HISTORIC ISSUES
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Vol.17
No.2 - 7/15/1882 |
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Courtesy of the New York
State Historical Association Library, Cooperstown, N.Y (.PDF files)
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April 2009
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March 2009
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February 2009
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New York Canal Times -
Online newspaper
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Mercury Media Group
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Planning board actions applauded
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For years, zoning was not an issue in Springfield. It was such a non issue that residents did not feel the need to support the creation of a zoning code or tools used to aid the town in planning for Springfield’s future developmentally.
People said they did not want to be told what to do with their land or how they could or could not develop it.
That belief had been timeless until recently. It was a gentleman’s agreement that neighbor would stand beside neighbor, that farming the land and keeping it forever wild was what was best for the community and all involved.
It was before outsiders figured out how much open land was up here, and how cheaply they could buy it, and that there was no zoning code to stop them from doing what they wanted.
It was before outsiders brought in their lawyers and developers and figured out what to say and who to say it to in order to get what they wanted.
It was when people believed friends and family would not sell out for the almighty dollar.
But as actress Sophie Tucker once said, “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better.”
In all honesty, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to help their family, provide a nest egg for retirement, send the kids to college, pay off the house or some bills? Especially when its been a hard life all along.
Everywhere we look major developers are trying to capitalize on the open space that makes upstate New York a haven for people seeking refuge. If it isn’t motorcycle tracks, or baseball parks or music festivals, it’s windmills and industry and drilling.
The sad truth of the matter is that if people had supported the concept of a comprehensive management plan or zoning codes a long time ago, their officials would not be scrambling now to put something in place to protect the constituents.
If residents and officials had been more alert and seen what was coming, a land use plan would have been set in place to designate areas for entertainment, retail and industry, where affordable housing and senior housing would best be located, and where windmills and gas drilling could be situated if need be.
The town of Springfield planning board has been working hard on a comprehensive land use plan, and is nearly completed. This coincides with an application submitted by Madison Square Garden Entertainment regarding an annual music festival proposal.
As tensions mount, residents are blaming officials for “allowing” this proposal to go through.
People need to understand that the officials you elected into office are doing their job the best way they know how. And when it comes to proposals like these, fact finding needs to be done by officials so that a decision best suiting their constituents can be made. Not everything can take place at a board meeting. No one would ever get home to bed.
You voted these officials into office, and when doing so you told them “I trust your judgment.” Now it’s time to see if they will honor their vow to represent the voters.
There is a due process taking place, and unfortunately, it takes a while. The application must be filed and then steps need to be taken. If all the requirements are met there is little any board can do to stop the applicant from developing the property. If there was an unwarranted action taken to prevent a development, the board could be sued.
What residents must do is keep in amicable contact with their officials, constantly reminding them of their position. Doing so in writing would be best, so there is a paper trail.
The town of Springfield planning board recently issued a positive declaration on the MSGE proposal. This means it will have to undergo the entire review process, with more than 20 concerns addressed and mitigated to the satisfaction of the board. A board who is the voice of the people.
As lead agency, the planning board took a huge step forward in representing the people, a people who fear the project may be harmful to their quality of life, the land and water supply, among many other things.
A positive declaration was issued and left a potentially rabble-rousing crowd semi-quietly filing outside into the lobby, pleased with the decision.
Cheers to the planning board for watching out for the best interests of its community, for providing a checks and balances, and for watching out for the land.
Once development begins, there is no going back.
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