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Neighbors oppose rezoning on Route 7 for proposed 22,000‑sq‑ft retail building
Summary
At a public hearing, residents opposed a proposed zone change to allow a roughly 22,000‑square‑foot retail building at 774 and 778 Duburg Road, citing truck traffic, noise, lighting and insufficient neighborhood notification; the board voted 4–1 to close the hearing while leaving substantive consideration for a later date.
The Rotterdam Town Board held a public hearing Aug. 14 on a proposed local law to rezone about 14.02 acres at 774 and 778 Duburg Road (New York State Route 7) from agricultural (A1) to general business (B2) to permit a roughly 22,000‑square‑foot retail building.
Karen Magowski, an engineer representing Primax Properties LLC, told the board she is pursuing the zoning change to allow a retail use that would generally sell farm‑store items, along with about 85 parking spaces and an outdoor garden center. “This is one of the first steps … we want to receive the feedback from both the board and the public,” Magowski said.
Neighbors and nearby residents who spoke at the hearing urged the board to reject the change. Caroline Rana, who lives two houses from the site, said many residents did not receive mailed notices and presented a list of about 20 signatures opposing the rezoning. She warned that tractor‑trailers already use Route 7 and I‑88 and that increased commercial traffic would make it difficult for children and drivers to exit local driveways. “They do not want it changed,” Rana said, citing truck traffic, lighting and safety near the school route.
Candy La Val described persistent noise from tractor‑trailers near the Thruway and said adding a large commercial use would harm residents’ quality of life: “I couldn’t imagine having another big giant corporation in my backyard.”
Board members debated whether to keep the hearing open for further public conversation. Mr Masterani voted against closing, saying “we could have more conversations around this” and that the board should try to reach an outcome more in agreement with the public. The motion to close the hearing carried 4–1.
Why it matters: A zoning change from agricultural to general business would permit uses that residents say could increase heavy‑vehicle traffic, lighting and noise near existing homes and a school route. The board’s decision to close tonight’s hearing does not constitute approval of the rezoning; it advances the formal process while staff and the board evaluate public feedback.
What’s next: The local law remains under consideration; the board will weigh public comments, staff recommendations and any environmental or traffic analyses before taking a final vote or referring the matter to the Planning Commission.
