A more comprehensive approach must be considered, and that is why tonight’s conversation will be critical.

Building up must come alongside sweeping reforms that will incentivize future Collegetown development. This means honing in on details such as stringent parking requirements for developers that have curbed development in the past.

We strongly urge the Council to act in the best interest of the city and the overwhelming majority of Collegetown residents — the students. This means focusing on issues of long-term development that do not exclusively regard building heights — a quick-fix to a complex issue.

At this meeting, adjustments to the plan, prepared by the Planning and Development Board, will be heard. The Board will be proposing to retain the cap on building heights in already well-developed parts of Collegetown, and will focus its efforts on other areas that need more attention, such as the 300 and 200 blocks of College Avenue.

The Board’s proposal should be considered. Its plan includes a comprehensive insurance of long-term stability by focusing on more complex alternatives, rather than simply lifting height restrictions.

Nothing will be passed at tonight’s meeting. Rather, the time will be allotted for students and residents alike to make their voices heard. We want to ensure that all students are informed about the complex issues underlying the proposals and encourage all community members to participate. We hope to see you at 7:00 p.m. for the Ithaca Common Council meeting at 108 East Green St.