Star of the West Mill considering eight new structures

Churchville officials were expected to tour the Star of the West Milling Company, at 35 South Main Street Thursday to hear plans to increase storage space at the facility, including one that calls for the construction of eight, 110-foot silos on the site.

"This is not a formal proposal," Village Clerk Sue Davis told village trustees at the December 3 Village Board meeting. "They are just coming in to get a feel for it."

Members of the zoning and planning boards were to hear the plans and tour the site, at the corner of Fitch Street and South Main Street, along with Village Board members. "They need more capacity," said Trustee Dean Arlidge. He said the Churchville location has far less storage space than other Star of the West mills.

The 110-foot silos would stand almost 150-feet tall including the apparatus mounted on the top, according to Churchville Mayor Donald R. Ehrmentraut. "In comparison, the water tower is 155 feet high," he said. "The current silos are 83 feet high."

The mill is on land zoned for industrial use. Ehrmentraut said village zoning laws call for a 50-foot height restriction in industrial areas, which would require mill owners to apply to the zoning board for a variance if they choose to proceed with this plan. He said other plans include constructing 16, 50-foot silos.

"It is industrial property located in the middle of the village," said Ehrmentraut. "It would be really hard to say no, except for the height issue." Fitch Street is a residential area, and South Main Street is the village's commercial area.

Trustee Scott Cullen said board members should get a real picture of the impact eight 150- structures would have in the middle of the village. He said cellular companies often use a large helium-filled balloon sent up to the height of a proposed tower to get an idea of what it will look like.

"This is going to visually affect not just Fitch Street and North Street … but this will visually affect coming over the hill into Churchville," Cullen said. "You can see the existing 83-foot tower now … a 150-foot tower, what is that going to look like?" Trustee Nancy Steedman said, "We need to look at our height restriction." She said the towns of Mendon and Rush have laws restricting building on hilltops where it would ruin or alter the scenic landscape of the area.

In other news, the board will be developing a policy on public use of the new Village Hall on East Buffalo Street. The December 3 meeting was the first in the new building and Ehrmentraut welcomed those in attendance. "I want to thank everybody involved in this building, especially (Department of Public Works Superintendent) Dave Adams and Sue Davis. We have been able to be in this building without raising taxes even one penny," Ehrmentraut said. As long as no changes are made before the January 7 public hearing on the 2002-2003 budget, village taxes will remain the same for the eighth year running.

The next board meeting is scheduled for December 19, at the Village Hall, at 7:15 p.m.