Hastie goes postal
By Wilie Kiernan
The Hastie family has been dealing with the Cazenovia Town Planning Board regarding a Syosset Drive subdivision application, and James Hastie wants everyone to know about it. To that end, he sent out 19 FedExs in the amount close to $500 to further plea his case.
“It shouldn’t be this difficult,” said Hastie.
Mike Palmer, Chairman of the planning board contends that Hastie is still in the initial stages of the application and must continue with the process.
“Mr. Hastie is still at the informal stage,” said Palmer. “He has yet to get to the public hearing stage.”
Hastie has indicated that the issue is about whether the subdivision can hold three or four lots. He says he has the square-footage to facilitate his parents’ wishes but that the town has been unduly argumentative.
“I truly believe this all goes back to the very first meeting four years ago when Palmer told me to tell my mother her land was too crowded for four houses, and she should build three, even though we met all R40 requirements at that time,” Hastie wrote in an e-mail. “The fattening of the cul-de-sac, and all the other concerns they have, and changes they have asked for, in my opinion, are simply smoke and mirrors, covering up Palmer’s control issues.”
The Hasties want the four lots so that they can leave them to four of their children.
“The planning board is responsible for the subdivision process in the town of Cazenovia,” Palmer said. “We have to make sure that the subdivision meets local regulations and storm water regulations.”
In a letter to planning board, James Hastie wrote, “Regarding my Mother’s 2 0 0 4 four-lot minor subdivision application, and the attached letters, which I hope you will all please take a moment to read; I am the first to admit that this is all new to me, and I am not the brightest bulb in the chandelier; however it appears The Town of Cazenovia’s Planning Board is asking for changes that have long ago already been made, or discussed.”
Palmer contends that the application for the subdivision was not submitted until September of 2006.
“The planning board has not voted on this application, so he has been neither denied or approved,” Palmer said.
For the next step, according to Palmer, Stearns & Wheler, official town engineers, will comment and report on the applicant’s subdivision plan.
“The planning board would be irresponsible to approve this plan before it is reviewed and approved by the town’s engineer,” Palmer said. “It’s a little tight for an area that has water problems.”
Palmer said there are basement flooding issues a block away, down the hill. With all the wells and the septic systems, he worries about 25 years down the road, when all the residents could want to put in swimming pools.
“Whether the current highway specifications call for a cul-de-sac with a radius of 90 feet as Mr. Tim Hunt states in his Oct. 29 letter, or a radius of 46 feet as Mr. David Eshbaugh states in his Jan. 15 letter — I believe the most recent survey Vredenburgh Surveyors has provided the town of Cazenovia’s Planning Board for the February ’08 meeting includes a cul-de-sac that my 19 year-old nephew Stephen Dickerson of New Woodstock could easily land and taxi a five-passenger Beechcraft Baron 58 on; so I’m confident we have provided ample room for a fire engine, bus and snow plow,” wrote Hastie in his letter.
Thursday Feb. 7, in the Gothic Cottage at 7 p.m. for the next planning board meeting, looks to be the next round in this ongoing process. Not willing to mail this one in, Hastie will be there with counsel.
