Things have been busy in Tioga County with the kick off of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the near completion of several major projects that have been taking place in Owego, like The Belva Lockwood Inn and Gateway Building, and the continued work at Owego’s Parkview Hotel.
We ran a separate story this week about the DRI, and the open call for project proposals. Complete information on how to submit a project proposal and future public meetings are included in this story.
Owego Village Trustee Rusty Fuller delivers a question on Tuesday during an open meeting with owner and developer Sue Kimmel, of Two Plus Four Construction. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Meanwhile the owner of Two Plus Four Construction, Sue Kimmel, along with Peter Wilson, vice president of construction for Two Plus Four Construction offered a public meeting on Tuesday to answer more questions and concerns from area residents regarding their proposed construction of affordable housing on the south side of Owego.
Some of the things discussed included walk-ability, where the tenants will come from, and the possible disruption of surrounding neighborhoods.
Kimmel stated at the conclusion of the meeting, however, that until the property is zoned correctly, with Kimmel wanting the designation changed from R2 to R3, the ideas and concerns are a “moot point.”
At a previous meeting, Kimmel had stated that they didn’t need the zoning change to build on the property. On Tuesday, however, Wilson stated that if the zoning change isn’t approved they wouldn’t move forward.
If the zoning changes and the affordable housing development moves forward, the owners would be operating under the PILOT, or Payment-in-lieu-of-taxes program for a 15 year term.
Kimmel stated that it’s a set schedule of approximately $24,000 to $25,000 per year for 15 years, and could increase.
Village Trustee Rusty Fuller, who was in attendance at the meeting, clarified for those in attendance that the village would only get 31.5 percent of the tax money, and that 46.9 percent would go to the school, and 21.6 percent would go to the town and county.
The Village Board will be the ones to make the decision on the zoning change, and will continue to discuss the request at their upcoming board meeting planned for Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Countryside Community Center, located at 9 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego.
Wendy Post is the editor of The Owego Pennysaver Press in Owego, N.Y. and The Troy Pennysaver Plus in Troy, Pa.
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