- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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Discussion grew heated at last night's Town Board meeting as the vote to approve Hygear Suspension's request for a Special Use Permit to build and operate a test track came near.
Hygear Suspension, of 8 Cayuga Vista Drive, specializes in custom suspension for motorcycles, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATVs. Owner Ross Benson's application for an exception to the current code was considered by the town Planning Board, which forwarded its recommendation to approve the permit to the Town Board.
The proposal has neighbors worried about noise in the neighborhood near Woodsedge, At the public hearing Brad Griffin, a former Planning Board member said the "inappropriate use would be an embarrassment to the town." He also said there is a limit to what can be expected of the town enforcement officer.
Tom Ellis, a current Planning Board member, spoke in his capacities as a neighbor and planning board member. He stated that Hygear has not been complying with the current code, asking, "Is this a reward for ignoring town ordinances and zoning laws?" He argued the track would adversly affect property values. "We don't want this in the center of town," he stated. "It can only be detrimental to the land around it. Mr. Ellis also noted that he thought the Planning Board should have spent more time considering the proposal.
Town Board member Connie Wilcox noted that Hygear had gone through the process of applying for a permit, and no objection had been raised until the last minute. She said, "they've been here. Where was the planning board before?" Town Supervisor Stephen Farkas added, "I had no comment from the Planning Board."
Ms. Wilcox said that it erodes the Town Board's confidence in the Planning Board when they do not speak up. Town Board member Marty Christopher said, "the Planning Board said OK."
When it came to a vote, the permit was approved 4-1. Dissenting Town Board member Bud Shattuck said he could not support it because it doesn't fit into the codes the Town Board previously adopted. He said that Hygear is a good business that Lansing should be proud to have, but approving the permit is not the right thing to do with the zoning laws.