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Close to 20 people came to listen to the Lansing Town Board as they gather information to make decisions on how the town center will be developed.  Planning Consultant Jonathan Kanter outlined his initial impressions after twice walking the 156 acre property that is designated to become the town center.

"It is a site that has so much potential it's really incredible that the Town has this opportunity," Kanter said.  "The Town has about 150 acres of very nice land.  There are some beautiful views looking across the valley.  It is gently sloping so there are not too many constraints on the property.  It's a beautiful property and it has a lot of potential."


Kanter said the town center should be a concentrated, mixed use pedestrian and transit-oriented community.  Although NRP Group has proposed more senior and other housing than the two projects that are being considered, Kanter said that those two projects should probably be the only senior housing projects.  He said that building a community for all ages makes for a more diverse, robust community.

He noted that the town center should not be restricted to the 156 acre plot of land.  Kanter noted that with shops in an area near Route 34B and pedestrian crossings from the Town Hall/ballfields area the center would not only be available and welcoming to all people in the town, but would have the added benefit of slowing traffic along that stretch of road. 

Kanter stressed the Town Center should be walkable, and talked about preserving and expanding the system of walking trails already laid out by the Lansing Pathways Committee.  He noted that the historical Ithaca-Auburn Short Line railroad bed should be incorporated into a pedestrian and bicycle path, and that the Town should make an effort to preserve the wooded areas near the railroad bed, as well as to use and expand the trail system that is there.

He advocated a 'main street' approach to the land skirting Route 34, including sidewalks, street lights, and trees.  Town Supervisor Kathy Miller said she has been working with the Lansing Central School District on a plan to create a sidewalks from Lansing market on Triphammer Road all the way to the schools.  She said that while there are grants for child-friendly walkable projects, municipalities must gather all the easements before they will be considered for funding.

The Lansing Economic Development Committee has proposed creating a light manufacturing and technology park in the northern portion of the Town Center.  Kanter suggested an alternate idea: he said a nine hole golf course would be ideal, not only providing a recreational facility, but also preserving green space and the stunning views. 

He said that a new community center should be considered, and suggested that a Planned Development Area be used as a tool to specify development options.  he said that agreements with developers interested in buying land from the Town should be used as a mechanism to clearly specify what the Town wants and does not want.

Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins had many questions.  She wanted to nail down the Town's liability in case the land doesn't sell or projects are not built.  She questioned Economic Development Committee Chairman Andy Sciarabba's contention that the average number of new units per year would be 50 for the first five years, when the Town has historically seen about 30 new dwelling units per year.


Sciarabba said that the impact on the sewer project would be minimal, only adding about $20 to each annual sewer bill if growth stays at 30.

The public was invited to weigh in.  Some people wanted the Town to hold off development for a year, saying that a detailed plan should be laid out before anyone is allowed to develop.  Others said that they want sewer very much and do not want a delay.  Miller said that an RFP is being developed that will be widely distributed among developers who will be invited to propose new ideas for the center.  That would allow town officials to pick and choose the projects they want.

There was some argument about what tax benefits town center development will bring.

"There are some people who will say 'I have to move out of Lansing because the taxes are too high.  I'll move to Cayuga County'.  There are many factors involved," said Councilman Ed LaVigne.  "The sad reality is that unless we get in front of this and try to do something --I know it seems pushy, but you know what?  Progress does that.  It makes people a little uncomfortable.  Otherwise they would have already done it."


County Assessor Jay Franklin laid out some tax valuation information that was less optimistic than calculations Sciarabba had done.  Franklin explained how projects like the ones proposed for the Town Center are valued, saying that with all the factors he has to consider buildings are often valued at less than it cost to build them.  That will mean less tax revenue than Sciarabba hoped for.  Franklin also said that he has to consider how sewer affects the value of properties.

If the Town Center is to go forward a sewer district will have to be formed.  Engineers are currently finishing a Map Plan Report, and Sewer Committee members hope it will be ready so that a list of procedures necessary to forming a sewer district can be initiated at the next Town Board meeting in two weeks.

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