- By David Dubin
- Opinions
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| Correction: some of the dollar amounts referred to in this letter were inadvertantly truncated. They have been corrected. | ||
When I moved to Lansing in 2003, I was, like many people, attracted to lake properties. But beyond the moral and ethical requirement to protect the commons, the lake and the underground water reservoirs. I also recognized the obligation of the Town of Lansing to protect those assets. I assumed that meant that the Town had the right and the obligation to impose additional costs on me, the private land holder, to protect those common assets. Hence, I opted to purchase a property that did not adjoin the lake. Little did I realize that Lansing government views protection of the commons as a community issue, even when it involves the financial interest of the private land owner. If someone cannot afford the cost of lake living, they should not be living on the lake.
Overall, I found the sewer presentation more interesting for what was not said, or what was expressed in offhand, spontaneous comments.
Kathy Miller mentioned that with or without the sewer, Lansing would experience development, referencing a conversation with a developer stating that he would simply go ahead with his plans. Ms. Miller stated that whatever septic system the developer might put in, she feared for its long-term viability. And Lansing being Lansing, she stated, we could not let the community deal with the issue on its own. Has our Town Supervisor never heard of bonding, and paying for the bond annually in the form of increased taxes levied on that community, written into property deeds. And if there is some legal obstacle to that approach, I'm sure the Town Attorney can come up with another. Developers should not be permitted to bully towns. Towns should enforce rules that developers follow, or let them find a new home in Texas.
Katrina Binkewicz made an impassioned appeal for controlled development: putting density at the south end of Lansing, while keeping the north more pristine. However, Kathy Miller proudly announced that the land for the sewer pumping station was to be donated by Cargill. At the same time, Cargill has purchased land on Sweazy Road, with the intention of building a roughly 90 foot tower and sinking an elevator shaft for employees to access the mine. This will put approximately 40 to 50 vehicles, in as many as 3 shifts, in precisely the kind of area that Ms. Binkewicz so wants to protect. Do I hear quid pro quo?
Tom Jones made the case for school tax savings, if the sewer is approved, of 24 cents per thousand in year one and 46 cents per thousand in year 10. June King, Business Administrator for Lansing Schools, further bolstered the case by stating that 65 additional students could be absorbed by the schools without additional staff.
However, I remember a bitter fight in 2006, when with fewer than 65 additional students, Lansing Schools attempted to float a $22 million bond for school expansion, which would have cost the average taxpayer $500 per year for 20 years. With that in mind, consider that one, only one, townhouse community could easily add 65 additional students, or more, to Lansing Schools. Anyone for another vote on a bond--this time at the $30 million dollar level?
The next consideration in the tax mix is the fire department. Density will require additional protection and additional taxes to pay for it. That was not mentioned at the meeting.
Highway issues were not addressed. Are road going to be widened to 3 or 4 lanes? What about maintenance. Density increases repair issues and costs. Our highway superintendent has already publicly stated that repair schedules have been stretched out to deal with shrinking budgets and escalating costs.
Tourists want amenities was another proposition. Increase amenities like restaurants and lodging, and more tourists will come. Does that mean the Town Board anticipates a new hotel for Lansing? Tourists come for the lake and the wineries. They come for the beauty of the land.
Dan Veaner, in his editorial of April 26th, expressed a desire for amenities. I can tell him exactly where to find them--just south of Lansing in Ithaca. I moved to Lansing to escape density and enjoy the open space. Let's leave density in Ithaca.
David Dubin
Lansing, NY
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