Williamsville
Request for curb cut on Spring Street denied
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

For the second time, the Center for Plastic Surgery's request to construct a curb cut on Spring Street has been denied.

The Village Board on Monday voted 4 to 1, rejecting Dr. Zvi Sharf's idea to build a one-way driveway exiting onto Spring Street from behind the buildings at 5604 to 5590 Main St.

Sharf requested adding a curb cut in 2005, but the then Village Board suggested conducting a traffic study before readdressing the issue. He hired a company to do so and resubmitted his request this past year.

Sharf wanted to install the exit because his patients have a hard time exiting his parking lot onto Main Street. He cited three accidents that have occurred in the past year alone.

The Village Traffic and Safety Committee reviewed the case and advised the board to deny the request again.

After Monday evening's public hearing, where most residents in attendance also rejected the idea, the Village Board denied the project.

Trustee Basil Piazza was the only board member to vote in favor of the curb cut, stating he didn't believe the exit would increase safety concerns for customers using Jenny's Ice Cream.

But trustees Brian Geary, Bea Slick and Richard Sweeney agreed that the sloped Spring Street would create a hazard for traffic coming from Main Street.

Sweeney said there was too short of a reaction time to say the curb cut would be safe. Mayor Mary Lowther agreed, stating that the Traffic and Safety Committee looked at the study and found it to be not in favor of Sharf's request.

Lowther noted that she sympathized with Sharf because he was concerned with the safety of his patients. But she added that the project is not in the best interest of the safety and wellness of village residents.

The next Village Board meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at Village Hall, 5565 Main St. in Williamsville.