The Syracuse.com Madison County Forum occasionally has very good discussions about Cazenovia-specific issues. One such conversation from today looks at "smart growth" interpreted to mean "no growth", and I could not resist a comment.
2106. Cazenovia New York
by cazcountry, 10/20/05 21:46 ET
Low cost housing for cazSince caz has over sold the market in real estate there is not much left for the poor one's. so I would think the Koglmeiers would put in some low cost housing on there land with the over price houses that the builder plans to build.
2106.1. noble idea
by yogawon, 10/21/05 9:24 ET
Re: Cazenovia New York by cazcountry, 10/21/05
can you imagine the uproar that would bring with the neighborhood? Lets face it they don't want anything built there. Smart growth can mean alot of things. To them its no growth at all. Funny thing is if there was no growth for the last twenty years many of those against the plan wouldn't live where they now do. Its like I have mine and you can't have yours. Its been that way for a long time. Newcommers love to move to cazenovia because of the communtiy and then try to stop what the elected officials have done for over 100 years. Zoneing and its laws change and its prudent to take time with those changes. It appears to me that many people are of the opinion that some growth is fine as long as it isn't in their backyard. anyway, its great to be back on the forum. How is the race for Town board going? [unrelated content deleted here]
2106.1.1. Yogawon
by 89Laker, 10/21/05 14:17 ET
Re: Cazenovia New York by cazcountry, 10/21/05
[unrelated content deleted]
I think you hit the nail on the head. 12yrs ago when Old Farms was built I do not recall hearing much noise about the development. Now the ones that benefit from that what to stop this one. Did they not care as much about South Village because it was across the street from them and not in their backyard?
It would not be realistic to think that Caz can stay post card perfect and stop development and there is a way to monitor and control over development and that is done through the current steps of going in front of our elected officals. "If it ain't broke..."
2106.1.1.1. Ain't broke...
by jjj13035, 10/21/05 15:18 ET
Re: Cazenovia New York by cazcountry, 10/21/05
That's interesting, 89Laker.
Though my family has been in what's now New York State continuously since 1670, I am "new" to Cazenovia since I moved here in 1996. I live in a home on East Road that was built within the last 20 years, on land formerly owned by Mr. Koglmeier.
I supported the concept of South Village, though I find the execution very unattractive.
I supported the Oneida Savings Bank changes. I supported the modified plan of Bob Hood to change the dilapidated old drugstore and the even more dilapidated old Magpie's building into something modern, tax-paying, and attractive.
I support continued development and revitalization of some of our less attractive village zones, and I support building homes and improving infrastructure in ways that "fit" what we all like about Cazenovia.
I drive, walk, or bicycle past Old Farms, South Village, and the Koglmeiers' place every day. I love my neighborhood. I love Cazenovia, and I think there's room for plenty of people and perspectives here.
What really burns me up is when "newcomers" are lumped into one category as if each person thinks alike. I have chosen not only to make my home in Cazenovia, but to rent an office here, buy my hardware, groceries, medicines, vehicle maintenance, pet care, haircuts, restaurant meals, and just about everything else right here.
So when I say "smart growth", I don't mean "no growth". I mean that I have been fortunate to live and work in many places, and I have seen many of them changed forever by unchecked housing and commercial sprawl. Our community - the WHOLE community - has engaged in planning processes from the comprehensive plans to CAPP, and has reached some consensus on what plans we have for Cazenovia's growth. I'd like to see government and citizens that take that into account by following those plans more closely in making both reactive and proactive decisions. Since Mr. Koglmeier's land was on land specifically not recommended for annexation and development in the village comprehensive plan, both the town and village made a mistake in anabling the annexation. I call that "broke".
Thanks for reading.
Posted by jimj at October 21, 2005 03:27 PM