Amidst accusations of conflicts of interest and alleged reports of misinformation, New Scotlanders could be looking at a six-month extension on the commercial zone moratorium, according to town officials.
Commercial Zone Advisory Committee member Liz Kormos has been cited as having a potential conflict of interest in her role helping to draft new language for the town’s zoning laws, as she once acted as a consultant for a potential buyer of the Bender Melon Farm, a piece of real estate at the heart of the matter.
CZAC has suspended its meetings until the matter is resolved, according to Chairwoman Roz Robinson.
Town Supervisor Tom Dolin said an extension on the moratorium could be needed in order to allow more time to weigh all of the issues.
We might need to ask for a six-month extension, he said.
Representatives from Sphere Development, who is proposing a big-box retail outlet on the Bender Melon Farm, have said Kormos should step down from the CZAC.
`We want to see closure brought to this, but we also want to see a fair process,` said Greg Widrick, a managing partner at Sphere. `We’re waiting to see at this point how [the town] investigates the matter. The Kormos issue should have been raised at the beginning of the process.`
A temporary moratorium on new retail buildings larger than 30,000 square feet has been in place since May to allow officials, through recommendations by the Commercial Zone Advisory Committee, to draft zoning laws that better coincide with the town’s comprehensive plan. The moratorium was enacted in response to a commercial development proposed by Syracuse-based Sphere on the Bender Melon Farm property that would include a 137,000-square-foot `anchor` store.
Kormos is also a member of New Scotlanders for Sound Economic Development, known as NS4SED, and an outspoken supporter of a 50,000-square-foot size cap on retail developments in the town of New Scotland.
Robinson said despite the delays, CZAC is not completely stuck in its tracks, and Mike Welti of Behan Planning Associates, is still working on drafting language for the zoning law changes.
Behan was hired by the town to assist in the zoning changes.
Robinson said Welti will leave certain changes out, such as the controversial size cap for commercial buildings, until CZAC members can reconvene.
Robinson also said that some of the information in Kormos’ statement is incorrect, specifically her claim that Robinson received a letter from the owners of the Bender Melon Farm citing a conflict of interest. Robinson said she was responsible for investigating the matter when she found out about Kormos’ relationship with a bidder for the land. She said no one else on the committee or representing Bender was responsible for bringing up the issue.
A letter was later sent to Robinson with dates and a timeline regarding the matter, but it did not cite a conflict of interest, as Kormos’ statement claims, Robinson said.
Robinson reiterated that the matter is now in the Town Board’s hands.
Sphere’s Widrick said NS4SED `ostracizes and demonizes` any member of the Town Board, Planning Board, committee member or citizen for discussing a `middle ground.`
`It’s either NS4’s way or the highway,` he said. `They won’t sit down and talk to us.`
Widrick said that with the economy slumping the way it is, the town needs to generate tax revenue, and development is the best way to do it.
He said NS4SED is hiding behind the notion of `controlled development` to block any proposals.
A letter from Sphere to the Town Board dated Wednesday, Oct. 1, sets forth the company’s gripe with Kormos and NS4SED.
`In reality, it is now clear that [Kormos] may have manipulated people in order to benefit herself personally by driving the purchase price of the Bender Melon Farm down by removing its commercial value through a zoning change,` stated the letter.
Sphere said the advocacy group NS4SED has sent threatening e-mails to its partners and tenants, and has attempted to interfere with its business.
Sphere did not reply to attempts made by The Spotlight to obtain copies of those e-mails.
Sphere also stated in the letter that respecting the citizens’ desired interpretation of the comprehensive plan and still improving the tax base is a complex issue, but some have approached the subject in an `unprofessional` manner.
`Both of these goals are extremely important, serious and complex. The ultimate resolution of these complex issues should not be influenced, determined or clouded by unprofessional conduct, mob-mentality or intimidating tactics; rather it must result from a professional, selfless and fair process that makes all the citizens of New Scotland proud, not just the loudest ones,` the letter stated.
Kormos’ attorney, Peter Lauricella, said Kormos has acted only behalf of the town.
`She wants to get back to work on the CZAC process as soon as possible,` he said.
He said he understands that there may be some discussion next week related to the matter.
Lauricella said he would not recommend any counter-action if the town drops the matter, although he has not spoken with Kormos specifically regarding the possibility. “