Residents encouraged to submit written comments

By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Residents of the town of Van Buren will have a chance to sound off Sept. 1 on a proposal that would tighten the town code when it comes to keeping properties neat. The local law, introduced at the Aug. 18 meeting of the Van Buren Town Board, clarifies a homeowner’s responsibilities when it comes to keeping their yards free of debris, trash and junk vehicles.

Violators will be notified by phone, regular mail or a visit from the code enforcement officer and will have 15 days to clean up their properties. If the 15-day period passes and the issue is not addressed, the town will issue an official notification of violation.

At the Aug. 18 meeting, one resident voiced concerns about the town infringing on property owners’ rights. Lee Tetu, of Commane Road, asked if residents would have the opportunity to review the proposed legislation before the public hearing.

“I saw the PowerPoint and the first thing I saw in that is how much is this going to be a governmental infringement? If I go away for three weeks and my lawn’s not mowed, will I see a tag on my front door?” Tetu asked. “The more you can communicate [these changes], I think the smoother things might go.”

Supervisor Claude Sykes said the amendment reinforces the existing town code as well as New York State codes, allowing the code enforcement officer to better address complaints and issue violations. He said the proposed amendment would be available on the town’s website Aug. 19.

Councilor Darcie Lesniak also responded to Tetu’s concerns.

“Your property probably isn’t one that would be in question, even after three weeks. This is addressing a really small percentage of properties in Van Buren,” she said. “This is supposed to be reactive, not proactive. No one is going to be driving around with a yardstick measuring [your grass]. We’re not looking to add that level of government. We don’t want to infringe on property rights.”

The proposed amendment to the town code and a PowerPoint presentation containing photos of “do’s and don’ts” can be found at townofvanburen.com/property-maint-draft-powerpoint/. The public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Van Buren Town Hall.

Because of attendance restrictions in light of the coronavirus pandemic, only six members of the public will be allowed to attend the meeting in person. Residents are encouraged to submit written comments or attend the hearing virtually via Zoom. The URL for the Zoom meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88054271627/. Each resident will have five minutes to speak.

Send your comments on the property maintenance proposal by email to [email protected]; by mail to Town Clerk Lynn Precourt, Town of Van Buren, 7575 Van Buren Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027; or by fax to 315-635-8247.

Lysander considers stop signs in Giddings Crest

The town of Lysander held a public hearing Aug. 20 on the proposed installation of two stop signs at the intersection of Coachmans Whip and Hourglass Lane in the Giddings Crest housing development. The stop signs would control both eastbound and westbound traffic on Hourglass Lane.

Tom Lilienthal, a resident of Hourglass Lane, spoke in support of the stop signs.

“That intersection is notoriously a dangerous spot. It’s also a bus stop for elementary and high school students,” he said. “With the increased housing in that’s going in that development as well as all the flow traffic from construction … that’s becoming a very dangerous area. Not only that, it’s a blind corner.”

Another resident, who did not give her name but said she lived on the corner of Coachmans Whip and Hourglass Lane, spoke in favor of the stop signs as well. She said she uses a wheelchair and traffic in the neighborhood makes it difficult for her to get in and out of her driveway and endangers children on bikes and scooters.

“Trying to get in and out of my driveway we have these little gullies, the storm drains. In the time it takes me to get out into the road or into my driveway, the cars come whizzing in. It puts my safety at risk,” she said. “I think a four-way stop would be very beneficial, especially when school buses start running again.”

The town board voted to close the public hearing but did not vote on the issue.

The Lysander Town Board next meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.