The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Council honors Smith for service
Ward 3 councilor Erwin Smith honored for years of service
The Arc of Madison Cortland is looking to grow job opportunities for its clients.
Common Council adopted a new local law to regulate hydroponic commercial agricultural business uses during Tuesday’s council meeting.
“The Arc has a fundraising foundation that will be the investor of a small for-profit called Farm it Out Produce,” Director of Development and Communications Shannon Richard said. “They’ll grow year-round crops and provide employment opportunities for people with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other developmental disabilities,”
Farm It Out Produce approached the planning council on Sept. 21 and asked that a property owned by The Arc of Madison Cortland be zoned for agricultural purposes. However, there was nothing in zoning codes for hydroponics.
“It’s not the first time something has come in that isn’t specifically in our table of uses,” Planning and Development Director Cassie Rose said. “So when that happens, what the planning commission has to do is find a use that is on the table of uses that is close to that. Since that came in and since Madison County is an agricultural county and there’s interest by the city in some tech-ag uses, it made sense to update our zoning code.”
The zoning codes implemented have defined a hydroponic greenhouse as “... an agricultural growing area of not less than 20,000 square feet that grows plants that are useful to human beings, including, but not limited to, forages, sod, berries, herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, and nursery stock.”
The Arc of Madison Cortland is still finalizing details, such as productmix and a final business plan, but the greenhouse is looking to not just be a business.
“As the state of New York reduces the funding available for supports and services for families and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, The Arc of Madison Cortland looks to innovative and creative ways to become less dependent on the tax payers and more self-sufficient as an organization,” said Executive Director Jack Campbell. “The community support for this concept is gratifying to say the least.” Councilors passed the law unanimously. Common council ended on a high note when Ward 5 Councilor Jim Chamberlain presented Ward 3 Councilor Erwin Smith with a plaque to recognize his years of service.
“As deputymayor and on behalf of the entire council, the mayor and everybody that sits here, we’d like to recognize the Third Ward councilor. We’d like to present you
with this Erwin,” Chamberlain said. “Thank you Erwin, you also are a bit of America at its best”
Smith chose not to run again for council to make way for new blood.
“I just thought it was time for someone else,” Smith said. “Probably for the last 19 years, Ward 3 has either been represented by Max Smith or myself. And I know there’s other people out there that could do a good job and I think we got a good one. I think Jim Coulthart will do a good job.”
Smith said that while he plans on spending more time at camp, he still plans on attending common council meetings.
“I’m gonna miss the camaraderie of the people. The friendship we’ve had, working on and solving problems for the city and improving the city,” Smith said.