Clay, NY - Denise Murray stood before the Clay Town Board Monday night holding two posters showing more than a dozen vacant buildings and lots within a few miles of her home. Murray, of Waxwood Circle in Clay, said they are all zoned for commercial use or office space. She asked the town board to not allow one more into...
Clay, NY - Denise Murray stood before the Clay Town Board Monday night holding two posters showing more than a dozen vacant buildings and lots within a few miles of her home.
Murray, of Waxwood Circle in Clay, said they are all zoned for commercial use or office space. She asked the town board to not allow one more into her neighborhood off Buckley Road.
Red Barn LLC, which owns a 3.5-acre parcel on Buckley Road just south of Waxwood Circle, is asking the town board to approve a zone change so that two office buildings can be built there. Right now, the zoning allows for three to four single family homes to be built on the property.
More than 50 people attended a public hearing at Clay Town Hall, and many expressed concern about the proposed zone change and how it would affect their neighborhood.
Anne Vislosky, of Briarledge Road, said she is concerned about the traffic congestion, drainage problems and the “abundance” of office buildings already in the area. “Changing the zoning would result in these two buildings being constructed on top of our backyards,” she said.
Sylvia Reynolds, of Woodstream Terrace, said the drainage problem is continuing to get worse as more commercial development moves into the area. “Water is backing up and flooding backyards,” she said.
Bill Camperlino, managing partner for Red Barn, said the two office buildings would share a driveway, and his company will work with the town and neighbors to mitigate traffic congestion, drainage problems and lighting issues. Camperlino also said Red Barn does not have a tenant or buyer for the property so he does not know exactly what will be built, but it will be easier to market if the zone change is approved.
“I have 210 petition voters signatures all agreeing that we just want it to stop,” Murray said. “You expect the commercialism at the intersections, but slowly it’s creeping into our neighborhood.”
The town board did not make a decision, but plans to continue discussions July 19.