For town board
Voss wants to share planning expertise
NEW SCOTLAND Charles Voss says that its important to share your knowledge and expertise to better your community. He is running on the Republican line in a four-way race for one of two town board seats.
When he moved to New Scotland eight years ago, Voss, a professional planner, "wanted to see how progressive my town codes were," he said.
He went to Town Hall and told then-Supervisor Martha Pofit that he was a land-use planner, and volunteered his time and knowledge, he said. "The town is relatively simplistic in its types of land-use codes and protections we have," said Voss.
He is running for town board, he said, "to be able to have an effective change on the community."
Voss has a masters degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in land-use planning, he said.
He has worked as an urban planner in Albany; done private consulting with engineering firms, which exposed him to "cutting-edge technology and methodologies in land-use planning"; and successfully ran his own business for three years, he said. He has been working for CT Male for two years.
Voss has also been a member of the town’s planning board for the past two years. The role of the planning board, he said, is to implement town policies. On the town board, you help to set town policy, he said. "On the town-board level, you could effectively create new land-use policies to help preserve the community," said Voss.
Voss, 44, is married to Sheila, and they have two children Benjamin, 11, and Julia, 8.
Open accessibility within town government is a "big, big issue," said Voss. Being elected to the town board is an obligation and not a nuisance, he said.
"I expect people to reach out to me if they have issues, and I will make myself available" We’re there for the people, we’re not there for ourselves," he said.
Town issues
Water is not a simple issue, Voss said. "New Scotland has a very unique geology, which has been a blessing and a curse," he said.
"I think water is a crucial issue. The difficulty is getting people to understand how complex an issue it is," he said. It is unfortunate, he said, that the town does not own or control the Vly Creek Reservoir, which is located in New Scotland but owned by the neighboring town of Bethlehem.
It is important to work more closely with the neighboring municipalities of Bethlehem and Guilderland, said Voss. Water, he said, "is one of those issues that requires some more focus and some more dedication."
With respect to zoning, "It has been kind of my pet peeve," said Voss. "Zoning is a tool that implements the comprehensive plan," he said.
"Unfortunately, our zoning doesn’t really reflect the vision of the comprehensive plan," said Voss.
"I’d like to see the new town board establish a full zoning-review committee to go through the code and align it with the comprehensive plan," he said.
For example, he said, the current planned-unit-development regulations give "way too much discretion" and PUDs need to be defined more succinctly.
The proposed senior-housing law didnt prescribe development for seniors or an appropriate location, he said.
"I think we need to roll up our armsleeves, put our boots on, and jump into it," Voss said.
"I’m a very strong property-rights advocate," he said. "We have to address growth, and I’d like to see ordinances be more progressive," he said.
"We need to provide flexibility and options in the zoning code," said Voss. "I think we need to require developers to provide affordable housing," he said, identifying "affordable" as being under $200,000.
Within the New Scotand Hamlet Plan a plan developed by Voss and his Republican running mates, who refer to themselves as Team New Scotland medium and low-level housing such as condos, apartments, and affordable town homes, will be a requirement, said Voss.
The town could also use incentives, he said. Incentives encourage developers to fill town needs, and, at the same time fill residential needs.
"The Democrats haven’t done anything in eight years," said Voss. "It takes a majority to get anything done."
Regarding the Residents Planning Advisory Committee, Voss said, it was a great exercise, but he hasnt seen many of its recommendations implemented.
A right-to-farm law was implemented, a grant committee has been formed, and a committee to review the comprehensive plan was established, he said.
"We should be proactive as a town board" The majority seems to stick their head in the sand and say everything is fine," Voss said.
"Public involvement is probably the most critical element to any planning process," said Voss. It is important to be sure the public understands what lawmakers are talking about, and accepts it, he said. "Two or three guys sitting around a table, working on zoning, is inappropriate."
Voss said that, in his professional experience, he has updated about five different municipal zoning laws.
To do that, he said, it is best to first establish a zoning review committee of 10 to 12 people, and take the ordinance, go through it section-by-section, and highlight areas of change. The committee should cross-reference the suggestions with the comprehensive plan to come up with revisions, he said. It is also crucial to hold workshops and invite the public, he said.
"Zoning is very contentious. I’ve been in communities where it takes months or years to change zoning," said Voss.
"Rich just didn’t follow a good public-prescribed process," Voss said of Councilman Richard Reilly, who has been working with a few town officials to make adjustments to the town’s zoning laws.
The comprehensive plan, said Voss, "is actually pretty good."
The goals are still valid, he said, adding that the comprehensive-plan review committee found a 10-percent margin for change.
"I would like those done before zoning changes are even discussed," said Voss. "It’s like putting the cart before the horse."
New Scotland has only about a 4-percent commercial tax base, compared to around 60 percent in Bethlehem and Guilderland, said Voss. "It strangles us and prevents us from being able to ease tax burdens," he said.
When drafting the New Scotland Hamlet Plan, he said, "We wanted to build upon the traditional character of the town. Hamlets are traditionally the commercial centers.
"We are starting to get more need and demand for additional services," he said. "In creating a defined community core, with a look and feel of a traditional New Scotland hamlet," commercial development is important, Voss said, suggesting a village green with small shops and compact technology parks for the route 85 and 85A corridor.
"It’s a perfect time to create a plan and set it in motion," Voss said. "Planning only works if it’s proactive, not if it’s reactive.
"I don’t want New Scotland to become an exclusive community where my children can’t afford to live," he said.
"My father used to say, ‘Always leave something better than you found it.’ I want to be sure my community remains a vibrant community," Voss concluded.
