Neighboring residents of the proposed 8,000-square-foot commercial development on North Burdick Street in Fayetteville last week voiced concerns about the planned location being on an area prone to flooding, and that a new development would displace the water into neighborhood homes.
“I have nothing against the project, but I’ve lived near that creek and I know how it floods,” said property neighbor Milly Richmond, during a Jan. 12 public hearing before the Fayetteville village board. “It’s important that area stays undeveloped for the people in that area.”
“If you build in here, you’re going to displace that water,” said Brian McAllister, another neighbor of the project.
The project, which is being developed by Thomas Goodfellow, is expected to be a commercial development on North Burdick Street across from the Towne Center on the last parcel of land in the village of Fayetteville along the south side of Limestone Creek. It will include the installation of a traffic light and crosswalk at the intersection of North Burdick and Towne Drive, biking trails that lead to Limestone Creek and a “Northwestern Gateway” sign to the village.
The public hearing, continued form the previous month, was to consider allowing a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zone change from residential to commercial.
Goodfellow said he has met with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, who said the concept of his development could work if done properly, and have suggested moving the buildings of the development to be along the road with parking in back, rather than having parking in front of the buildings.
Goodfellow said he would meet with FEMA before any construction happens to ensure his plans will be safe to carry out.
In addition to neighbors’ concerns, a representative from CORE Federal Credit Union also voiced the company’s concerns about the project, questioning whether the village board should move forward with a zone change for the project without first analyzing the impacts it could have.
“Our group is not against the development,” he said. “I would suggest the board consider sending it to the planning board to be sure the impacts can be addressed before the zone change is granted.”
Mayor Mark Olson clarified that the village board is the lead agent only for the zoning change, and the village planning board would be the lead agent for the State Environmental Quality Review process, where they would address any impacts the project would have.
“Just so you understand, if we approve the zone change, it’s contingent on them getting site plan approval,” Olson said. “If they [the developer] don’t get that, the zone change doesn’t take effect.”
The public hearing for the project was then closed and village trustee members voiced their opinions about the development.
“I’m surprised no one had concerns about this project chipping away at the neighborhood. When I look at a project, I think about how this could impact the neighborhood,” said Trustee Christopher Randall. “I want to know what criteria we have as a board for allowing PUDs in neighborhoods the future.”
“I have all the faith in the world in our planning board,” Olson said. “If this project isn’t right, the planning board will let us know.
The board voted 3-2, to approve the zone change from residential to commercial. Trustees Randall and Dennis Duggleby voted against it.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Heard the top 10 village initiatives for 2015, as set by Olson. This list includes the Environmental Facilities Corporation Western Gateway Project, to stabilize the tax rate at current level, to begin plans for phase 4 of the Canal Landing Park project, Mill Street and Ledyard dyke rehab and street improvements, the form a health insurance review committee, to develop a new fire and EMS office structure, to implement a long term capital plan, to complete development projects at the Friendly’s and Jay Chevrolet sites and to start the Fayetteville Senior Center campus plans.
—Voted to authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the Signal Hill housing development to allow the DPW to put down salt brine the roads in the development. Signal Hill previously asked the board if they would be able to apply salt and brine when the roads became icy. Although the development is owned by a private company and hires a plowing company for snow removal, they are still within the village limits and thought they had the rights to ask for this village service.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
