OSWEGO, NY – At Monday night’s Physical Services Committee, Alderman Mike Joyce (R-Seventh Ward) requested a discussion regarding having the city pave Sophie Drive.
The development is in the Seventh Ward and is owned by John Darling.
Joyce pointed out that the money the city spends to help out the developer will be returned to the city in just a few years in the form of property taxes.
It would cost approximately $11,000 for the city to put down the base coat of blacktop, he noted.
Each of the developer’s eight townhouses would be assessed for more than $178,000.
“So, in about five years, with our labor cost and everything, we should see a return on our money,” Joyce said. “I think this is a good, positive start in development … the city will be showing a return within a certain period of time.”
Council Vice President Connie Cosemento (D-First Ward) pointed out that another developer did much the same thing (about the same size) in the First Ward and didn’t come to the city to ask for any favors.
“I don’t feel the city should get in the development business,” she said. “Our equipment takes on a huge hit when we’re doing larger projects like this.”
The city is taking a chance that the properties actually get sold and put on the tax rolls, she added.
She’d rather not use taxpayers’ dollars to develop property.
“I just think it’s a bad thing for a city to do,” she said.
Joyce noted that the developer is separating sanitary and storm sewers; that’s something the DEC wants the city to do.
“He’s really developing the Seventh Ward the way we need it,” he said, calling it “a great asset for the city.”
“I think we’re being developer-friendly by doing this,” he continued. “We need to grow as a city.”
“We don’t need to grow at the cost of the taxpayers,” Cosemento responded.
“In the past, the city has gone out of its way to assist developers with various things,” Mayor Randy Bateman said.
There is one, he added, that’s left a bad taste in the city’s mouth “because the whole thing sits empty right now.”
“I guess you could say we should help developers,” he said.
Bateman said he is in favor of continuing to discuss the situation with the developer to find a compromise that’s beneficial to both parties.
For example, he noted that if the developer doesn’t complete the entire project, that he give the city an amount equivalent to the tax revenue.
Talks will continue between the developer and the city prior to the council taking any action.
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I thought this was a good idea until Joyce got involved doing the Gossekk thing, paying for the developers projects!
Darling was known for being a man of integrity, I guess that has changed??