Town of Niagara board: Public hearing scheduled for aerospace project

By Michael DePietro

Interim Tribune Editor

Among the news from this week’s Town of Niagara board meeting was that the town is scheduling a public hearing regarding the rezoning of property at the former U.S. Army Reserve Center from light industrial to heavy industrial. The potential move comes at the behest of Stavatti Aerospace, a Wyoming-based aerospace manufacturer that designs and produces military, commercial and general aviation aircraft, which is considering developing the site into a prototype production facility. The public hearing will be held Oct. 20.

The overall project is said to cost around $26 million and, if it comes to fruition, could bring roughly 600 new jobs to the area.

Board member Richard Sirianni noted concerns about what could happen to the site if Stavatti pulls out of the project. He insisted that, pending the results of the public hearing, if the town does rezone the site, the board should implement a clawback clause, allowing the town to rezone the property back to light industrial should the deal fall through.

Addressing a Stavatti representative in attendance, Sirianni said, “I also have to protect the town, and I don’t know what the present owner would develop there. They could put a chemical plant there. I’m not saying (they’re going to do that), but everything’s open under heavy industrial.”

Elsewhere, the town approved a proclamation proclaiming September to be Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness month. Supervisor Lee Wallace said on Thursday, “We’re always in the position where we would like to support organizations that do such good things for the community, and highlight causes that more people should be aware of.”

The Town also announced that trick or treating this year will be 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.