Planning board gets early look at N. Burdick St. project

TOWN OF MANLIUS – Last week, Manlius planners got their first look at preliminary plans for a new development on the east side of N. Burdick Street, across from Towne Center.
The proposal, from Twin Shores Properties, is for a mixed commercial and residential development that would encompass about 50 acres of the 128-acre site, known as the Fietta property. About 70 acres of the site – much of which is in the Limestone Creek flood plain – would be left untouched.
Tom Cerio, representing Twin Shores, said their plans call for about 300 housing units sprinkled around the two lakes on the property. The apartments would be in multi-family buildings of various sizes, with the largest being three stories in height.
“It won’t be a monstrosity,” Cerio said.
At the southern end of the property, plans call for an “entertainment complex” as well as a fast-food restaurant and/or coffee shop.
Although there have been discussions with the Manlius Town Board about the potential to house town hall and bring the police station to the site, Cerio said there is no agreement in place.
“For the most part, there’s been positive feedback from the town board,” Cerio said.
There would be three road cuts accessing the property and the developer has proposed a new traffic signal that would control traffic flow into this development as well as to an existing entrance into Towne Center.
Cerio said Twin Shores has been working with the New York State Parks Department, the Canal Corporation, the village of Fayetteville and the town of Manlius on ensuring the development links to existing trails along the Erie Canal and the Limestone Creek corridor. Twin Shores is also planning a sidewalk along Burdick Street that would link to the sidewalk network in the village of Fayetteville.
“We have been in extensive contact with these agencies and will continue to pursue coordination with them,” Cerio said.
The presentation was billed as an informal introduction to the project, and the planning board will continue to work with the developer on firming up the site plan before any votes on the project are taken.
“This is good land usage,” said Planning Board Chairman Joe Lupia. “You’re on the right path, but we can’t tell you more than that.”