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Trustees voted Monday to refer a Planned Development Area (PDA) project that will bring 65 affordable rental units to the Village of Lansing.  Better Housing of Tompkins County will be the majority owner and manager of the project, dubbed Lansing Reserve.  The project is proposed for a 23 acre lot near Warren Road, between Dart and Northwoods Drives.

"There are a number of challenges associated with the project," said Mayor Donald Hartill.  "Access is probably one of the biggest challenges.  There are concerns abut wetlands associated with the property.  I think those have been addressed.  There are concerns about setbacks.  The other questions, of course have to do with traffic and the impact on schools.  This proposal has generated a lot of interest: the County in terms of its activities to try to provide affordable housing; the neighbors who are concerned about it," Hartill said.  "There has been a fair amount of documentation exchanged."

That includes documents and plans submitted by the developer in favor of the project, and a six-page letter and a pile of supporting documents on housing availability and employment trends, among other issues, residents sent to protest the development.

Hartill said that these impacts are appropriate topics for the Planning Board to consider.  That board assesses the project and attaches conditions that define the special zoning that is the result of a successful PDA.  He said it would not be appropriate for the Trustees to tackle them.

"What is appropriate is that all parties have to be treated fairly and legally," Hartill said.  "That means both the developers and the adjacent property owners.  I am particularly sensitive to fairness on both sides, and I hope that the people that are concerned about this also understand that fairness on both sides and following the law is a very important part of our society."

Hartill says the current zoning would allow the owner to develop a cluster housing project with 80 units.  The benefit of the PDA is that it changes the zoning to allow the 65 units the developer has proposed, and leaves about half the acreage forever green.  That reduces the number of families causing less stress on roads and schools, as well as preserving a large natural area in the Village.  He summarized the PDA process before asking Trustees their opinions on whether to refer the project to Planning Board.


"It involves first determining whether or not it's of interest to proceed, whether there's sufficient benefit to the Village go through this process," Hartill explained.  "If that is determined in a positive fashion, the proposal is forwarded to the Planning Board.  The Planning Board and the Developers go determine a set of conditions that would be attached to this zoning change.  If that process comes out positive they refer that back to the Board of Trustees, which acts to let that process go forward.  Any time process it's possible to stop the process."

Trustees Julie Baker, John O'Neill, and Pat O'Rourke all said they were comfortable with a recommendation to allow the Planning Board to review the project.  O'Neill said he is worried about the roads and access to and from the development.  Some Trustees expressed concern that developers are spending a lot of money to support a project that may not be approved.  But Village Attorney David Dubow noted that is a cost of doing business associated with the PDA process.  Baker noted that she trusts the Planning Board to be thorough and fair in evaluating the project and attaching conditions that benefit the Village.

"If we refer it to the Planning Board there's no guarantee that it will go through," said Baker.  "There's so much that has to be discussed.

"We could have meeting after meeting going over the same things," said O'Rourke.  "The planning Board is going to go through this with a fine tooth comb, and then send it back to us.  I think everyone here feels we are taking the neighborhood into consideration.  But I think we also realize that a lot's gone into this.  If we don't at least see what the Planning Board can do do we go back and these 80 units get built?  I think it's worth at least considering the 65 and letting the Planning Board see what can be done."

The motion to refer the project to the Planning Board passed 4/0.

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