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The following article ran in the April 26, 2000, issue of the Democrat and Chronicle and is reprinted here with permission.

Sewer snag stalls apartments

Victor's overtaxed system puts Drumlins project on hold; residents want it banned.

BY STAFF WRITER
MEAGHAN M. McDERMOTT

VICTOR - The overtaxed condition of the village sewer system has scuttled a developer's proposal to build a 154-unit apartment complex on the Drumlins.

The town Planning Board last night unanimously ruled the application by Cortland-based Pioneer Corp. incomplete, citing the troubled village sewer system.

The system already is operating under a state Department of Environmental Conservation consent agreement to occasionally exceed limits, but the apartment complex would overtax the system's limited capacity.

Pioneer requested that the application be placed on hold last month, after the village informed the developer of the potential problems.

The Drumlins is a hilly area on the west side of the town of Victor, just outside the village. It is named for a type of hill formed by glacial drift.

About 80 people attended last night's meeting at Victor Town Hall.

Neighbors had opposed the apartment proposal from the start, saying that the land was rezoned from single-family to multiple dwellings 14 years ago with the understanding that developers would build townhouses - not apartments.

The neighbors were dissatisfied with the board's decision.

"All those guys have to do is find a way to get sewers and they can take action again," said Bruce Trojan of Wellington Drive, which is close to the site.

"We were hoping it (the proposal) would be denied."

The residents' attorney, Leon Katzen of the Rochester firm Lacy Katzen Ryen and Mittleman LLP, presented the board with a petition signed by 233 residents asking that the Planning Board recommend that the Zoning Board reclassify the parcel.

"The owners were induced to buy in the Drumlins on the representation that this area would be rural and that the entire Drumlins area would consist of private homes and townhouses," Katzen told the board.

"The only way these citizens can be assured that the problem the Planning Board and residents have encountered with this project will not recur would be to rezone."

Since the application was ruled incomplete, the board will take no more action on the proposal until Pioneer can obtain sewer capacity for the complex.

The board also declared itself the lead agency, or clearinghouse for all information, regarding a proposal for the Victor Commerce Park.

The commerce park would be located on 95 acres of land on Route 96, across from the Hampton Inn and near Eastview Mail.

It would include 566,ogg square feet of retail space comprising restaurants, a hotel and stores, including a Wal-Mart.

"There have been no decisions made. We're beginning what will be a very long process," said Planning Board Chairman Christie Hart.

Residents may address the board at a meeting May 9 regarding the commerce park, which was proposed by Benderson Development Corp.

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