Elma OKs addition to offices of Suburban Adult Services
The Elma Town Board lifted its building moratorium briefly Wednesday evening, long enough to unanimously approve a variance for the construction of an addition to the administrative offices of Suburban Adult Services at 960 W. Maple Court.
During a public hearing, the board heard from Anthony J. Annunziato, associate executive director of the agency, who said it was almost out of office space.
“We were spread out in several leased spaces in other areas and need it all under one roof,” he said.
A neighbor, Jeffrey Weisbeck, asked if the new addition would be closer to his property and if the agency would replace the fence they took down when they originally built their offices.
The agency’s plan includes a masonry block one-story building that Annunziato assured Weisbeck would not be any closer to his property.
Supervisor Michael Nolan said the fence issue should be discussed privately.
This is the fifth variance the town has issued since the commercial building moratorium was put in place in April 2007. It was extended for six months last April.
A public hearing on a request from Conley Trucking to rezone 300 feet on Seneca Street from commercial to industrial was tabled until the minutes of the Planning Board could be obtained. It was noted that the Planning Board had met Tuesday night and rejected Conley’s request.
At the public hearing, company representatives noted that Moog Inc. was within 1,000 feet of their property and that the use of the property won’t change, since they have been in the heavy equipment repair business since 1955. They also noted the rezoning request is consistent with the users along the corridor of Seneca Street.
Under the proposed plan to update the town commercial codes, Conley Trucking wants it to amend the zoning to “reflect the actual use of the property.”
But others did not agree. Joseph Sluberski of Pound Road worried the town was opening up a can of worms, citing a similar rezone on New Bullis Road back in 1994 that is now a conflict and spot zoning. He said Conley has no need for this change in zoning.
“It is conjecture only that he expects his business to expand by 50 percent,” Sluberski said. “What if it doesn’t? And we’re stuck with the industrial zoning next to residential.”
Another resident, John Warchocki, urged the board to seriously look into this and “make a just and rational decision, do not rubber-stamp it.”
The board approved a stop-work order after Building Inspector Joe Colern reported that residents on Knabb Road complained that another resident has been putting fill on his property without a permit.
Highway Superintendent Wayne Clark had expressed worries that the trucks involved would tear up the new paving work his crew had just finished a few weeks ago. Nolan said the State Police would be on hand later this week to help with enforcement.
Water Superintendent Eugene Stevenson reported that Conrady Co. will inspect the town’s three water tanks using robotic cameras. He invited the board to witness the procedure on video.
A request from the Elma Fire Company to put up a substation on land they own on Girdle Road next to the Boys and Girls Club was approved.
A request from the Historical Museum to put a water wheel on the original foundation in Buffalo Creek at no cost to the town was approved. The museum will raise $10,000 — $5,000 from a private foundation and the rest from fundraising. This is the first of a two-part plan. The next phase is to build a sawmill on the site.
In other matters, the board:
• Approved a business use permit for a storage suite at 717 Jamison Road.
• Approved a business use permit for Caren Bartnik to open a psychology office at 2430 Bowen Road.
• Renewed a Hazmat Agreement with the City of Buffalo for $4,500.
• Agreed to send a request for a speed study by residents of Northrup Road to the Department of Transportation.
• Awarded Abraham Sosrowski the 1993 pickup truck from the Water Department for $902.
• Approved an annual agreement with Elma, Marilla and Wales Soccer for $5,000.
