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Legislature refers developer-backed Auburn housing infrastructure grant to full body
Summary
Committee members referred a proposed county infrastructure grant application for a Park Grove LLC 70-unit market-rate housing project in the City of Auburn to the full legislature for presentation and action; the grant application deadline and program rules were discussed.
Cayuga County planning staff and legislators discussed a developer-proposed market-rate housing project adjacent to Bluefield Manor in the City of Auburn and agreed to refer a proposed county infrastructure grant application to the full legislature so the developer and city can present details.
The county has an April 1 application deadline for the state's county infrastructure grant program administered through Empire State Development (ESD). Planning staff described a proposed project by Park Grove LLC to build approximately 70 market-rate units, with estimated one-bedroom rents in the materials of about $1,700 to $1,800. The program's maximum award per county is $1 million; staff said the developer will reimburse the county for the $250 application fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of staff time devoted to the application.
Planning director Carrie said the developer's project is "shovel ready" but has a funding gap for water, sewer and road extensions; the county can apply for up to $1 million and may include multiple projects but not exceed the cap. "Because we're supporting more than 10 units, our max award is a million dollars," Carrie said. Staff also said Empire State Development indicated the project met program criteria in a nonbinding pre-check.
Committee action and next steps: Committee members said they wanted a full presentation to the legislature with the developer and City of Auburn staff present; one legislator moved to refer the matter to the full legislative meeting. Committee members discussed whether tabling the application would jeopardize the April 1 deadline; staff advised that referring the resolution to the full legislature would permit presentation and action before the deadline. The committee agreed to refer the application to the full body for presentation and vote.
Why it matters: If awarded, the county infrastructure grant would fund public-works extensions that reduce developer risk and could enable roughly 70 market-rate rental units to proceed in the City of Auburn; the project is not subsidized — staff and the developer described it as market-rate without HUD/subsidy funding.
Community concerns and benefits discussed: Staff said the developer intended to integrate amenities such as a dog park and pickleball courts and to make those amenities available to the adjacent Bluefield Manor residents; a staffer said some of those amenities would be donated to the City of Auburn if the project proceeds. Legislators requested a detailed presentation to assess impacts and asked clarifying questions about location (in-city vs. outside city) and community benefits.
Ending: The committee did not vote to approve grant funds at this meeting; it referred the proposed application and developer presentation to the full legislature for a detailed review and possible action before the April 1 application deadline.
