BALDWINSVILLE — Opposition to the proposed United Auto Supply warehouse in the town of Lysander continues to mount. Last week, a group of residents filed an Article 78 suit in New York State Supreme Court over the Lysander Town Board’s Feb. 4 decision to increase the maximum lot coverage from 30% to a maximum of 50% for two areas in the town.
An Article 78 proceeding “seeks to challenge actions of administrative agencies and other government bodies,” according to the New York State Unified Court System.
The lawsuit — filed by Oswego Road residents Angelo Vecchio, Raymond D. Gilbert, Dawn Green, Michael and Kathleen M. Oemcke, Joseph and Christine Nanna — alleges that the town board failed to issue a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) determination on whether the zoning amendment would impact the environment. The suit also says the town board failed to refer the amendment to the Lysander Planning Board or the Onondaga County Planning Board. The change in lot coverage, the suit adds, goes against the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, adopted in 2015.
Lysander Town Supervisor Bob Wicks told Syracuse.com that he is confident that the town followed the proper procedures in passing the lot coverage law, which is designed to make Lysander more attractive to developers. Wicks said as long as United Auto Supply follows all zoning requirements, the town cannot refuse to let the project go forward.
United Auto Supply’s application to the planning board for a 1 million-square-foot warehouse on the corner of Hencle Boulevard and Route 48 was dated Feb. 4, the same day the Lysander Town Board voted to approve the lot coverage amendment. Town Councilor Bob Geraci cast the sole dissenting vote against the local law.
While the Oswego Road residents’ suit does not mention the United Auto Supply project by name, a press release from a group of residents calling themselves “Citizens Against Lysander Mega-warehouse” (CALM) said the plaintiffs decided to file the lawsuit after the contentious June 10 meeting of the Lysander Planning Board. That meeting ended in a shouting match between resident John Farneth and United Auto Supply CEO Jim Ranalli, and the planning board adjourned the public hearing to July 8.
CALM has also started a petition opposing the United Auto Supply project. According to the petition’s website, ipetitions.com/petition/UAS, 668 people have signed. At the June 10 planning board meeting, resident Rob Helfrich said 850 people had signed a petition.
Among the concerns listed on the petition are intrusive noise and light, traffic, overcrowding, pollution of air and drinking water, potential harm to plants and animals in the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, and decreased water pressure for area residents who rely on well water.
Cooperstown-based attorney Douglas H. Zamelis is representing the Oswego Road residents in the Article 78 suit. To read the full lawsuit, visit http://bit.ly/lysandersuit.
