Residents, commission raise transparency and floodplain concerns after Binghamton Plaza outreach

Committee member Glenn (committee member) said the consultant’s presentation at the public engagement event was light on detail and inconsistent with expectations: "So the slides, didn't contain all 6 project proposals and we don't believe he's making those slides available," he said, adding that most of the meeting was informal drop-in discussion around easels.

The group said the consultant MKSK (identified by participants) was conducting preliminary work funded by an approximately $75,000 grant. Members raised environmental and land-use concerns, including proposals that contemplate housing in floodplain areas and the possibility—raised by one member—of a direct interstate interchange geometry into the plaza that could require property changes affecting “probably in the range of a 100” house parcels. Members asked city staff to confirm whether the consultant had reviewed the city’s comprehensive plan and to request that project proposals and slide materials be posted online ahead of the next public meeting so residents can review them in writing.

Committee members also noted that the advisory committee for the project appeared to include many officials, agency representatives and at least one developer attorney, and relatively few North Side resident representatives. The commission asked staff to seek clearer documentation from the consultant about proposed concepts, the project timeline, and plans for posting meeting materials for broader community review.