Archive: News

2014 wasn't about indigestion, but it was about gas!  Lansing wants it, Dryden doesn't.  Part of the problem is the philosophical arguments about fossil fuels versus renewable energy.  Just about everyone agrees that renewable energy is the only solution for the future, but local people argued fervently about whether or not the future is now or 20 years from now.

Lansing wants gas for two major projects.  The biggest issue was the fate of the Cayuga Power Plant.  Should it remain open?  Is repowering with gas the best option?  And most importantly, how will the State rule?  Will it allow the plant to repower, or close its doors forever?  The other was a pipeline to provide residential and business natural gas, largely to new and existing developments on Warren Road.

The problem is that if either of these projects go forward, each will require a pipeline from Freeville through Dryden to reach their Lansing destinations.  And many Dryden residents have said they don't want new gas pipes going across their properties or through their township.

• Power Plant Repowering Decision Deadline ExtendedPower Plant Repowering Decision Deadline Extended
• NYSEG Proposes Delivery Pipeline From Dryden to Lansing

And then there's the biggest natural gas issue: hydrofracking.  After Dryden spent the big bucks to win a landmark decision that allows it to exercise home rule in banning fracking within its borders, other municipalities like Lansing have decided to join the bandwagon.  Lansing was still in the exploratory stage when Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration surprised everyone in December, saying that there would be a state-wide ban.

• Will Lansing Ban Fracking Now That It Can?Will Lansing Ban Fracking Now That It Can?
• Lansing Considers Hydrofracking BanLansing Considers Hydrofracking Ban
• Will Lansing Pursue a Fracking Ban With a State Ban In Place?Will Lansing Pursue a Fracking Ban With a State Ban In Place?
• New York State Bans FrackingNew York State Bans Fracking

Possibly the most ambitious potential project for Lansing is the Town Center.  In June Lansing RFP (Request For Responses) Committee Chairman Daniel Adinolfi told the Lansing Town Board Wednesday that it should move forward with a plan to develop a town center on 156 acres of land across Route 34B from the town ballfields that could bring 260 new residential units and 23,000 square feet of retail shops to the property.  The committee based its recommendations on much data including the results of a municipal telephone survey the Twon had conducted.

• Committee Recommends Lansing Proceed With Town Center

But the project seems to be almost terminally stalled.  At the end of 2014 the Town agreed to let NRP Group out of its purchase agreement, and there has been a stunning silence from the other two developers who had pitched ideas to the committee.

In related news there was a flap over whether the Town of Lansing should hire a full time planner.  The Democratic majority 2013 Town Board voted to include the position in the 2014 budget, but the Republican majority 2014 board would not approve the hiring of a full time planner, even after a search yielded a highly qualified candidate.  Months went by before the Town hired Michael Long in a part-time Planning Consultant position.  The Town was lucky to get someone with Long's impressive resumé who was willing to take the position on a part time basis.

• Michael H. Long Joins lansing Planning DepartmentMichael H. Long Joins lansing Planning Department

School taxes continue to rise, with the threat of a major bump up in the next few years, especially if the power plant is closed.  But after a half dozen years of cuts, school officials went in a new direction last year.  Instead of cutting more teachers and wiping out programs they went on the offensive, explaining why higher taxes have come to this point, and going to Albany to lobby for money owed to school districts and to reduce unpaid mandates.

Meanwhile a couple of capital projects were approved for the school district, including a long-needed septic system replacement for all three schools.

And in exciting news a solar project that could potentially provide 95% of the school district's power at significant savings has been moving forward.  The projct still is not certain, but it has passed the first couple of hurdles, and with luck it could save the district $1.4 million.

• School Superintendent Explains Septic Cost to townSchool Superintendent Explains Septic Cost to town
• SMART School Project Passesd
• Solar Energy Could Save Lansing Schools $14MSolar Energy Could Save Lansing Schools $14M

With the addition to Central Station and the building of a new fire station in the Village complete, the Lansing Fire District has been working on renovations to the North lansing Fire Station.  As always their focus is on training.  The Commissioners are in the process of purchasing a training tower to be located in the field behind Central Station.  Included in this year's training was a unit on handling possible ebola calls, along with the purchase of special suits for ebola responses that are now part of the standard equipment on emergency fire and EMS vehicles.

• Lansing Fire Department Prepares For Ebola CallsLansing Fire Department Prepares For Ebola Calls
• Fire Department Considers Expanding Training FacilityFire Department Considers Expanding Training Facility

The Village of Lansing opened a new $1.3 million municipal office building in 2014, replacing the inadequate building it had been using as its municipal hub.  Deer program expansion.

• New Village Office Officially OpenedNew Village Office Officially Opened

The Village also continues to struggle with a deer population that has wreaked devastation on forested properties as well as residential gardens.  Last month Village trustees considered an additional two-month 'nuisance season' which will take place in February and March if approved.

• Deer Still Winning Against Village Population Control ProgramDeer Still Winning Against Village Population Control Program
• Village Moves to Extend Deer HuntVillage Moves to Extend Deer Hunt

In the Town, local laws stirred passions in 2014, including a new Sign Law and  proposed changes to the Land Use law.  The sign law controversy began when a small sign shop on Asbury Road erected a small LED sign that neighbors objected to.  That led to the discovery that Lansing officials had inadvertently repealed when Lansing zoning was updated in 2005.  A moratorium on new signs failed and the Town Board flailed, trying to put a new law in place before too many disagreeable new signs popped up.  it took a year, but the new law finally passed in February.

• Lansing Board Struggles With Absence Of A Sign LawLansing Board Struggles With Absence Of A Sign Law
• Town Sign Law Finally PassesTown Sign Law Finally PassesTown Sign Law Finally Passes

Residents were also quite vocal in decrying changes to the town's land use ordinance.  In September many citizens spoke against what board members described as 'tweaks' to the ordinance, and more came in December to oppose provisions in a newly revised draft.  Action has been tabled until at least January.

• Residents Question Land Use Changes

Meanwhile a major storm flooded Lansing and raised concerns that the Township is not equipped to deal with natural disasters.  Since then the Highway Department has obtained special radios that are tied into other local municipalities, and is working on getting a permanent generator installed to insure emergency vehicles and trucks can get where they need to be during future disasters.  The town is forming a disaster preparedness committee, which will develop a plan in the coming year.  Our article about how much the Lansing Highway Department saves taxpayers was very popular when we published it around Thanksgiving.  Readers agreed that the department is something we can all be thankful for.

• Severe Storms Flood Portions of Lansing
• Highway Superintendent Nearly Arrested For Addressing FloodingHighway Superintendent Nearly Arrested For Addressing Flooding
• Highway Department Saves Lansing Hundreds of ThousandsHighway Department Saves Lansing Hundreds of Thousands

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