The Lancaster Town Board approved a subdivision on Monday to allow the construction of single family units in preparation for the creation of the Hidden Meadows Patio Homes. The conversation that followed, in regard to the direction of the town’s development, escalated into an all out war of words between board members.
The approved subdivision will see the creation of 80 single-family units, located off Partridge Run and Aurora Street. The patio homes, currently referred to as “Hidden Meadows,” will be priced at a median range of around $450,000.
A number of residents voiced their opposition to the patio homes’ construction. Mike Fronczak questioned the board as to why it was bowing to multiunit developers instead of allowing for more creative development approaches.
“I want to know how we got to this point, that we are now, again, making this work for a developer who comes into our town, makes a lot of money and gets to leave,” he said.
“We’re not doing this for developers, we’re doing it for residents,” said Supervisor Dino Fudoli, who noted that there is a desire for patio homes in Lancaster. “Do we want them building things that people don’t want, or do we want them building things that people want?”
Fronczak said of the main reasons behind his decision to move to Lancaster was that the town historically did not see the kind of development notable in other suburbs.
“I moved to Lancaster 20 years ago, and the idea was that it wasn’t a farm community and it wasn’t suburbia. It was a mix of both,” he said. “And now, we’re losing our farm community and going toward total suburbia.”
Council Member Donna Stempniak said residents who inhabit the area surrounding the future patio homes’ location are in favor of the project.
“The neighbors are very happy,” she said. “They would much rather see residential units than to see a plaza.”
While there is undoubtedly a growing pool of older people ready to downsize their living spaces and pay top dollar in order to do so, some residents say patio homes may be an expense unavailable to a large portion of the population.
“There are a lot of empty nesters out there who would like to downsize but cannot afford a $400,000 patio home,” said resident Lee Chowaniec.
Forbes-Capretto Homes, the custom-home builder behind the Hidden Meadows project, built 55 homes in 2013 with an average price of $500,000. Owner David Capretto was at the board meeting and spoke on behalf of the company to address the concerns of residents. He stated that the construction period itself would not be a long process and that his company compromised with the town to limit destruction of roads and trees while being the least disruptive to neighbors.
“I try to be the best neighbor I can be,” he said. “I’ve built many of these homes throughout a number of neighborhoods over the years. It definitely pays us back with our reputation.”
When the board’s conversation turned to the credentials of Lancaster’s Planning Board, an argument between Fudoli and Stempniak quickly became heated and personal.
Fudoli stated his disapproval of what he views as a disposition within town politics to appoint those who are friends rather than the most qualified candidates. He commented that his appointees have been shot down by the board and pointed toward a comment made by past Town Councilman Mark S. Aquino while he still held the position in which he told Fudoli, “We’ll do what we want. We have the votes.”
Stempniak refuted the claim that the board’s appointees to the Planning Board are inadequate, noting that such a committee should have the opinion of ordinary residents.
“They’re residents. You’re not supposed to have eight town planners on a planning board,” she said.
Both Fudoli and Stempniak began attempting to make their points simultaneously, igniting a shouting match between them.
“You’re infringing on my first amendment rights!” Stempniak yelled at Fudoli as he pounded his gavel in an attempt to maintain order.
Stempniak then said, “Don’t bully me,” while pointing at Fudoli. The supervisor replied, saying, “You’re bigger than I am. It’d be hard to do that.”
Stempniak approached reporters as the meeting adjourned to express her dismay at a comment she saw as sexist and demeaning.
“He disrespected me as a woman. As the only female member of this board, I’m disgusted.”
Reply With Quote
How could we have made choices that werent available in the past ?
Thank you Councilman D.Stempniak ! 
Originally Posted by FMD
