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Planning Board:  Law Doesn’t

Allow Valet Parking At Hotel

Kurt Ofer of Altonview Architect, representing BTP Cooperstown, moves model cars around a map of the proposed hotel's parking lot to show how 31 cars could be moved in and out if valet parking were approved. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)
Kurt Ofer of Altonview Architect, representing BTP Cooperstown, moves model cars around a map of the proposed hotel’s parking lot to show how 31 cars could be moved in and out if valet parking were approved.   At right is Ofer’s partner/spouse, Teresa Drerup.  Planning Board members are, from left, Richard Blabey, Richard Sternberg, Paul Kuhn and chairman Gene Berman.  (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • allotsego.com

Planning Board chair Gene Berman listens intently to architect Teresa Drerup's presentation. He is flanked by Paul Kuhn, left, and Planning Board clerk Jennifer Truax.
Planning Board chair Gene Berman listens intently to architect Teresa Drerup’s presentation. He is flanked by Paul Kuhn, left, and Planning Board clerk Jennifer Truax.

COOPERSTOWN – The Planning Board a few minutes ago concluded that village law doesn’t allow valet parking as proposed by developers of a $4 million downtown hotel.

But Tom Lagan, one of the partners in BTP Cooperstown, the development company, said if valet parking is rejected, the necessary parking spots will simply be found off-site, as is allowed by village law under revisions approved by the Village Board earlier this year.

It won’t stop the project, he said.  What would stop the project, he continued, is if no height variance can be obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals.  The proposed hotel would be 48-feet tall; the village has a height limit of 42 feet.  It would be four stories tall; village law limits height to 3 1/2 stories.

The Planning Board also said a remediation plan would be necessary to clean up or limit the runoff from the 31-car lot, which would run into Willow Brook and, hence, Otsego Lake, the source of village drinking water.

It also said further study is needed into the hotel’s impact on traffic on Main Street.

Planning Board members also expressed worries on fire-truck access to the back of the proposed building if a fire were to occur, but Zoning Officer Tavis Austin said fire inspectors would look into that matter before any building permit were issued.

 

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