Seneca County Town of Ovid Launches Planning Survey

Steering Committee Launches Survey on May 1

Following a series of meetings with focus groups, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee is now preparing to ask the Ovid community for its input. A survey is in its final stages of development, and will be distributed the first week of May.

In accordance with the committee’s plans for a “reasonable” length, the survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. One copy will be mailed to each of the households in the Town of Ovid. A postage-paid envelope will be included in the mailing. If additional copies are needed, they will be made available at locations throughout the Town, soon to be announced. An online version will also be made available at this website.

Questions on the survey will cover a range of topics and,...will focus on the most frequently discussed issues.

The committee has established a deadline of May 22 for the return of surveys. They hope the finite time period generates a stronger response rate.

The consulting team will compile the results of the survey and present the information to the committee in a subsequent meeting, to be scheduled later in June.

Second Chance for $3 Million in E-Waste Recycling Grants

DEC Announces Second Chance for $3 Million in E-Waste Recycling Grants:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that a second round of grant funding from the Environmental

Protection Fund (EPF) is being made available to help municipalities across the state address costs associated with the collection and recycling of eligible electronic wastes (e-waste). The recently completed application period in October generated $1.2 million in grant requests, leaving almost $1.8 million available for a second chance opportunity that will be held in January 2017 for municipalities that missed the initial application period. DEC will accept applications for second chance opportunity funding from January 2 through January 31, 2017.

Municipalities may receive reimbursement of up to 50 percent of eligible expenses incurred for recycling of e-waste between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017. Application materials, guidance documents, and important information for Electronic Waste Assistance Grants are available on the DEC's website.

Town of Ovid to Host Comprehensive Plan "Kick-off" July 13

Ovid town officials invite residents to attend the next scheduled meeting of the Town Board, July 13, at 7:00 pm at the Town Offices on Brown Street, to learn more about the recently initiated Comprehensive Plan process.

Guided by a team of planning professionals from MRB Group and EDR, a town-appointed Steering Committee will meet monthly and follow a timeline which will be outlined at the Board meeting.

Public participation is the most important element. The Town Board wants input and feedback from as many residents as possible.

Scheduled for the beginning of the 7 pm Board meeting, the presentation will also include a look at a new website created to support the planning project.

Ovid Town Board, Planning Board, to hold special joint meeting

There will be a special joint meeting of the Town Board and the Ovid Town Planning Board on the 29 day of July 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Ovid Firehouse, 2136 Brown Street, Ovid, New York.

The purpose of the special meeting is to interview and submit questions to finalist candidates in response to the town’s “Request for Proposals, for Professional Consulting Services, Establish/Revise the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

More on the town's efforts to develop its comprehensive plan can be found on the town's website.

Notice of Special Joint Meeting: Ovid Town Board and Ovid Town Planning Board

There will be a special joint meeting of the Ovid Town Board and the Ovid Town Planning Board on the 24 day of June 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Ovid Firehouse, 2136 Brown Street, Ovid, New York.

The purpose of the special meeting is to hear oral presentations from finalist candidates in response to the town’s “Request for Proposals, for Professional Consulting Services, Establish/Revise the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.”

Copies of the proposals received are available on the town's website.

Romulus adopts revised zoning law

Following a public hearing, the Town Board of the Town of Romulus, at the Town Office Building, 1435 Prospect Street, Willard, New York 14588 AT 7:30 p.m. on the 20 day of May, 2015, did duly adopt: Local Law 1 of the Year 2015, “A local law to amend the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Romulus, Seneca County, New York.”

1. The purpose of this local law is to amend the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Romulus, Seneca County, New York, to better reflect existing and proposed uses of land upon the portions of the former Seneca Army Depot that are located within the Town of Romulus.

2. Zoning text and map changes: Portions of the existing Energy Development district (3,186 acres) proposed to be rezoned to a new Warehouse, Industrial, Transportation, Energy (WITE) district; 342 acres proposed to be rezoned to Agricultural, which permits residences and other uses. Zoning text changes include new and modified definitions and special use permit criteria for uses permitted in the new WITE zoning district and in the existing zoning districts within the Depot (IW [Industrial Warehouse] and IG [Institutional Governmental].) An Environmental Restrictions Overlay District delineates a portion of the former Depot where land uses are restricted as a condition of completed environmental remediation. The Environmental Restrictions Overlay District coincides with the boundaries of the existing Industrial/ Warehouse District.

