Fleming to hold more hearings on housing

By Shane M. Liebler / The Citizen

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:52 AM EDT

The Fleming Town Council agreed to a pair of public hearings in June after denying preliminary approval for a townhouse development near Owasco Lake this week.
The Mallards Crossing proposal drew a crowd of residents Monday concerned with the environmental and social impact of building 23 townhouse units on what is now the West Lake Road Mobile Home Park.

Many urged the town to take more time considering the project that could eventually join with a lakefront subdivision of 28 single-family homes still in the early planning stages.

A six-month moratorium on multi-unit development in the town's lakeshore district that the board defeated 3-2 Monday will be reconsidered at a special meeting June 25.

Councilman John Sroka made the motion to revive the moratorium resolution following the Mallards Crossing hearing.

“This will afford the opportunity to consider new information that's coming out,” Sroka said Tuesday, using a study on Owasco Lake due in July as an example. “Let's have a time out, let's approach this thing with intelligence.”

Developers Thomas and Christine Izzo are uncertain about the project's future. The moratorium is the latest board proposal that seems to target the couple, Christine said Tuesday.

“You can own land in Fleming, but apparently you can't do what you want with it in Fleming,” Izzo said.

Town Supervisor James Young said it might seem that way because the Izzos' projects are unique now.

He voted against the moratorium.

“It's my feeling that the current laws we have do exactly what the proposals are,” Young said, noting that traffic and environmental studies are a part of the building process.

The board will also discuss a tabled resolution to amend the lakeshore district boundaries at the June 25 meeting.

On another housing front, Sroka introduced a resolution to establish a permit system for rental properties. The Izzos rent three properties on the lake in Fleming.

The permits would require inspections every two years or with each change in occupancy.

In addition, permits would not be issued to those renting properties for less than a month with the exception of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns.

The measure is intended to protect the integrity of neighborhoods by ensuring properties are kept in good condition and that visitors stay long enough to have a stake in the community, Sroka said.

“Someone who stays a month or longer becomes a part of that neighborhood,” he said.

The rental law will get a public hearing at 7:45 p.m. June 11.

“I hope for these hearings we get just as many people out as we did last night,” Young said. “We'd like to hear from both sides.”

Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net

If you go

Public hearings at Fleming Town Hall:

June 11: Rental law at 7:45 p.m.

June 25: Building moratorium at 7:30 p.m.

The Citizens' Say

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There are 10 comment(s)

Ironic wrote on May 17, 2007 7:35 AM:

" Isn't it ironic that Auburn is trying to get developers to invest in downtown, housing development to get people back into the city. Maybe this is where financilly motivated individuals should focus their efforts. "

jazzy wrote on May 16, 2007 11:17 PM:

" being on a planning board, I would all you concerned citizens plan to attend these and ask questions that,s what were here for, there,s a lot of changes going on you should keep up with your communities. "

month vacation? wrote on May 16, 2007 9:59 PM:

" I'm confused about the rental permit - no permit for tenants less than 30 days? I suppose this means that there would be no more cottages for rent on the lake in the summer. There are many former Auburnians I'm sure who love to come back and vist. A family coming to visit and enjoy the fingerlakes area can not stay in the town of Fleming on Owasco Lake? They are free to come to Owasco Lake for a week's vacation, but not to Fleming? I don't believe there are many people able to take a whole month's vacation. According to the newspaper articles recently, the county was trying to find better ways to promote the lake and tourism. This seems so opposite-what a shame to try and keep people away. "

been there seen that wrote on May 16, 2007 4:19 PM:

" I couldn't agree with you more "former auburnian". The new Town Houses would have added beauty to West Lake Road. After living in Fleming for 25 years and seeing what some Fleming residents are doing to intimidate the Fleming Board by stating if they approve the Izzo's project, they would be adding to ruining Owasco Lake, my husband and I will be leaving Fleming. Fleming is being run by some rich people using a couple of the current board members to get what they want and misleading the public. "

Hooray ! wrote on May 16, 2007 3:55 PM:

" The Town Council should be commended for their concern of the quality of life of the community and residences. The Izzo's own property but do not live in Fleming and it appears their motive is purely for their own personal financial benefit. "

Former Auburnian wrote on May 16, 2007 3:11 PM:

" My wife and I are seriously considering moving back to the Auburn area to raise our family but this is exactly the kind of situation that gives us pause. So many people in Auburn seem so satisfied with the status quo. It’s as if the population in the Auburn area has a fear of success. While I fully support their right of review and approval, I can’t believe the town board in Fleming would rather have a trailer park than upscale town homes. No offense to trailer parks as they can be lovely but I know the trailer park in question and any development would be better in its place. The Auburn area desperately needs more of this kind of housing if it is going to retain and attract affluent, educated residents. "

wood chuck owners inc. wrote on May 16, 2007 1:38 PM:

" let's delay ,delay ,delay and they will give up investing in the area ,let it become a dump instead "

say it isn't so wrote on May 16, 2007 1:30 PM:

" A neighborhood is either getting worse or getting better.The Fleming Town Council has selected the former! "

sad wrote on May 16, 2007 12:52 PM:

" so it sounds like the fleming town board is now going after the Izzo's other project and the use of there rentals is this still America. Brings a new meaning to the song "this land is your land this my land is my land." It is sad what the town is doing to the Izzo's "

interested party wrote on May 16, 2007 12:22 PM:

" It sounds to me that some of the members of Fleming town board have a personal issue with the Izzo's .They should excuse themselves from voting Da using ones office for personal gain of any sort is against the law. Mabe the people of Fleming should have them (board members)open their closet doors and see whats going on behind the scene. "

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