Supporters of Maple Road project respond to large showing of opponents
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

With back to back meetings - Feb. 25 and March 3 - the Amherst Town Board heard approximately two hours of bashing and praising related to the proposed Town Centre project.

The Benderson Development Co. proposal has been a hot topic during the public comment period at board meetings, increasing in volume as the board nears a decision.

During its Feb. 25 meeting, one hour of comments was logged, mostly residents against the project. When the board opened the March 3 public comment period, residents in favor of the project lined up, speaking about its financial and social benefits. Many held a sheet of paper with the headline "Key Speaking Points."

A resident against the project, who lives across from the site, questioned the reasoning behind the comments of those supporting the project.

"In addition to where they live I would like the speakers to state their association with the applicant," said Isabell Berger, adding that she believes such information might be influencing their opinion.

John Barnes, a Washington Highway resident, said the homeowners in the area don't understand how much damage they are doing by opposing an "incredible" project.

"(The board) should not be swayed by unthinking people ... and burden the taxpayers," he said, adding that it would be fiscally irresponsible not to allow the project.

The topic has demanded a lot of time at meetings, with many people making many of the same points - traffic, environmental, drainage and overdevelopment. Residents also accuse Benderson of lying, including the amount of federal money the company will receive for cleaning the contaminated land, once the home of the Buffalo Gun Club.

Maple Road traffic was the first topic of conversation during the work session in which Eugene Nowicki, a project manager with Urban Engineers of New York, presented a report on the independent traffic study.

Urban Engineers had been hired to review the traffic study, completed by FRA Engineering and submitted by Benderson as part of the environmental impact statement.

Nowicki said that based on the study, it's recommended that the area of traffic study be expanded to include North Forest Road, Millersport Highway between I-290 and Maple Road and the intersection of I-290 at the Sheridan Drive off-ramp.

Residents had complained that the FRA's study didn't encompass enough of the area.

The Urban Engineers report also recommended an expanded analysis of "cut through" traffic and reasons for any conclusions reached. The report also recommended some options to mitigating the problem, including signs restricting traffic.

Another new update on the proposal is a modified site plan, dated Feb. 28. It includes the 4.5-acre linear park along Maple Road. The new plan also reduces the overall acreage of the project by 13 percent.

Also noted: no single retailer will have space larger than 65,000 square feet, and the maximum height of any building will be 60 feet. Benderson agreed that no free-standing drive-through restaurants or pharmacies will be allowed on the site.

Changes also include the implementation of deceleration lanes on Maple Road, in accordance with the recommendations of the Urban Engineers' report. The new plan eliminates the proposed median on Maple Road.

Much like a roadway median, the line between supporters and opponents of the project has been clearly drawn. That includes the Town Board.

While some members have not yet voiced an opinion, it appears that Council Members Dan Ward and Deborah Bruch Bucki are against the project. Supervisor Satish Mohan has gone on the record supporting the project.

When Ward attempted to deny the rezoning request at Monday's meeting, he was ruled out of order by the majority of the board.

The board will now review the new plan from Benderson, along with a list of modifications the company has agreed to.

The board plans to vote on the rezoning request at its April 7 meeting.