The mixed-use commercial and residential development known as Cortlandville Commons, proposed by Regan Development Corporation, is on hold after state agencies declined to partially fund the project.
Larry Regan, the president of Regan Development Corporation, told The Cortland Voice on Wednesday that the New York State Housing and Community Renewal (HCR) deemed the location of the project “problematic” after conducting a site suitability review. The mixed-use apartment complex was proposed to be situated on the intersection of Route 13 and Bennie Road in Cortlandville. In early March, the project was declared by the planning board as having little-to-no-significant environmental impact.
“They felt the open pit gravel mine bordering the rear of the site would have an impact on the development,” Regan said. “They also felt that since there were a couple of industrial mixed-use buildings in the area, they suggested that a better site would be suitable in Cortlandville.”
Bruce Weber, the town of Cortlandville zoning officer, noted as of now the application for the project was dropped from the town’s process. Weber declined to comment on the concerns raised by HCR. He added, however, that the concern with the gravel mine could have been raised by the town or the town’s planning board if the had been subjected to the typical NYS Environmental Quality Review (SEQR).
“The project never got to the point where the town completed the SEQR review,” Weber said. “During that process, this issue may have come up, but currently there is no telling.”
Regan said his agency did not agree with the state’s findings.
“We did not feel it would be in everyone’s best interest to challenge them,” he said. “We are currently reviewing several different options for alternative sites.”
Weber said the town is happy to continue working with Regan Development.
“They were very cooperative, so we will see where things go,” Weber said.
James Easton, a civil engineer hired by Regan Development to work on the project, said in an email to the planning board that the discrepancies with HCR boiled down to one of the state agencies’ departments.
“It was a matter of perspective by this one department and not what anyone did or did not do,” Easton said. “It is hard to understand HCR’s reasoning based upon the information provided about the mine, but it is their opinion based upon this factor alone that the project cannot move forward with them.”