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Cayuga Health plans to build a new 21,000+ square foot medical center at the old Wilcox Tire shop on Tompkins Street.
The facility will provide primary care, specialty care and outpatient laboratory services.
CMC first presented the project informally to the Cortlandville Planning Board at an August 31 meeting.
One of the primary concerns thus far deals with sidewalks.
County planning board member and legislator Beau Harbin said new walkways should be required for this project.
“Hopefully this can be the start of connecting more of Cortland and Cortlandville by making our communities more walkable,” stated Harbin on Facebook. “We have to start somewhere otherwise it will never happen.”
Ann Devery Hotchkins, who sits on the C’ville planning board, replied to Harbin’s post.
She said no requirement is in place at this time, since the proposed project “doesn’t connect to adjacent sidewalks. We are pursuing sidewalks in high traffic pedestrian areas, however.”
Hotchkins previously managed the city’s sidewalk program for more than 25 years; and also served as mobility manager for three years.
She added the town “realizes the extreme benefits from having a continuous sidewalk from the City line” and is “formulating a plan to make this happen.”
“We talked to the developer about the Cortland Transit buses picking up and dropping off in major medical centers,” said Hotchkins. “They are onboard with the bus circling in their parking lot, which is safer than a stop directly on Tompkins Street. I will always advocate for complete streets.”
Regarding the Cayuga Med proposal: Hotchkins said there will be a sidewalk across the front of the building on Tompkins Street.
Room will also be left for a public sidewalk in the right of way.
