As local development continues to replace farmland with housing developments, strip malls, and office parks, Central New York has the dubious distinction of having the most "sprawl" of any region in the state. This finding is one of the results of a comprehensive study conducted by a Cornell University professor and reported in the October 19 edition of the Syracuse Post-Standard.
http://www.syracuse.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business-4/1066553850236403.xml?syrbubiz
According to study author Rolf Pendall, sprawl "has forced governments on all levels to spend more to build and maintain water and sewer systems and roadways, provide police and fire protection, operate schools and provide other services - all in a state that already has among the highest taxes in the nation."
In Cazenovia we have seen the CAPP study and other efforts to promote smart growth. Still, many development efforts occurring just outside our upland community will soon affect us all. Housing developments continue to sprawl outward from Manlius, and strip malls and office parks are creeping slowly out Route 92 (Cazenovia Road). Residents of the hamlet of Oran are concerned about plans to rezone part of their town for construction of an urgent care medical facility.
An expansion of smart growth programs to the wider region seems a logical next step, but since there is no prevailing authority or program for managing regional growth, developers retain the most decision-making power.
Attempts to bring statewide smart growth to New Jersey seem to be sputtering.
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the union. The governor, Jim McGreevy, proposed aggressive programs for managing growth and trying to prevent rampant sprawl of strip malls, office parks, and "McMansions". This New York Times article describes some of his challenges in bringing those programs to life:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/nyregion/21SPRA.html?th
We are fortunate to live in a community whose members have stood together to manage growth and maintain a social, geographic, and economic identity. We aren't yet just another suburb.
Posted by jimj at October 21, 2003 08:59 AM | TrackBack