3. This Local Law shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York, as required by the Municipal Home Rule Law. This law supersedes the Town of Romulus Land Use Ordinance, adopted 12/20/06 as amended from time to time.

The complete text of the adopted local law is available from the Office of the Town Clerk, Town of Romulus, 1435 Prospect Street, Willard, New York 14588, during normal business hours and at the town’s website.

New York releases final fracking review, plans ban

Gannett News Service:

The state Department of Environmental Conservation released a final version of the roughly 2,000-page document, known as the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement or SGEIS, just after 4 p.m.

Now, DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens must wait at least 10 days before issuing a legally binding "findings statement," which he has said will formally put the state's fracking ban into place.

The complete report can be found here.

Public Hearing: Romulus Town Rezoning

A public hearing will be held before the Town Board of the Town of Romulus, New York, at the Town Office Building, 1435 Prospect Street, Willard, New York 14588 at 7:30 p.m. on the 20 day of May, 2015, concerning the following proposed local law: Proposed Local Law No. B of the Year 2015, “A local law to amend the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Romulus, Seneca County, New York.”

The purpose of this local law is to amend the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Romulus, Seneca County, New York, to better reflect existing and proposed uses of land upon the portions of the former Seneca Army Depot that are located within the Town of Romulus.

The complete text of the proposed local law is available from the Office of the Town Clerk, Town of Romulus, 1435 Prospect Street, Willard, New York 14588, during normal business hours and at the town’s website.

At the public hearing, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard.

Public notice: Ovid Town Board, Town Planning Board meeting

The Ovid Town Board and the Ovid Town Planning Board will hold a joint meeting of the two boards on December 3, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the community room of the Ovid Firehouse at 2136 Brown Street in Ovid. No public comment will be heard. However, the public is encouraged to attend. For more information, click here.

New York's high court says towns and villages can ban fracking

In a long-awaited decision, the New York State Court of Appeals has upheld the right of towns and villages in the State to ban natural gas drilling, sometimes referred to as "fracking."

Environmental groups are hailing the decision. Others warn that the bans may hurt job growth.

The complete decision is here.

Notice of Public Hearing, Proposed Local Law 2014-A, Town of Ovid

A public hearing will be held before the Town Board of the Town of Ovid, New York, at the Ovid Fire House, 2136 Brown St, Ovid, NY 14521 at 7:00 p.m. on the 11th day of June, 2014, concerning Proposed Local Law No. “A” of the year 2014: “Repealing Local Law No. 1, 2004 of the Town of Ovid,” which provides:

SECTION ONE: LEGISLATIVE INTENT

In 2004, the Town of Ovid enacted a Local Law No. 1 of the Year 2004, commonly referred to as the town’s “land use ordinance.” Rather than relate directly to the physical use of land, the utilization of land or the potential impact of a particular land use on neighboring properties, this local law provides for minimum lot sizes and setbacks for most properties within the town. It establishes a permitting process, to be overseen by the town clerk and it provides that the law will be enforced by an “enforcement officer” and “alternate enforcement officer,” each to be designated by the town board. The law also sets forth penalties for violations and an appeal process, with such appeals to be made to the town board and requiring a public hearing for each appeal.

A review of the history of this local law appears to suggest that practical and fiscal difficulties exist with the enforcement and administration of this local law.

Further, the Town of Ovid is concerned about uncertainties in the existing New York State tax cap law, including how expenditures mandated by law and expenditures and revenues controlled by the county and state interact with the tax cap, as well as increasing costs, such as unfunded mandates, over which the town’s control is limited. The Town is also concerned about Governor Cuomo’s proposal to implement a two-year freeze on property taxes in school districts and localities that stay within the two percent tax cap. The town board is accountable to prepare a responsible budget, which meets the Town’s obligations while minimizing the tax burden.

