The Village of Spencerport Planning Board’s regular meeting December 2 included two major projects of interest to residents: the Mavis Discount Tire shop proposed for the Tops Plaza and a subdivision with 80 residential units proposed on land the village annexed from the Town of Ogden.
The Mavis Tire project has hit a snag in the environmental impact assessment process, meaning it will not move forward until after the first of the year.
Tops Plaza owner David Pelusio of Pelusio Spencerport, LLC, and Kris Schultz of Schultz Associates attended the December 2 Planning Board meeting to continue discussion of the site plan with board members.
During the presentation, which addressed concerns that surfaced during the November 4 regular meeting of the Planning Board, Kris Schultz explained that because the Erie Canal is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the long or full State Environmental Quality Assessment Review (SEQR) must be filled out.
The Planning Board had already decided to act as lead agency when the process to complete the short form SEQR was begun. Schultz explained that the board needed to rescind that lead agency status in order to send out requests to inquire if any other interested parties – which now include the NYS Canal Corp and the NYS Thruway – would be interested in serving as lead agency for the long form environmental assessment.
Schultz had hoped the Board could move the process along December 2, but the Board’s attorney, Eric Stowe, raised some questions over the completed long form and the board decided to table action until their next meeting in January.
“The board can’t take action without the SEQR being complete,” Stowe said.
The 6,700 square feet Mavis Tire is proposed for 26 Slayton Avenue next to the WEMOCO building. It would back-up to the canal path and include eight bays.
Schultz expressed confidence that the project would make its way through the environmental assessment process. “This is redeveloping a site … in a plaza, replacing blacktop with a building. There are no utility issues … wetland or flood plains,” he said.
Stowe, however, said he felt the proximity to the canal might be enough of an obstacle to prevent obtaining approval. He cited another case where a historic property was located across a four-lane roadway from proposed development. The development was considered to be too close or, “substantially contiguous,” in that case, Stowe said.
Regarding the second issue on the agenda, the Planning Board voted 4-1 to pass on to the Village Board the review of the application for proposed re-zoning of Village Pines Section 3 from R-1 to Planned Residential District (PRD) zoning.
Andrew Spencer of BME Associates presented a conceptual plan for the 34 1/2 acre subdivision proposed in the Luther Jacobs neighborhood area – between Rts. 31 and 531. Coventry Drive would provide the main access, Spencer said. The subdivision would be located just north of Route 531.
The land has been annexed into the village and the development proposed includes 80 units – 42 single family homes and 38 townhouses. Thirteen acres would be left as open space.
Spencer said back in 2005, the project received re-zoning to a senior citizen district when it was part of the Town of Ogden. That project never came to fruition.
The proposal “… follows the village comprehensive plan and existing codes,” Spencer said.
Planning Board members did express some concerns before their vote.
“The lot size is very small,” Denny Marra said. He noted that the small lots might not be attractive to buyers.
Bill Rutter also expressed concerns over the density of the build, which he said was, “high for the acreage. I’m also concerned about putting something up that there is no demand for.”
Rutter was the only opposing vote in sending the proposal to the Village Board, which was expected to review the re-zoning application at its December 3 meeting.
Planning Board members also expressed concerns over traffic, the impact on utilities (electric would come from RG&E) and poor water pressure in the area.
Planning Board member Craig Byham said the Village Board would hold a public hearing on the re-zoning at a future date. If the re-zoning is eventually approved, the proposal would come back to the Planning Board for further review.
