The Grand Island Town Board voted 3–2 on Dec. 8 to approve rezoning of the Gulfview property on Whitehaven Road from R-2/B-1 to a planned development district (PDD) overlay, after receiving hours of public comment from residents who urged the board to require larger buffers and reduce the project’s density.

Residents from Timberlink and neighboring streets lined up to tell the board the latest concept plan has been under discussion for years and still threatens privacy, drainage and green space. "This is pure greed," resident Paul Cotman told the board, urging a reinstatement of a 100-foot buffer behind Timberlink homes. Others raised drainage and sewer concerns and asked the town to require homeowners’ associations to preserve critical vegetation.

Sean Hopkins, attorney for the applicant, said the plan has evolved in response to feedback, that single-family homes now back up to existing lots, and that the planning board issued favorable recommendations. He asked the board to issue a negative declaration under the state environmental review process and approve the rezoning with the conditions proposed by the applicant and planning board.

The board first voted to issue a negative declaration by roll call: Degatti — Aye; Garcia — Aye; Belida — No; Kilmer — No; Marston — Aye (3–2 in favor). It then voted to approve the rezoning (zoning change recorded as SBL 38.11-2-6.11) on a separate roll call with the same split (Degatti — Aye; Garcia — Aye; Belida — No; Kilmer — No; Marston — Aye). Board members said they were approving zoning based on a concept plan and had included unit caps and other 'guardrails' to limit future density when detailed plans return to the planning board.

Opponents disputed the protections, saying the PDD overlay could still allow higher-density outcomes if the town later accepts changes. "We won't stop asking for density reduction," one resident said after the vote. Proponents argued the PDD provides a mechanism to secure sidewalks, conservation of open space and a mix of single-family homes and townhomes where, they said, as-of-right development could yield different impacts.

The board did not finalize a construction plan; the approval concerns the zoning and PDD overlay and includes stated caps on total units (noted in the motion as a proposed maximum tied to the concept plan). The planning board and town staff will review any final site plans and conditions before construction permits can be issued.

The board proceedings on the Gulfview item followed a sustained public-comment period and extensive back-and-forth among board members about buffers, unit counts and the limits of as-of-right development. Several residents said they will continue to push for larger setbacks and for clearer guarantees on stormwater and infrastructure improvements.

The board adjourned the meeting shortly after the vote; no construction approvals were granted at the Dec. 8 session.