Town of Grand Island comprehensive plan and zoning code to undergo review

By Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

The Grand Island Town Board, at its Aug. 26 meeting, voted to authorize Supervisor Peter Marston to sign an agreement with CPL, a company that will act as a consultant to the town, to review, study, analyze and, if warranted, make revisions to the town’s comprehensive plan and zoning code, as outlined in Local Law No. 4 of 2024. The agreement is subject to the approval of the town attorney.

The amount agreed to would not exceed $45,000 for phase one of the project.

Currently, there is a moratorium on applications and approvals and/or construction of installations in areas that are zoned B-1, B-2, B-3, CR, M-1 and M-2.

It is, however, unlikely that the town will finance the entire cost of the review, explained Marston. “We are probably 95% of the way there to get a large portion of this funded via a grant to put the town’s cost to about $10,000. It simply hasn’t cleared yet. After discussion with the Town Board, we just want to adopt to the full amount so as not to slow down the process.”

In addition, the board approved the establishment of a zoning reform committee. Five individuals, with terms expiring Dec. 31, 2024, were appointed to the committee. These five individuals are James Sharpe, Jennifer Pusatier, Timothy Warrell, Judy Schmidt and Michael Todaro.

The size of the committee was a topic for discussion during the meeting.

“We had discussed in depth about having seven people. Two other people,” Councilman Dan Kilmer said, adding he had seen resumes from two additional applicants to the committee.

Marston pointed out that four additional individuals had applied for the committee. He also said the committee would be full with seven members.

“Are we considering two of those four, just to get this thing moving?” Kilmer asked. “I don’t want to hold this up.”

“I think we go with the five, but I’m happy to have you guys interview the rest and plug the other two in,” Marston said. “That’s no problem.”

Kilmer also asked how the chair of the committee is chosen, whether by appointment by town supervisor, as a supervisor’s committee, or by election within the committee.

Marston said he would appoint the chair, but “For discussion’s sake, I want to get them all together and have them meet and have them recommend a chair.”