| Welcome to the Cooperstown Crier |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
03-22-2007 The R1-A residential zone along Estli Avenue _ an area that includes Woodside Hall _ should not be re-zoned. There is currently a discussion about changing the area from the most restrictive R1-A designation to an R1 zone that would open it up, by special permit, to tourist accommodations, hotels and schools. It would also reduce the minimum lot size from 120,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet _ a reduction from 2.75 acres to slightly less than one-half acre. The discussion was initiated by a proposal from Marc and Sherrie Kinglsey, owners of the Inn at Cooperstown, to convert the historic Woodside Hall into an upscale hotel. ``We feel our proposed project is a good one for Woodside Hall, given the nature and scale of the building and the size and privacy of the lot. We do not feel that running a hotel on this property will generate any more noise or traffic than the previous use of the property as an adult assisted living facility,'' they wrote in a letter to the planning board. Neighbors began lining up against the project almost immediately. ``There was a reason why the zone was made R1-A and I have really not heard any good reason to change that zoning,'' said John Freehafer during a public hearing last week. ``I worry about opening Pandora's Box to other commercial interests.'' We agree that a hotel would be a good re-adaptive use for Woodside Hall and would heartily endorse it if it wasn't in an R1-A zone. The Woodside Hall parcel cannot be re-zoned individually or it would likely be challenged in court as spot-zoning. To re-zone the entire R1-A district along Estli Avenue would invite tourist accommodations, reduce the minimum lot size and possibly result in subdivisions to create highly sought after village building lots. And the change would continue to erode the intent of the village zoning law to preserve the residential integrity of the village. Residents are already living with the result of years of variances to expand tourist accommodations happily granted by the zoning board of appeals before it came to a full understanding of the stringent requirements of the use variance process. But one of the biggest reasons we disagree is because making a change to the zoning law to accommodate one couple's plans for an upscale hotel would only make it more difficult to say `no' to the next plan that walks in the door. It is not up to the village to make a business opportunity or the sale of property more profitable for the parties involved by tailoring the zoning law to fit their individual needs. Changes as serious as redrawing residential zones should only occur when there are compelling reasons that are embraced by the entire community. |
Copyright 2007, Cooperstown Crier, Cooperstown, NY All rights reserved