Grand Island residents want Golfview buffer zone

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Reporter

Two Timberberlink Drive residents spoke out in favor of a buffer zone between their homes and the planned Golfview subdivision. The project is a mixed-use housing development at Whitehaven and East River roads.

The two residents offered criticism and suggestions to the developer during public comments at Monday’s Grand Island Town Board meeting.

Earlier, in its workshop meeting, the board agreed to table the Golfview rezoning request. It cited the possibility of a 2-2 tie vote due to the excused absence of a fifth board member, Tom Digati.

Developers are seeking Town Board approval to rezone the development as a Planned Development District (PDD), or a PDD overlay.

The Golfview site consists of 65.5 acres, 51.1 of which are currently zoned R-2 residential; and 14.4 acres that are now zoned B-1, business.

Hank Cushing said, “As a neighbor who has been involved in getting a proper plan for this development from the very beginning, I do not believe that any of the neighbors have ever agreed to not following our local laws when that would require the landowner to provide at least a 70-foot buffer between two different zones. PDD is a different zone.”

He added, “I just can't see how the town is getting any benefits on this plan.”

Under review since 2020, the project includes townhomes, single-family homes, apartments and three mixed-used buildings that combine both commercial and apartments. Residents previously have complained about the population density planned for the site.

Paul Koppmann said the Golfview plan “basically violates New York state guidelines.” He quoted from state law dealing with zoning: “A PDD must not have a negative effect on current residents.”

Koppmann said the plan, without a buffer, should never have gotten as far as it has in discussions and different iterations over the years: “Some guidance should have been given here that this is just not acceptable.”

He said single-family homes that are planned to go behind Timberlink should not be considered as the buffer zone. Instead, he recommended retaining a vegetated area, as is, for the buffer zone.

“You don't need to create it. It's already there,” Koppmann said. “We have native trees, native bushes, native wildlife. It runs 1,100 feet behind Timberlink. It should just be kept.”

He said most Grand Islanders feel the environment is very important. Koppmann urged the Town Board “to go back to the drawing board, go back to the table, take up the input. The residents are willing to work with the board, work with the developer, work with whomever to try and get this resolved.”

Attorney Sean Hopkins represents Golfview developer Frank Grebenc. Hopkins said a previous version of the plan had a wildlife conservation area as permanent open space on the rear of the Golfview lots.

“After a series of workshop meetings that occurred in 2024, that was removed. We widened those lots and deepened those lots (in the plan). So, those lots now have a depth of 200 feet, which is considerably more than what would be required.

“But with all that being said, if there would be a consensus of this board that you would like us to simply change this plan and add a 50-foot-wide conservation area back on the rear of those lots adjacent to Timberlink, we would be willing to do so, if that's what it takes to finally move this forward.”

Hopkins also said the current natural vegetation area couldn’t stay wild as the buffer area. He said it would have to be graded, engineered and landscaped to bring it into compliance with state stormwater quality standards.

He said that, if a buffer zone is incorporated into the plan, no development would take place in that area, other than some drainage improvements. The buffer area would then be conveyed to a homeowners association, subject to a deed restriction.

Hopkins began to take an informal poll of the board members as to the favorability of this change, but was reminded that back-and-forth discussions are not how Town Board meetings are conducted.

Hopkins said the buffer zone idea is worth considering.

“It does seem like something that we can actually address at this point,” he said.

In other news:

•A special use permit was OK’d for Bible Fellowship Center to establish a cemetery at 1136 Baseline Road.

•News that a Chipotle restaurant will go in next to Starbucks in the Tops Plaza appeared to be the best takeaway for Grand Island High School students in attendance. They cheered in a show of approval and excitement.

•Special event permits were issued for: Light Up the Boulevard, a winter festivity, Dec. 6; a Santa meet & greet on Dec. 14; and a Chanukah celebration Dec. 16.