Today is election day in the Town of Clarence.

Don’t forget to visit your polling place and cast your vote. If you are not sure where your polling place is, visit the Erie County Board of Elections web site to find out.

The following candidates are on this year’s ballot:

DEM - Democratic
REP - Republican
CON - Conservative
WF - Working Families
IND - Independence
GRN - Green

Justice of the Supreme Court
(Vote for One)
Patrick H. NeMoyer (D, R, C, W, I)	

Family Court Judge
(Vote for One)
Sharon M. LoVallo (D, W, I)
Patricia A. Maxwell (R, C)	

Erie County Executive
(Vote for One)
Mark C. Poloncarz (D, W)
Chris Collins (R, I, C)	

Erie County Clerk
(Vote for One)
Maria R. Whyte (D, W)
Christopher L. Jacobs (R, C, I)	

County Legislator, Dist. 6
(Vote for One)
Toni L. Vazquez (D, W)
Edward A Rath (R, C, I)	

Clarence Supervisor
(Vote for One)
Scott A. Bylewski (D, W)
David C. Hartzell Jr. (R, C, I)	

Clarence Councilman
(Vote for Two)
Bernard J. Kolber (D, R, C, I)
Robert A. Geiger (D, R, C)
Joseph N. Weiss (I)	

Clarence Town Clerk
(Vote for One)
Nancy C. Metzger (R, C, I)	

Clarence Town Justice
(Vote for One)
Robert G. Sillars (R, C, I)

Last night at the Town Board meeting, the Town voted in a 3 to 1 vote (with Councilman Weiss absent) to approve the amendment to the Master Plan 2015 for Segment B. The amendment changed the Future Land Use map to allow for the extension of commercial zoning an additional 180 feet; beyond the existing 500 foot depth. It also approved the conversion of the existing Single Family Residential zoning of the remaining properties to Restricted Business. The Restricted Business creates a transitional zone between commercial along Transit Road and the existing residential neighborhoods of Kippen Drive and Highland Farms Estates.

At the same meeting last night, the Town Board approved the request by Clover Management for preliminary review and a special exception use permit for their proposed senior housing project at 8040 Roll Road (behind Jim’s Steakout). This means that the proposed project will now go to the Planning Board for review, comment, and approval.

The Tow of Clarence Planning Board are to discuss the three proposed changes for 2011 to the MasterPlan 2015. The public hearing is being held at 7:30 pm on June 1, 2011.

Included in the topics to be discussed is an amendment to Segment B to accommodate a senior’s housing project.

The agenda for the meeting can be found here.

Everyone is encouraged to attend this meeting to participate in this year’s MasterPlan review process.

In a surprising twist, Benderson Development withdrew is request for an access road from the BJs Plaza to Greiner Road.

Here is the link to the announcement in the Clarence Bee.

Here is the Buffalo News Article dated April 22, 2011

 This Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 7:30 pm, the Town of Clarence Planning Board is scheduled to hear Benderson Development’s request to accept their Draft Environmental Impact statement for their proposed access road for the Eastgate (BJs and Walmart) Plaza  to Greiner Road.

Public comment letters will be accepted by the Planning Board until March 16, 2011. Please consider sending an email to the Town Planning Board voicing your opinion on the ill-conceived proposal by Benderson Development to add an access road from the Eastgate (BJs and Walmart) Plaza to Greiner Road.

Address your email to one of the following:

• James Callahan (jcallahan@clarence.ny.us)
• Brad Packard (bpackard@clarence.ny.us)
• Carolyn Delgato (cdelgato@clarence.ny.us)

Here is some background information on the project:

• January 26 Planning Board meeting
• February 16 Planning Board meeting
• Town sponsored Traffic Study for traffic impacts on Greiner
• Clarence Bee article
• Land owner adjacent to project pulls support of project

See images of traffic and pedestrians on Greiner near proposed new access road

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

At last week’s Town of Clarence Annual Master Plan Review meeting, Affordable Senior Housing Opportunities of New York, Inc presented a proposal for a senior’s housing apartment complex off of Roll Road.

Here is the presentation from last week’s meeting.

They are planning on developing the housing complex within the newly expanded commercial zone along Transit and are holding a public meeting at Transit Middle School on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 6pm to explain the project and address resident’s concerns.

Here is the letter that was sent to all of the residents within 500 feet of the proposed project.

This Wednesday, February 23, 2011 is this year’s Annual Master Plan 2015 review meeting during the Town Board meeting. It is held at Town Hall at 7:30 pm.

All Town of Clarence residence are encouraged to attend the  meeting and participate in your Town’s future.

On July 14, 2010, The Clarence Town Board unanimously approved the Planning Board’s two year old recommendation to downzone Transit Road between Roll Road and Clarence Center Road.

Read the entire meeting’s minutes on the Town’s web site at: http://www.erie.gov/clarence/pdfs/minutes/TBM2010-07-14.pdf

This Wednesday’s July 14th at 7:45 the Town Board will be voting on the downzoning of Segment B. Please plan on attending and voicing your support for the Planning Board’s recommendation. If you can not attend, please consider at least sending the stock email below. Even if you have done this before please take a few minutes again and email Scott Bylewski, he needs to read your support before the Town Board takes final action on this important vote;
sbylewski@clarence.ny.us

_______ email below ______________

I support the Planning Boards recommendation that Transit Road from Roll Road to Clarence Center ROad, known as Segment B, be downzoned to commercial.
This is based on sound planning principles and good data.  I recommend that the Town Board adopt this zoning amendment recommendation.

Thank you for your time and support.

At last night’s Town Board meeting, the Town Board reset the public hearing date for the MasterPlan amendment for Segment B to July 14, 2010.

The MasterPlan amendment is the 2 year old recommendation by the Town Planning Board to rezone the segment of Transit Road known as Segment B (from Roll Road north to Clarence Center Road). The Town Planning board’s recommendation is to rezone that stretch of Transit Road from Major Arterial to commercial zoning.

The new zoning will align the zoning of the properties with their current uses.