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Apartment plan lacks local support
By John J. Hopkins Times
Neighbors who live near a Cayuga Creek Road site that is targeted for a three-building apartment complex voiced their opposition to the plan during a public hearing Monday in Town Hall that lasted for nearly one hour.
Almost three dozen residents took their turns telling the town board why they do not want Woodbridge Contracting Group to build the 24- unit project at 590 Cayuga Creek that would offer housing to persons in the "middle-income" bracket.
Additional traffic, vacant apartments and problems with other nearby apartment complexes were all cited by residents as examples of why the proposed complex is not needed or wanted.
"We've had some bad experiences with a previous developer and that has sensitized the neighborhood about anyone else coming in," observed Councilmember Tom Johnson.
One woman noted that before she moved to Cayuga Creek Road, she traveled along the thoroughfare and said to herself, "what a lovely country road." With disappointment in her voice, she added that it's no longer what it used to be.
Leon Dywinski of Trudy Lane noted that noise from traffic along the nearby New York State Thruway already travels into local back yards. Apartment would intrude even more, he added.
Dywinski said that drivers already use local streets- including his- as a shortcut from William Street to Harlem Road.
"Apartments would change the whole area," Dywinski said.
Another resident pointed out that although the apartments would be in close proximity to John F. Kennedy High School in the Cheektowaga- Sloan School District, the land is actually in the Cheektowaga Central district, meaning that most residents who live near the parcel won't even have the benefit of the property adding to the district's tax rolls.
Building on the schools theme, Suzanne Bystrak of Ceil Drive said that the apartments could adversely affect pedestrian traffic.
Bystrak noted that there are no sidewalks along Cayuga Creek Road, and many students walk to JFK Middle/High School.
"There is not enough parking," Bystrak said. "The kids are walking on that street every day."
Dave Grzybek of Jane Drive pointed to several nearby apartment complexes with units available for rent.
"We don't need it," Grzybek. "It's a residential neighborhood. Let's keep it that way."
Arlene Szymanski of Ceil Drive agreed that there are enough rental units in Cheektowaga, especially in neighborhoods around her own, and there is not a need for more.
"They're on William (Street) on both sides, they're on Harlem, on Clinton," Szymanski said. "You can drive by these apartments and you see the signs, 'for rent.'"
Despite assurances from the board that town codes and regulations would be enforced if the apartments were approved, one resident voiced his doubt that town officials would follow through.
Jay Falcone has complained for years to the town board about storm water runoff flowing into his yard from a nearby apartment complex.
Despite attempts by the town to rectify the situation, the town has not succeeded, Falcone said, pointing to a large pile of snow near his yard as an example.
"All that water is going to head down into my property," Falcone said. "So don't say that you have control. You don't have control. I've been trying to tell you people for the last 15 years. You people like the project because it promotes money for the town. But for the neighborhood, it's more aggravation. You can't enforce the laws you have now."
Falcone's comments received an ovation from his neighbors.
The project was discussed yesterday morning at the town's Environmental Advisory Committee meeting. It is also expected to be on the agenda for the Town Planning Board's January 10 meeting.
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