Residential development on Feuz Road is moving forward despite continued opposition from neighboring residents.
The Rotterdam Town Board on Wednesday, May 23, approved 4-1 a comprehensive plan amendment rezoning approximately 6.38 acres from A-1 Agriculture to R-4 Small One-Family and Townhouse Residential. Also, the board approved it wouldn’t have any negative environmental impact.
Councilman Robert Godlewski voted against both resolutions, saying the homes have big lots in the neighborhood “to protect the nature of the area” and the zoning change wasn’t appropriate.
Resident Richard Malaczynski said the zoning change basically amounted to spot zoning. After the rezone, he said, within a quarter-mile radius there would be five different zoning uses designated: B-2 General Business, I-1 Light Industrial, A-1 Agriculture, R-1 Single Family and the newly zoned R-4 residential district.
“This isn’t comprehensive planning,” Malaczynski said. “It is essentially the antithesis of comprehensive planning.”
Kristin Waters, a Tony Drive resident, urged town officials to look into drainage issues around the property before construction moves forward. Her biggest concern was how the development would affect her home’s water pressure.
“I am right up at the top of the hill, and the developer has said it is not his responsibility,” Waters said. “Before you move on to this project, you need to come up with a solution as to whose responsibility it is going to be if I can’t get enough water.”
Residents also previously spoke out on the area’s water pressure, which spurred town officials to look into the claim before the May 23 meeting.
Councilman Mike Viscusi said he talked to project engineers and town Senior Planner Peter Comenzo and was told the project wouldn’t negatively affect water pressure for the neighborhood.
“They all told me that they could put four developments down there and it would not affect the water pressure,” Viscusi said.
Councilman Robert Godlewski said if the project had any negative affect on water pressure then it would be noted in the State Environmental Quality Review document on the project.
Supervisor Harry Buffardi said there would not be a reduction in water pressure or volume for current residents resulting from the new development.
David Ingalls, engineer for the project, also addressed the water pressure concern at the town’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting on May 3, according the town’s meeting summary.
Ingalls said the town took water pressure readings around the Country Walk Estates development and at the bottom of the hill there was 58 psi, with 37 to 28 psi at the top of the hill. He said it is standard for 0.5 psi to be lost per foot of elevation.
Ingalls at the May 3 meeting also said he purchased the property for the project from the Gallucci family around two weeks before the meeting, so he was now the applicant and engineer.
Members of the advisory committee also expressed concerned about the density of the project, with 15 townhouses thought to be a tough fit. Ingalls said the proposed layout was only conceptual and agreed 15 townhouses was unlikely, with eight to 12 townhouse units likely being a maximum build out.
Developers had sought for a more dense zoning change last year, with R-3 Multi-Family Residential eyed to allow apartments to be constructed. Residents had expressed concern over the apartments proposal and said it didn’t fit with the character of the neighborhood.