By Jason Emerson
Editor
The Cazenovia Village Board unanimously decided this week that it does not have the authority to modify or rescind its previous determination that the annexation of 10.7 acres of land from the town into the village will have no adverse environmental impact. The land is the site for the “Cazenovia Market” Route 20 redevelopment proposal, which is still working its way through the planning process.
The board’s decision was based on legal precedent that says once a board gives approval for a project as lead agency it no longer has the authority to change its decision. This precedent “fairly well resolve[s]” the question, said Village Attorney Jim Stokes.
That matter concerned a letter the planning board received from the state Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) noting that the defunct Route 20 hotel property is eligible for listing on the historic registry. Such a listing, which would have to be requested by the landowner — in this case developer Dave Muraco, who is involved in the Route 20 redevelopment project — could constitute a potentially significant adverse environmental impact from the project. The SHPO letter arrived after the village board completed its determination that no major negative environmental impacts would result from the project.
The planning board, after advisement from its new counsel, made a formal request of the village board last week to consider the SHPPO letter and determine if they have the authority to reopen State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process, then, if so, determine if the SHPPO letter constitutes a potentially significant adverse environmental impact.
The village board’s decision not to reopen the SEQR process will now be communicated to the village planning board, which will take that into consideration as it determines whether to approve or reject the Cazenovia Market site plan proposal to construct an Aldi grocery store, a drive-thru pharmacy, a drive-thru bank, a fourth retail space yet unspecified for a business and four, eight-unit apartment buildings on Route 20 in the Village Edge South development district.
The planning board’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the village office. The Cazenovia Market proposal is on the agenda for discussion.
