The Brockport Planning Board continued conceptual design discussions with Don Hibsch on April 9, the developer seeking permission to build a mature living subdivision adjacent to the Havenwood tract. About 20 Havenwood residents with various concerns about the project attended the planning board meeting.

Chairman Tom Hare directed the village engineer to work with Hibsch’s engineer on the design of the access road and bridge from East Avenue. Brockport’s village board had already directed its engineer to assess the structural integrity of the existing Havenwood bridge.

Neighborhood residents don’t want construction equipment accessing the site from their streets; they want Hibsch to construct the bridge and road from East Avenue before any home construction is begun.

Many residents also oppose a plan to connect the two developments at the southeastern end. They would rather the two areas are connected from Candlewick Drive at the northeastern entrance.

The Planning Board has not made any decisions regarding the project yet, Hare said, as the 30 day comment period from various other agencies (i.e. Monroe County Planning) had not yet concluded. While approvals lie within the realm of the planning board, Mayor Mary Ann Thorpe addressed the Havenwood residents in attendance at the planning board.

Thorpe said that she has requested the DEC to test Tributary Two of the Brockport Creek that runs through the Hibsch property. Several Havenwood residents voiced concerns about possible contamination of the tributary, similar to the contamination found in Tributary Three. Originally, the DEC had told Thorpe there was no reason to suspect contamination in the Havenwood area, but has since agreed that some preliminary testing will help determine if more extensive testing is warranted.

Thorpe also told residents that she supports the project in concept but agrees that the bridge and road should be constructed first to eliminate construction in the neighborhood. She also supports the connector being located on Candlewick Drive.

The Planning Board has a workshop scheduled for April 23. At press time, Hibsch’s project was not on the agenda. The next regular meeting of the planning board is May 14. By that time, comments from the other pertinent agencies will be in the planning board’s possession.

While Hibsch originally wanted to begin construction of homes early this summer, he told the planning board that he has the option to lease the land for farming purposes (as it has been in the past) and not begin the subdivision construction until next year. Hibsch could conceivably build the bridge and access road before receiving subdivision approval, but the planning board cautioned him that putting in the infrastructure would not guarantee approval of the project.