The Cazenovia Village Board came one step closer to enhancing the eastern gateway to the village last Monday night. And it continues to seek community input on what types of services and developments residents want on the east end of town.
At the Oct. 7 meeting of the board of trustees, the board amended language in the village comprehensive plan that will allow it to eventually modify the zoning of the Village Edge South property, with hopes of future development on the land. The language was drafted by the Economic Health and Heritage Committee, which has been working on the issue for more than one year.
The EHHC completed a visual preference survey of the Village Edge South area on Aug. 27 as a way to help design guidelines for the VES development process. The committee also held a public work session on zoning issues on Sept. 10 and a public presentation of the visual preference survey on Sept. 24 to keep the village board and members of the public updated on its progress.
Mayor Kurt Wheeler indicated at the Oct. 7 meeting that the board is very much in the information-gathering phase, and wants to hear from residents on what they want the future of this land to resemble. The zone encompasses a stretch of largely undeveloped property on the south side of Route 20 as one is leaving the village toward Nelson (across the street from the Tops plaza). The southwest portion of the property borders South Village, and part of the action taken on Oct. 7 paves the way for the future development of roads that would allow traffic to flow from South Meadows through the Village Edge South zone up to Route 20, without having to go through the village center.
Wheeler stressed that there are no specific developments that are tied to this change in the comprehensive plan, and as the zoning language is written, it will be done with community input in mind.
As such, two meetings are scheduled — on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 — for residents to come and be a part of the process by viewing a Powerpoint presentation of VES planning and design possibilities and then completing a survey. Wheeler said the input he has received to date largely calls for mixed-use and moderate-sized retail uses. He defined moderate-sized as “bigger than can fit downtown, but not big-box.”
Wheeler was also enthusiastic about opening up a similar process of community involvement related to the village’s western gateway, from the dilapidated Trush property through Gypsy Bay, which local developer Doug Shepard is currently pursuing with input and cooperation from village, town and state officials.
Also at the meeting:
—Police Chief Michael Hayes said drivers in Cazenovia can soon expect to see digital speed monitors in school zones and commuter routes. The police department has received a $35,000 grant for Safe Routes to Schools equipment for the purchase of the digital signs that alert drivers when they are going over the speed limit. The equipment will be in the form of standalone structures or can be fixed to telephone poles or other signs.
—Trustee David Porter said the Cazenovia Lake Association is going through the permitting process again to treat the late with chemicals to kill the milfoil. The invasive species is “in abundance” in the lake again, and ideally the association would like to treat the lake in May. “The DEC has final approval,” Porter said.
—Elizabeth DiGiacomo presented the board with an overview of some changes to the summer camp program for next year. Camp will start one week later next year — on July 7 — and will run through Aug. 15. The rate will be increased from $70 to $75 per child.
Funding for the program by the state Office of Child and Family Services, has been declining for several years, but this coming year, that source of funds, which amounted to $3,000 last summer, has dried up completely. The transportation costs for field trips will also be a new expense. Previously, the Cazenovia Schools picked up the tab for transportation, which typically amounted to about $2,500. The schools will now bill the program for those costs.
DiGiacomo stressed an increased focus in two areas — providing stimulating activities for the older children (10 to 12 years old), and devoting additional training time for lifeguards to ensure the swimming activities are safe and well-organized. The camp has, at times, had discipline issues with the older groups, particularly older boys. DiGiacomo and her staff will attempt to keep that group as busy as possible with organized recreational activities as well as possible volunteer work for community projects that could use the extra hands.
Jason Emerson contributed to this report. David Tyler is the publisher of Eagle newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].
