Archive: Opinions

Two senior housing projects have been proposed for the new Town Center.  The location of an 80 unit affordable cottage-style (single story) development seems to be pretty well set off the east side  a proposed main road that will extend from the outlet of Woodsedge Drive north into the new property.  A 110-unit market-rate three-story building was originally proposed for the west side of that road.

But some people in town, evidently including a Town Board member thought the market rate project would obscure the view.  So town officials asked the developer to locate their project to the east, north of the cottage project.  The developer was agreeable.

Now someone was concerned that the building would infringe on the Ithaca-Auburn Short Line Railroad Bed, on which an Eagle Scout candidate recently created an attractive, shaded walking path, part of the Lansing Pathways Committee's extensive Town Trail.  The developer was asked whether they would consider reducing the footprint of their building by making it a four story structure.

That would protect the railroad bed, while also creating focussed cluster development the Town wants to make a town center possible while protecting farm lands elsewhere in the Town.  The developer agreed.

Now there are rumblings that a four story building is too high, and maybe the project should move to the original location.  A four story building would block views from a portion of the railroad bed.

Say what?  A one story building would block views from that path.  Anything you build is going to block something.  But you should walk the trail around the perimeter of that property some time.  156 acres is a lot bigger than you think it is when you view it from Route 34B.  It's huge.  There are going to be a lot of really great views all over the place.

All these changes of mind play out like Katy Perry's hit, 'Hot 'N Cold'.  Lansing is hot then it's cold, it's yes then it's no, it's in then it's out, it's up when it's down...

Yikes!

Not to mention that all these changes are making Andy Sciarabba, Chair of the Economic Development Committee and a member of the Sewer Committee look like a flake.  He is the one who has been in contact with the developer, which has spent money and time making changes to accomodate the wishes of the Town.  How many more times can the Town change its mind before they just laugh at him?

I support the effort to get more developers involved in the Town Center, but I think the two initial projects are very good for the Town for a number of reasons.  First of all, the sale of the land for those two projects alone will yield more money than the Town has paid for the entire 156 acres, and they only take up a fraction of that land.  Second, the examples and existing developments the developers have shown Town officials are attractive, well built, and in keeping with what the Town has said it wants.  Third, the number of dwelling units being proposed are absolutely essential to make a sewer affordable not only for these new developments, but for existing town residents.  These developers have even agreed to build roadways and infrastructure.  Birds in the hand that will really make this Town Center idea a reality.

So maybe it's time for the Town to stop changing its mind.  You can over-think something so that it never actually happens, and I think that is what is happening.  I agree 100% that we want to preserve the railroad bed and the trail there.  That is really good work the scout and our Trailways Committee has done.

But the only way we're going to get the rest of the things we collectively want is to make this thing happen.  It's time to be hot or cold.  I'm voting for hot.

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