My Email to Concerned Citizens for Neighborhood Preservation

Good afternoon friends,

Last week the Cortland County Legislature approved conceptual plans to relocate the Office on Aging to the South Main Street site. This was based upon a study performed and presented by Barton and Loguidice (B&L) and JCM Associates of Syracuse, in which the space needs of the Aging Office were reviewed, and those needs laid out with its associated parking on the Woods and Moose properties. The result is a building of approximately 22,400 square feet, with 90 parking spaces on the 1.45 acre site which the County now owns. For information, all of the residential properties from the failed deal in 2005/06 have been settled in court and are no longer being considered for purchase.

I voted for the resolution for two main reasons:

1) I felt that the site can accommodate the building with some revisions, and will more appropriately fit into the scale and character of the neighborhood than the proposed (failed) combined health facility from 2005.

2) Moving the Aging office will allow for the development of a master plan at the Cortland County Office Building, and can co-locate all of the Health services into one building by relocating the Mental Health on Clayton Avenue and the Horizon House on Grant Street into the CCOB.

I believe that the building and site will require further review and revisions, including the final orientation of the building, access to the site and the "final" size of the building. Although the building was optimized for 22,400 square feet, the needs of the Aging office building was closer to 17,500 square feet. There is 5000 square feet of building, plus considerable basement space that was added to the building to optimize it on the site. This item will require assessment and determination as to whether this space is necessary and if it impacts the overall site due to the added size to the building. In addition, further development of the site will most likely lead to building aspect/footprint and rotate the building so the parking will be accessed from Main Street. The proposed site includes one way in and out via public alley and assumed easements, neither of which I support. I am in contact with County Planning and will be working with the consultants to ensure our neighbor streets are safe. I have attached the pdf of the report and the site for your information.

We are in the process of soliciting the design proposal for this site, as well as the DMV/ Board of Elections on River Street. Once the proposals are approved, I will be working with the Buildings and Grounds Committee and Kathie Wilcox (LD-5 Legislator), along with the consultants, the Aging Office, the Planning Department to develop three options of the South Main Street building and site design. These options will be reviewed the neighborhood residents . I encourage your attendance and input and will provide notice of those public meetings.

I thank you for your support and look forward to this project and serving the community as your elected representative in the County Legislature.

Regards,
Chad Loomis, PE
County Legislator, Ward 8
B&G Committee Chair

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