Rick Kress is pictured Monday during a work session meeting of the Falconer Village Board. Kress is looking to open a metal processing and used auto parts facility in the village. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

FALCONER — The village has been approached about selling several acres of land for the establishment of a metal processing and used auto parts facility.

Several village residents, however, already have raised concerns over increased vehicle traffic and noise the new business might bring.

Rick Kress, a resident of Bemus Point, spoke Monday during a work session meeting of the Falconer Village Board. Kress noted that he has years of experience in the scrap metal industry, as does his family, and he’s looking at starting a business of his own.

To get the project off the ground, Kress said he is looking at purchasing a property at 20 Cross St. in the village. That purchase would coincide with buying about 5 acres of adjacent land currently owned by Falconer.

Kress said the Cross Street location for the proposed facility is zoned for industrial use.

“We’re going to put a ton of money into this facility,” he told Village Board members Monday. “It’s not going to be your typical scrap yard. New buildings are going to be put in — landscaping, fencing, blacktops, scales.”

Kress said the business also will include salvaging and selling vehicle parts.

As noted in his project proposal given to Village Board members, Kress hopes the business will employ 10 to 15 full-time workers at competitive salaries.

In addition to the 20 Cross St. property, Kress is looking at buying 5.2 acres of land owned by the village. The land is assessed at $31,100 and largely follows the railroad tracks with New York Avenue to its south.

Monday’s work session, held prior to the regular Village Board meeting, was attended by about two dozen people, many who made it known they did not support the proposed plan.

“I know you guys have concerns about an unsightly mess or scrapyard or an eyesore for your community,” Kress said. “It’s not — that’s not what I envisioned. I have a team of experts behind me. We have environmentalists on my team. I can never do this alone.”

He also noted that he is not seeking any incentives or tax breaks from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency to bring the business to Falconer.

Regarding the process to sell village-owned property, village attorney Gregory Peterson said no public hearing was necessary. He said the board would have to determine that the property is not needed for the village.

“So you could have a private sale, a public sale,” Peterson said. “You have choices. … It’s kind of unique to village law.”

He added, “If we were to have any resolution to sell to anybody on any of our property, we have to make a determination that it’s no longer needed for village purposes.”

CONCERNS AIRED

Joel Aiken lives on East Elmwood Avenue, across from Cross Street, in Falconer. During the public comment portion of Monday’s Village Board meeting, Aiken alluded to the traffic and noise created by the UPS facility that also is located on Cross.

“At 9:30 in the morning I can hear them roll out, constantly, every day, Monday through Saturday,” he said. “I work nights, my wife works nights. Now you want an operation that’s going to come in at 8:30-9 o’clock in the morning and work during my sleep hours? When am I supposed to have any peace?”

Village resident Susan Dickerson pointed out that there are several kids who play, especially during the summer, in the area of the proposed metal processing facility.

“We got a lot of families on Elmwood (Avenue), and it’s growing,” she said. “The community is growing down our way.”

Regarding the proposed facility, Dickerson said, “Who wants that near our homes? Who wants something like that near our homes? I would suspect, and I don’t know if this is rude or not, would you want it near your own home?”

No action on Kress’ offer for the 5 acres of land was taken by the Village Board. Trustees were expected to take up the topic next month.