Oneonta council sets timeline for 27 Market Street decision as public debate grows

Mayor Dranek opened an extended discussion of 27 Market Street on March 18, saying the council has been considering the site for more than a year and a half and announcing a timetable for further public presentations and a council decision.

The council will host a full presentation by RSS on April 1, followed by a meeting on April 15 at which the council expects to hear alternative proposals for the 27 Market Street footprint. Mayor Dranek said the council will vote on May 6 on whether to sell the property.

Council members and members of the public used the meeting’s petition and public comment segments to raise and contest facts about the proposed development and the community process. Concerns voiced by multiple commenters included transparency around negotiations with RSS, the timing and level of any project “pilot” payments, parking for downtown customers and residents, the supportive-housing component described by RSS, and the potential for conflicts of interest if private actors acquired the property.

Several speakers referenced a March 4 exchange and a letter submitted to RSS by a group of community members. Brian Shaughnessy, who said he circulated a letter signed by 11 residents, told the council that RSS had not answered several questions from the letter and accused RSS’s leadership of not addressing concerns. Shaughnessy said RSS could not reasonably commit to a pilot payment amount until they secure funding, a point he emphasized to caution against counting on a substantial payment.

Other residents defended RSS and urged civil discourse. Zanna McKay said the letter circulated by opponents appeared to represent a small group (11 signers) and criticized language she called misleading; she said RSS staff provided detailed information in response to questions. Charles Sherrod warned against what he described as local conflict and said proposals by a landlord to acquire the parcel posed a risk of conflicts of interest.

Several council members said they were open to examining an LLC structure proposed by some community members as a possible mechanism for community-driven development. The city attorney and council members cautioned, however, that an LLC can take many legal forms and would require more work to define the structure, responsibilities and legal limits; the attorney noted the “chicken and egg” nature of forming an entity before agreeing objectives.

Speakers and council members also discussed process steps: the mayor encouraged “watch parties” for recorded presentations; members said the April 1 RSS presentation will include questions and answers and that council members would have several weeks before the May 6 vote to review materials. Several commenters urged more in-depth analysis of parking and long-term downtown economic impacts before any sale.

No formal council vote on 27 Market Street occurred on March 18. The council scheduled further presentations and set May 6 as the date for a decision.