Public comments urge Glen Park-Amherst State Park greenway ties and press village on street parking enforcement

Two members of the public spoke during the suspended-rules public participation period about different community concerns.

Thomas Franklin, who identified himself as a village resident, urged the board to revisit elements of the 2015 community plan that were not implemented and to pursue a connection between Glen Park and Amherst State Park as part of the Niagara River Greenway. Franklin said state and regional Greenway planning entities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have influence over projects and referenced a town cooperation agreement and a resolution (identified in his remarks as "CRS resolution number 264") relating to ownership, financing and maintenance discussions. Franklin asked trustees to consult the cooperation agreement and suggested the village could pursue the statewide Greenway project's planning resources.

Joe Stoltieri, a village resident, described repeated delivery and parking conflicts on Rheinwold Street that prevented large trucks from accessing his driveway. He said a truck had to use a private parking lot to maneuver and that a trustee's employee moved a car to permit the delivery. Stoltieri said the issue is a police matter; the board responded that the street is public and anybody can park on a public street. After discussion, trustees said they had evaluated the situation and chose not to change parking regulations on that street at this time; no policy change or motion resulted.

Why it matters: Franklin's remarks raise the possibility of using regional Greenway planning resources and intergovernmental agreements to advance trail and park connections that could affect Glen Park and the Amherst State Park area. Stoltieri's complaint highlights resident frustration with curbside parking and delivery access on narrow residential streets and the village's current reluctance to change parking restrictions.