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"The real reason for the expansion is that they have outgrown their space," explained Lansing Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox, who also acts as the town liaison to the fire district.  "They haven't been able to acquire space to build a station in the Village of Lansing.  The bunking facilities will help with the volunteer service, getting college students to bunk in like Cayuga Heights does.  It will help keep it a volunteer fire department."

Overstrom noted that existing bunking facilities no longer meet state fire code requirements.  The plan calls for those rooms to be replaced with office, storage, and meeting space.

"The state has mandated so much additional training over the past 15 to 20 years that they need the extra space for training," Wilcox said.  "They really don't have any good meeting space.  Their meetings are held in their kitchen area, because over the years they have had to use the space they had for offices, storage of training materials and things like that."

Planning Board members asked what the storm water disturbance would be, and Overstrom replied that the addition displaces less than an acre and uses existing drainage and grading.  They asked whether the new equipment bay means new vehicles.  Wilcox said the new bay would hold an existing vehicle, giving it better access to the street.  Planning Board Chairman Lin Davidson asked whether the addition would change site  lines, and Overstom replied that minimal grading would be required.  He also noted that one neighbor has expressed a concern about lighting and recommended the board consider full cut-off lighting fixtures.


Planning Board member David Hatfield said that he has heard complaints that a weight room is part of the planned addition, but Wilcox said it is not.  Fire Commissioner Jeff Walters clarifies that an exercise room is part of the plan, but it will just be a room.  Weights or exercise equipment is not something that the Fire District pays for with local taxpayer money.  If the fire department, which is a separate corporation from the district, decides it wants exercise equipment in the room, Walters says it would be paid for from Foreign Fire Tax program monies that are designated by State law for 'the benefit of the department and the membership as a whole and must be voted on by the members of that department.'

Foreign stock and mutual insurance companies that are licensed in New York State must file a report with the Insurance Department fire premiums written, allocated by fire district, and pay a 2% tax on them.   The New York State Insurance Department lists examples of acceptable use of proceeds as: 'department social functions - such as installation dinners, picnics, banquets, holiday parties; appliances, furniture, televisions for the firehouse; dress & parade uniforms, hats, boots, jackets, t-shirts, turn out gear, and equipment for members of the department; offset of costs from life or disability insurance (must be group policies); and office equipment such as computers and fax machines. '

Wilcox also noted that the addition is not expected to generate new taxes.  The Fire District has about $2.3 million in reserve funds for buildings and new vehicle purchases.  Some of this money is slated to be used on the addition.

"There will be no additional cost to the taxpayers, because they have been planning for this addition within their 20 year plan," Wilcox said.  "They have money set aside for this.  I think it looks like a good plan.  I don't think that they're asking for anything out of the ordinary, and it won't change the landscape a lot."

Attorney Lorraine Moynihan Schmitt noted that in a review of the proposal the County found no concerns about the impact of the project.  The board voted unanimously to approve the site plan, and also found no negative impact on a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), which also passed unanimously.

The Fire District will have to conduct a public hearing and a vote to approve the project.  Fire Commissioners plan public information sessions and a campaign to explain the need for the addition, and that no additional taxes will be used to build it.

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