Clay mulls Micron site zone change

By DAviD tyLEr

In order for Micron to locate its megafab facility in the town of Clay, the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency must first pass some regulatory hurdles with the municipality.

Last Wednesday, the Clay Town Board and Planning Board held a joint public hearing - their first on the project - regarding a zone change on approximately 862 acres at the White Pine Commerce Park site. That acreage, which is composed of 55 parcels, is a little more than two-thirds of the site. OCIDA has already received a zone change on 339 acres on the western side of White Pines.

Jeff Davis, an attorney at Barclay Damon who represented OCIDA, called the zone change “a significant step in bringing White Pine Commerce Park to life.”

For over an hour, members of the town board and planning board questioned Davis about traffic con- gestion, sewers, utilities, emergency services and other potential impacts the project would have on the area.

Often, members of both boards found his responses lacking in specifics.

In 2021, OCIDA prepared a generic environmental impact statement based on the potential for a chip fab plant to locate on the original 339-acre site. That plan, which was

“fictitious, but forwardthinking,” Davis said, considered a generic 4,000-employee chip manufacturing facility.

Because Micron has yet to provide an application or site plan for its muchanticipated development, Clay officials are being asked to make a decision on the zone change based on the generic information provided for a smaller de-

“I grew up in the village of Liverpool,” said Democratic candidate Melissa Cassidy. “In fact, my parents still reside in my childhood home on Sargent Lane.”

Now, Cassidy and her husband, Scott, are parents of two children who represent the third generation to attend Liverpool Elementary. Cassidy excelled at college graduating with a communications degree from SUNY Geneseo before earning a master’s in public administration including advanced studies in conflict resolution from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.

She has enjoyed a 20-year career in the philanthropy sector, specifically focused on higher education and the arts. Her most recent employment is as interim assistant

“This can be accomplished by collaborating with county and state stakeholders to create and enforce pedestrian-first policies,” she said. “I’d also like to build a stronger partnership with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to focus on business development.”

Cassidy promises transparency and maintains that Democrats can provide new perspectives “to freshen and energize the conversation.” rachel ciotti

Although she was raised in Massachusetts, Rachel Ciotti happily adopted her husband’s hometown. Nick Ciotti grew up in Liverpool, and 10 years ago he and Rachel settled here. The Ciottis now have three children attending local schools.

Before starting a family, Rachel Ciotti’s