Demolition progress has been made in the city, with all of the current ones on the list on track for completion by the end of the year. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

LAKEWOOD – Lakewood Village Trustees on Monday aired comments concerning the update from the state Department of Transportation regarding proposed alternative improvements to the proposed Fairmount Avenue sidewalk extension project.

The proposed project affects both the Village of Lakewood and the town.

On March 5, the DOT held a public hearing at the Busti Town offices, 125 Chautauqua Ave., to gather feedback regarding the project. In a May 27 letter to both Village Mayor Randy Holcomb and Busti Town Supervisor Jesse Robbins, Cameron Schulz, DOT regional design engineer, said the project is a safety and paving project that is also intended to provide active transportation improvements to pedestrian connectivity.

“When I look at the whole picture and the importance of safety and to segment the sidewalk the way it’s in this current proposal, I think that’s a really disservice to our community, and I felt that we were able to meet in the middle and have a sidewalk on the north side was optimal,” said Trustee Scott Cooper. “I thought that was a very good compromise, and not doing the additional paving, I think, creates additional potential safety hazards for our community. So, I know that I will voice my concerns to the state that I’d like to see it the way it is.”

Holcomb agreed.

“I will do the same. I, I feel it should, it should be left the way the original was, with all paving on the 394, without stopping at Chautauqua Avenue and restarting again at Green Green Street or the viaduct, and I do think the compromise of a sidewalk on the north side is is is a very good compromise, and that still should be considered an added to the project,” Holcomb said.

Trustees John Shedd and Ben Troche were not in attendance at the meeting.

In the letter, Schulz said NYSDOT has reviewed and considered all the public input and the pedestrian count results, which demonstrate pedestrian use of NY Route 394. As such, NYSDOT plans to progress the project with an adjusted preferred alternative.

The following improvements are listed with the proposed preferred alternative:

– Resurfacing Route 394 between Winch Road and Elmcrest Avenue.

– Widening for a center two-way left turn lane along Route 394 between Shadyside and Elmcrest avenues.

– Replacement of signage throughout the corridor.

– New sidewalk installation along the north side of Route 394 between Shadyside and Chautauqua avenues. Schulz said this action will close a critical gap in sidewalk between the village and the urban center.

– New sidewalk along the south side of Route 394 between Route 474, and Green Street. Schulz said there are a significant number of destinations (ice cream shop, mini golf, cinema, a plaza, etc.) throughout the segment.

Schulz said installing sidewalks segments between Chautauqua Avenue and Green Street are not currently included in the preferred alternative.

“My opinion is the sidewalk should not go there, it takes away half of some people’s front yards or morgue, and all of a sudden you have the public walking about 10 feet from your front door, and that’s a safety concern,” Trustee Ellen Barnes said.

Schulz continued in the letter that the DOT believes this final proposed alternative addresses the identified safety concerns within the corridor while balancing a strong public desire to minimize intrusions caused by new sidewalk placement.

“To maintain the project schedule and ensure that the planned safety improvements are progressed timely, NYSDOT intends to finalize the design approval document, approve the preferred alternative, and proceed to the final design. Any concerns or comments from the village must be received no later that Friday, June 12 to be considered prior to design approval,” Schulz said.

In other business:

Trustees approved the rehire and the new hires of seasonal lifeguards for Lakewood Beach at Richard O. Hartley Park.

Donavin Brown was rehired as head lifeguard at a rate of $17.35 per hour; Tate James was rehired as a lifeguard at a rate of $16.56 per hour; Gavin Anderson was hired as a new lifeguard at a rate of $16 per hour; Jamie Hughes was hired as a new lifeguard ata rate of $16 per hour; Kaylee Melquist was hired as a new lifeguard at a rate of $16 per hour.; and Calvin Salisbury was hired as a new lifeguard at a rate of $16 per hour.

Trustees are scheduled to meet again on June 22.