LIVERPOOL — The Village of Liverpool Planning Board met for nearly two hours on April 25 to review recent neighborhood complaints about the film company American High and its Academy at Syracuse Studios, at the former Liverpool High School at 800 Fourth St.
The board reviewed a list of 19 concerns presented by Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan reflecting repeated complaints registered with his office by the school’s neighbors. The concerns ranged from the trade school’s lack of accreditation to its need to limit truck traffic between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
“Neighbors are most concerned with the truck traffic happening outside of the permitted times and the parking of trucks overnights on the school premises,” Reagan said.
A 2017 special-use permit and a 2020 site-plan approval from the village both prohibited parking on the tennis or basketball courts along Birch Street, Reagan said, except for overflow parking during film shoots. Regardless, such parking has become routine on the 6.9-acre property.
A handful of neighbors attended the April 25 meeting as compared to about 40 who turned out for the March 28 meeting which also dealt with the complaints.
Representing American High on April 25 were Director of Operations Heath Cottengim, Director of Development Matt Sacca, building supervisor Paul Stacey along with movie producer and American High partner Will Phelps.
Planning Board Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. asked them to consider finding alternative parking lots in the area.
Board member Bob Bradt advised them to “stop kicking the can down the road…set a goal and get things done. Let’s reach a compromise that works. It’s time to resolve these issues.”
Member Sam Reppi recommended finding alternative parking sites and employing a shuttle system.
“I see trucks as 80 percent of the problem,” Reppi said. “This is the big one you’ve got to take off your plate. Take care of it the way you would if it was your grandma’s home.”
Ostuni predicted that if the various issues remain unresolved, “We’ll have to take action.”
To that end, Village Attorney Richard Andino read a proposed resolution stipulating that the owners of the property cease violating terms of its special permit and site plan or risk their possible revocation. Ostuni hinted that continued violations could result in fines being issued and court cases instituted.
The discussion, including debate over the proposed resolution, will continue at the board’s meeting next month. Meanwhile Reagan is working directly with the Academy at Syracuse Studios to draw up revisions to their special-use permit and site-plan approvals to address the neighbors’ and the village’s concerns.
“We’ll also try to fulfill the needs of the Academy to the maximum extent possible given that it is located in a residential neighborhood,” Reagan said. “It’s our intent to address any modifications at the May 23 planning board meeting.”