The town board is aware that the County of Seneca has adopted the following local laws which are in effect throughout the county and address various concerns related to building permits, land use and building safety:

Seneca County, Local Law No. 2 of the year 2006: “A local law providing for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code in the County of Seneca,” (Amended By Local Law No. 1-2008 & Local Law No. 1-2010);

Seneca County, Local Law No. 3 of the year 2012: “A local law to provide safe, stable, housing for recipients of public assistance within Seneca County;” and

These Seneca County Local Laws provide for administration and enforcement by county officials, through the offices of Seneca County Code Enforcement and Division of Human Services.

Based upon the foregoing, in order to minimize the tax and regulatory burden on town residents, and in light of existing regulations at the county level, it is currently the opinion of the town board that the “land use ordinance” appears to be unnecessary at this time and unduly burdensome on the town’s finances and operations.

Therefore, the town board proposes to repeal this local law while the town board and the town planning board continue its general study and review of new land use laws.

SECTION TWO: REPEALER

Local Law No. 1, 2004 of the Town of Ovid, commonly referred to as its “land use ordinance” is hereby repealed in its entirety.

SECTION THREE: EFFECTIVE DATE

This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York in accordance with the Municipal Home Rule Act of the State of New York.

The complete text of the proposed local law is available here.

Notices of Public Hearing on Proposed Local Laws A, B and C of the Year 2014 For the Village of Interlaken, New York

Notice is hereby given that public hearings will be held before the Board of Trustees of the Village of Interlaken, New York, at the Village Office Building, 8369 Main St, Interlaken, New York at 7:00 pm on the 10th day of April, 2014, concerning:

Proposed Local Law A: “A local law to amend the Village Code of the Village of Interlaken § 38-1, ‘Residency requirements for certain officials.’”

Proposed Local Law B: “A local law to amend the Village Code of the Village of Interlaken § 110-4: ‘Brush, grass and weeds; accumulation of trash.’”

Proposed Local Law C: “A local law to amend the Village Code of the Village of Interlaken by repealing Sec. 133-18, ‘Schedule II: Stop Intersections.’”

At such time and place all persons interested in the subject matter thereof will be heard concerning the same.

The complete text of each proposed local law is available during normal business hours at the Office of the Village Clerk, 8369 Main St, Interlaken, New York.

Town Board continues battle over variance for Arcade Building

Finger Lakes Times:

The ongoing dispute between the town [of Seneca Falls] and the owner and a potential developer of the Arcade Building downtown will highlight tonight’s Town Board meeting.

The building, at 81-83 Fall St., is now owned by Jack Pross of Michigan. It is primarily a commercial building, with a single apartment in the rear of the street level floor.

Pross wants to sell it to Basil Vlahos of Ithaca for conversion to up to eight apartments on the building’s four floors.

The sale is contingent upon Vlahos getting approval for the residential use. He was granted a variance by the town Zoning Board of Appeals.

However, the town Planning Board opposed the variance.

The Town Board...voted in December to challenge the ZBA decision in court. [On the ground that] the residential use is inappropriate for downtown and would change the character of the downtown, among other reasons.

They also claim there is not enough parking for an eight-unit building.

The town has hired attorney Steven Getman of Ovid to handle the legal challenge.

Seneca Falls Town Board retains Getman to file action against ZBA

Finger Lakes Times:

Following a 100-minute closed-door session Tuesday night, the Town Board voted to sue the town Zoning Board of Appeals over a recent decision regarding a downtown building.

The board takes issue with the ZBA’s decision to grant a variance to the owner of The Arcade Building at 81-83 Fall St., allowing it to have up to eight apartments.

Board member Emil Bove made a motion to direct Supervisor Donald Earle to hire attorney Steven Getman of the Franklin & Gabriel Law Firm in Ovid to take legal action challenging the ZBA’s Oct. 25 decision.

Town officials said the ZBA erred in granting the area variance to owner Jack Pross to convert the building, saying eight apartments is too many and there would not be sufficient parking for tenants.

Upstate New York Village Latest to Ban Puppy Mills

Seneca Daily News:

The Village of Interlaken is the latest community in upstate New York to ban so-called “puppy mills.”

The law prohibits the construction or operation of any new commercial pet breeder or large-scale kennel facility and halts the expansion of any existing facilities....

[D]ogs rescued from puppy mills often exhibit health and behavioral problems including severe malnutrition and injuries from living an entire life on wire mesh flooring....

The law was drafted by local attorney Steven Getman. It was passed following a public hearing in February and a review by the Seneca County Planning Board.