Archive: Opinions

I don't think I am too jaded in saying that public hearings on proposed new developments are generally predictable.  Neighbors worry about traffic, the character of their neighborhoods, property values and effluent.  Developers paint rosy pictures of how the new construction will enhance the township and add to the tax roles.

If they don't do all that something is wrong.  That 25 people came out on a frigid Monday evening this week to express concerns and learn more about the Cayuga Farm Townhouses project was laudable -- it showed that people in town are paying attention and care about their neighborhoods.

One of the usual complaints is that documents aren't easily available.  In this case most were on the town's Web site as they became available to the Town's Planning Board, and all are always available for public review.  Folks tend to think at these meetings that they are talking about a done deal, but Planning Board Chairman Tom Ellis said that this is a project in progress and he intended to keep the public hearing open for another month or two to give everyone who wants a chance to see the plans and documents to do so.

In this case the developer's answers were the 'right' answers.  Two traffic studies were referenced, an explanation of the proposed sewage treatment equipment was reassuring, and an explanation of the target market of wealthier young couples helped assure current residents that the quality of life in their neighborhoods would not be threatened.

Critics of the Town Center have said they believe new growth in the town should work its way up from the south, where the Village of Lansing is more urban or suburban than areas of the Town as you work your way north.

This project is certainly working its way up from the south.  By Lansing standards it is a large project, and others that have been proposed will be in the same vein.  That will put more stress on existing infrastructure, as opposed to the opportunity to create all new infrastructure on the Town Center land.  That means that the better plans will take these limited existing resources into account in the planning phases.

One frequent critic of town development and policies lauded the project for addressing so many of the townspeople's concerns.  But she threatened that if they didn't make good on their promises she would be back to complain publicly and loudly.  It had a bit of a witchy curse quality to it, but everyone in the room appreciated the sentiment.  People who live here now need to be as protected as folks who might move in.  But development will happen.  It's a matter of getting the right kind of development.

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