FLEMING - Fleming residents packed town hall Monday night, eager to voice their opinions at the public hearing on revisions to the town's zoning code. The revisions reflect recent amendments to the town's comprehensive plan, especially concerning residential development and waterfront properties.
Some said they had insufficient information, as they either could not attend earlier informative sessions or didn't receive a newsletter the town sent out.
The updated version was not available to the public, but they will be posted on the town's Web site immediately. A few hard copies supplied to the board, “would not go out of the building,” Gary Fleming, the town supervisor, said.
Residents still have time to write or register their concerns with Dec. 16 set as a deadline.
After reviewing suggestions, the town will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 to mull its final decision on the zoning code. If the code needs further revision, it will be resubmitted to the Cayuga County Planning Board with another public hearing. If it proves acceptable as is, board members will have to carefully consider any significant environmental impact the laws might have during a SEQR review of a prepared environmental impact statement.
Andy Leja, special council to the town, summarized the code issues, with the help of Kerry Ivers, senior planner for the Clark, Patterson, and Lee engineering firm, who worked on changes to the original 2005 zoning code.
“The county's comments were supportive,” Ivers said of Cayuga County Planning Board's review of the codes.
Minimum lot sizes were increased from a quarter acre to two acres, including the property of Christine and Thomas Izzo, of Niles, who had begun construction of seven townhouse units on their lakefront property in October 2006. In June 2007, a moratorium on multi-building residential development followed.
“This makes our minimum lots eight times bigger than what they were previously zoned for,” Christine Izzo said. “With public water and sewer in this area, it doesn't make sense to increase the minimum lot sizes that much.”
The original R-2 Neighborhood Residential and R-3 Residential districts were combined into the R-2 Residential district with the lot size increased to two acres. A provision was added that allowed the lot size to be decreased to one acre provided the remaining land is put within a conservation easement for either open space or continued farming. The intent of this provision is to maintain the area's rural character and encourage farming to continue on the land.
Leja explained that otherwise the hamlet, the commercial corridor, and the agricultural zoning were basically left intact.
The Owasco Lake Watershed Overlay was added “to provide an additional layer of regulations for any future development or redevelopment within the watershed boundaries.” It “decreases the amount of impervious surface allowed, establishes a buffer for structures adjacent to the Lake, specifies the inclusion of erosion and stormwater control for all uses, and limits the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and hazardous materials within a specified distance from the lake.”
A number of those at the meeting criticized the revised zoning code for creating too much agricultural area and attributed a large percentage of the pollution of the watershed with agricultural runoff. Izzo cited a study by Dr. Michael P. Hoffman, of Cornell University, that came out in July attributing 79.2 percent of phosphorus levels in Owasco Lake to agricultural sources.
“Why can't anyone talk about the elephant in the room?” she asked, referring to agricultural sources of pollution rather than population density that her development might create.
About 10 speakers were heard, including Bob Brower, CEO of IAGT, expressing opposing opinions about the new zoning code, many questioning the increase in agricultural area, effects on outpricing property values and the impact on the existing infrastructure for sewer and water.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@ lee.net
The updated version was not available to the public, but they will be posted on the town's Web site immediately. A few hard copies supplied to the board, “would not go out of the building,” Gary Fleming, the town supervisor, said.
Residents still have time to write or register their concerns with Dec. 16 set as a deadline.
After reviewing suggestions, the town will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 to mull its final decision on the zoning code. If the code needs further revision, it will be resubmitted to the Cayuga County Planning Board with another public hearing. If it proves acceptable as is, board members will have to carefully consider any significant environmental impact the laws might have during a SEQR review of a prepared environmental impact statement.
Andy Leja, special council to the town, summarized the code issues, with the help of Kerry Ivers, senior planner for the Clark, Patterson, and Lee engineering firm, who worked on changes to the original 2005 zoning code.
“The county's comments were supportive,” Ivers said of Cayuga County Planning Board's review of the codes.
Minimum lot sizes were increased from a quarter acre to two acres, including the property of Christine and Thomas Izzo, of Niles, who had begun construction of seven townhouse units on their lakefront property in October 2006. In June 2007, a moratorium on multi-building residential development followed.
“This makes our minimum lots eight times bigger than what they were previously zoned for,” Christine Izzo said. “With public water and sewer in this area, it doesn't make sense to increase the minimum lot sizes that much.”
The original R-2 Neighborhood Residential and R-3 Residential districts were combined into the R-2 Residential district with the lot size increased to two acres. A provision was added that allowed the lot size to be decreased to one acre provided the remaining land is put within a conservation easement for either open space or continued farming. The intent of this provision is to maintain the area's rural character and encourage farming to continue on the land.
Leja explained that otherwise the hamlet, the commercial corridor, and the agricultural zoning were basically left intact.
The Owasco Lake Watershed Overlay was added “to provide an additional layer of regulations for any future development or redevelopment within the watershed boundaries.” It “decreases the amount of impervious surface allowed, establishes a buffer for structures adjacent to the Lake, specifies the inclusion of erosion and stormwater control for all uses, and limits the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and hazardous materials within a specified distance from the lake.”
A number of those at the meeting criticized the revised zoning code for creating too much agricultural area and attributed a large percentage of the pollution of the watershed with agricultural runoff. Izzo cited a study by Dr. Michael P. Hoffman, of Cornell University, that came out in July attributing 79.2 percent of phosphorus levels in Owasco Lake to agricultural sources.
“Why can't anyone talk about the elephant in the room?” she asked, referring to agricultural sources of pollution rather than population density that her development might create.
About 10 speakers were heard, including Bob Brower, CEO of IAGT, expressing opposing opinions about the new zoning code, many questioning the increase in agricultural area, effects on outpricing property values and the impact on the existing infrastructure for sewer and water.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@ lee.net
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