Alabama Town Supervisor Rob Crossen said his letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state representatives on Home Rule may be ready to send later this week. (Photo by Brian Quinn)
Town of Alabama Supervisor Rob Crossen says with the state walking over municipalities’ rights, he’ll share his support for Home Rule in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and the area’s representatives in the Senate and Assembly.
“Now, it seems the government – the state – wants to encroach even more on our Home Rule rights. I drafted a letter that speaks about process, procedures, constitution of New York State … how it relates to what’s going on at STAMP (Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) and how it relates with solar and battery, and fuse storage,” he said during Monday’s Town Board meeting.
“In my opinion, Article 10 of the Constitution gives local people the right for land use regulation and zoning, with certain guide rails the state provides. What they’ve been doing lately are not guide rails. But now they’re intervening in a lot of our lives. That’s not what the Constitution in our state says.”
Crossen asked the board for permission to send the letter after some minor changes Town Attorney Mark Boylan asked for are made.
“It’s not advocating (for) or trying to disapprove any project. It’s just about the law and how it works,” Crossen said. In response to a question from a community member, the town supervisor said he would have the letter published on the town Facebook page when it’s ready.
After the meeting, Crossen said, “Home Rule is the standard … every town and village uses, and city. The state Constitution affords the towns, villages and cities (the right to) regulate their own land use within certain parameters. With the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) allowing solar and, when battery energy storage is with it, they allow battery energy storage, contrary to local zoning laws that are well-thought.”
There are also comprehensive plans and agricultural plans, in addition to zoning, he said. Public hearings are held over zoning.
“For the state to just come in and walk over us is not right,” he said.
Crossen said the letter will go to Gov. Kathy Hochul and area State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senate Sen. George Borrello.
“They’re on board. I talk to them on a regular basis about Home Rule,” he said.
The letter will also be on the town’s website, possibly this Thursday, according to Crossen.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Crossen said he and board member Kevin Fisher will walk through the Edwards Vacuum site at STAMP, with other board members welcome to join them if they wish. Edwards has a temporary certificate of occupancy. Rob Klavoon of engineering firm Wendel Companies said a couple of lighting issues at the site still have to be addressed.
Edwards, a leader in vacuum and abatement equipment for the semiconductor industry, will have a $319 million dry pump plant at STAMP.
After leaving the meeting, Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) President and CEO Mark Masse said Edwards Vacuum is waiting on a final certificate of occupancy.
“They can get in and do training and stuff like that. Once they get the final, they can start operations,” he said.
Masse said Edwards is working to address a “punch list” of project items. He said he doesn’t know when operations will begin at the site.
“I assume it will be soon. There can’t be many items left,” he said. “They’ve got equipment installed now. They’re hiring people. They’re doing training, testing. They’re allowed to do that under the temporary. Once they get the full (certificate), they can start manufacturing.”