VACANT LOTS APPROVED 
LOCAL BUSINESS DENIED!
At the March 24th meeting of the Town of Owego Panning Board three parcels adjacent to an area now zoned HIC (highway interchange) were presented to the board for a zoning change from residential to HIC.  One of the parcels (#153.07-139.00) is half in the HIC zone and half in the residential zone.  (HIC permits business uses only with a special permit issued by the the Town Zoning Board and is located near a state highway, the properties are also restricted even more since they are near a town water supply).   After over an hour of presentation on the change to HIC zoning it was time for a vote on the three properties.
 

1) Property #153.07-1-40.11- owned by Elbert Adams and Robert Taylor (located on Main St. behind the Blue Dolphin)    PASSED (vote 4-3)

2) Property #153.07-1-39.00 - owned by Nicholas J Rossi Jr & Constance J Rossi (Nick's Garage on Main Street, an existing business with part of the property zoned HIC and the front on Main St. with the building zoned Residential)   DENIED (vote 3-4)

3) Property #153.07-1-40.12 - owned by Nicholas J Rossi Jr (vacant lot east of Nick's Garage on Main Street)    PASSED (vote 4-3)

Town of Owego officials have many times stated that the Town is "Business Friendly", many in the business community have noted different.  This decision today by the town Planning Board makes one wonder if the town is really "Business Friendly".

The board passes two vacant lots, one with the hopes of a hotel, and the other with no plans for development. Then with out a batting an eye they denied a locally owned business, operating for over 25 years as a non compliance use (the property has been used for business for over 50 yrs)   The fact that part of the property is already in HIC zone was not even taken into consideration when voted on. 
Just days before the Tioga County Planning Board approved all three properties for the zoning change.

After listing to all the remarks by the board and hearing the final votes I just had to tell them what I think of their decision.  "This is the dumbest decision I have ever heard, approving two vacant lots, and denying an existing business.  This is really dumb"  FJB

Now it is up to the Town Board.  The decision by the Planning Board is just a recommendation, the final decision will come from the Town Board after a public hearing on April 21 at 7:30 pm.  I hope that they make a smarter, more "Business Friendly" decision.

photos by - Amanda Brown