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Developer agrees to $20,000 tree fund as Gates rezones Buffalo Road property to Incentive Zoning
Summary
The Town Board rezoned 2600 Buffalo Rd. to Incentive Zoning and accepted a developer pledge to pay $20,000 to a town tree-replacement fund at Planning Board approval; discussion centered on screening, fencing, and amounts appropriate for neighbor buffering (Resolutions 122-124, 123-26).
The Gates Town Board on July 6 untabled and approved an incentive zoning change for 2600 Buffalo Rd., accepting an offer by developer Luis Ribeiro to provide $20,000 earmarked for town tree replacement as part of the incentive package.
Engineer Ian Kuchman described a 52-unit flex/contractor storage proposal with a screening plan that includes vegetated berming and plantings along the western property line to shield adjacent residences. Board members raised concerns about privacy and called for additional buffering; Councilman Christopher B. DiPonzio noted long-standing neighborhood presence and urged adequate screening. Ribeiro said his team would provide a comprehensive screening package and initially offered $10,000 as discretionary funds; after discussion he agreed to increase the amount and "is willing to do $20,000 for the project," to be paid at Planning Board approval and earmarked for tree replacement throughout the town.
The board adopted SEQRA findings and the rezoning resolutions (Resolutions 123-26 and 124-26). The resolution text as entered contains inconsistent parcel numbering in one place in the record; the board record and applicant statements on the dais identify the site as 2600 Buffalo Rd. The rezoning is conditioned on the $20,000 payment and will proceed to Planning Board for site and buffering decisions.
