steven
September 11th, 2007, 04:23 PM
NORTH TONAWANDA — Both opponents and supporters of a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter pushed their messages during a public hearing on the project’s environmental impact in City Hall Monday evening.
The fiery debate prompted City Clerk Thomas M. Jaccarino to call for assistance from city police 20 minutes into the session as verbal disputes erupted simultaneously in the front and back of the room.
The two uniformed officers maintained their presence among the more than 90 people who packed Council Chambers, but did not remove anyone from the room.
The Planning Commission held the public hearing to take comment on a proposal to build a 185,000-square-foot store near Niagara Falls Boulevard and Erie Avenue on the sites of the former Melody Fair and Bluebird Bus garage.
Commission members will have final say in the approval of a site plan and a proposed subdivision of 38 acres of land into five parcels. The supercenter would make up the largest parcel at 26 acres.
With every seat filled and some people jammed in doorways for the 60-minute hearing, many critics raised concerns over effects on traffic in the area if the project is approved.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/160223.html
The fiery debate prompted City Clerk Thomas M. Jaccarino to call for assistance from city police 20 minutes into the session as verbal disputes erupted simultaneously in the front and back of the room.
The two uniformed officers maintained their presence among the more than 90 people who packed Council Chambers, but did not remove anyone from the room.
The Planning Commission held the public hearing to take comment on a proposal to build a 185,000-square-foot store near Niagara Falls Boulevard and Erie Avenue on the sites of the former Melody Fair and Bluebird Bus garage.
Commission members will have final say in the approval of a site plan and a proposed subdivision of 38 acres of land into five parcels. The supercenter would make up the largest parcel at 26 acres.
With every seat filled and some people jammed in doorways for the 60-minute hearing, many critics raised concerns over effects on traffic in the area if the project is approved.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/160223.html