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Two weeks ago questions about the makeup and timing of the Town Center seemed to threaten the sewer project when Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller said the Town Board might not be in support of the project.  She said some board members question plans for a Town Center, though they seem to be in favor of sewer.  Lansing's Town Center depends on sewer, and sewer depends on the Town Center.  Without the density promised by projects planned for the Town Land on 34B across the street from the town ballfields there will not be enough dwelling units in the sewer district to bring the cost of building a sewer to a manageable level. 

"In my own mind people who want sewer truly are thinking of sewer," she said.  "They're not thinking about the Town Center.  But the people who aren't in the sewer district and don't truly understand the economics of it -- or maybe they do -- they are so vested in this Town Center idea that they're not wrapping their head around all the information."

Sewer Committee member Andy Sciarabba and others on the committee have conceived of the two projects as linked, often referring to them as a 'chicken and egg' scenario: you can't have sewer without more density of dwelling units to support it, and you can't build densely enough to do that without a sewer.  Scairabba and other committee members has been juggling all these balls at the same time.  That has included negotiating with developers, defining the initial service district, and juggling numbers to make sure the part that residents in the district will have to pay for is affordable.

At the August 15th meeting the discussion heated up as Miller explained that some constituents are expressing concern that the Town Center they envision should not be predominantly senior housing, that the location of a proposed three-story market-rate project should be used for other purposes such as a farmer's market, and a concern that current Lansing residents have a say in the makeup of their Town Center.  She noted that some residents don't want anything at all on the land.

"I understand all the arguments, so I am weighing the pros and the cons," Miller said.  "I have to admit that I don't like the idea of it being all senior housing."

But Sciarabba says that the only two projects firmly on the table at the moment are one by NRP Group to build affordable senior cottage-style residences and the three-story market rate building proposed by Calimar.  NRP proposed other future projects, but at this stage they are just that: proposals for something in the future.  Sciarabba said that the Town has no obligation to approve more senior housing.

"Out of 150 acres we're talking about 25 acres for the two projects and that's the end of it," he said.

As one of the prime movers of the sewer project Sciarabba was distressed by what appeared to be 11th hour balking by Town Board members.  He and committee member CJ DelVecchio admonished Miller to lead, bringing the board to a favorable decision.

"I'm willing to put the time into this thing, but I want people to make decisions," Sciarabba said.  "Somebody's got to fight for this thing. "


The Town plans for two main Town center roads in a kind of wavy plus-sign formation.  Smaller roads will go to individual projects within the 156 acres of land.  In the initial proposal, the NRP project was proposed just south of the eastern portion, with the Calimar building proposed in the north west segment.

Last week the Town Board took a straw poll among its members to see whether or not it can support the sewer.  It appears as if the problem is not so much the sewer as the Town Center itself.  Miller reported back that if put to a vote today the board would approve the sewer in a 4-1 vote.  Because the Board met in executive session she would not reveal which board member would vote no.

Meanwhile Sciarabba spoke to Calimar representatives, who said they would be willing to consider moving their project to a location just north of the NRP project, conforming with the wishes of some board members and concerned residents.  That compromise apparently appease some board members' objections.  According to Miller the move is a condition of obtaining their affirmative vote.

Board members are also working on an RFP (Request For Proposal) that will be made available to all developers and people with an interest in developing there.  That will give townspeople a chance to provide input to the board as it decides how best to configure a Town Center.  The RFP will outline the kinds of development townspeople want for the eventual buildout of the Town Center.

With these compromises the project seems to be back on track.  Sciarabba and Miller estimate that the district could be approved by late November if all goes according to plan.  Once the Map Plan Report is finalized officials estimate it will take about 70 days before district formation can be realized.  They note that is a 'best case scenario'.  If that happens construction of the project could begin in June or July of 2013.


Meanwhile TG Miller is updating the Map Plan Report that is required to define the sewer project, its boundaries, and costs.  The report was originally prepared by Hunt Engineers, but according to Town Attorney Guy Krogh it was missing about a half dozen elements the State will require in the process of sewer district formation.

"The Map Plan Report is the lynchpin," said committee member and Town Councilman Ed LaVigne.  "This is essential.  Without this nothing happens, so it is critical to get this done now."

The committee voted unanimously to freeze the initial sewer district boundaries so the map plan can be completed.  Those boundaries are the same that were presented in a public information meeting on August 7th, and in a booth at Lansing Harbor Festival on August 11th.  Information is posted on the Town web site, and the next public information meeting is scheduled for 7pm at the Town Hall on September 18th.

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