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Panel sets plan to trim city zones
ONEONTA _ The city's Zoning Task Force, working with an outside consultant, has generated a preliminary proposal to trim the 22 zoning districts in the city to eight.
The effort, which began earlier this year, has also led to a proposal that has three times as many definitions than what exist in the city's current zoning code, which dates to the 1970s, Oneonta Mayor John Nader said.
Nader said the more definitions, the better.
Zoning laws in the state typically prohibit a use if it is not explicitly defined as acceptable in a particular zoning district.
A zoning district is a geographic area within a village, city or town where development and use of properties are regulated.
The current zoning code is confusing and needs to be streamlined, Nader said.
"We're tying to do this to both simplify and clarify the zoning code," Nader said.
Bergmann Associates of Rochester was hired this year to assist in redrafting the zoning map.
"We are going to try and complete this by the end of the year," Nader said.
The eight new zones, which were released after a Zoning Task Force meeting Thursday, are as follows: Low-density residential; traditional residential; transitional residential; downtown mixed-use; gateway mixed-use; commercial/industrial; institutional; public/semipublic land.
The 22 zoning districts in the 4.4-square-mile city include eight distinct residential zones.
The city's comprehensive plan, adopted in early 2007, includes a future land-use map that was generated with input from the public. The nonbinding map has seven land-use areas.
Preserving single-family homes was one of the key concerns brought forth in the comprehensive plan and in the months of collecting data from the public.
Property and business owners will not be forced to change the use of their properties to conform with the new regulations if they are adopted by the Common Council.
"No one is contemplating terminating any existing uses," Nader said.
But future changes to any properties would have to conform to the new rules, he said.
Nader said a public meeting on the changes is anticipated this fall, and there may need to be official public hearings before the Common Council can vote on adopting the changes.
The Zoning Task Force consists of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of the Common Council, representatives from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeal, Tim Hayes from the Center for Community and Economic Development, a college student representative and former aldermen Keith Bott and Patti Hanley.
Bergmann Associates has a $75,570 contract with the city.
About 35 city residents attended a public meeting in July, at which the task force solicited input.
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Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Anna L. Bliss COOPERSTOWN _ Anna (Nonnie) Bliss, died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown on Sunday evening, May 9, 2010. She was 88.
- Holocaust survivor to speak ONEONTA _ Hartwick College will host a lecture by Holocaust survivor Helen Sperling at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Celebration Room of Shineman Chapel House on the college campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- Ignore protesters; Arizona law protects citizens Congratulations go out to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state's legislature for having a backbone and passing a tough new law dealing with illegal immigration.
- Holocaust survivor to speak ONEONTA _ Hartwick College will host a lecture by Holocaust survivor Helen Sperling at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Celebration Room of Shineman Chapel House on the college campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
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3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. - Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.
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Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
