Purposed construction of 248 apartments and rezoning of 71.8 acres was discussed at the Rotterdam Planning Commission meeting on June 15. A concept sketch was presented by attorney Donald Zee and Francis Bossolini of Ingalls and Associates, but the board sought additional information before making a final decision for the planned residential development.
Thirty-one two-story buildings by Burdeck Street and Princetown Road were sketched, but the 124 purposed garage spaces were absent from the presentation. Some council members were concerned with the density of the proposed apartments; adding some detached along with attached garages added to their concern.
Without proper engineering it is hard to imagine it will all fit, said Vice Chairman Larry DiLallo.
There was no clear sign of rejection form the council after many questions. Some members openly supported the proposal noting it would create a nice buffer between nearby industrial zones.
`I think it does work as a good buffer,` said Commission member Lynn Flansburg. `I think this would be a good use for the property.`
The Rotterdam little league fields will also need to be relocated, but Zee expressed that the league is ready to move forward with planning and will hold fundraisers to raise money for new ball fields.
Commission Chairman Tom Yuille and Zee got into a heated debate about whether oral agreements or written agreements would be used. At one point Zee said, `You have no standards` for what format is used to approve planned residential development.
Yuille expressed the need for written agreements over oral agreements, but Zee noted last time he sought planned residential development approval in 1998 oral was sufficient.
`We are not asking for anything unusual,` said DiLallo. `It seems you think you are above this.`
The debate continued for some time till Yuille expressed the need for documentation.
`Whether you like the way I am doing it or not, I am the chairman of the board,` said Yuille.
The commission motioned for the town board to become the lead agency of the project and the planning commission will provide recommendation to the board. The commission will make their recommendation at their next meeting on July 13.
Timothy Larned and Maria Esposito are the owners of the project.“
