|
Hotel, apartments get town approval
By John J. Hopkins Times
Two projects in separate areas of town that were met with objections by neighborhood residents were approved by the town board Monday, paving the way for construction of an Aloft Hotel and conversion of a former school building into apartments.
Manga, LLC, a Mississauga, Ontario-based company received conditional site plan approval on a six-story, 67.8-foot tall hotel near Burgess Boulevard.
The approved plan lops two stories off the original blueprints that called for the structure to reach a height of 97.5 feet.
Residents in the Moorman Drive- Surfside Parkway - Bay Lane area had opposed the eight-story hotel, stating that the building would "loom" over their homes, preventing them from enjoying their yards and invading their privacy.
Manga made several revisions to the plans based on meetings with town officials and residents.
The revised plan brings the boutique style Aloft Hotel to nearly the same height as the nearby Days Inn and Hilton Gardens. Both Genesee Street hotels reach a height of 69 feet.
One of the remaining roadblocks, approval from the Cheektowaga Environmental Advisory Committee, was given on March 12. The planning board approved site plan changes on March 13.
Town officials noted in the resolution approving the site plan that Manga officials have agreed to "maintain open lines of communication with the residents during the construction phase" to address any potential nuisances.
"That part of this whole agreement goes a long way, knowing that we can have an ongoing flow of conversation," said Councilmember Patricia A. Jaworowicz, "if there are bumps in the road."
Additionally, Manga agreed to record a "Declaration of Restrictions" that will limit the hotel's height in the future for the current- and any succeeding- owners.
Conditions remaining on the Aloft site include review and approval of the plans for drainage and town infrastructures by the town engineer; approval from the town attorney on the draft Declaration of Restrictions for limiting the hotel height; and approval of variances submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Manga must also provide visual screens to which it committed in correspondence with the town and provide easement documents to the law and engineering departments.
Councilmember James Rogowski applauded the compromise and noted that the hotel fills a niche that the area was lacking.
"Together, the residents and developer worked together to make this project come true," said Rogowski. "I appreciate the effort that Manga and the residents put together with retired councilmember Tom Johnson."
Johnson staunchly supported residents in their efforts to have the height lowered and improved visual screening from the structure.
The area south of Genesee Street near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport is experiencing growth, especially with the recent installation Burgess Boulevard and Tolsma Place, two access roads named in honor of two slain Cheektowaga Police Officers.
"Some neighbors don't want any structure," Johnson told the Times. "But this sets the tone for development along the rest of Genesee Street."
The other project approved by the board dealt with conversion of the former Our Lady of Czestochowa parochial school into a 24-unit apartment building for the developmentally challenged. A former convent on the site will be razed to accommodate parking.
Plans for the site at 2160 Clinton Street were scrutinized by residents for a variety of reasons. In particular, they cited unpredictable behavior of the developmentally challenged and the inclusion of low-in- come tenants as two major sticking points.
Representatives from Savarino Companies, Silvestri Architects and Southeast Works- the project's developers- met with residents in the basement hall of the former school on March 11 to address their concerns.
Emotions occasionally ran high during that meeting, but town officials appeared to be satisfied with the project after hearing the developers' answers.
"There will be at least 12 units for developmentally disabled people," said Eva Hassett, vice president of Savarino Companies. "The non-developmentally disabled will be a combination of relatives of the developmentally disabled and staff from Southeast Works."
Among the conditions that Savarino, Silvestri and Southeast Works must meet are obtaining variances from the zoning board of appeals, approval of the drainage and grading plan by the town engineer and approval from the town attorney of a Payment in Lieu of taxes agreement with the town.
| 
