Trustees list two land parcels for sale

PENN YAN—Trustees voted to declare two village-owned properties s surplus at their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17. One is a three-acre landlocked parcel on McKinley Avenue. The second is a 126-foot parcel on the north side of Lake Street between Liberty Street and East Main Street. Director of Public Works Richard Osgood said there is some interest in the properties. The village has no use for either one. Village attorney EdBrockman advised the village to determine the value of the properties.
In other business: The Penn Yan village board continued discussion of waterfront development. At the December 2010 meeting, Elm Street resident Anne Gunn expressed concern about a call for easements on properties along the Keuka Lake Outlet. Easements would make public access to the shore possible through construction of walkways. Trustee Wayne Davidson said the planning committee is interested in meeting with Gunn to discuss her concerns. Davidson said the village master plan calls for a walkway on the north side of the outlet. He said it appears the Gunn property is not near a proposed path.
Brockman said he had read the proposed law as written would require any construction in the Waterfront Development and Conservation District to give up an easement. Brockman said the requirement to give up an easement does not seem to fit in the master plan. He continued, “It could cause additional problems down the road. In this age, a state permit is needed for almost anything.” Davidson asked what the committee needs to do if changes are made to the present proposal. Brockman said a new public hearing and submission to the Yates County Planning Board would be required. The end product would not be on the books for a couple of months. Davidson said the delay shouldn’t affect the project.
• Approved a local law amending the code to change the method of billing for water and sewer. The new method will use Equivalent Housing Units (EDU) to assist in making charges more equitable. Multiple dwellings would have a higher EDU than single family homes. Assistant Public Works Director Brent Bodine said the action at this meeting is just the first step in drafting and seeking approval to change the law.
• Passed a resolution to apply for a $4 million interest free financing from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and to choose the 20-year repayment option.
• By unanimous role call vote approved resolutions for the Main Street and Court Street Water Main Replacement Project. Also approved was application to Rural Development for a PreDevelopment Planning Grant.
• Scheduled a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15 for comments related to proposed discontinuance of designated streets in the village. Mayor Bob Church said these are “paper streets.”
• Asked organizers of the “Pickin’ in the Street” Festival that is planned for Saturday, Aug. 20 to provide plans for the event at the February village board meeting.
• Approved the village as Lead Agency when applying for the state Department of Environmental Conservation Urban Forestry Grant and to proceed with the grant application process.
• Church asked Recreation Director Dan Doyle to present a plan for charging non-village residents for parking at the village boat launch site.
• The board heard a presentation from Keuka Arts Festival organizer Chris Vaughan about the event, scheduled in June.
• Approved the annual Penn Yan Area CROP Hunger Walk for Sunday, May 1. The event is sponsored by the Penn Yan Area Council of Churches.
• Approved the annual Penn Yan Fire Department Fire Fighter’s parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The parade route will begin at East Main and Lake Streets and end at the Firemen’s Field on Waddell Avenue. The parade is scheduled close to the beginning of the Liberty Street Bridge replacement project.
The next meeting of the Penn Yan Village Board will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15 in the village office building on Elm Street.