Meeting jammed as residents say 'No RIP'

The Quest Elementary School's auditorium became an impromptu meeting hall Tuesday, September 16, when about 160 people turned out for Parma's public hearing to review the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Study (DGEIS) for the Fairfield Place project.

The proposed residential development calls for building apartments, town homes, patio homes, senior housing and single family homes on a site located on the west side of Manitou Road, just north of Ridge Road West. In total it would be 599 units on a 140-acre lot.

A DGEIS is intended to be a tool for disclosing data and analysis relating to all the environmental impacts and community benefits of a proposal.

The project has raised concerns for many Parma residents and prompted the creation of the No Rezoning in Parma (No RIP) interest group. Tuesday evening was a chance for residents to bring their concerns to the town board and the project's developer. A dozen people had signed up to share their thoughts and by the end of the night about 30 people offered comments on the DGEIS and the project.

Most comments drew vocal support until the very end (two hours later) when the spirited conversation gave way to verbal assaults on the town board members and Supervisor Rick Lemcke. "Overall I would characterize it as a great meeting," said Lemcke. "Unfortunately in the end some people decided that they needed to over dramatize their comments."

Some of the main issues raised by concerned residents were:

• Insuffient drainage for the property
• Increased demands placed on fire, police and schools
• Decrease in surrounding property value
• Increase in traffic on Manitou Road
• Does the density of the project call for exceptions to be made in zoning code?
• Part of the property that may have been previously polluted
• Absence of market analysis

Tina Brown, leader of the No RIP group and Democratic candidate for Parma Supervisor, said the questions raised by residents affirmed the weaknesses in the DGEIS.

"It is lacking factual analysis," said Brown. "That needs to be completed before the town board should act."

Dorraine Laudisi, a Parma resident who is an environmental planner for the City of Rochester, shared her expertise in dissecting the DGEIS. Laudisi concluded that there were many significant flaws in the document. "The DGEIS for Fairfield Place is filled with conclusions and self-serving statements that are not substantiated by any data or analysis," said Laudisi. "There is no way the town board can make an informed decision with this document."

Lemcke said he appreciated the concerns that were raised, but many of the issues do not fall at the feet of the board. "We as a town board can only deal with town issues," said Lemcke. "They were asking us to challenge things that we have no business challenging."

For example, Lemcke said any concerns regarding drainage for the property would need to be addressed by the Planning Board. Any issues regarding the project's impact on traffic on Manitou Road will need to be handled by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Lemcke added that the dumping that some residents believed had occurred on the proposed site, had actually taken place on property adjacent to the site. As far as rezoning, Lemcke said the land had previously been zoned medium density and would have to return to that status with an allowed modification for apartments and town homes.

There have also been some rumblings concerning Lemcke's role in this project. Lemcke was a minority owner of the site and sold it to developer Charlie Lissow about two-and-a-half years ago. Some residents have voiced concerns over Lemcke's interest in this development.

"That kind of accusation really bothers me," said Lemcke. "In my 12 years as supervisor I have always acted with the town's best interest in mind. In my life it has always been my family, my religion and the Constitution which I uphold as a public servant."

The town attorney has reviewed the situation and ruled that there is no conflict of interest.

Board member Dick Yolevich said he was disheartened by some of the accusations made at the hearing. "We're the guys in the middle of this issue and they are blaming us for all of it," said Yolevich. "Instead of throwing arrows at the developer, they are throwing them at us."

Yolevich added that the only purpose of the meeting was to review the DGEIS and that it was too early for the board to make any decisions. "Once we have all of the necessary information we will have to decide if this is a viable project for Parma," said Yolevich.

Linda Sawicki and her husband, Mark, attended the September 16 meeting because they were concerned with what their Manitou Road neighbors had been telling them about the Fairfield Place project. The Sawickis' biggest concerns were drainage and traffic. "I think we all knew something would be put behind us on that lot," said Sawicki. "But if the board doesn't see that the people of Parma don't want this, then they are deaf, dumb and blind."

Lemcke said the large turnout makes it too difficult to determine a timeline for how this process will continue. He did say there will be more opportunities for public input after the developer comes back with his answers to the residents' questions.