A Public Hearing was held by the Mendon Town Board on December 10 to consider a Resolution published in a Legal Notice of November 20 that would “authorize the Supervisor to execute a Sewer Transmission and Maintenance Agreement with the Town of Pittsford” in the event that the Mendon Green development were to “receive final approval by this Town.”
The 87-acre site is located on the east side of Route 64, immediately north of the Thruway. 95 homes are being contemplated consisting of a mix of traditional family homes and cottage homes to serve empty nesters. 46 acres of woods and open space with recreational trails are part of the proposal. The development cannot proceed without sanitary sewers.
The Town received some input from the public during the three weeks before, and during, the meeting. An estimated 25 different Mendon citizens either spoke at the hearing, signed a petition, or sent e-mails and letters to the Town Board and this newspaper. The feedback was mixed.
Opponents generally complained about increased traffic and that it would “open the door to untold development in the future” as Sharon Hoffman wrote in a December 10 e-mail to Supervisor John Moffitt. Terrence Kessler asked that the Town Board “complete a revised planning document and work with the Mendon Planning Board to identify growth opportunities that do not erode the character of Mendon.” The Mendon Planning Board has already issued a favorable report to the Town Board on the currently proposed 95-lot development.
Supporters cited the project’s location as being removed from the most rural parts of Mendon, tax revenue, filling a housing need, open space preservation and the environmental benefits of sewers over septic systems. James Durfee, Architect and former Chair of the Mendon Planning Board wrote “I reside just west of Mendon Ponds Park and enjoy all that it, and Mendon’s rural character, have to offer and wish to preserve it as much as anyone. Nothing about the Mendon Green proposal will jeopardize that and, therefore, I support the application as ‘smart growth’ for the community.”
Attorney Jerry Goldman, representing the developer, Riedman Acquisitions LLC, referenced his November 14 letter to the Town Board describing the existing sewer agreement with Pittsford for 54 homes such that “the property can be serviced with sanitary sewers as it stands today.” In a dialogue with Town Attorney Sheldon Boyce, the two appeared to agree that the purpose for the proposed resolution was to authorize the Supervisor to enter into any revisions to the existing agreement, such as an increase in the number of homes serviced. Any revisions would have to be mutually agreed upon between the Town Boards of both Mendon and Pittsford.
The Town Board closed the public hearing and no motion was made to vote on the resolution at that time. However, the town board was scheduled to vote on the resolution at its January 7 meeting.
