Cornell cleared another hurdle in its effort to install steel mesh nets on seven area bridges as part of its comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.

The city of Ithaca's Planning and Development Board voted unanimously Nov. 22 that the proposed nets "will result in no significant impact on the environment."

The assessment marks a step toward the board's possible approval of site plans for each bridge. It also means other city bodies -- the Common Council, Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) and the planning board itself -- are now free to vote on whether to allow the nets.

"The environmental impacts of this project have been significantly reduced from the original sketch plans," said John Schroeder, planning board chair. As for community members who have objected to the designs, Schroeder said, "Their voices have been heard. The planning board concerns and community concerns about visual impacts have been addressed just about as far as they can be. ... I think the improvement is extraordinary."

Associate University Architect Andrew Magré, who presented revised designs to the board, said he was pleased with the decision. "We look forward to continuing productive work with the board and other city bodies on this proposal," he said.

Cornell originally proposed vertical netting or curved metal bars extending up from most of the bridges and vertical netting at the edges of the bridge abutments. In reaction to concerns of the board and the public, Cornell revised the designs, making them comprised primarily of horizontal netting below the bridges, "thereby greatly reducing aesthetic impacts and impacts on views from the bridges," Schroeder said.

The Suspension Bridge is the only bridge where the proposed netting is vertical and above the bridge deck level. But even this proposal would be an improvement, Schroeder said, because netting will replace the tall metal bars currently in place along the sides of this bridge, "in fact opening up views and improving visibility on the bridge," he said.

Cornell has requested the city's permission to install nets under three city-owned bridges: two Stewart Avenue bridges and the Thurston Avenue Bridge. The planning board must approve the site plans, and the Common Council must approve the request.

University officials have also sought approval to install nets on four Cornell-owned bridges: the Suspension Bridge, Beebe Dam Bridge, Stone Arch Bridge and Trolley Bridge. Those designs must be approved by the planning board; the ILPC must approve the location of associated light poles where they touch a historic district. (The nets themselves are not in a historic district.)

For all the bridges, Cornell will bear the estimated $1 million-per-bridge project cost, university officials have said. The university is working with the city to develop an agreement that is cost neutral to the city, addressing repair, maintenance, training, property damage insurance and liability insurance, according to John Gutenberger, senior director of Cornell's Office of Community Relations.