Potsdam resident: dissolve village

POTSDAM — A longtime resident and businessman told the village Board of Trustees on Monday that a decision to allow hotels, motels and conference centers to be built at Potsdam Commerce Park on outer Elm Street has him convinced the community needs just one government, not two.

The board unanimously approved a municipal code change that will add hotels, motels and conference centers to the uses at the village-owned business park.

But Scott Smalling, owner of Smalling's Motel and a resident of Hannawa Falls, said the decision helps make the case for dissolving village government.

"I have watched in dismay over the years as the two boards that represent Potsdam continue to be adversarial and not do what is in the best interest of the Potsdam community as a whole," he said. "For years, you marketed the property on Route 56 on the bypass, but now because you own the property you want to change the rules and place this project here. How convenient."

Mr. Smalling said he wanted to know the proposed purchase price of the village-owned lot on Elm Street and whether it is fair market value. He also questioned whether allowing hotel development on the outskirts of the village meets the government's comprehensive plan for development.

"As a town taxpayer, I hope that one day 'one board, one vision' will move us forward into the future, yes, even if my taxes go up as a town resident," Mr. Smalling said.

Mr. Smalling said he was upset that in recent weeks, village Planning Director Frederick H. Hanss and other officials spent weeks debating whether to allow Potsdam businessman James E. Sheehan to build a new office building for the New York State United Teachers on outer Lawrence Avenue. He said the main sticking point with the project was the perception of so-called sprawl development.

"I fully support the idea of a need for a hotel in Potsdam. We need to rebuild the tax base. There is a need for the rooms," Mr. Smalling said. "I don't understand, however, how you can pave the way for a developer to come to Potsdam after watching the past few months of putting James Sheehan's request through every roadblock possible."

Trustee Steven W. Yurgartis said the board's decision to change the allowed usage at Potsdam Commerce Park on village property should not be compared with Mr. Sheehan's bid to build on his own property on Lawrence Avenue.