Progress never comes easy in Dunkirk and the north county. Even when it does happen, in the case of the cold storage facility on Roberts Road, obstacles remain.

Most recently, the county Industrial Development Agency has been attempting to work with Refresco for an easement to the neighboring property. Due to a lack of cooperation, it was forced to file a petition in state Supreme Court in Chautauqua County.

In the filing, the IDA is hoping to obtain — by eminent domain –0.9 acres of land to establish an access road that is currently the site of an unused driveway owned by Refresco. The issue for the easement centers around safety and future building, according to the documents.

“With no single, optimal point of entry, evidence indicates that developers will continue to be unwilling to build on the underdeveloped parcels, and Sonwil Distribution, which operates the existing cold storage facility in the northwest corner of the adjacent property, will be unable to expand its distribution operations,” the petition said. “Therefore, without the taking, CCIDA’s goal of developing the adjacent property into a fully functional, multi-business industrial park will not be accomplished.”

Momentum is evident in the manufacturing sector, especially with a major investment of $87 million by Fieldbrook Foods. It’s possible more space will be needed at the storage facility in the future, which will benefit all partners.

Unfortunately a quick decision, without the court, could not be reached.