Wheatfield Town Board requests comprehensive traffic study

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, Nov. 24, 2004

The Wheatfield Town Board unanimously approved a resolution directing the developers of the proposed Shawnee Meadows subdivision to conduct a more comprehensive traffic study.

The study will address the traffic flow on Shawnee Road from the Moyer Road intersection to Niagara Falls Boulevard. The Town Board regarded the new study as necessary after the developers eliminated the Moyer Road entrance to the subdivision, leaving the Shawnee Road entrance as the only roadway to and from the development.

“The traffic study needs to be updated to account for one entrance,” said Town Engineer Timothy Walck of Wendel Duchscherer Architects & Engineers, during the Nov. 15 Town Board meeting. “In addition, the study must also include analysis of the intersections of Shawnee and Moyer Road, Schultz and Moyer [roads] and Schultz and Niagara Falls Boulevard. The impacts on level of service on Shawnee, Moyer and Schultz must also be addressed.”

According to Town Supervisor Timothy Demler, a more comprehensive study could provide the board as well as the public with more detailed information on the impact the proposed subdivision will have on the Shawnee Road south of its intersection with Moyer Road.

“This is something we could incorporate [in the study] what kind of impact this would have on Shawnee Road,” he said. “At least, we are getting an idea what impact [the traffic] heading south will have.”

Final Scoping Document

The direction was an amendment to the final scoping document dated Nov. 15. The board unanimously approved the document as completed in a separate resolution.

According to Walck, the document includes the comments made by residents and members of the planning board during a public scoping session held on Oct. 25. The developers have now to complete and submit an environmental impact study before a public hearing on the subdivision could be held. Walck said he expects the study to be submitted to the town within the next months.

“The final finding statement and the final environmental statement are documents the town has to create,” Walck said. “If the Town Board finds that there is still (an) environmental impact, it can turn down the project based on its findings.”

In 2003, the Town Board tabled twice a vote on the 84-acre, 52-home subdivision, located south of intersection of Moyer and Shawnee roads, after a large number of residents expressed during a public hearing their concerns about eventual drainage and traffic problems they anticipate to come once the proposed project is completed. On request by the Town Board, the developers redesigned the site plans to eliminate the access coming from Moyer Road.

Other Business

In other business, the Town Board voted:

• To approve the annual increment for the salary of Recreation Director Ed Sturgeon, as effective of Dec. 15.

• To retain Mark Clark as full-time temporary employee for the Sewer Department through Dec. 31.

• To approve the new plumbing fees schedule as submitted by the Building Department. The new schedule will become effective on Jan. 1, 2005.

• To authorize the town supervisor to sign a letter of commitment for the stormwater grant received by the Western New York Stormwater Coalition.

• To authorize a payment not to exceed $2,400 to Wendel Duchscherer for the preparation of an engineering report as part of the town’s application for the Rural Development grant.

• To authorize the town engineer to develop the final design for drainage improvements on Bella Drive and Ward Road.

• To install a streetlight on the intersection Ashley Court and Culpepper Drive.

• To support Niagara County Legislator Danny Sklarski in his pledge to hold the line on property taxes in Niagara County and to ask the Niagara County Legislature to dedicate $7 million of its budget surplus toward a zero-percent increase of taxes on county level.

• To approve seven new applications and seven renewal applications for firearms discharge permits, as submitted by the Firearms Permit Review Board. The Town Board voted 4-0 with Councilman Larry Helwig abstaining from his vote.

• To place one firearms discharge permit on a two-year probation, as submitted by the Firearms Permit Review Board. The Town Board voted 4-1 with Councilman Art Palmer voting ‘No.”

• To permanently revoke one firearms discharge permit probation, as submitted by the Firearms Permit Review Board.

• To direct the town clerk to advertise the available open positions with the Town of Wheatfield for the 2005 fiscal year. Applications have be submitted the town clerk’s office by Dec. 17.

• To pay bills as presented, with one exception of one voucher pending on further investigation.

Announcements

• The town of Wheatfield will hold its annual Holiday Party and Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Wheatfield Town Hall and inside the Wheatfield Community/Senior Center.

• The annual Wheatfield Christmas Dance will take on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wheatfield Community/Senior Center.

Next Meeting

• The Town Board will hold a public workshop meeting to discuss the town’s refuse contract on Monday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m.