A few village residents in and around the Riverside Drive/Chittenenago Creek corridor, which the village board is currently looking to rezone to help future development, had some concerns about the proposed zone change legislation currently pending before the village but, overall, they did not outright oppose the law at last week’s public hearing on the issue.
Mayor Kurt Wheeler said the law’s wording needs to be “tightened up” and “clarified,” but otherwise the village’s efforts to help potential development in the creekside area are moving forward. The board closed the public hearing on Jan. 5 and opted to allow for two more weeks of public review and comment on the proposed law, with a potential vote to approve the legislation set to come at the board’s regular February meeting.
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.
“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 legislation.
Wheeler has previously 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.
The Madison County Planning Board has reviewed the proposed law and offered multiple suggestions for revisions to the village board, but overall thought the plan was well thought-out and positive for the area, said Village Attorney Jim Stokes. “I’d say in general the county was very supportive,” he said.
During the Jan. 5 public hearing, Chenango Street residents Helen Stacy and Dick and Maureen Mitchell cited some concerns they had, all of which focused on the potential redevelopment or developmental changes to the office building at 4 Chenango St. — an issue they fought against in spring 2014 when building owner Eric Burrell wanted to expand and add the local restaurant Circa to the space.
Attorney Paul Curtain, who spoke as Stacy’s representative, said his client did not oppose the new law but that she wanted more clarity about potential development in the law, and her primary issues concerned the allowable appearance, use and buffering of the 4 Chenango St. property.
The Mitchells, who also spoke, said they were concerned that while the Creekside Development District overall may be a “winner” for the village many years down the road, they fear that they and their neighbors will ultimately be “losers” because their neighborhood could be developed in a way that destroys its residential feel and aesthetic.
Wheeler assured them that any development that occurs under the proposed legislation would undergo three levels of municipal review, and that nothing is permitted in the new district without a special use permit.
The board then closed the public hearing but said it would accept written comments from residents for the next two weeks. The full text of the proposed law is on the village website.
Wheeler also said that the combined nature trail and Creekside area committee, which is brainstorming ideas for possible Creekside uses, is having its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12 in the Cazenovia Public Library. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend and participate.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Heard from Trustee Dave Porter that the village had officially signed the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) with the Cazenovia Volunteer Fire Department. The program allows firefighters with enough years of service to accrue a monetary amount — similar to a retirement or 401K benefit — at retirement at age 65, with a maximum allowance of 40 years’ worth. There is also a lump sum death benefit. The program was approved by a public referendum vote last June.
Enrolled firefighters will receive $700 in an account for each year of service accrued. The cost of funding the program — to be funded by the village — is approximately $77,000 annually for the first five years, and $40,000 every year thereafter. Comparatively, the salary of a professional firefighter is about $85,000 per year with benefits.
The fire department began collecting firefighter eligibility data for the program on Jan. 1, 2014, and submitted it to the village on Jan. 1, 2015. The department determined that 30 current members are eligible to enroll in the program. Payments to eligible firefighters are scheduled to begin on June 1.
—Approved the issuance of a Request for Qualifications to select a company to use for a village energy performance contract. The contract will entail replacing and maintaining all village streetlamps with LED lighting fixtures, and replacement of the village air handling unit and the Cazenovia Fire Department boiler system with updated and energy efficient equipment. Trustee Porter said street lights comprise about 65 percent of the village’s energy usage and the switch to LED would create large cost savings. The cost of the energy performance contract work would be paid through the savings the village would receive from the more energy efficient lights and machines.
—Announced that the next public meeting in the Lakeland Park Master Plan development process will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the board meeting room at village hall. The village’s consulting architect, Saratoga Associates, will be present to roll out its proposed plan drafts and to hear comments and suggestions from community members.
—Heard from Bill Carr, director of public works, that the village DPW will pick up discarded Christmas trees through Friday, Jan. 16, if they are placed on the curb. Because of the recent heavy snows that caused many broken branches in the village, if residents put evergreen branches with their Christmas trees the DPW will take those away as well, he said.
—Reminded village residents that the annual Cazenovia Winter Festival is scheduled to occur Feb. 6 through 8.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
