Advertisement. Advertise with us

Silver Creek Housing OK'd

After Last Plea By Citizens

Oneonta Resident Kathy Hays and Steve Underhill, the development project manager for Housing Visions, square off in front of a map of the proposed Silver Creek project at the City Planning Meeting this evening. (Ian Austin/ AllOTEGO.com)
Kathy Hays, Oneonta, and Steve Underhill, the development project manager for Housing Visions, square off in front of a map of the proposed Silver Creek project at the City Planning Meeting this evening. (Ian Austin/ AllOTEGO.com)

By LIBBY CUDMORE • for AllOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – Despite a final few voices of public outcry, Housing Visions' proposed 48 unit Silver Creek senior and family housing project got site plan approval from the Oneonta City Planning Board at a special meeting called this evening at City Hall.

"This is a good thing for Oneonta," said Mayor Gary Herzig, who served on the Housing Task Force that brought Housing Visions to the city.  "We're going to take down abandoned buildings and eyesores and turn them into affordable, quality housing.  This is Oneonta at its best."

The site plan was unanimously approved by the board, who also decided against doing a full environmental impact statement, citing that the SEQR answered all questions.  The site plans for projects at 63-65 Spruce Street and at West and Columbia were approved at earlier meetings.

But it wasn't a victory without detractors.  At a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, neighbors voiced concerns for two hours. And although public comment wasn't scheduled for the special meeting, Council Member Bob Brzozowski, Seventh Ward, asked that the public be allowed to speak.

You have reached your limit of 3 free articles

To Continue Reading

 

Our hard-copy and online publications cover the news of Otsego County by putting the community back into the newspaper. We are funded entirely by advertising and subscriptions. With your support, we continue to offer local, independent reporting that is not influenced by commercial or political ties.

Posted

Tags

Related Articles

Editorial: A Tale of Two Housing Units

Need for housing of all types has been identified by the City of Oneonta in its own comprehensive plan. Need for housing of all types has been identified by the Village of Cooperstown and by the NY Forward Local Planning Committee. Why, then, are the RSS and Averill Road projects so controversial?…

Montanti: Enough Is Enough

We, the concerned citizens of greater Oneonta, are frustrated by the apparent lack of transparency in the administration of our City Hall government. Dear Mayor Drnek and city staff, your behaviors of ignoring us are clear and your unwillingness to listen and act accordingly is causing this divide in our city.…

Mayoral candidate Len Carson faces backlash over vaccine billboard ads

Billboards in the town of Oneonta owned by DC Marketing featured anti-vaccination messages last week. (Contributed). Mayoral candidate Len Carson faces backlash over vaccine billboard ads By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — Len Carson, the Fifth Ward Common Council member and Republican mayoral candidate, received some heat at the council's meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17, for approving billboard ads through his company, DC Marketing, that presented false information about coronavirus vaccines. Jennifer Hill spoke at the meeting at City Hall, saying the ads were dangerous and strongly condemning Carson for his role in putting up the ads. Len Carson…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through July 31st, new or lapsed annual subscribers to the hard copy “Freeman’s Journal” (which also includes unlimited access to AllOtsego.com), or electronically to AllOtsego.com, can also give back to one of their favorite Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.

SUBSCRIBE