CLARENCE
Clarence neighbors line up to fight Wegmans
Transit Road, with its collection of big box stores, malls and plazas stretching from Lancaster to Lockport, has become the center of commercial development in Western New York.
But a group of Clarence residents didn’t expect commercial development to come so close to their homes.
Residents in the Rolling Meadows neighborhood, therefore, have united to fight Wegmans’ proposal to build a 140,000-square-foot supermarket. The $30 million project would replace the 87,000-square-foot store on Transit in Amherst.
Many of those residents expect to be in Clarence Town Hall on Wednesday night as the Town Board hears recommendations to change the town’s master plan to clear the way for the proposed Wegmans.
Scott Parks will be there. He said that 10 years ago he had spent nearly 18 months finding the right location for his family before choosing Rolling Meadows.
“I was very careful to make sure that commercial development could not happen in my neighborhood,” he said.
Residents say they fear that a possible rezoning could leave only 100 feet between their properties and the proposed store.
Supervisor Scott Bylewski said the town has been fighting a lot of misinformation about the project.
“No determinations have been made, we will review what we are given. Any changes to the master plan would first require a public hearing,” Bylewski said. The board does not expect to approve any rezoning requests for the project Wednesday.
The Wegmans project would create nearly 350 store and construction jobs, while providing opportunities for current employees. Store officials say the proposed location, across the street from Transit Middle School, would be a perfect fit.
“The present store on Transit is too small and does not meet the growing needs of its customers,” said Ann McCarthy, consumer affairs manager for Wegmans.
But Clarence residents are concerned.
“Right now we live in a peaceful and tranquil community; that would all change,” Rajiv Kishore said.
Kishore said he also is worried about the effect of the new construction on the value of his property. He foresees a large supply of homes, with littler demand to purchase in the area.
Transit already is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the region, and residents say a new Wegmans only would make that worse.
“Traffic would become a big problem in the area,” said Joseph Kleinmann Jr. “The children at the middle school already have a difficult time crossing Transit Road.”
Kishore said he is concerned about the number of trees that would be cut down to allow construction. He also said he fears that rats and rodents will replace the wildlife in the area, a prospect he doesn’t like.
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