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A gravel lot for construction equipment has been approved for East Main Street, Falconer, by Ellicott's Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board.
Taylor Property Development Group LLC proposed a site plan for its East Main Street Extension property recently. Jay Taylor told board members he has a contract to purchase two lots contingent on site plan approval and a variance approval for a sign. Taylor plans to put in a gravel lot with construction equipment, with the possibility of installing a building in the next five to 10 years depending on how well the business performs. The company will be a retail equipment dealer. Hours would be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, with different winter hours.
Permits were submitted to the state DEC while EcoStrategies did a study and map showing the wetlands in the area.
Neighbors raised concerns regarding a nearby creek that floods, with water getting close to the road and flooding in the area near Forecon. Concerns also included whether or not development would put the area in a flood zone. Some have kayaked in the area, with some neighbors stating they've actually seen carp in the water near the property. Another neighbor raised concerns about lights, saying existing lights at the Harley Davidson dealership shine in their windows at night.
Taylor responded that he plans for 10 feet of green space around the property with no buffer planned for neighbors in the initial phase of development. A little less than an acre will be gravel for parking equipment. A double-sided sign is to be installed. Six lights were planned for the first phase, though the final site plan approval cuts that number to four. A trailer will be used as a temporary office.
Phase 2 expansion would result in a larger gravel lot and a building, with all setback requirements to be met when that work begins. EcoStrategies will be engaged again when second phase planning begins to avoid potential drainage issues. Taylor asked if Phase 2 work could be approved now, but Brandon Shelters, town code enforcement officer, said the project is allowable in a mercantile zone, with a new site plan required for phase 2 because a new building is being constructed and the lot expanded.
Neighbors reiterated their desire not to be in a flood zone and said they would like a visual barrier for their views and buffers when Phase 2 work begins. Neighbors will be notified before Phase 2 work begins.
A site plan submitted by Best Adventures LLC was reviewed for self-storage units to be built at 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown. Katherine and Dalton Best, owners of the company, said they are proposing to build two 30- by 100-foot storage buildings that will house 40 units. Existing utilities will be extended to the site with a fence installed around the storage units and an office in an old agricultural building. The Bests said there could be outside storage within the fence if there is room, with plans to repave the area and put in new cement once the utilities are installed. Drainage at the site is already existing.
Hours would be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Sundays by appointment. The project is expected to begin next spring, with one condition being that a permit needs to be pulled within a year of the site plan approval.
One neighbor appeared at the public hearing and stated his support for the project, while Shelters said he had been in contact with Chautauqua County Airport officials who said they had no issues with the project as long as the storage units were one-story tall and no combustible materials were stored at the site.