Zoning on Island a hot topic

by Robin M. Woolson
Grand Island Dispatch, April 23, 2004

Zoning on Grand Island is becoming a hot topic with each passing day.

There are residents in areas who are happy with the way their neighborhood is and are concerned with new construction and changes in the zoning code that could affect the aesthetics of the area they have grown to love.

In an attempt to hear the residents opinions on changes to the zoning code for the Island, the Grand Island Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, June 3, at 7 p.m. at Kaegebein Elementary School, 1690 Love Road.

Copies of the zoning map and code are available to residents to see on the Web site, at Town Hall and the library.

Supervisor Peter McMahon said that this hearing will be the fourth or fifth public hearing that has been held dealing with zoning on the Island. There have also been about two informational meetings.

"This all stems from the adoption of the Comprehensive Master Plan in the mid-1990s," he said.

McMahon said that when the comprehensive master plan was adopted, the zoning code did not match it and the board has been working on getting the zoning taken care of for at least the last six years.

The Supervisor said that the input from the residents is important. He said there are people who like the open space and feel of the rural area and that they want retail and commercial businesses clustered in the town center.

The changes to the zoning code will deal with the classification of the lots.

McMahon said that lots that are currently zoned R1B today, would be zoned R1D in the future should the board adopt the zoning changes.

These changes would not affect the lots. The dimensions would remain the same, just the lettering is changing. To have less density in an area, the lots need to be bigger.

McMahon said the board hopes that in June or July it will be able to adopt a zoning comprehensive plan.

Whitehaven and Harvey

Residents from around Whitehaven and Harvey roads, sat in on Monday's workshop session to listen to the boards discussion about the possible zoning changes in this area.

Neighbors near a parcel of land that is proposed to be developed are concerned about the size of the lots that would be built and that there would not be any continuity with the homes currently there. They are also concerned that the open space they are used to would be lost.

They have also expressed the desire that they did not want town houses or patio homes behind them.

McMahon said that zoning deals with the land use, not the plans for the site, which many of the residents keep bringing to the forefront. Once the zoning in is place, then the developers can return to the planning board with site plans.

Currently, the land is zoned for manufacturing and that changing the zoning to what is currently in the area will make it consistent to the other homes built there.

McMahon said that by getting the zoning in place, this would then allow the property owners to come back to the board with a site plan.

Councilmember Richard Crawford said there have been a lot of issues raised as this project progressed over the years.

Crawford said that the map the town has shows that the area in question does not look like a commercial or manufacturing zone, but as a residential area.

The board is considering zoning the area R1D, single family homes, which would allow the developer to take the next step.

McMahon said that residents living in these areas may have an interest in the parcel of land, but it is the owner's choice as to what he wants to do with the land.

In other town board news:

The Town Board approved the site plan for Acquest Development for Department of Homeland Security at 201 Lang Boulevard.

The Town Board also approved the site plan for DiVal Safety, 2995 Grand Island Blvd. for a one-story office building.