At the second public hearing in seven days concerning the village’s proposed rezoning of Ledyard Avenue into a “Western Gateway” development district, Brewster Inn owner Richard Hubbard offered some new information into the discussion by having his architect present a brief slideshow of the tentative Brewster Inn expansion plans. Hubbard’s plan is to purchase the houses at 8 and 10 Ledyard Ave. — formerly a single-property house and carriage barn — directly next door to the Brewster Inn at 6 Ledyard Ave., and create a new Brewster Inn overnight wedding and dining venue.
Some of the Western Gateway project opponents have stated that they see no reason for the proposed zone change to occur, and see the entire proposal as one created mainly to benefit Hubbard’s expansion plans, to the detriment of the rest of the neighborhood.
“I think this [presentation] might provide a context for all of us,” Mayor Kurt Wheeler said at the July 7 public hearing.
The proposed law, publicly introduced in June, would establish a new “Western Gateway” zoning district and change the zoning of certain land parcels on both sides of Ledyard Avenue from Route 13/Lakeland Park to the western village boundary by the Trush property. The intention is to emphasize new and more potential uses for the large old homes on Ledyard Avenue as a way to prevent deterioration of those properties, to maximize land use by allowing more commercial development and to help beautify the village entranceway area overall.
Hubbard’s idea to purchase the adjacent houses and create a new overnight wedding and dining venue began after the village began its consideration of the proposed Western Gateway district, but once he heard about the project he approached the mayor to get a general idea of how it might relate to the village’s zoning before he proceeded with it formally, Wheeler said.
“These are still very premature from final; we have a lot of development to do yet,” said architect Robert L. Kent about the Brewster’s project plans.
Kent’s plans showed the house at 8 Ledyard Ave. to be internally remodeled to create four dining rooms on the first floor — but to maintain the current kitchen — and three overnight suites on the second floor. Both floors would also have the necessary toilet facilities. The exterior of the house would remain as it is.
In the old carriage barn at 10 Ledyard Ave., Kent’s plans showed five overnight suites on the first floor, as well as a lobby and a lounge, and six overnight suites and a lounge on the second floor. The plans would keep the exterior roofline and copula intact, but would add dormers to each second-floor suite.
No parking area has been worked out for the potential project yet, Kent said, because he is waiting for the building and zoning regulations of the proposed Western Gateway district to be finalized by the village. There is a large lawn within the 8 and 10 Ledyard Ave. properties in question, which are intended to remain intact and be used for Brewster Inn functions, Kent said.
Attendees of the hearing had no specific questions on Hubbard’s proposed plans, but attendees did continue their questions, concerns and criticisms of the Western Gateway proposal in general.
Sparky Christakos again raised the issue of parking, which, he said, still has not been solved in any of the law drafts or revisions. Anne Ferguson also reiterated her concern about spot zoning and suggested that the village not allow commercial development in Ledyard unless and until the new Village Edge South district on Route 20 is filled up.
Ledyard Avenue resident Max Gale said he remains concerned about the potential for landowners to “combine properties,” and skirt the rules by purchasing two adjacent properties and tearing down one to create a parking lot for the other. He also said there are no penalties delineated in the proposed law and the issue of enforcing the law also has never been addressed.
Resident Bill Loftus said that if commercial structures are allowed in the new zone then he will not just lose his quality of life, but will be unable to sell his house to another family if he wants to leave — he will only be able to sell to another commercial business or developer.
“I did not purchase my house 30 years ago to live next to an event center,” Loftus said.
The village board took no action on the proposed law at the meeting, and unanimously voted to continue the public hearing to the board’s next regular meeting on Aug. 4. Wheeler said the board will continue to accept public input on the proposed law throughout the month of July and up to the August meeting.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
