Town delays action on Waterford Park

by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, June 23, 2006

Residents who live in neighborhoods near the proposed Waterford Park Subdivision stand near the S-curve on East River Road between Broadway and Fix Road. They say that section of the road, already dangerous, would be worse if an entrance to a new subdivision is allowed to go in at that point. (photo by Barbi Lare)

Yet another proposed housing development on Grand Island is being criticized by neighbors worried about its potential effect on traffic, the environment and their quality of life.

On Monday, the Grand Island Town Board listened to residents’ concerns over the Waterford Park Subdivision and decided to delay action on it until residents’ questions were resolved.

Waterford Park is a 40-acre parcel bounded by Riverview Court, East River Road, Riverdale Drive and Beaver Island Parkway.

Approval Sought for 70 Homes

Thomas Giambra is seeking preliminary plat approval for 70 single-family homes to be built on 80-by-160-foot lots. The homes would be built in five phases over five years, subject to market demand. The first phase would involve 14 building lots.

The parcel is zoned R-1D, or medium-density, single-family residential. “It conforms to the town subdivision regulations,” said Assistant Municipal Engineer Robert Westfall. Giambra is seeking “no variances whatsoever,” Westfall added.

But a parade of residents with questions about and objections to the plan at Monday’s public hearing led the Town Board to decide, by a vote of 5-0, that the application for the preliminary plat approval was incomplete.

McMahon Recommends Delay

Supervisor Peter McMahon said it would not be appropriate to act on the request until residents’ questions on traffic, access and wetlands are resolved.

Leading up to that decision, Architect Douglas Scheid explained the plan in detail. He was followed by a half dozen residents speaking in opposition.

As chairman of the town’s Planning Board, Scheid stated that he had recused himself from any of that board’s deliberations on Waterford Park.

Scheid presented a slide show, illustrating the Waterford Park proposal with aerials, maps, diagrams and charts. He explained that for access to the subdivision, the plan would extend Stony Point Road south to East River Road. Developers also would add an east-west loop road, called Waterford Park, coming in at 90 degrees to the radius of the S-curve on East River Road. Scheid said that angle should be a little better for turning left or right than one proposed in a 1990 plan.

Neighbors: Road is Dangerous

But neighbors said the S-curve on that portion of East River Road between Broadway and Fix Road is dangerous enough, without adding traffic from a proposed 70-home development.

East River Road resident Nan Hoffman presented a petition of 157 signatures from residents near the proposed subdivision who are opposed to the plan.

“We are all very concerned about possible adverse traffic impact - environmental impact,” Hoffman said. “Basically this petition is asking the Town Board to not render a decision on this project” until thorough, updated traffic and environmental impact studies are conducted by the appropriate boards.

“We feel that 70 houses and 150 to 200 cars is going to make a big difference in the neighborhood,” she said. Hoffman also said it’s a dangerous corner where people often do not observe the speed limit and “come whipping around the curve on the wrong side of the road.”

Traffic Study Update

Scheid said the traffic pattern was different than another plan submitted 16 years ago. “There was a traffic study done back in 1990 on the project,” Scheid said. “We may have to update that traffic study.”

“We don’t expect the flow to be any different than it was back then,” he added. “We actually have less houses.”

The developer expects 80 percent of the traffic to go out Stony Point Road to Broadway, where it would turn left, hit Beaver Island Parkway and turn right, going north. Scheid said the sight distances from the planned exit onto East River Road exceed the 250-foot minimum in all directions as recommended by Erie County for a 35 mph road.

Retention Ponds Included

The new subdivision also would include two retention ponds required for storm water detention. The plan calls for filling in a small area of regulated wetlands in the center of the parcel. There is a 1.5-acre wetland the developers will not disturb. Scheid said it would serve as a buffer between the development and Beaver Island Parkway. This is a deviation from the original plan. The town’s engineer said the wetland that will remain untouched is significantly larger than originally anticipated.

Studies show the nearest drainage is an intermittent stream bisecting the project area. Vegetation consists of brush, scrub and young trees. Soils are Odessa and Schoharie silt loam, characterized as moderately well drained with a relatively high clay content.

‘Destruction of Wetlands’ Decried

Stony Point Road resident James Bialek said he and his wife, Diane, have lived in their home for 25 years and oppose the project because of “the destruction of wetlands and the green space” they have become accustomed to.

He said Waterford Park is another subdivision that is “piling lot on top of lot, with no room for the green space.”

Bialek doesn’t welcome the intrusion of more traffic onto his street. “Why couldn’t you open it up to the parkway?” he asked. “This subdivision is definitely going to impact our quality of life.”

Jan Farrell, a 20-year resident of River Road, cited numerous accidents that have occurred on the East River Road S-curve. “My concern is for the safety and well being of the people on the Island.”

Don Wilkinson of Broadway said that without ingress and egress from the parkway, the subdivision would “turn our neighborhood into a madhouse.”

McMahon encouraged residents to check the Town Board agenda in the Dispatch to find out when the issue will again be discussed, or to visit the town’s Web site, www.grand-island.ny.us.

Fireworks Contract OK

In other action Monday night, the Town Board:

•Referred to the Planning Board a special use permit application from Cyrus Ardalan for keeping 10 horses on 50 acres.

•Authorized McMahon to sign a contract with Premier Pyrotechnics Inc. to provide the fireworks at Martin’s Fantasy Island at dusk on Tuesday, July 4. The rain date is Wednesday, July 5.

•Authorized the supervisor to sign contracts with Global Signal Acquisitions IV for the purchase of three cell towers on town land, subject to the town attorney’s approval. The town will receive $570,000 for the 25-year lease. The towers are located at 318 Baseline Road, Carl Road and Bedell Road. Global operates and manages these towers on behalf of Sprint.

•Appointed Sharon Szafran as part-time clerk typist for the town Recreation Department effective July 1.

•Appointed Joseph Donlon as principal engineer assistant.

•Authorized Highway Superintendent Raymond Dlugokinski to advertise for bids for the 2006 highway resurfacing program on various town roads.

•Awarded the contract to install a traffic signal at Staley and Baseline roads to the low bidder, Eastwood Industries, in the amount of $72,849.96.

•Approved the request of Recreation Director Linda Tufillaro to conduct a town auction of surplus items on Saturday, July 15.

•Approved the hiring of three summer youth program employees for the Recreation Department. They are Katie Mekka, Jolie Dahlstrom and Jill Endres.

GI Opposes County Budget

•Adopted a resolution in opposition to the Erie County Legislature’s four-year plan for the county. The board objected to the proposed elimination of sheriff road patrols, the transfer of county roads to local control and the increase in sales and county property tax.

The board said in its resolution that such actions by the county would cause an undue hardship on the town of Grand Island, creating a general town tax, “which would severely impact our residents, particularly those on fixed incomes and those with families.”

The board’s resolution said the town “wishes to take a visible stand in protest of these proposed recommendations by the Erie County Legislature.”