Silver Creek Housing OK’d
After Last Plea By Citizens
By LIBBY CUDMORE • for AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – Despite a final few voices of public outcry, Housing Visions’ proposed 48 unit Silver Creek senior and family housing project got site plan approval from the Oneonta City Planning Board at a special meeting called this evening at City Hall.
“This is a good thing for Oneonta,” said Mayor Gary Herzig, who served on the Housing Task Force that brought Housing Visions to the city. “We’re going to take down abandoned buildings and eyesores and turn them into affordable, quality housing. This is Oneonta at its best.”
The site plan was unanimously approved by the board, who also decided against doing a full environmental impact statement, citing that the SEQR answered all questions. The site plans for projects at 63-65 Spruce Street and at West and Columbia were approved at earlier meetings.
But it wasn’t a victory without detractors. At a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, neighbors voiced concerns for two hours. And although public comment wasn’t scheduled for the special meeting, Council Member Bob Brzozowski, Seventh Ward, asked that the public be allowed to speak.
“Are they going to put up privacy fences to keep people from throwing garbage into my yard where my dogs can get it?” asked Kathy Hays. “This is targeting low-income, single parent homes, which means there are a lot of kids that are going to be unsupervised. What’s to keep them separated from us?”
Development Project Manager Steve Underhill reminded the audience that this project was aimed at senior citizens, with only eight family units. “It would be like any family who moved into your neighborhood,” he said, although he did agree to look into putting fencing around the property.
“I doubt any senior citizens are going to be trying to scale a fence,” added City Attorney David Merzig.
“This is very inappropriate for the neighborhood,” argued Jean Hickey. “There are other appropriate neighborhoods that aren’t residential where this would be approved.”
Seth Clark argued that narrow Monroe Avenue would see an increase in traffic. “Are you planning on widening Monroe?” he asked.
“Not for this project,” replied board chair Dennis Finn. “A secondary access is not required, although the developers have agreed to put in an emergency access at the fire department’s request.”
Additionally, Finn said that a proposed OPT bus route would help minimize traffic. “It’s a pilot program, with one bus leaving in the morning and another coming back in the afternoon.”
Underhill said that the project will break ground in December, with the construction starting in spring.
“The planning board’s job is to determine if a project is good for Oneonta,” said Herzig. “And tonight, their decision supported that.”
