Developer asks EAC for negative declaration for Stratman addition while DEC review remains pending

Representatives for a proposed addition at 50 Stratman asked the Town of Cheektowaga Environmental Advisory Committee to issue a negative declaration and forward the matter to the town board while New York State DEC review is pending.

Rob Pedanek (North Farmland Park) and Mark Zivalski, the petitioner identified in the record as the company president of Dell Hydraulics, described a 6,327-square-foot building addition and roughly 9,345 square feet of paved improvements adding eight parking stalls. The applicant said it had submitted required permit materials to DEC but was awaiting that agency’s review; their consultant estimated a 4–6 month processing time.

The presentation included a request that the EAC issue a negative declaration to allow the town board to consider the site plan. Committee members and staff emphasized the limits of local permitting without DEC approval. Chair (unnamed) said the town board, as lead agency, would make the EAF/SEQR determination and that building permits would not be issued until outside-agency approvals were obtained.

Committee members discussed a clerical routing issue that had delayed DEC handling — including emails forwarded to the wrong address — and asked that any DEC comments be attached to the town-board packet. The EAC voted to recommend a negative declaration conditioned on receipt of DEC permits/clearance and to forward the matter to the town board.

Next steps: the recommendation will be sent to the town board; the applicant and staff expect to present the DEC permit when it is issued before any local building permits are granted.