The Cazenovia village board last week released a proposed local law to change the zoning of the Riverside Drive/Chittenenago Creek corridor behind the public library in its attempt to improve the undeveloped area.
The proposed law would change the zoning of certain parcels in the Riverside Drive/Chittenenago Creek area from their existing R-10 Residential District designations to R-6 Residential Districts, and also change the existing R-10 and R-20 Residential District designations to CD Creekside Development District designations. The district will allow for specific special uses through special permit application in the area, such as office uses, multi-family dwellings, medical center or clinic, senior care facility, museum, community center, public outdoor recreation and conservation area, which may include public and/or privately owned walking trails and associated facilities.
The proposal is the result of months of discussion, public hearings and a professional planning study of the area on how best to stimulate commercial and/or residential growth, create a public park and even a public nature trail in the redevelopment zone.
“This legislation does not contemplate the immediate new construction of any new buildings or facilities upon or within the premises. Rather, it is the intent of this legislation to anticipate and provide for the orderly future development of the premises in a manner envisioned by the Village Comprehensive Plan that is not adequately provided for under the existing zoning district classifications,” according to the proposed legislation.
Mayor Kurt Wheeler said the proposed law will help potential development in this area of the village be “tailor-made” to this specific zone, which “creates more of a certainty” on the allowed uses and limits of the area for potential developers.
“I feel very positive about it,” Wheeler said of the proposed law. “It nicely balances creative opportunities in the community while also safeguarding what’s already there.”
Wheeler said he intends to create two stakeholder working groups to help contribute to the planning process of the Creekside zone, specifically in the areas of nature trail design and village parcel design. He said a number of people and groups have already expressed an interest in participating, and he is eager to hear from any other interested people.
The board unanimously scheduled a public hearing on the proposed law to be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, in the village offices.
The full text of the proposed law is available on the village website at villageofcazenovia.com under the “planning and zoning” tab. It is also available in hard copy at the village office at 90 Albany St.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Heard from a village resident about continued concerns of the danger to pedestrians of the Albany and Lincklaen streets intersection. Wheeler said the village is aware of the issue, and Cazenovia Police Chief Michael Hayes has raised the issue with both county sheriffs and state police offices. He also said the village may want to consider asking the state Department of Transportation to come study the timing of the stop lights at the intersection.
—Heard from Trustee Amy Mann that the loan of a Miriam Nelson sculpture from the Cazenovia Art Park to the village has been finalized. The red sculpture, titled “Harp of the Wind,” is in the Carpenter’s Barn garden. It will be on loan to the village until the summer of 2016.
—Heard in the Department of Public Works report that village leaf and brush pickup ended in mid-November, and residents are reminded that they should no longer be putting piles of leaves and brush at the curb.
—Unanimously approved the 2014 annual village court audit, in which no anomalies were found.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
