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Residents object to proposed trails and press town on communication; consultant work on warehouse development questioned
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the board to halt plans for trails behind homes and criticized town communications. A resident and others also urged the board to reject or require revisions to an FEIS from a developer (referred to in the record as "Aquest/Quest") citing traffic and noise‑study deficiencies.
Several Grand Island residents used the public‑comment period to press the town board on two issues: proposed trails behind housing and what they described as inadequate communication from town officials, and technical shortcomings in an environmental impact study for a proposed warehouse development.
Eli Hazan, who identified himself as a Grand Island resident of Park Place, said he and neighbors learned about proposed trails only after notices were distributed and that they oppose trails behind their homes for safety and privacy reasons. "I'm gonna come to this meeting probably every Monday...there's nothing I won't do to stop these trails from coming to my home," Hazan said, adding he would seek to be involved in every step of planning if trails proceed.
Sherry Curry of Staley Road said residents are tired after years of engagement and asked town officials to press state and other entities for funding to improve Staley Road and pedestrian access. Council members and the supervisor said they have provided materials to state offices and are working with legislators' staff on traffic and funding requests.
Resident Jim Daigler delivered detailed technical criticism of materials submitted by the developer identified in the record as "Aquest/Quest." Daigler said the applicant ignored the town's lead‑agency requests and that the traffic and noise analyses fail to meet Institute of Transportation Engineers guidance and New York State DEC measurement policy. He urged the town to issue negative findings on the FEIS and to reject the submittal until the study is revised. "If these guys can't nail down what they're gonna propose, they should be using the facility with the highest number of trucks," Daigler said, citing ITE data he said could yield as many as 961 truck trips per day for certain warehouse types.
Supervisor Marston and a council member responding during the public‑comment segment acknowledged residents' frustrations with communications, and Marston said town staff had provided grant and traffic packages to state legislative offices for review. Marston also said there were no immediate plans to advance trail construction and that the town has not committed to trail work in the coming year.
No formal votes on trails or on the FEIS occurred during the meeting; both subjects were raised during the public‑comment period and referred to staff and the board for follow up.
