The Village of Churchville Board of Trustees has decided to reconsider its denial of a request for rezoning on a 10-acre strip of land on North Sanford Road next to the Rochester Auto Collection from highway commercial to light industrial.

In June of last year, the village planning board made a recommendation that the village board change the zoning to allow the property owner to sell to a packaging plant. The board denied the request, saying there was enough light industrial property already available elsewhere in the village, and no other village property zoned for highway commercial usage.

The property owner, Donald Jenks, has since applied for a variance to use the property for light industry. After hearing Jenks’ case, Trustee Marian Gowan said she felt he may meet the requirements for a variance. These include proving he is unable to sell the property for its zoned usage, and proving the variance would not change the character of the neighborhood.

Gowan told board members that if Jenks is granted a variance it would, in effect, be permanent because the lot would be developed for light industrial, not highway commercial. "It makes more sense to change the zoning than go for a variance," Mayor Donald R. Ehrmentraut said.

Board members decided to send the issue back to the planning board and ask for another recommendation, with reasons why the change would be good for the village.

"If we’re going to change our minds, I need something more concrete," said Trustee Lyle Warren. He said if the board is going to make a change from highway commercial to light industry, it has the potential to change the neighborhood and should be studied.

"I don’t believe it would," said Gowan. She said since most of North Sanford Road is already zoned light industrial, the change would make sense. In August, the village board changed portions of North Sanford Road, farther north, from "industrial" to "light industrial zoning."

Warren said he was concerned with this parcel’s proximity to residential areas. "The other parcels are farther west," Warren said. He expressed concern for air quality should a new industry move into that area. "I would be concerned with prevailing winds over (the Black Watch Hills neighborhood)."

Ehrmentraut and Gowan both said any prospective business hoping to come into the village must go through the planning board first. It is that board’s responsibility to protect village residents from potentially harmful emissions.

Ehrmentraut said after further consideration, he feels the village will never have the population density needed to support any highway commercial business, such as a motel or a fast-food restaurant. "It would be a plus to our economy and to the village of Churchville," to make the change, he said.

Trustees plan to hear the planning board’s recommendation, and discuss the issue further at its next board meeting, Tuesday, February 27 at 7:15 p.m. at the village office, 22 South Main Street.