Comprehensive Master plan update

[gorja]

Express you views Thursday, May 18 @ the Opera house
Doors open at 6:30pm

[shortstuff]

Thx for posting this gorja. This is a great opportunity for residents to come out and see what this brief presentation is about.

[gorja]

Some of things brought up at last night's master plan meeting

Infrastructure improvement
Moratorium (didn't hear what type of development)
County roads
Walden ave - industrial development- issue 2 lane road east of Cemetery - 50 mph - no turning lane
FIOS- lack of
Soccer league would like a park in the south end of town
Want tools in the plan to no encroachment in agricultural districts
Condition of Aurora St
Police force not growing to meet the population growth and the issues with the motels and Walmart
Coordinate with school district for grant funding that's out there
One railway bridge on Central nice other is kiss my ass ( not their words; mine)
Have a place where entrepreneurs can try out their business idea
Bowmansville area - more water in yards since apartments are being built; traffic in that area, as well
Dog park
Dawson field up for sale. Hoping a buyer makes similar use of it.
Will need new zoning ordinances
Supervisor Coleman stated there was already a resolution on May 1st regarding that
North/South corridor
Peppermint Rd residents against the traffic for the proposed 120 homes coming onto their small country road

If anyone else that was there could share anything else. Have at it.

[gorja]

The next public meeting on the new comprehensive master plan is
September 14 @ 7:00pm
Depew Senior center

[Lee Chowaniec]

The following Buffalo News article is an important read for Lancaster residents who intend to participate in the upcoming Comprehensive Plan review and update. Town development encompasses the efforts and involvement of the Town Board, Town Planning Board (PB) and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The BN report covers a major part of the ZBA function in the town development process. The report not only covers variance application differences and property right distinctions, but the latitude given in today’s consideration of merit based variance decisions.

http://buffalonews.com/2017/08/23/whats-in-a-variance/

What needs to be better defined in the updated Lancaster master plan change (IMHO) is whether conditions stipulated in a site plan approval (conditions that are enforceable) can be modified by an applicant going to the ZBA seeking a variance. A ‘deed restriction’ is a more legally binding written agreement where the applicant agrees to the conditions stipulated. It is time to stop the town's past practice of granting rezones of rezones based on developers' perception of 'market value' need at the time of site plan consideration.

In the past, the PB and ZBA were mere town board rubber stamp agencies. The current Boards working in conjunction with Town Attorney Kevin Loftus and Code Enforcement Officer Matt Fischione appear sincere and earnest in establishing zoning codes and ordinances that will not impede further development but better protect the property rights and values of both developers/builders and resident property owners without favoring either party’s best interests and/or quality of life.

The recently approved moratorium on site plans involving rezones is testament to addressing issues related to spot rezoning, development that doesn’t fit the character of the neighborhood, and the lament by developers that unless a rezone was granted there was no interest in using the property as owned and/or it was not profitable enough to develop it as zoned.

It is time to end an era where developers and/or their attorneys would stand before the public and arrogantly claim: “You people can laugh all you want but we can get all the necessary permits and variances we want and there is nothing you can do about it.” The town needs development to pay the bills. Rational taxpayers well understand the concept. At the same time, residents are stakeholders in the town and deserve to have their property rights and quality of life equally protected; not having to hear that their interests are being weighed against those of a developer who holds that his project benefits the entire community and is therefore deserving of a rezone; a rezone project that does not fit the character of the neighbor nor offers mitigation of potential adverse impacts for the neighboring community. Don't just love that code phrase 'mitigation to the extent practicable'. Talk about wiggle room!

Lancaster’s past development decisions/shortcomings deserve the criticism they receives. Overburdened roads (primary and secondary), flooding and drainage issues caused by development in wetlands and their adjacent areas (through land segmentation), cost to the town of infrastructure repairs and replacement because of poor codes and developer profit enhancing shortcuts, the failure to deliver a major north-south corridor are just a few examples.

This is an opportunity for the town to get it right – to have learned from past shortcomings. I believe they have the will to do it and the right people in place (Town, PB and ZBA Boards) to do it - including a Code Enforcement Officer bearing knowledge and commitment to doing what's right for the town and the resident..

[gorja]

Thursday, November 30 - 7:00pm

[DebLemaster]

I plan on going this time.

[gorja]

I plan on going this time.

See you there. I'll bring the recorder

[gorja]

Tonight's master plan meeting recording
https://cloudup.com/cEZGYp_V0ZQ