Archive: News

This month the Lansing Town Board provided an inside look at projects they are considering or working on as they went over their -to-do list in a public meeting earlier this month.  Projects and potential initiatives range from a new town sewer project to a local burial law.  Several of these initiatives are already in progress, and many will help shape the future of the town.

The sewer project would span the area between the Lansing schools campus and Kingdom Farm, running along Route 34B to service homes and businesses that are nearby.  Town officials hope that this new plan, which utilizes a stand-alone sewage treatment plant that would be owned by the Town, will be much more economical than the plan that failed to come to fruition a few years ago, largely because of the cost.  Currently engineers are working on a map plan that will define the scope of the project.

Another project is to resolve an agreement with the Watchtower Society that promised a $1.5 million contribution to the Town in exchange for a local sewer that brings an agreed-upon sewer capacity to Kingdom Farm.  That would allow the Jehovah's Witnesses to sell the property at a higher profit because sewer would allow for cluster development.  When the Town sewer project failed Watchtower balked at paying the money.  But Pinney says that the new sewer project will provide leverage to the town as it seeks to collect on the agreement.  The money would help make the project more affordable for residents and businesses that will be included in the sewer district if it is formed.

A Town Center Development Plan is on hold while the Town waits for a reply from New York State on lifting deed restrictions on a 140 parcel of land the Town hopes to develop as a town center.  The Town has had the use of the land for many years, but only for community center and recreational use.  In the meantime it has been leased to a local farmer.

In order to develop the property the Town agreed to pay New York State an amount that would lift those restrictions.  An offer was presented to the State in October or November of last year.  Town Attorney Guy Krogh says he is expecting a reply in April.  Last week he said he would call his contact at the State to try to get the offer accepted as soon as possible.

Supervisor Scott Pinney says he has already been approached by a developer who would like to build affordable housing on the site, but nothing can be done until the .  Town Center Committee Chair and Lansing Councilwoman Kathy Miller says she will talk to DOT officials about roads and sidewalks in anticipation of having the deed restrictions lifted.

A new water tank could help increase water pressure for Lansing residents.  Pinney said he is setting up a meeting with Dryden officials to get their input on the project, because the tank will actually be located in the Town of Dryden.  Pinney said this project is moving slowly.

Another project will bring better energy efficiency to the Town Hall and a biomass energy plant for the Town Highway Department barns using wood chips.  The Town is looking for a grant to pay for these initiatives.  An application for the grant was submitted just under a month ago.  Pinney said that getting the grant looks promising, and if obtained it will pay for a study to determine the feasibility and safety of the project.

The Town wants to codify existing Planned Development Areas (PDAs) and the Town's PDA processes.  PDAs allow the Town to change zoning for specific projects that it deems beneficial to the town, putting special restrictions on projects that may mix uses under special circumstances.

Board members considered whether to work on a road protection law that would be aimed at restricting oil and gas drilling by restricting usage of town roads.  Krogh said that towns have the authority to require permits of companies that have the potential to damage local roads.

Councilman Marty Christopher is working on standards for handling work place violence.  The Town Board is also working on a Right To Farm law that Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox says will be part of the agriculture protection plan town officials are currently working on.  Local laws are being considered to regulate logging and burials.  Currently there is no state-wide law that regulates where people can be buried.  Neither was considered a high priority.  Wilcox will work on updating the Town's public service roster.  Updates to the Town employee handbook and a personal privacy local law were also on the list.

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