The Syracuse-based company that wants to relocate a bulk salt storage facility in the Rotterdam Industrial Park withdrew its application for a special-use permit that would allow them to move 400 million pounds of salt to a site bordering a residential area.
The company’s proposal to store the salt at the edge of the industrial park and adjacent to a neighborhood area appalled the owners of nearby properties sporting manicured lawns and carefully tended gardens, along with the parents of adolescents who play Pop Warner football across the street.
Rotterdam Planning Commission Chairman Lawrence DiLallo announced that the town had received a letter from Ricelli Enterprises at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5, stating that the company was withdrawing its application.
Loud applause greeted the announcement. The move had been bitterly opposed by hundreds of residents whose properties border the proposed new location. But, the applause had hardly ended before residents started speculating that the company would try to get around the town’s regulatory process and relocate anyway, claiming they did not need prior permission from the town.
The speculation was fueled by the way Ricelli attorney Frederick Micale worded the withdrawal letter.
On behalf of Ricelli Enterprises, we are withdrawing the application for special-use permit, Micale said in the letter, adding, `No further action can lawfully be taken by the planning commission.` The lawyer added that the company would not be bound by any other action of the planning commission.
Micale did not return calls requesting clarification last week.
Ricelli has leased Lot 5 in the industrial park for the past five years from the Galesi Group and has operated from there without incident.
An $18 million project to transport refrigerated produce from Washington to Rotterdam by rail, called Railex, is under construction near the present bulk salt pile location. Earlier this year, it became apparent that Ricelli’s operation would need to move to make way for Railex.
DiLallo noted in an earlier meeting of the planning commission that Railex proponents and Galesi representatives assured the town that the salt pile would not interfere with the Railex project. He declined to consider arguments about the urgent need for Ricelli to find a new home to keep Railex on schedule.
Company consultants and Galesi attorney Stephen Porter spoke for almost two hours at their initial hearing before the planning commission, on June 5. They failed to convince com-missioners that a 60-foot pile of road salt on 4.5 acres would not ruin health or views.
The Syracuse company received an even rockier reception when Micale and two consultants appeared before the commission during a public hearing to discuss their proposed move.
Approximately 80 residents showed up on short notice and spoke in near unanimous accord to inform town officials and Ricelli employees that they did not want the salt pile near their houses.
They voiced concerns about possible health dangers to neighborhood children, and said they were worried the small mountain of salt would destroy their views and corrode their houses and cars.
Led by Fern Avenue resident Bob Massaroni, they urged commissioners, in no uncertain terms, to deny the company’s request.
The public hearing was suspended after two hours of comments and was scheduled to resume Tuesday, but the town received their withdrawal letter earlier that afternoon so the public meeting was brief.
`With the information we have, the issue is dead,` DiLallo said. `I would like to thank you for attending and showing your distaste for the salt pile. The public showing up and telling them they didn’t want it, helped.`
Massaroni responded with gracious thanks to commission members and his neighbors.
`I just wanted to thank the planning commission for hearing us out on Aug. 15,` Massaroni said. `This is a victory. It’s good that they withdrew the permit.`
He added that residents have to be ready to return if another application is submitted, noting that they could try to move it without a permit and force the town to sue them.“