Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
Apparently you didn’t read all of this. You appear little informed about this project regarding its history dating back to 2003 where the property was then rezoned to LI and where Uniland alleged it had a major tenant all set to go and with the promise of other businesses interested in following.
The developer got what he wanted in 2003 with the understanding from the town that a major north-south corridor would be build and pass through Gunville Road and connecting to a thruway booth that would be moved from the then and current Williamsville toll booths – a pipedream then that continues to reappear every so often and once again mentioned in the upcoming comprehensive plans – and still a pipedream IMHO.
And no, it is not about sprawl – nor anyone opposing residential development. The town has experienced sprawl like development in the past and where developer best interests and resulting town revenues outweighed homeowner and environmental best interests. Residents were told the property purchased by the developer could be developed as he saw fit – that he had property rights.
Valuable wetlands on the property were segmented, destroyed and/or filled in for developer and town best interest (revenue) and is the leading cause of the town’s current flooding and drainage issues. Water collection ponds were installed to control the on-property flooding and drainage issues and the collected water released at same rate as raw land into the creeks and streams that now overflow more than ever before.
There were myriad and ample reasons given by the Planning Board to deny rezone of an already rezoned parcel of property. What did not show up in the minutes were the impacts to prospective homebuyers – school bus garage directly to the west; commercial development to the south; the proximity of the Lancaster airport across Walden Avenue; traffic and traffic safety issues.
The Town Planning Board asked all the right questions, tabled the project concept for further review several times and got it right. The town board should follow their recommendation to rezone the property.