Monday, March 26, 2007

Cost of impact study

From today’s WRA (by Jonathan Shugarts):

Representatives of the Konover Corp. are balking at paying roughly $58,000 for two independent consultants to study the traffic and economic impact the corporation's planned $64 million complex would have on the town. Planning and Zoning Commission members voted to have the studies done at Konover's expense, but representatives for the company say they've provided data and are concerned that spending more money might be frivolous. Stanley C. Glantz, vice president for Konover, wrote to the commission's attorney, N. Warren Hess III, stating that, "we cannot agree to underwrite the costs outlined in these proposals at this time as they are significantly more costly and expensive than we had expected." Konover submitted an application for a zone change for a 415,000-square-foot mixed-use retail complex in an industrial zone near Route 262 and Echo Lake Road. Konover wants to wait until the commission makes a decision about the change before spending money on a more detailed impact study

I’ve never been through this process, but I’d be surprised if we don’t have a similar situation arise in Cheshire… I expect P&Z would want the impact study completed before making any zone text changes, while W/S would want to wait for the zone text change before spending money on an impact study.

Tim White
Town Council, 4th District

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just build it.

Anonymous said...

Of course they don't want to pay for something that going to show it's a terrible idea. If this study would pass them with flying colors they'd be more than happy to pay - they know it won't.

Anonymous said...

For a project of this size that will affect the entire character of Cheshire and for the fact that the zone change will be for the entire 400 acre zone, it should be a requirement to make the impact studies to determine if the text change is the right one for the people of Cheshire and correct for the entire 400 acres. Only after the impact studies are made, should the grant or rejection of the text changes be made.

No one should feel sorry for the developers or owners of the property if it is in the best interests of the people of Cheshire to reject the changes. These are the facts of business and that is why it has its risks and rewards.

In the past, property owners didn't feel sorry for the time and expense to the town when they took the town to court for a decision that was not in their favor.

Anonymous said...

"For a project of this size that will affect the entire character of Cheshire"

How does this project affect the entire character of Cheshire? Is it not on property that most people don't even realize is Cheshire? Is the project in walking distance to Home Depot, Burger King and a soon to be built Wal-Mat? Convience me it will change Cheshire's character.

Anonymous said...

3/29 When most of the small shops in town can't make it and close. What will replace them. Remember we had two cinemas, Friendlies, Farm Shop, Burger King, KFC,ice skating rink, a few bakeries and many more . What have they been replaced with? Some by empty lots. Many small business owners have a tough time. Times do change but we have some choices. Let's make them and not to be forced to do so..