Major development on Rensch Road tabled
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

With $50 million at stake, the Amherst Town Board decided Monday that it was lacking the information needed to vote on a proposed 858-bed student housing project on Rensch Road.

(See editorial on page four)

For two hours the board listened to comments for and against the project before deciding to table the proposal. The discussion involved whether or not to rezone 13 properties on Rensch Road from RD-Research and Development to MFR-6-Multi-Family Residential District-6.

The project, which is proposed by GMH Communities, is represented by the law firm Hopkins, Garas & Sorgi, PLLC. GMH Communities has managed housing complexes for college students and at military bases for more than 22 years and currently owns and manages 95 facilities in 32 states.

This would be the company's first project in Western New York.

Attorney Sean Hopkins said the student housing community would be a $50 million project and would not receive any tax breaks. The estimated revenue increase to the town would be $500,000.

"The Town Board heard a lot of testimony and evidence last night. It was a good decision to close the hearing and review the information before voting. That is what they should do," Hopkins said.

Ron Nestor, vice president of development at GMH Communities, said the company had looked long and hard in the area before settling on the Rensch Road sites.

"The acreage it provided was perfect for the project," he said. "And its close proximity to UB."

Approximately 50 percent of the site would be green space.

Sweet Home Road has signalized lights that would benefit students walking to class, he said. GMH would also provide a shuttle for students.

A group of 11 residents have agreed to sell their parcels at a price of approximately $200,000- $300,000 per parcel to the developer, according to information released during the meeting. For many the possibility comes as a relief.

Hopkins said he hopes the Town Board keeps the residents in mind when making its decision because they are in a predicament.

Several residents went on the record stating that for years they had been unsuccessful in selling their homes because residential dwellings are considered nonconforming in RD zoning.

According to the residents, financial institutions do not grant loans for such a purchase, and furthermore, residents stated that should their homes burn or be damaged they could not be rebuilt.

Daniel Hull, who has been living on Rensch Road for 11 years, said he has seen the area change with the development of commercial property.

"I just learned under the present rezoning that I can't rebuild if my house is destroyed by fire ... that doesn't seem reasonable," he said. "This is a chance for 11 homeowners to recoup and possibly realize a return on their investment."

Frustration was expressed by many, with some stating that for almost 20 years they have attempted to sell their homes but have been unable to do so.

While many saw the proposal as a way to sell their properties, others who would be remaining were concerned about what would replace their single-family neighbors. Noise and student activity topped the list of concerns. With 858 possible tenants nearby, residents were concerned about their quality of life being affected.

Several comments on public safety prompted Police Chief John Moslow to speak, stating that these types of housing developments have proven to produce many calls. In one year, a student housing complex on Sweet Home Road recorded more than 300 calls involving burglary, larceny and sex crimes.

Moslow said changing those parcels for a housing complex could cause the Police Department to redraft its patrol borders to attend to the increased population.

According to GMH Communities, the company would hire off-duty officers or private security guards to monitor activity.

Supervisor Satish Mohan said he is in favor of the project - as long as four areas are addressed. He wants a pedestrian bridge over Sweet Home Road, 6-foot-wide sidewalks around the complex, brick siding of the entire structure and one large retention lake to replace the proposed small ponds.

"I don't see any reason for not building the project. We have no use for that land except for this purpose," he said following Monday's meeting. "This is an opportunity to develop and expand."

He said he anticipates that the project would create a viable walking community.

Mohan also addressed the public safety issue, stating that the education of students who would be living in the facility must be done by the manager of the property.

Dennis Black, vice president of student affairs for the University at Buffalo, was one of three representatives from UB to attend the public hearing.

The university has stated it is against the development because the town and UB have been working on a plan for development.

UB also does not support off-campus residences because statistics show more school involvement and higher graduation rates for on-campus students.

Black also said UB is concerned about what a mass of 2,200 students living in a half-mile radius around the campus would do to town resources - including drainage and the Police Department.

"This would have an impact on all the neighbors," he said.

UB was also under fire for not moving forward with its plans to develop and provide adequate housing for the growing student population. In response Black said, "We have an intent to build and a proven track record."

Mohan said he expects UB to come around to the idea of off-campus student housing. Many residents stated that an 800-person housing complex is of no threat to UB's housing and expansion plans.

According to the federal Fair Housing Act the facility cannot discriminate against a possible tenant that is not a student. But currently GMH's campus facilities are 100 percent students, Hopkins said.

The motion was tabled without a set return date. Mohan said he expected the earliest the proposal would be voted on would be in a month.

Town Board members asked that the item be tabled to allow them additional time to review the proposal and the statements made by the more than 35 people who spoke during the two-hour public hearing.

Should the project be approved, GMH is anticipating an August 2008 completion date. Carmina and Wood P.C. in Buffalo is the architect for the project.