FLEMING - The Fleming Town Council placed a six-month stop on multi-unit development in the lakeshore district after listening to various opinions on the moratorium Monday night.
About two dozen residents showed up for a public hearing on the law supporters say will help the town better protect weed-laden Owasco Lake. The board passed the measure 4-1, with Supervisor James Young casting the lone no vote.
He reiterated his belief that the state Environmental Quality Review process and zoning requirements already protect the lake.
Councilman John Sroka, who proposed the moratorium, countered that the overseeing state Department of Environmental Conservation does not always act in the lake's best interest.
“That's the same agency that said Groton can dump phosphorous into the lake,” he said. “So, so much for the SEQR process.
“As a town we need to be vigilant,” Sroka said.
The moratorium was introduced on the heels of two lakeside developments proposed by Thomas and Christine Izzo. The board denied preliminary approval for Mallards Crossing, a 23-unit townhouse
development, last month while the 28-home Lakewood Landing subdivision is still under town planning board consideration.
“To me America says, 'These are the laws and if you follow the laws we leave you alone,'” businessman Dennis Meego said. “To slam the door on them, now I don't know that's the right thing to do to people who've followed the law.”
While many in attendance agreed the moratorium is necessary, some, including the Izzos, asked that it be expanded to cover the entire watershed in the town for the sake of fairness.
“If the concern is the lake then shouldn't they put the moratorium on the whole watershed?” Thomas Izzo said.
“You're singling out a 15-acre parcel out of thousands of acres,” Christine Izzo added.
Sroka said his resolution is intended as a starting point.
“I think it should be very narrow, very focused and as additional information is increased, then you broaden the scope,” he said.
Speakers at the hearing suggested the moratorium should be used to build a system for future decisions on development. A study of the lake is in progress and expected to be the topic of a public meeting Wednesday called by state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette.
“We're here to say six months from now we could have a better understanding of what the scientists think and what this development means to the lake,” resident Kathryn Cappella Hankins said. “This moratorium should include the whole watershed.
“We could go on Wednesday and be a leader in the region,” she said. “It's not against development, it's for the quality of the lake.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
He reiterated his belief that the state Environmental Quality Review process and zoning requirements already protect the lake.
Councilman John Sroka, who proposed the moratorium, countered that the overseeing state Department of Environmental Conservation does not always act in the lake's best interest.
“That's the same agency that said Groton can dump phosphorous into the lake,” he said. “So, so much for the SEQR process.
“As a town we need to be vigilant,” Sroka said.
The moratorium was introduced on the heels of two lakeside developments proposed by Thomas and Christine Izzo. The board denied preliminary approval for Mallards Crossing, a 23-unit townhouse
development, last month while the 28-home Lakewood Landing subdivision is still under town planning board consideration.
“To me America says, 'These are the laws and if you follow the laws we leave you alone,'” businessman Dennis Meego said. “To slam the door on them, now I don't know that's the right thing to do to people who've followed the law.”
While many in attendance agreed the moratorium is necessary, some, including the Izzos, asked that it be expanded to cover the entire watershed in the town for the sake of fairness.
“If the concern is the lake then shouldn't they put the moratorium on the whole watershed?” Thomas Izzo said.
“You're singling out a 15-acre parcel out of thousands of acres,” Christine Izzo added.
Sroka said his resolution is intended as a starting point.
“I think it should be very narrow, very focused and as additional information is increased, then you broaden the scope,” he said.
Speakers at the hearing suggested the moratorium should be used to build a system for future decisions on development. A study of the lake is in progress and expected to be the topic of a public meeting Wednesday called by state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette.
“We're here to say six months from now we could have a better understanding of what the scientists think and what this development means to the lake,” resident Kathryn Cappella Hankins said. “This moratorium should include the whole watershed.
“We could go on Wednesday and be a leader in the region,” she said. “It's not against development, it's for the quality of the lake.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
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TheAuburnian wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:36 AM: