The town of Dunkirk still has more questions regarding the proposed site plan for the Dunkirk Meadows Housing project. The town's planning board met Thursday evening to discuss the project with their consultant and the community.
Steve Ricca, attorney for Regan Development Corporation answered questions as well as updated the board on the status of the project. Since the last planning board meeting, members attended a New York State Department of Transportation meeting to discuss a traffic study on Route 60. The state DOT decided a traffic study is not required.
"It came as no surprise to me the Department of Transportation .... this isn't the kind of project they would mandate a traffic impact study," Ricca said.
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OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell
Steve Ricca, representing Regan Development Corp. gave an update on the Dunkirk Meadows project.
While the DOT is not requiring a traffic study, Regan Development Corporation will conduct a study and compile all the information that the planning board has asked for. Items to be looked at will include accident history as well as studying the three intersections near the project site.
"This is well beyond the typical traffic study. ... This is a Cadillac traffic study," Ricca said.
Consultant Andrew Reilly of Wendel was hired by the town to help with the application process. Reilly went through the full environmental assessment (EAF) with the board.
By reviewing the EAF, the board brought up concerns to Ricca and the Engineer Rex Tolman of Tolman Engineering. Major concerns regarded public safety, residential areas be affected by prolonged construction and water drainage issues.
One of the major issues was how police and fire departments as well as schools would be able to get around the project site and if the roads could handle heavy fire trucks and buses. Board member Jay Warren brought up the idea about deteriorating the roads, especially Chadwick Way off of Route 60.
"Will the construction of Chadwick (Way) be in investigation or out of the traffic study," Warren asked.
Warren suggested the town research the problem and whether or not the road is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of these trucks. The town board will contact emergency personnel and the school district for their input on the project.
Another major issue brought up by the planning board was the design of the project. Current proposals have been redesigned by the developer to have two residential areas on both parcels as well as commercial units. The north parcel is adjacent to Williams Street and the south parcel is located next to Chadwick Way and Route 60. The board did not want to see any residential units on the north parcel but commercial construction.
Board member Jon Ortendahl said he did not want to see residential areas due to the original zoning codes for the property. He said the property was zoned as commercial property and he would like to see it as such.
Not only is the planning board having questions, many residents are opposed to the idea. Chairman Doug Fenton stated on the record of a petition of 134 signatures.
"We the undersigned are not in favor of the proposed housing project on Route 60 next to Bargain Outlet. There are many issues that make this a bad choice .... safety, overcrowding, a burden on present taxpayers," Fenton said as he read the petition.
The planning board will look over more of the plans and hopefully have answers to some of their questions at their next board meeting on Sept. 20.
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