Update information from the Fairways Group:

This Monday the Town Board is scheduled to vote on the most controversial land use zoning issue in recent history. We feel that if this rezoning to General Business is granted our recreational center of Town will forever be lost. Not only would it be illegal to approve this application as it stand now, but it would be with great disregard to the safety of the Town residents in the area. Efforts are being made to “bend over backwards” to assist this developer in building this enormous ”mixed use” strip mall. All Amherstonians should be advised, if this passes, it is only Phase I of the project. Phase II will be the swallowing up more land and destruction of our recreational amenities including our golf courses.

THE FACTS

The contamination on site will be cleaned up NO MATTER what is built there.
Did you know that currently the Maple Rd. and North Forest intersection operates at a level of “D/F” and will not be able to be improved beyond that. Adding traffic from the proposed development will cripple that intersection, even AFTER it is “improved”. 

If the board members vote for this rezoning to General Business without first amending the comprehensive plan, they will be in violating state law.

Did you know that 70% of the Amherst residents DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE THEIR TOWN TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT as stated in an UNBAISED poll by the Amherst Bee (right).

Did you know the Benderson Company NEVER joined the Amherst Chamber of Commerce until this controversial issue arose? They joined in October of 2007.

Did you know that 42% of the traffic in the adjacent residential areas is already cut through traffic and will increase significantly? 

 PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING AND LET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS KNOW YOU OPPOSE THIS PLAZA. THIS IS YOUR NEIGHBOORHOOD, YOUR TOWN. PROTECT IT. FIGHT FOR IT!

Sincerely,
The Fairways Group

Remember what Dr. Mohan said, “Today, I challenge the business leaders and I challenge the Amherst Citizens to take back their government and tell elected officials what their needs are and for what they elected them.”

Dr. Satish Mohan 
Amherst Town Supervisor 
January 25, 2008

Benderson Development Company held a press conference on Thursday at the Maple Gun Club site where they plan to build a 44 million dollar project.

The Benderson Company hired a Buffalo based survey company to ask residents questions concerning whether the public supports the Benderson project or not.  They polled 400 registered Amherst voters.  In reality the public has no clue about several key elements: What the question were, how they were asked, or how they were arranged.   

Most of Benderson’s press conference was a discussion of this survey.  It made sense to allow members of the press who were present see the questions that were asked.  Most of us know that surveys can be arranged to “prove” many differ things to many different people, depending on how they are tweaked, and interpreted.

A much more public survey was the one which was in the Amherst Bee for a week which asked if you were in  favor of the Benderson project or not. The results were clear.  70 to 80% of the people, who answered the Bee’s survey, were against the Benderson project.

Colleen DiPirro, President of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, was on hand at the Press Conference to explain how her organization is behind Benderson’s project.  She cited the fact that there are 2300 businesses in the Chamber but she never addressed how the project could, and very likely would, hurt many of the other businesses in the Chamber.

The last person to speak was a man who lives across the street from the project on Maple Rd.  The gentleman happened to be Bob Simmons, the former Chairman of the Amherst Conservative Party and a long time member of Amherst Planning Board, Simmons’ well know nickname was “Mr. Development”.  Bob was known as a man who never saw a development he wouldn’t vote for.  I suspect that another resident would have been a better choice to support this project, someone more neutral.

This Monday night, May 5^th the Town Board members will vote whether or not to rezone this property at the Town Board Meeting. 

And so the tug-of-war continues . . .

On the evening of May 5th, at the Amherst Town Hall, an important vote is scheduled to be taken.  Our Town Board will vote whether or not to rezone the Maple Rd. Gun Club property, which is now owned by Benderson Development Company, to a GB zoning.  

This GB zoning would allow the Benderson Company to begin working on their new development.  I have seen the layout of their revised plans for the development.  It will have small boutique type stores, apartments, a hotel, restaurants, a food store, a community playhouse, a European type spa and possibly a movie house containing 6 or more theaters.

The majority of the public hasn’t seen Benderson’s revised plan and I strongly advocate the new plans be viewed by the public and explained by Mr. Todd Benderson.  He sees the development as a different type of land use which he wants to bring to Amherst.

Benderson is the man who has the answers most Amherst residents need to understand the development.  Why is Todd Benderson fighting so hard for this project to be realized?  The Benderson Company is a billion dollar company, so if you think it’s to add more money to the Company pot, you are partly right; but mostly it’s because Todd wants to change the negative feelings people have for the Benderson name.

Todd’s belief in this project is truly heartfelt.  He is aware there is strong opposition from the people who live in the area who believe that granting a GB rating on Maple Rd. near their homes will bring a flow of other developers wanting a piece of Maple Rd.  They fear their neighborhood will turn into another Niagara Falls Blvd. in a very short period of time.  They also fear increased traffic and problems for their property stemming from the Benderson Project.

The opposing groups have made huge blunders presenting their points of view to one another.  It may take longer but the most important thing yet to be done is that each side must offer clear, concise information concerning their stand for or against the project.

The home owners must open their ears and eyes to honestly see and hear Benderson’s ideas. The home owners must respond with more precise questions about their fears of what could happen in their neighborhood if the revised project comes to realization.

Both groups closing their eyes and ears to each other and the distrust both groups have towards each other is a hard stumbling block to overcome.

We received a slinger in the mail concerning the Benderson project.  Trying to offer a full and complete report on the impending Gun Club Property project we offer this for your consideration.

.:. The Amherst Town Centre is a $44 million private sector investment.

.:. The environmentally contaminated 34-acre site formerly known as the Buffalo Shooting Club on Maple Road will be remediated and become the first mixed-use lifestyle center in Western New York.

.:. The Amherst Town Centre will generate in excess of $1.6 million a year in property taxes, including an annual payment of $1 million going directly to the Sweet Home School District.

.:. The Amherst Town Centre will be a livable, pedestrian-friendly community combining a unique mix of residential, commercial, retail and hospitality amenities.

.:. The Amherst Town Centre will include a 4.5-acre public park along Maple Road that will feature extensive green space and landscaping, a tree orchard and a walking-bicycling trail.

As a concerned taxpayer, If YOU act now, the Amherst Town Centre will become reality…

.:. Contact Supervisor Mohan and your Town Board members and urge them to support the Amherst Town Centre on Maple Road and keep Amherst a great place to live, work and raise a family. 

Dr. Satish Mohan, 631-7032 or email: smohan@amherst.ny.us

Deborah Bucki, 631-7013 or email: dbucki@amherst.ny.us

Mark Manna, 631-7013 or email: mmanna@amherst.ny.us

Guy Marlette, 631-7031 or email: gmarlette@amherst.ny.us

Shelly Schratz, 631-7013 or email: sschratz@amherst.ny.us

Dan Ward, 631-7013 or email: dward@amherst.ny.us

Barry Weinstein 631-7013 or email: bweinstein@amherst.ny.us

 *** For the opposing point of view visit http://fairwaysblvd.com/