Grand Island coalition speaks out against new warehouse project

The Coalition for Responsible Economic Development for Grand Island (CRED4GI) is engaging residents to oppose a newly proposed warehouse project by Michael Huntress and Acquest Development. CRED4GI plans to have a number of members speak about their opposition to the project during the Town Board meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. Residents and media may view the meeting on the town’s YouTube channel.

A press release said, “CRED4GI believes that the proposed warehouse facility is far too large, does not fit with the general character of the surrounding community (as per the comprehensive plan) and will have even more traffic, air/noise pollution and negative environmental impacts as the previously proposed Amazon facility. Although the proposed facility is considerably smaller than the overall size of the previously proposed Amazon warehouse, the footprint of the facility will be one-third larger than the Amazon proposal.

“The developer suggests that the environmental documentation has already been accomplished through the work associated with the ill-fated Project Olive. CRED4GI believes this to be a very different project with negative and costly impacts to our community and environment.”

CRED4GI spokesperson Cathy Rayhill said, “We anticipate a variety of substantial impacts to our quality of life, including traffic, health, impacts to wildlife and habitats, impacts to migratory birds and the Niagara River. This project does not fit the character of our community and the neighborhood in which it is proposed to reside. In spite of all efforts that Acquest Development may make to mitigate these impacts, they cannot claim that this project will not have at least one significant environmental impact on Grand Island and its residents.”

Rayhill added, “Our opposition to this project is the same as it was for the Amazon warehouse, when over 2,500 residents raised their voices in a matter of 40 days and signed a petition urging the Town Board to deny a PDD zoning request. This project is significantly different from the Amazon proposal and should require a new scoping process for evaluating the impacts and costs to the community.”