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ROTTERDAM
Figures indicate development boom
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Rotterdam’s construction industry is booming, according to 2007 building permit figures released by the town this week.
    The town added more than $53.7 million worth of projects last year, even though the total number of building permits dropped from 532 to 522. This figure dwarfs the town’s previous 10-year high of $39.2 million in 2005, when 575 building permits were on record.
    “This administration has been going out there and attracting positive development,” said Michael Griesemer, the town’s public works coordinator. “When you bring in big positive growth, these are the numbers you see.”
    A d d i - tions, alt e r a t i o n s , and repairs represented the majority of the total c o n s t r u c - tion cost, accounting for $20.9 million in 2007. The town issued 393 permits, representing a slight increase over the previous year’s figure.
    The town also saw 78 new residences built, totaling $19.6 million of new construction. Rotterdam added 14 new businesses, representing $13.2 million.
    Building permit fees jumped from $112,536 in 2006 to $136,980 last year. This was more than during the previous four years, according to figures provided by the town.
    Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the increase in total construction value shows the town’s continued growth during a time when other areas are witnessing the effects of a cooling market. He said the outlook in Rotterdam seems to suggest the trend will continue.
    “In Rotterdam, we’ve been relatively stable over time,” he said, “In the last few years, we’ve seen a tremendous growth.”
    More construction also means more money for the town’s parkland fund, which is bankrolled through new development fees and is responsible for improvements to park facilities. Tommasone said last year’s construction boom added more than $70,000 to the fund, which now amounts to about $116,000.
    But while Tommasone endorsed the construction numbers, he cautioned the town must improve its infrastructure. He said proposed projects such as the Burdeck Street sewer line and the Rotterdam Junction water tower are necessary to maintain reasonable growth.
    Tommasone also stressed the need to finish updates to the town’s comprehensive plan, so that development can be positively guided. He said performance standards could be adopted as early as this summer and the comprehensive plan update by the fall.
    “Without a plan, the town will go where we’ve been,” he said, “There is a future that exists beyond today.”

What about Hamburg street ?????????

East vs West.....does a dog s&^% in it's own cage???

This town is in desparate need of an updated comprehensive plan. There is and will be new developments on the horizon. Without an updated comprehensive plan, it will be spot zoning as usual. The signage issue would not be an issue today if there was a comprehensive (updated) plan in place.

Scotia has an excellent plan and they follow it!!! We should follow their example.

Who makes the comprehensive plan??? The planning board?

I tried to search for an appropriate thread to renew comments I've made in the past.  I picked this one.

Anyone who reads the Gazette might have read the editorial recently supporting the effort for a moratorium in Niskayuna which is evolving in response to the see-saw legal battle over Stanford Crossing.  Basic premise being to make sure the Comp Plan is adequate.  Of course, the dialogue surrounding it is a result of this project, much like Wal-Mart was for Rotterdam.  

Over upcoming weeks I intend to revisit the idea for implementing a moratorium in Rotterdam.  Some of us here have discussed the idea before and I've written my opinion on my blog too.  The simple reason for implementing one in Rotterdam is the Comp Plan update is overdue and some areas are poised for explosive growth.  We need to try to get out in front of these factors for a change.  A moratorium would give us the opportunity.

I have been following the situation in Nisky too. And I also agree that there should be a moratorium until an updated comp plan is in place in Rotterdam. I remember the WalMart 'threat' and how the talk of a new comp plan was talked about passionately by the town board. I wish they would re-discover that passion again.

I firmly believe that the town doesn't want a comp plan because the developers are opposed to it. The developers would have to follow the guidelines set forth in said comp plan and in this town they've been able to pretty much do as they wanted to for years, the proof being the problems that have all been mentioned b4 on this forum concerning the water issues we now have to live with.

I think u are right Shadow. I think that the developers have to be catered to right now since Rotterdam is banking on them to put in the sewers as well. If the developers put the sewers in, and Rt7 gets developed, that is about the best we may see for a long time. Rotterdam may just continue on the path of 'spot zoning'. Which is what got this town in the condition it is in now.

We must also remember that we have a rep majority town board that is surrounded by dems. And dems that hold the sit in high places that hold the cash$$$.

It is truly an uphill battle. If the dems are in control, it will business as usual. If the reps are in control....we get no consideration.

