Grand Island Town Board: Gun Creek petitions submitted

by Larry Austin

Neighbors to a proposed development in the Tracey Lane area submitted a petition to the Grand Island Town Board Monday, asking for modifications to the plan.

David Carson of Tracey Lane spoke in opposition to the Gun Creek Planned Development District, specifically the size and scope of the plan "primarily because of its impact on traffic, drainage and flooding, and the general quality of life in the northeastern quadrant" of Grand Island. The development calls for 252 dwelling units, including single family, two family and townhouse units.

Carson presented the petitions to the board signed by 102 people who asked for modifications to the plan, including:

•Creation of a 500-foot buffer zone between houses on Tracey Lane and the new houses.

•Elimination of connections "to prevent the use of Park Lane and Tracey Lane as cut-through routes between Ransom Road and Whitehaven. Otherwise there will be increased traffic issues in our neighborhood."

•To increase the amount of green space, particularly on the north end of the development, to protect wildlife, habitats and wetlands, and to prevent drainage and flooding problems, he said.

Charlene Carson of Tracey Lane also spoke in opposition to the plan, saying that in 2006 an environmental study was done, but that it would be "erroneous to believe that no changes have occurred, and I would request that a new environmental study be done to take into account the current and new development that has taken place that not only will affect the communities surrounding this area, but also affect the creek that runs through the property and the communities that are surrounding not only Tracey Lane and Stony Point, but also Whitehaven Road as well."

Likewise, she requested completion of an updated traffic study in conjunction with approval of the plan, noting that the last study was also done in 2006.