EcoStrategies Engineer Andy Johnson addresses the Lakewood Village Board Of Trustees Monday about the Fairmount Avenue Stormwater Project. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD – Village Trustees approved a resolution Monday that would authorize EcoStrategies to move forward with the Fairmount Avenue Stormwater Project.

Engineer Andy Johnson said EcoStrategies’s proposal will not exceed $42,500 which will provide professional engineering and surveying services for the Fairmount Avenue Constructed Wetlands Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP).

The project sits close to the Fairmount Avenue viaduct near Fifties Restaurant and the Save-A-Lot plaza.

Johnson said the water comes down and funnels through the basin before it goes under the train tracks.

“EcoStrategies did a feasibility study in 2021, about four years ago, where we helped figure out that the project was feasible,” Johnson said. “And then we helped Lakewood get the funding to build it and design it. So fast forward, a few years later, now that Lakewood has got the funding, we have submitted a proposal to do the engineering and surveying to now implement the project, (and) basically do the design plans, and there’s minimal permits in this case, so you’d be able to build it right away this year, would be the goal, when the weather breaks. We’re not waiting on the DEC (New York State Department of Conservation) or anybody else.”

Johnson added that EcoStrategies will be talking with the state Department of Transportation, and (Western New York & PA) Railroad company because both share some of the infrastructure that is on site.

Johnson said the basin has filled in with a lot of sediment over the years, and it’s overgrown with vegetation.

“So the water just kind of short circuits through it right now, and doesn’t provide any treatment. The design would be to excavate out all the old sediments, remove the overgrown vegetation, and basically beautify it,” Johnson noted.

The engineer added that new trees will be planted for the neighboring house, and the basin will treat pollutants going to Chautauqua Lake, and also provide flood control.

“It (the basin) would really be an asset to the village and community,” Johnson said.