Trustees Celebrate Major Grant, Hear Testimony on Proposed Lakefront Redevelopment

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
COOPERSTOWN

From a major infusion of state funding for emergency services to a closely watched redevelopment proposal on Otsego Lake, the Village Board of Trustees’ September 28 meeting touched on several issues poised to shape Cooperstown’s near future.

Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh opened the meeting with what she called a “special commendation” for the Cooperstown Fire Department, recognizing its successful application for a $488,211.00 grant from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

The grant will fund new self contained breathing apparatus units and portable radios—equipment the mayor described as “critical to the safety of our volunteer firefighters.”

“This is an incredible gift,” Tillapaugh said, noting that the department “did 99.9 percent of the work” on the application.

She praised Chief William Smith and firefighter Victor Jones, who prepared the submission.

“We are so indebted to them for everything they do in our community,” Tillapaugh said.

Trustees applauded as Jones and Smith accepted the village’s formal commendation, which emphasized the department’s “dedicated and selfless service” and the importance of modernizing life saving equipment “at no cost to taxpayers.”

During public comment, trustees briefly revisited concerns raised by resident Normandy Alden regarding products sold at a new Main Street smoke shop.

Tillapaugh noted that police had already visited the business—Outta the Park Mini Mart, located at 124 Main Street—and confirmed compliance with state law, which prohibits sales of tobacco or related products to anyone under 21.

“Cigarettes, obviously, and this type of material can’t be sold to anyone under 21. That’s the law, and as long as they don’t violate it, they’re allowed to sell this stuff in their store,” she said.

The mayor added, “We all on the board had received an e-mail from [Alden] previously. We will refer this to police and zoning again just to respond,” Tillapaugh said.

The board then opened three public hearings, including the highly anticipated special use permit application for 63 Lake View Drive North, where owners Stephen and Stacy Caruso hope to demolish and replace an aging lakefront home.

Caruso told trustees that he and his wife initially intended to remodel the existing structure.

“We didn’t purchase the property with the intent to tear the house down. Our initial plans were a remodel,” he said.

The Carusos’ perspective changed after consulting engineers and architects.

“As they learned more about what it would entail to make the updates, they suggested we consider reconstruction. It’s a unique, challenging site,” Caruso said. “The more we learned, the more we felt this was the right path.”

Caruso emphasized the project’s focus on stabilizing the hillside. He said the goal is to preserve the natural character of the property.

“There’s a lot of trees and shade and that’s what drew us to the property…we wanted to preserve all of that.” The project, he said, must address the entire hillside. “We want to stabilize the hillside. We want to improve drainage. We want to preserve that wood character.”

Jim Patrick, a neighboring resident and longtime firefighter, spoke strongly in support of the project, telling trustees, “I would not back a truck over that driveway in its current condition.”

He added that the Carusos had been “very thoughtful” and “highly considerate” in their planning.

Trustees asked extensive questions about floodplain boundaries, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation jurisdiction, stormwater management and the structural integrity of the slope.

Deputy Mayor Cindy Falk noted that the project touches “many lines”—village zoning, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, flood maps, DEC wetlands and watershed protections.

The board voted unanimously to require the applicants to place $5,000.00 in escrow so the village can hire an independent engineer to evaluate structural, geotechnical and environmental concerns.

The public hearing will remain open until at least October 26, when new information is expected.

Trustees also discussed delays in several NY Forward projects.

Tillapaugh expressed frustration with the lack of responsiveness from project engineers, saying, “We are waiting for a surveyor to come, and we have been waiting for some time now.”

Falk added that unanswered e-mails have slowed progress on Pioneer Alley and related downtown improvements.

The board approved updates to temporary use permit regulations, continued discussions on compact car parking definitions and reviewed committee reports ranging from public safety to watershed management.

The meeting can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir5blTw8apM.

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Darla M. Youngs
General Manager and Senior Editor