FLEMING - The town of Fleming is moving forward with its comprehensive plan, which will be complete once zoning is addressed and a negative State Environmental Quality Review Act approved.
A special meeting was held Wednesday night to expedite a new local law establishing a moratorium on development in the Owasco Lake Watershed, maintaining the status quo as to all present uses in the watershed for a period of three months following the effective date of the adoption of the law.
During that time, no application for a major subdivision, PDD applications, or site plan development approval will be accepted by the town for properties located within the Watershed Region: the current Lakeshore District, and portions of R1, R2 and R3 residential districts, and portions of the agricultural district.
The law also states that the moratorium established by this local law can be extended for another three months.
“This meeting is called so we can have this law sent to county planning by July 8,” said Gary Searing, town supervisor, “so they can review it by July 17.”
The board unanimously resolved to send the law as written to the Cayuga County Planning Board, and they also unanimously voted to hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. July 14, regarding the proposed enactment of this law. As the proposed moratorium is classified by the state as a Type II Action, it has been pre-determined under SEQRA not to impose significant adverse environmental impacts.
Searing said that the addendum to the comprehensive plan had been basically approved by the county, with a few language changes now being addressed by Carrie Ivers of Clark Patterson, an engineering firm with experience in environmental planning for municipalities. Ivers will be present at the public hearing, Searing said.
After the Fourth of July holiday, the town will have a working session and on July 30, a public informational hearing on proposed zoning amendments.
The town's intention to amend Fleming's zoning code is based on its desire to provide enforceable regulatory support for Comprehensive Plan amendments. The zoning code amendment process will include input from town officials, planners, engineers, public, and Cayuga County Planning Department.
The projected date for completing that process is December, or from three to five months after the enactment of the Comprehensive Plan amendments.
The current moratorium expires at the end of July. It was first enacted in January for three months and extended another three months in order to allow time to complete the Comprehensive Plan along with its addendum.
Environmental concerns related to the Owasco Lake Watershed led the town to move cautiously to protect its lakeshore area. The new law establishing the moratorium states that the zoning code needs to more adequately address wood lots, protection of brush and wetland buffers, and incorporate increased knowledge of area hydrology.
According to the proposed local law, the town needs another moratorium period so that “land use decisions can be made without imminent pressures from the public.”
Christine and Thomas Izzo, of Niles, have been waiting on how the zoning law will affect their proposed lakeside subdivision.
“We can wait and see how they're going to change the zoning,” Christine Izzo said. “We're hopeful to do it in the end.”
She said they've spent more than $200,000 on their plan. They are waiting to see if any extensive changes are required and may apply for relief from the new moratorium.
The town board will still have the power to grant any variances to the moratorium law that it deems necessary. Violators of the moratorium can result in $500 fine and/or 15 days in jail.
It's now up to the Cayuga County Planning Board to approve the proposed law.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
During that time, no application for a major subdivision, PDD applications, or site plan development approval will be accepted by the town for properties located within the Watershed Region: the current Lakeshore District, and portions of R1, R2 and R3 residential districts, and portions of the agricultural district.
The law also states that the moratorium established by this local law can be extended for another three months.
“This meeting is called so we can have this law sent to county planning by July 8,” said Gary Searing, town supervisor, “so they can review it by July 17.”
The board unanimously resolved to send the law as written to the Cayuga County Planning Board, and they also unanimously voted to hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. July 14, regarding the proposed enactment of this law. As the proposed moratorium is classified by the state as a Type II Action, it has been pre-determined under SEQRA not to impose significant adverse environmental impacts.
Searing said that the addendum to the comprehensive plan had been basically approved by the county, with a few language changes now being addressed by Carrie Ivers of Clark Patterson, an engineering firm with experience in environmental planning for municipalities. Ivers will be present at the public hearing, Searing said.
After the Fourth of July holiday, the town will have a working session and on July 30, a public informational hearing on proposed zoning amendments.
The town's intention to amend Fleming's zoning code is based on its desire to provide enforceable regulatory support for Comprehensive Plan amendments. The zoning code amendment process will include input from town officials, planners, engineers, public, and Cayuga County Planning Department.
The projected date for completing that process is December, or from three to five months after the enactment of the Comprehensive Plan amendments.
The current moratorium expires at the end of July. It was first enacted in January for three months and extended another three months in order to allow time to complete the Comprehensive Plan along with its addendum.
Environmental concerns related to the Owasco Lake Watershed led the town to move cautiously to protect its lakeshore area. The new law establishing the moratorium states that the zoning code needs to more adequately address wood lots, protection of brush and wetland buffers, and incorporate increased knowledge of area hydrology.
According to the proposed local law, the town needs another moratorium period so that “land use decisions can be made without imminent pressures from the public.”
Christine and Thomas Izzo, of Niles, have been waiting on how the zoning law will affect their proposed lakeside subdivision.
“We can wait and see how they're going to change the zoning,” Christine Izzo said. “We're hopeful to do it in the end.”
She said they've spent more than $200,000 on their plan. They are waiting to see if any extensive changes are required and may apply for relief from the new moratorium.
The town board will still have the power to grant any variances to the moratorium law that it deems necessary. Violators of the moratorium can result in $500 fine and/or 15 days in jail.
It's now up to the Cayuga County Planning Board to approve the proposed law.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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