From left, Lakewood Village Trustee John Shedd, Trustee Ben Troche, Mayor Randy Holcomb, and Trustee Ellen Barnes conduct business Monday. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD – Village trustees heard another update Monday about the proposed Route 394 (Fairmount Avenue) sidewalk Extension Project, and learned it may be split into two separate projects.

In October 2024, trustees approved a resolution denouncing the design that was presented in September at an informal meeting at the Busti Town Hall, 125 Chautauqua Ave., to hear about preliminary concepts that are being explored by the New York State Department of Transportation.

At that time, the DOT had spoken with Mayor Randy Holcomb, and the DOT said it was pulling back the scope of the sidewalk work. Holcomb noted then, that the sidewalk will be held to one side of the road.

DOT Senior Design Engineer Robert Schaller spoke to trustees, and said the DOT is looking to split the one project into two separate projects. The first project, he noted, was for 2026 for the eastern half of the project from Elmcrest Avenue to the Ellicott Town line at Southwestern Drive.

“The reason we wanted to pull that out is because the pavement is getting in pretty bad shape to that corridor, and we want to get that addressed in 2026,” Schaller said. “We don’t want that delay until 2027. It’s for maintenance purposes. It’s going to be a headache for the residences, and not nice to drive on.”

He said the other half of the project is the west half of Fairmount Avenue from Elmcrest Avenue to Ashville Road (Route 474) in the town of Busti.

“That project is still on the books for a 2027 construction. We are looking to have another public hearing for that project,” Schaller said.

Schaller added that another tentative public hearing may be scheduled in November.

“Originally, the project was going to have sidewalks on both sides. We scaled that back due to a lot of resistance. The current plan is to go forward with sidewalk on one side of the road,” Schaller added.

That plan is on the north side of Fairmount from Elmcrest to Erie Street, and then cross to the south side of the road to Ashville Road.

Trustee John Shedd asked about a proposed traffic signal at Big Tree Road and Fairmount, and Trustee Ellen Barnes asked about a proposed traffic signal at Shadyside and Fairmount avenues.

Schaller said he will look into the matter concerning traffic signals at those intersections.

Former Trustee Richard Fischer commented on the sidewalk plan. While serving as a trustee, Fischer was against any sidewalk proposal by the DOT.

“Fairmount Avenue has wider shoulders to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle travel. Fairmount Avenue should be tree lined, expand the tree regulation to protect significant trees on all properties,” Fischer said. “Per New York State Department of Transportation, over 200 trees will be removed. Certain board members don’t care. Public Meeting with New York State Department of Transportation, majority of people in attendance against the sidewalks. Certain board members don’t care. … If the total board cared about their constituents and not the county and the New York State Department of Transportation and voted against them, would the New York State Department of Transportation maybe say no to them?”

In other business:

– The board rescheduled a public hearing for a special-use permit application for a short-term rental at 133 Summit St. The hearing is set for Aug. 25 at 6:45 p.m. One resident, Carol Jones, asked for clarification regarding special-use permits. Trustee Ellen Barnes noted that the Zoning Board of Appeals grants special-use permits, which means the residence can be used as a short-term rental.

The board approved a special-use application for an automotive repair facility located at 12 Fairmount Ave. The matter now will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

– The board approved $5,000 for Chautauqua Lake management funds. Chautauqua Lake Association will receive $2,000, Chautauqua Lake Partnership will receive $2,000, and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will receive $1,000.

– The board scheduled two public hearings for special-use permits for short-term rentals. The first hearing, for 32 Chautauqua Ave., is for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. The second hearing, for 262 E. Fairmount Ave., is set for Aug. 25 at 7:10 p.m.