Quoted from bumblethru

I think u are right Shadow. I think that the developers have to be catered to right now since Rotterdam is banking on them to put in the sewers as well. If the developers put the sewers in, and Rt7 gets developed, that is about the best we may see for a long time. Rotterdam may just continue on the path of 'spot zoning'. Which is what got this town in the condition it is in now.

We must also remember that we have a rep majority town board that is surrounded by dems. And dems that hold the sit in high places that hold the cash$$$.

It is truly an uphill battle. If the dems are in control, it will business as usual. If the reps are in control....we get no consideration.

I hope I don't understand your remark to mean we should cater to the developers to get something???

I disagree that we need to remember we have a republican majority and that it will be business as usual if democrats are in control.  What we need to remember is that this is our town and every single one of us bears a responsibility to get involved and speak up on issues.  That takes a different form for everyone but that is what is required, pure and simple.  Forget politics...that's what got us to the state we're in...in the end, if enough people spoke, they (republicans or democrats or whoever) would have to act in a manner consistent with our wishes.

Lastly, forget about looking for money from other levels of government.  We need to be self-reliant for whatever we need.  Those other "sources" are way overdrawn too and will need to be curtailed.  You can't have it both ways...desire lower taxes and then look for handouts from higher government...it's contradictory.

I absolutely did not mean we had to cater to the developers. And I am not saying that we should. I was saying that we (the powers to be) probably will, to achieve the infrastructure needed for the Rt7 development.

And even though I agree with you stating to 'forget about politics', that can't and won't ever happen. The day that our government forgets about politics will be if it ever turned to a one political government system. And that would be socialism or communism. A dictatorship if you will.

And again, while still agreeing with you about looking for money from other levels of governments is again our governmental system. We are a government 'by representation'. Our tax dollar continues to go to all levels of our government in which we are entitled to receive back be it through grants or specific programs. The problem lies in the what, when and who receives this funding. That is where our elected representatives come in. And hence so does the political system of dems and reps.

And I respectfully disagree with your thoughts about being 'self reliant'. The residents of Rotterdam are screaming now regarding high taxes. Add new sewers, repaving of roads, correcting poor drainage areas and adding in the yearly increase in both school taxes and the cost of everyday town business. Who will pay for these things? The costs would be astronomical. So the need for these available grants are essential.

I am pretty sick and tired of all the BS as well, but this IS our governmental system and unless someone re-writes the Constitution of The United States....the BIG PICTURE will not change.

MORATORIUM......UPDATE COMP PLAN-----OF COURSE,,,,OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT BE WISE-----JUST PLAIN GREEDY, SHORT SIGHTED AND SELFISH....

Quoted from bumblethru

I absolutely did not mean we had to cater to the developers. And I am not saying that we should. I was saying that we (the powers to be) probably will, to achieve the infrastructure needed for the Rt7 development.

And even though I agree with you stating to 'forget about politics', that can't and won't ever happen. The day that our government forgets about politics will be if it ever turned to a one political government system. And that would be socialism or communism. A dictatorship if you will.

And again, while still agreeing with you about looking for money from other levels of governments is again our governmental system. We are a government 'by representation'. Our tax dollar continues to go to all levels of our government in which we are entitled to receive back be it through grants or specific programs. The problem lies in the what, when and who receives this funding. That is where our elected representatives come in. And hence so does the political system of dems and reps.

And I respectfully disagree with your thoughts about being 'self reliant'. The residents of Rotterdam are screaming now regarding high taxes. Add new sewers, repaving of roads, correcting poor drainage areas and adding in the yearly increase in both school taxes and the cost of everyday town business. Who will pay for these things? The costs would be astronomical. So the need for these available grants are essential.

I am pretty sick and tired of all the BS as well, but this IS our governmental system and unless someone re-writes the Constitution of The United States....the BIG PICTURE will not change.

At the risk of getting into a p*ssing match, I respectfully disagree though I appreciate what you've written.  I guess my point is you don't have to re-write the Constitution...our governmental system and the associated politics of the moment have continually evolved (or devolved) over time.  Your views seem predicated on accepting the status quo.  I don't think it necessary to ever accept the status quo when it begins to fail.  We need to regain our initiative to think differently.

By the way, New Scotland passed a 6 month moratorium last night.  Without knowing the finer details, I think they'll need a year, so I'd expect that moratorium to get an extension depending on their political will.

If ever a town needed a moratorium, it's Rotterdam.

moratorium....moratorium....moratorium.............I agree....we need to get it together while everything else is grinding to a halt.....take it one step at a time----very foundational......