Provide public water and businesses will come knocking.
The Town of Bethany is anticipating a need to rezone the hamlet of East Bethany on Rt. 63 to commercial /industrial after public water’s arrival. Grants are being lined up for the water expansion and the District 5 Water District is looking to go out to bid by this summer according to the Town of Bethany.
The area from East Bethany LeRoy road to one mile past East road is now an area of interest to at least two businesses that want to build off of Rt. 63.
A propane distribution facility is looking to construct an industrial propane truck depot with trucks coming in overnight to fill up and the use of small trucks during the day. The propane distribution company is looking to purchase one parcel of property and part of another from one owner across from Paul road.
The second business looking to open up in the area is Dollar General. The hamlet is currently zoned as agricultural/residential and is considered a “Smart Growth” area according to the Town of Bethany Comprehensive Plan which was created in 2016.
On Thursday evening, the Bethany Planning Board held a work session and continued to mull over the size and the exact location of the area that they would like to rezone as commercial/industrial. During the two hour meeting, creating a commercial buffer zone along Rt. 63 with an industrial zone located behind that seemed to be a possibility and according to Planning Board member Steve Wells, the idea fits in with the current Comprehensive Plan.
The 2016 Comprehensive Plan says this about industrial land use:
The Land Use Plan designates as Industrial, two areas of existing industrial use and some adjacent undeveloped land for industrial expansion or future new uses. If a need arises, additional adjacent land could be designated for industrial use. Any major new industrial facilities should be accessed from NYS 63 or NYS 20, but should be laid out to use more interior land than highway frontage. There is an existing 48.4 acre class II wetland (ST-31) located southwest of NYS 63 which could provide an excellent buffer between the more intensive commercial and industrial development to be directed to the East Bethany hamlet area and less intensive residential and agricultural uses expected to predominate in the remainder of the Town.
It is likely that any identified industrial area may continue in agricultural use for some time. However, it is important that the Land Use Plan designate an appropriate area for future industrial development. While such development takes time to occur, the industrial designation should discourage continued residential development and avoid future land use conflicts between residential and industrial uses.
Wells stressed to the rest of the board that they should be looking at what do we want to see, not what we don’t want to see.
“We need a little restaurant, a hardware shop and an ice cream shop,” says Wells.
I’m not comfortable with just picking certain spots without the homeowners being aware, I’m uncomfortable with that.”
Planning Board Chairman Tom Foss says that it is important to at least get the zoning in place so the town is prepared when the water district comes to fruition.
“I don’t think we should rezone based on one type of use,” says Foss.
“The Town should be prepared to deal with development and how we want it and how we want to facilitate it.” He says this is why they are exploring these options now.
“What we are talking about is getting the zoning in place, that doesn’t mean the propane thing is ever going to get here until they are in front of us.”
According to the Comprehensive Plan under Goals and Policies:
The Town should permit only those types of industry that would have significant benefits to the Town and its residents in terms of revenue and employment, while having a minimal negative impact upon the environment, agriculture, and residents.
- Industrial uses should be encouraged to locate on marginal rather than prime agricultural land.
- Areas appropriate for industrial use should be located on state or county roads and should be appropriately buffered.
Planning Board member Ray Cipriano, who has been on the board for 20 years says because the propane distribution facility couldn’t be put in a commercial zone, they want to zone the area industrial to accommodate the developer. Cipriano says its something that doesn’t fit in the hamlet.
“I am not against the idea of an industrial propane truck depot, but not in the hamlet of East Bethany,” says Cipriano.
“It goes against everything in all of our zoning. What good is our comprehensive plan. They want it so bad that they are willing to change the comprehensive plan. I think it could be put further out on Rt. 63 towards Rt. 20, there is a lot of marginal farm land there.”
Cipriano also is concerned about the dangers of such a facility in that location in the hamlet. “Its rare for a propane explosion, but it could happen.”
Traffic and the speed limit are also a concern. The speed limit in the hamlet is 45, but according to Cipriano a lot of trucks and other vehicles are going 60 or 70mph through the area.
Foss says the board cannot control the traffic issue and if they are going to look into traffic the board should quit now if they have to have that discussion.
“What is the point if it upsets everybody,” says Board member Linda Jackett.
“Its not going to make a great big difference. Is it really helping the town? Why are we spending so much time on this? I don’t like that the industrial part is too close to the houses on Townline road. I feel for the people who live in that section. You are our neighbors and we are all together in this.”
Board member Tim Leary says the board is only on step two of the process and the board needs to slow down.
“We have time,” says Leary.
“We need to get our verbiage right, our comprehensive plan is going to change even if water falls flat on its face. If this comes around again we don’t have to do this again. With or without water, the comprehensive plan is going to change.”