By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Following the example of the towns of Salina and Clay, the town of Cicero and the village of North Syracuse passed resolutions last week calling for the New York State Department of Transportation to reconsider its proposed “community grid” solution for Interstate 81.
Earlier this year, the NYSDOT filed its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which outlined the proposal to replace the aging viaduct with a street-level boulevard, dispersing traffic throughout the city of Syracuse and sending through traffic to Interstate 481.
The Cicero Town Board voted unanimously July 24 to approve the resolution. The North Syracuse Village Board of Trustees followed suit July 25.
The state held the last in a series of public meetings on the subject July 25 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. The state will hold a public hearing and an official 45-day comment period later this year. The state expects to file its record of decision in late 2020.
To learn more about the I-81 project or to leave comments with the DOT, visit dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities.
North Syracuse revamps lawn maintenance code
In addition to voting on the I-81 resolution, the North Syracuse trustees approved revisions to the village’s lawn maintenance code.
The new guidelines changed the allowable height of grass from 6 inches to 10 inches, but homeowners now will only have five days to address lawn maintenance violations. If a property owner has a second violation within 120 days, they will have three days to correct the problem.
The revised measure includes provisions for the elderly and people with disabilities, who might fall behind on maintaining their lawns due to injury or inability.
Trustee Christopher Strong applauded Code Enforcement Officer Brian Johnstone for researching other municipalities’ lawn maintenance codes and working to revise North Syracuse’s code.
“I think this is certainly a step in the right direction. We’re decreasing the time, so it’s not going to sit out … allowing insects and other public health issues, which we’re tasked with protecting against,” Strong said.
Trustee Fred Wilmer proposed increasing the fine from $125 to $250, but his colleagues on the board disagreed.
“They’re not going to pay it any better at [$250] than $125,” Deputy Mayor Diane Browning said. “We’re not losing money on it. As long as we’re not losing, we’re not here to make money on things like that.”
Trustee LouAnn St. Germain agreed that is not the village’s aim to “make money on residents.”
Department of Public Works Superintendent Ed Ware said the code already allows the village to charge homeowners for the cost of equipment rental or damage incurred while mowing noncompliant properties.
Also at the July 25 meeting, Trustee Strong said the village has started an Instagram account. The username is @village_of_north_syracuse_ny for those who would like to follow it.
