Archive: Business & Technology

Town Board Members debated a proposal Wednesday to contract an engineering firm to develop a conceptual plan to create a light industrial park on the northeast portion of a 146 acre plot of land that is slated to become Lansing's new town center.  But board members were stunned at the price New York State is asking to lift deed restrictions on the land that would allow development there.

Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox said that companies have already contacted Tompkins County Area Development about locating in Lansing, and these are not necessarily companies that Lansing would be competing with Groton and Cortland to attract.  Board members agreed that it is important to get to a point where development could begin on the industrial park as soon as possible.

The proposal was sent to the board by the town's Economic Development Committee.  It is calculated to bring new business to the town, relieving property tax pressure on homeowners that is growing in the wake of the declining value of the AES Cayuga power plant, Lansing's biggest taxpayer.  But it will not be possible to actually start any development until the sale of the land is completed.

In 1992 the Town purchased the land for $109,500 with deed restrictions that limited its use to recreation and town buildings such as a community center.  Town officials have been trying to get the restrictions lifted for years, and it looked like a final agreement was near earlier this year, but it was held up by State officials.

Two assessments were conducted, and Town officials expected the cost to own the land free and clear would be around $180,000.  They sent an offer to the State early this year.  But when the offer was finally faxed from the State Wednesday it asked for $490,500, nearly three times as much.

The 146.83 acre parcel has been assessed at $600,000.  If you subtract the $109,500 already paid you get the amount the State is now asking for.  But Town officials say the State had agreed to factor the current value of the money already paid.  The Town offer calculated that and other factors to arrive at the $180,000 figure, which was obviously ignored.

Town Attorney Guy Krogh said there is a procedure of appeals the Town can use to try to get the price lowered.  He surmised the offer sat so long on a bureaucrat's desk that it was simply sent back at the full price without adequate review.  He said the appeals process could take another six months.

The conceptual plan and an environmental study would cost the Town $23,500.  Councilwoman Kathy Miller said she favored getting that work done while the Town haggles over the price of the land with the State.  She said that by the time the study is completed the sale will also be consummated.

In September Industrial Development Committee chair Andy Sciarabba proposed a scenario in which the Town would be the developer of an industrial park, putting in roads and infrastructure to attract businesses that want an accelerated time frame that could allow them to open new facilities in less than a year.  Sciarabba says those costs would be recovered by the Town when it sells the plots with the benefit that existing infrastructure will jump-start the process of getting new business into Lansing.  While some board members support that idea, Town Supervisor Scott Pinney says he prefers to have private developers build the park.

The board voted 4-1 to contract to have the plan developed, with Pinney dissenting.  At first there was some fear that the money could be wasted if the sale of the land isn't completed, but Pinney says that the Town will buy the land no matter what happens in the appeal process.

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