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The fate of sewer took a significant turn Wednesday when Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller read a statement saying that the town-wide sewer project is dead.  Miller said that a plan that would have levied a sewer charge to all town (New York State Town Law Article 12-C) residents outside the Village whether or not they receive service is being dropped, and the town will not seek to revive an earlier plan that would have imposed sewer paid for only by those within a sewer district in South Lansing (Article 12-A).

"The Town is not going forward with a 12-A or 12-C sewer project based on the existing map plan and report," Miller said.  "There is no plan for a town-wide or residential municipal sewer.  As a result the school will have to pursue replacement of their own sewer system."

Residents objected strongly to paying for sewer service they might get later or never receive.  Additionally, Councilwomen Ruth Hopkins and Katrina Binkewicz called residents in the proposed initial sewer area and found that the majority did not want sewer, with 59% of taxpayers they were able to reach opposing it and 41% in favor.

Lansing Economic Development Chairman and Sewer Committee member Andy Sciarabba proposed a Wastewater Treatment Package Plant plan that addresses most of residents concerns,, essentially a mini-sewage treatment plant such as that used by the juvenile detention facilities on Auburn Road and some other properties in the Town.  Sciarabba said the project would be paid for entirely by developers and business owners who use it, and that developers would be responsible for building infrastructure needed to hook up.  He added that while homeowners in the area would be permitted to hook up if they requested it, they would not be required to participate.  He asked the Town Board to approve the use of some of the money it already approved for the larger project to pay for a study defining a package plant project's scope and actual cost.  He said the plan would help attract residential and business development to the proposed Town Center and help existing businesses near the corner of Triphammer and Peruville Roads.

In a letter dated August 6th Town Engineer David Herrick said that he could complete the study within the remaining budget of the Town's 'Business and Technology Park Master Plan', which he said is approximately $2,350.  Herrick proposed a package plant with approximately 35,000 to 45,000 gallons per day capacity.  The new study would consider pipes, manholes and other infrastructure needed, and a new project cost estimate.

Councilman Robert Cree questioned the timing of the project, saying that the Town in in the middle of updating its comprehensive plan.  He suggested the Board is 'chasing its tail' by considering yet another sewer proposal before getting the data on what residents really want.

Concerns were raised about the Town's ability to keep a $2.537 million state grant awarded to the town on the expectation sewer would be passed this year.  Sciarabba said the whole amount would not likely be kept, but about 25% of the cost of the new project would likely be retained.

But Councilman Ed LaVigne raised questions about backing any sewer plan unless there is more concrete evidence or commitment from businesses to build on town center land.  Two residential developers have signed agreements to purchase land there to build a market rate senior housing building and cottage-style affordable homes.  Those agreements are contingent on the availability of sewer.  But LaVigne noted that if the goal is to increase the tax base with businesses and light industry that would not require as many services as residential buildings do, he would like to see hard evidence that kind of development will build there, along with residential construction already proposed nearby.

"If you had the businesses here I would feel a lot more comfortable because then you would have balance," he said.  "You'd have jobs coming in and then you'd have some sort of demand for certain houses.  I feel very uncomfortable bringing in people here (with the idea that jobs would follow).  You'd think that industry would drive it, but it seems like we have this thing backwards."

"Industry is different from small business," Binkewicz replied.  "Small businesses need bodies to buy their products at quantities they need to survive.  So there's this chicken-egg thing going on, so simultaneous (approaches) make more sense to me."

Miller said that a survey of townspeople's views on Lansing's future is being completed and results are expected within a month.  She suggested those results might be enough to guide the board in deciding whether to back such a plan within the time frame most likely to allow the town to keep the grant money.  Most of the board agreed.

"I'd like to look at the survey and see what people had to say," Miller said.  "Let's find out if what we're thinking is right or if we're totally off base."

Hopkins noted the next Comprehensive Plan meeting is on the second Wednesday of September.  The September Town Board meeting is one week later, and board members agreed to wait until then to bring it up again.

"It's about as small as you can get and still try and encourage what we want, which is commercial and business development," Hopkins said.  "Without impacting residents.  I think it's slightly premature, but let's see how fast we can get back to looking at this kind of thing."

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