Fayetteville’s proposed renovations to Limestone Plaza could see some additional changes.
The village hopes to remediate the area to alleviate traffic concerns brought about by increased business. The village has teamed up with the county and the state Department of Transportation, along with engineer Jim Napolean, to figure out what’s best for the area. At Monday’s meeting, engineering firm Barton and Loguidice presented plans to help the village comply with the county’s “Save the Rain” program. The grant funds are distributed to municipalities that are working to save and conserve rainwater. Additions to Limestone Plaza’s previous plans would help do that, the engineers said Monday.
“It’s a great win-win for the village,” Mayor Mark Olson said.
The new parking spaces would be created out of porous asphalt that would allow rainwater to seep through the material. This would help the village control where the water goes, so that it does not overpower the sewer system.
The bump-outs in the intersections would also be constructed with rain gardens. Additional trees will help in the overall green infrastructure, as well as helping to calm drivers on the road.
The application for the Save the Rain grant is due Friday. The village should be hearing back soon after to see if it has received the funding for the drainage aspect of this project.
In other board news:
–There will be two public hearings at the April 9 regular meeting of the Fayetteville village board. The first will be for the budget. The tax rate is expected to stay the same in the budget proposed by Olson last month. The total budget, however, is expected to increase about 1.4 percent. Olson says he has achieved this overall $5.2 million budget without cutting services in the village.
The village will vote to adopt the budget on April 23.
The second will be to allow the village to override Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2 percent tax levy cap. The cap is in effect so that municipalities cannot raise the tax levy , or the amount of the budget to be funded through property taxes, by more than 2 percent. Olson says he’s overriding the cap as a safeguard, as recommended by the New York Conference of Mayors. Other villages, such as East Syracuse, have also passed an override of the tax cap. Should a municipality mistakenly go over the 2 percent cap without passing the override, it could face thousands of dollars in fines.
Both will be at or around 6 p.m. on Monday, April 9.
–Monday’s meeting was the last for trustee Mary Coleman. After serving on the board for eight years, she decided not to run for re-election. Her seat will be filled by newcomer Dennis Dugleby.
“It’s been a great eight years,” she said. “I really enjoyed my time on the board. Now I can sit back with a level of comfort.”
Coleman wished Dugleby well. She was presented with a certificate and flowers by the board and Mayor Olson.
–The Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 28. The grand marshal will be Jan Rybinski, the director of the Fayetteville Recreation Committee. She has served the village for 18 years.
–The Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 7, at Canal Landing Park.
