AURELIUS - Zoning laws for 2008 were open for public discussion at the Aurelius Town Board Thursday night, but the one resident attending had no comments or questions. The board unanimously approved its new zoning laws.

“It was a culmination of five years work,” Stephanie Church, town councilor, said.

The 121-page document replaces a zoning code going back to 1993.

The town is divided into eight types of zoning districts: agricultural, agricultural residential, rural hamlet, residential, commercial, industrial, land conservation overlay, and planned development district (including mobile homes).

A couple of major changes include a reduction of the commercial district extending west from Half Acre Road along Routes 5 & 20. Existing businesses in that area remain zoned commercial. However, developers interested in establishing Planned Development Districts along that corridor may still do so after following the proper submission of plans and approval by the town board.

Another change is in setback allowances for various structures according to the type of zoning district.

The entire zoning law is available online at http//co.cayuga.ny.us/aurelius. Click on “laws” to find the entire document. A map showing changes will be online by Tuesday, town engineer Matt Schooley said.

The board also unanimously resolved to support a joint grant application for better water and sewer services among the City of Auburn and surrounding towns already receiving those services from the city, including soil and water conservation. The grant application has to be submitted by January.

Kent Walter, highway superintendent, called the board's attention to a section of the six-inch main pipe displayed in the town hall that was removed during a water main break on Sept. 15. That event led to a boil-water order from the health department for a couple of days while the damage was assessed and repaired.

“A water line from D&W went over it and the sewer main,” Walter said. “It shaved a whole piece off the top. I've never seen anything like it. Mud was sucking right into it.”

The break resulted in a half-million gallon water loss, Walter said.

People noticed a lack of water pressure early in the afternoon, then one call after another came in. That break initiated a couple of other failures in valves, one in front of the Fingerlakes Mall and another on Beech Tree Road in front of Garropy's.

Town clerk Debbie Pinckney said the town was commended for following protocol by the Board of Health.

“They were really happy with us,” she said.

In other news:

• The board will put its building project (town hall addition) on hold until spring. One issue is the difficulty of removing the drainage pipe in front of the building.

* Dave Gelsi was appointed to replace Michael Werner on the planning board. Werner moved away from the area. Appointment of an additional alternate was discussed, but clarification from town attorney Dave O'Conner is needed before appointing anyone.

“My problem is not conflict of interest,” planning board chairman Jerry Scouten said,“it's getting people to show up.”

* Glitches in water bills stemming from poor meter readings are being corrected by replacing water meter heads with consistent values. Some were reading gallons, others cubic feet.

* Agreed to set a public hearing for sewer rates Nov. 13, in keeping with the increase in rates from Auburn.

* Authorized the supervisor to sign an agreement with Eastern Shore Associates to enter into its workers compensation package due Nov. 1

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net