An Important Announcement

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And here is a very important and  informative "Letter to the Editor"

originally published in The Waterville Times and shared with

"At Home in the Huddle" by the writer, Ms. Lorena Lenard.

"To the editor:

 I have sat by and watched the Village of Waterville move forward with plans to sell the property at the corner of Putnam St. and Conger Ave.

I was the village clerk-treasurer when the village acquired the property.  

The old Knitting Mill building had begun to collapse and the village needed to take measures to remediate the dangerous situation.

     

Oneida County deeded the property to the village and gave the village a $25,000 grant toward the demolition of the building.

 I, on behalf of the village, secured a $185,000 loan to pay for the 

remainder of the cost of demolition.  It was my opinion then and now that this property should remain an open green space.

The residents on Putnam Street and Conger Avenue had to endure the slowly deteriorating building for many years and the taxpayers just spent $185,000 to acquire the property.

     

The current administration of the village decided to sell the property and received an offer of $20,000 for the property.  This offer is contingent upon the property zoning be changed to a Planned Development District to allow the purchaser to construct an apartment complex on the property.

     

The village taxpayers have already paid to survey the property and will be paying $10,000 for the removal of the underground tanks even before the zoning has been changed and the property transferred to the developer.

     

One gets the impression this is a done deal even though the process has not been completed.

Residents have been attending village board and Planning Board meetings expressing their concerns over the proposed project.  The public should know that changing the zoning to a PDD is a two-phase process.

     

First the Planning Board review's the developer's site plan, prepares an environmental assessment review and then an Oneida County Planning 239 review of the site plan.

Once these criteria are completed and the Planning Board and developer agree to the site plan the Planning Board is required to hold a public hearing so the residents can voice their concerns or approval.

Once the Planning Board approves the site plan they then recommend the Village board change the zoning of the property to PDD.  Before the Village Board can change the zoning they must hold a public hearing giving the public the chance to comment on the proposed zoning change.

It is obvious the Village Board jumped the gun when they scheduled a public hearing on changing the zoning before the Planning Board made their recommendation.

If you are concerned about this project please attend the Planning Board public hearing when it is scheduled.  If the Planning Board recommends the  zoning change make sure you attend the Village Board public hearing also.

    

Legal notices are required to be in the Waterville Times at least 10 days prior to the hearing date.  The village clerk usually puts the notice on the Village of Waterville website.

Lorena Lenard

Waterville"