Change granted for apartment complex project in R’dam
After lying dormant since the summer, a resolution to approve a zoning change for a proposed apartment complex was granted at the Wednesday, Feb. 23, Town Board meeting.
Thomas DeLorenzo renewed his request, according to Rotterdam Supervisor Frank Del Gallo, to rezone 2.7 acres at 1066 Curry Road from a variety of zoning designations to multi-family residential. Councilman Wayne Calder joined Del Gallo and Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski in approving the resolution to grant the change. Residents from nearby Walnut Avenue previously expressed concerns and dismay for the project during a public hearing held months ago, before Calder joined the board.
We now have a new board member, Mr. Wayne Calder, who was not present for the public hearing and was not there to hear the pleas of the residents in our neighborhood in opposition to this project’s advancement, said Walnut Avenue resident Mary Gabriele. `I am also concerned as why it has taken so long for this to be placed back on the agenda? We were told this was over and aren’t really sure why it took this long to surface.`
She said residents were previously confused with information presented about the zoning change, and if the developer would be able to start construction without the zoning change. After residents urged the board to look into the matter, board members passed a resolution resulting in an engineer’s report that determined the construction project wasn’t possible.
`I believe our neighborhood is just as entitled to our property rights as Mr. DeLorenzo,` said Gabriele. `The residents should be protected by their elected officials. I hope you can put politics aside and do the right thing for the residents.`
Godlewski said he reviewed the data from the project before voting on the resolution, and he requested that, if the rezone were to be approved, the Town Designated Engineer’s report on the project is sent to the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
`The role of this town council is to make a simple determination: Do we feel the property in question should be R3?` said Godlewski. `The building and the other variances will come under control of the planning commission.`
Councilman Matthew Martin said he didn’t agree with the proposed zoning change because of its proximity to the surrounding zoned land.
`I don’t like the R3 encroachment into the R1 territory,` said Martin. `There is an obvious line. I don’t feel comfortable with the rezoning of the land here.`
Calder said he really had to `dig into` the situation to develop a clear understanding to make sure he was up to par with the zoning request. He shared what the landowner proposed to do if the construction project was later approved.
`Mr. DeLorenzo also told me, if approved, that there would be a fence that goes from the existing property now to the end of his property and also evergreens put in there every several feet to block off his property from the neighbors,` said Calder.
To help with his decision-making, he said he talked to the chair of the zoning board, Thomas Yuille, and ultimately used his recommendation in making a decision. As previously expressed by Calder, listening to department heads is a strong basis for voting decisions on resolutions.
`Sometimes, when we are not engineers, we have to leave this stuff up to the people that do this every day [Yuille] believes the project should go,` said Calder. `I said before and I am going to go with that I listen to these people and I’m going to vote to allow this.`
After the zoning changed passed, Nicola DiLeva said the resolution only `conditionally` passed since there is a petition on the land, which requires a supermajority vote of approval. If the petition is accurate then the zoning change would have to be revisited.“