Press Release from GCEDC:
On April 14, during a board meeting of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) a resolution to approve the Draft Generic Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the Western New York Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park was approved. The DGEIS has been completed and accepted by the GCEDC as Lead Agency for the proposed action.
On February 10, reports to the public of the preliminary findings of the DGEIS were presented at a public information meeting at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall.
The completed DGEIS, which was approved by the GCEDC board, includes an economic impact study, environmental studies, master plan update, traffic impact study, utility plan summary, proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment and farmland protection plan. The contents of the completed DGEIS have not changed significantly from what was presented in February.
The proposed action being examined by the DGEIS is the construction and operation of approximately 6.1 million square feet of advanced technology manufacturing and ancillary facilities, along with on-site utility improvements, on 1,337.20 acres of land in the Town of Alabama.
The WNY STAMP site is located along New York State highways 77 and 63, approximately 5 miles north of the I-90 New York State Thruway. The proposed action will involve rezoning the property pursuant to the Town of Alabama Zoning Laws.
According to the DGEIS the buildable area of the WNY STAMP project is 46 percent of the entire site. The remainder of the land would remain as open space. The intent of the master plan design is to blend the manufacturing park into the existing fabric of the community.
The Hamlet of Alabama is separated from the STAMP site by a subtle ridgeline and gracious landscape setbacks from existing uses. As part of the open space system, only 9.5 acres of wetlands would be impacted by the current design, and the site will retain its rural nature.
The park will be built to high-tech industry standards, in line with employee expectations, and will respect its surrounding context and environment.
The WNY STAMP site has seen several interested companies who were looking for locations on the East Coast and close to Canada. The companies were excited about the site, but it was not “shovel-ready” enough for their purposes.
“Planning, preparing and developing a shovel-ready site designed for appropriate industries, and having local community approval will help to secure companies at the WNY STAMP site,” stated Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the GCEDC.
"Developing the necessary infrastructure to attract investment from outside the region is one of the most important roles that the GCEDC takes on for our county. A site zoned for a particular purpose, where a company can begin building quickly, at the speed of business, is the best way to bring jobs to our community.”
A public hearing is scheduled for May 12 at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m., and residents are welcome to attend and comment on the DGEIS. Postcards will be sent to the residents of the Town of Alabama next week as a reminder of the meeting.
Copies of the DGEIS are available at <http://www.gcedc.com>, in print at the GCEDC offices, located at 99 MedTech Drive in Batavia, and at the Town of Alabama office.
I still cannot figure out how
I still cannot figure out how GCEDC cannot understand that they CANNOT HAVE THE JOHN WHITE PARCEL. I am now beginning to believe they do indeed just exist to give themselves work. They will NOT get this parcel without a fight. Wait, let me reiterate -- THEY WILL NOT GET THIS PARCEL!
Jeff, due to my ignorance,
Jeff, due to my ignorance, can you please explain your comment? Does the White family own it? Is there other property in that area being considered?
A copy of a recent posting of
A copy of a recent posting of mine regarding the John White property:
"The whole idea of confiscating the John White Game Farm apparently started in 2004 when Charlie Nesbitt started the push to turn it into a cemetery. More recently the GCEDC has been trying to obtain portions of it for their STAMP project. While it perhaps is underutilized by sportsmen, it does indeed host dog trials, handicapped hunting, youth hunts, has grasslands for pheasant and other game, and is used for other sporting and conservation activities. The John White Farm was acquired and maintained with conservation money, some of which from the federal Pittman-Robertson Fund. These conservation lands cannot just be taken away and used for other purposes without serious ramifications. The only way this can happen (properly) is to get permission from DEC, get approval from the State Legislature (and maybe federal approval also), and REPLACE this land with other land of equal or greater conservation and habitat potential. Failure to go this route would then lead to New York State forfeiting their share of Pittman-Robertson money (somewhere around $10 Million annually). Note that Pittman-Roberson money comes from a tax on sporting equipment, so it is paid by the sportsmen, and not coming from the general fund
While we should honor our veterans and see that they have a proper cemetery, bear in mind that many fought and died to prevent things like abusive governments from just taking away property to do with whatever the current regime sees fit."
-- I will add, that while I believe there is great merit in the STAMP project -- we need industry in WNY! -- it should not come at at a loss of public sporting and conservation lands. GCEDC is fooling themselves if they think they can just take this property. Steve Hyde knows this -- I personally spoke with him a few years ago about this. To continue to try to steal this property shows either great disrespect, downright ignorance, or just an effort to perpetuate research so the GCEDC people have work.
Jeff, Can anyone use this
Jeff,
Can anyone use this area? Do you need a permit from the State or is there some group that controls use?
I'm trying to find a complete
I'm trying to find a complete list of allowed activities -- may have to post the whole list later. I believe there are signs on site that note which activities are allowed & where. Hunting & hiking etc. are allowed. On the west side of the road however the hunting is reserved for handicapped hunters only. Not sure about trapping.
It should be noted that the Genesee County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs, and the Federations from all the surrounding counties are vehemently opposed to development of the John White site. As per the GCEDC STAMP Master Plan, “The proposed photovoltaic Demonstration Center use is located as a “Gateway” use in conformance with the Oakfield-Alabama Comprehensive Plan. The master plan proposes that this portion of the John White Memorial State Game Farm be preserved as an open space gateway into the Alabama community as well as an attractive setting for the photovoltaic Demonstration Center (or possibly a NYS Center of Excellence focused on renewable energy).” -- Sorry, this won’t cut it. The structures they create on it will preclude hunting due to the required setbacks.
The fact they keep the John White parcel in their plan is strange. They can’t have it. I don’t know what work on acquiring it they have done recently, but as of May 2010 it was specifically asked at the NYS Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB) meeting what DEC knew about it, and DEC reported that there was no activity for the John White Farm to be obtained or replaced. Why GCEDC keeps it in their plan is a mystery.