Vote to rezone portion of Maple Road postponed
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Benderson Development Company's request to postpone the vote on rezoning a portion of Maple Road was accepted by the Amherst Town Board.

During Monday's work session, Supervisor Satish Mohan said the developer has requested an extension, and the board was agreeable to the change.

Originally the April 7 meeting was designated "vote day," but it has now been pushed back to the April 21 meeting.

"There are technical issues, certain things that have to occur before the vote," said Eric Recoon, vice president of leasing development for Benderson.

He added that the firm also has to respond to new developments involving the project. He added that Benderson is waiting on responses from other involved agencies.

Amherst Planning Director Rick Gillert said Benderson responded to the issues raised by Urban Engineers during its review of the project in the Traffic Impact Study. Now, those responses are being reviewed by the Erie County Department of Public Works Division of Highways, New York State Department of Transportation, Amherst Traffic Safety Board and Erie County Department of Environment and Planning.

Benderson is seeking the rezoning of 218 and 330 Maple Road. The request includes changing 28 acres from CF-Community Facility to GB-General Business and 5.2 acres from CF and R-3-Residential to MFR-6-Multi-Family Residential. This would make way for the proposed $44 million multi-use development.

The project includes shops, restaurants, community areas, a hotel, theater and park. Such facilities have been built throughout the country, and proponents have referred to the success of such projects in Baltimore and Cleveland because of the areas' similarities to Western New York.

Benderson first proposed the plan more than two years ago. Pros and cons on the project have dominated the public comment period at Town Board meetings for several months.

Comments from town residents were renewed this past week when a flier was mailed out to Amherst residents asking for support of the project.

The council members' and supervisor's offices have reported numerous calls and e-mails from residents supporting and opposing the project.

At the close of business on Monday, Mohan's office had received 42 e-mails in favor of the project and 18 against. A log of more than a dozen calls was recorded.

The flier had encouraged residents to contact Mohan and the Town Board to show their support for Town Centre. In that flier, the phone number for Council Member Guy Marlette was incorrect. He can be reached at 631-7013.

The next Town Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 7 at Town Hall, 5583 Main St. For agenda information, visit www. amherst. ny. us.