Published: May 01, 2008 12:30 pm         

Plan board to discuss input

By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier

The village planning board has scheduled a special meeting to review comments it has received in regard to a proposal to create a residential Coordinated Development District on the old railroad right-of-way along Grove Street.

The proposal, from Joseph Galati, calls for 13 single-family residences to be built on the two-acre parcel. The meeting will be Thurs., May 1 at 4 p.m. and is open to the public, but the board will not be taking comments or questions from the public.

Last week, the board listened to comments during a public hearing on the proposal.

Chestnut Street resident David Svahn said he would prefer to see the property left as a green space or converted to a bike or walking path.

Jim Dow, a neighboring property owner, voiced his concerns about a relaxation of setbacks if the property is rezoned as a Coordinated Development District. He also worried about the housing being used as rental property. ``Is there anyway to ensure it wouldn’t be used for short-term rentals?” he asked.

Maple Street resident Sally Goddard also asked about setbacks and the density of the homes on the long narrow property.

She said it doesn’t seem like there is enough room for the homes while still maintaining the residential character of the neighborhood.

``I’m not against housing. I’m for the housing, just not so many,’’ she said. Bill Rigby, a former member of the planning board, said, ``it’s over two acres that’s off the tax rolls right now. As a taxpayer, I’m interested in seeing it on the roll.’’

On Thursday, the planning board will review the comments along with written ones submitted prior to making a recommendation to the board of trustees. ``We have the job of taking your comments and coming to some sort of recommendation for sending this to the next stage or not,’’ said acting planning board chairman Charles Hill. The planning board may recommend to the trustees that the request for the creation of a Coordinated Development District move forward; move forward with conditions; or they may reject the proposal.

If the decision is to move forward, the applicant must submit a formal application within six months, according to attorney Joseph Catalano, who is acting as an advisor to the planning board.