Cortland pauses review of C-2 Highway Commercial zoning changes; special meeting set

The Village of Cortland’s Planning & Zoning committee presented proposed text amendments to the C-2 Highway Commercial District on Sept. 11, and the Village Board paused the review and set a special meeting for Sept. 30 to complete consideration.

Planning & Zoning Chair Barb Tegley, with committee members Dale Kisling and Chad Ziemann present, walked the board through multiple proposed changes to Article 5 of the zoning code. The presentation removed some existing permitted principal uses (including mini-storage facilities, truck and freight terminals, and electric and telephone substations) and added new permitted uses such as business offices, sales and services, and food service establishments.

The committee proposed a new special-use category for commercial condominiums that would allow multitenant commercial buildings with residential units on upper floors; those residential units would be required to be at least 1,100 square feet and have a minimum of two bedrooms. The committee also discussed screening requirements and whether to require a solid fence or allow alternatives such as a tree line or other options specifically allowed by the village board.

Significant process changes were proposed for new commercial construction: a new Stormwater Planning requirement would obligate applicants to submit a drainage assessment comparing pre- and post-construction runoff, with any net increase to be mitigated on site and demonstrated on professional-engineer-prepared site plans. A new Traffic Planning requirement would similarly require a traffic impact assessment prepared by a professional engineer; if the assessment warrants improvements, associated costs would fall to the developer. Board members expressed concern that requiring traffic studies for all new commercial construction might be disproportionately expensive for smaller businesses.

Given the volume of changes and remaining items to consider, the board voted to stop review at Article 5.79 and scheduled a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 to continue the C-2 review. A proposed change of zoning from AG-1 Agriculture Residential to C-2 Highway Commercial was postponed to October; a future land-use change will also be required before any rezoning.

Public comment during the meeting also raised other local issues, including drainage concerns at 2nd and Washington, a floor test showing 7% asbestos at the American Legion hall and a request that a crosswalk on Hwy 77 at 4th Street be placed on the October agenda. Nextlink expressed interest in bringing underground fiber to Cortland and will send contract information to the village attorney for review.

What happens next: The board will reconvene Sept. 30 to resume the C-2 text amendment review and will consider any required future-land-use and rezoning steps before any ordinance adoption.