Archive: News

As you drive along Route 34 near the Bolton Point water facility you may notice unobtrusive roads leading down toward Cayuga Lake.  They mark a development that will eventually be a lakeside neighborhood with more than 20 lots.  Last Monday environmentalist John Dennis addressed concerns he has to a joint meeting of the Village of Lansing Planning Board and Trustees.  Dennis identified five problems, and suggested solutions to Village officials.

In additions to environmental concerns about the lake Dennis noted that the Bolton Point pumping station is at about the midpoint of the development's 3,000 feet of lake frontage.  The water commission pumps water from a single pipe in Cayuga Lake to 30,000 consumers.   The commission reports that daily production averages 2.476 million gallons per day, or about 38.4 million glasses of drinking water.

Dennis told the boards that two lots reserved for houses are within the Unique Natural Area (UNA)portion of the property, and that lot 9 falls entirely within the UNA.  He said allowing construction within the UNA sets a bad precedent and noted that it could damage the area and the lake itself.


His solution was to get village involved in creating a public or private consortium to purchase the lot.  Dennis noted that the prices for lots in the development have come down.  Lot 9 was selling for $615,000 but is now priced at $525,000.  He said that may make it more possible to find a group of buyers interested in preserving the lot as natural land.

Dennis also suggested better supervision of clear cutting, and protecting trees in the development.  He advocated seeing a conservation easement to create a marine park along the 3,000 feet of lakefront to prevent jet skis and other boats he said might damage the area.  He also asked for a conservation easement to be extended over the entire UNA area.

Finally Dennis expressed concern that runoff from residential properties could dump carcinogenic chemicals into the lake right at the spot where Bolton Point gets its water.  He advocated establishing a homeowners association covenant that would require all residents to use only organic gardening and lawn practices.


One lot, about half way between East Shore Drive and the lake has already been sold at $250,000.  Three other lot sales ranging between $125,000 and $175,000 are pending on parcels closer to the lake.

----
v5i7