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Most say development should be in
existing commercial areas
Ernst Lamothe Jr.
Staff writer
(April
1, 2006) — CHILI — The majority of
Chili residents want more
development, according to a master
plan update committee survey.
More than 460 people responded —
less than 2 percent of the town's
population.
Eighty percent said they wanted
future commercial development built
around existing commercial areas,
and 62 percent said Chili needed
major retail and dining options.
Georgia-based
developer North American Properties
has proposed a 53-acre outdoor
shopping complex on Paul Road that
could bring big-box department
stores and restaurants to the area,
but it would be housed in a mostly
residential area and not adjacent to
a high commercial zone. That
has angered some residents who
believe Chili is losing its open
space feel and turning into a
commercial suburb like Henrietta.
But Michael Nyhan,
master plan update committee chair,
wants the community to know there
will be no specific references to
that project in the report.
"There's a
misconception that people think
we'll be making recommendations on
whether North American Properties
should build on Paul Road," he said.
"That's not our focus. We are
looking at a bigger distinction
about where commercial building
should occur in Chili, not
necessarily looking at one specific
developer or one specific plan.
That's for the town supervisor and
Town Board to decide."
Instead, the
committee is looking at traffic,
agriculture and drainage issues in
several areas around town.
The majority of those responding —
71 percent — live in the more
developed Chili Avenue corridor,
while 17 percent live in north
Chili.
Chili's housing
affordability and country-like
atmosphere were the top two reasons
residents said they chose to live in
town. Chili home assessments are
rising between 10 percent and 20
percent, which surprised many.
"There is a lot of
mixed reaction about the assessments
going up," said Tim Schulik of 39
Names Road in Chili. "It's unfair to
saddle the burden on the taxpayers."
Michael Slattery,
Town Board member and liaison for
the committee, said he expects one
more meeting before setting up a
public forum this month. The
committee's final report should be
completed by late May or early June.
Based on article in D & C written by
Ernst Lamothe Jr.
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