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player ready...Some Montgomery residents are concerned a development featuring a warehouse and truck storage area proposed for the northeastern part of the village will make flooding problems worse in that section of town.
Over 20 residents attended a recent Montgomery Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to make their feelings known about the plan for 15 acres at the end of Rochester Drive.
Trans Lines Inc. is proposing a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility at the site, with a portion of the property used for storage of semi-tractor trucks and trailers.
The facility would include four loading docks, two drive-thru maintenance bays and an office area for Trans Lines.
The developer is looking for a special use permit from the village for the outdoor storage of vehicles, and also some variances concerning building facade materials to be used and parking standards at the site.
Residents at the meeting who said they live near the proposed development said flooding is already an issue in the area and the planned facility would just make it worse.
The developer has said a third of the entire property will be devoted to stormwater management to deal with any water issues.
Several residents, however, said they have concerns due to flooding issues they already face.
Resident Thomas Slamans referred to a large flood in 1996 when the region dealt with some 18 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. He worries about how the area will deal with heavy rains if the new development is built.
“I know the village has done some flood work but if you put down that much concrete, it’s going to be worse,” he said.
Another resident, Rita Herke, said she had concerns with “this project, drainage, light and noise factors.”
Planning and Zoning Commission member Mildred McNeal-James said she wanted to think about the proposal some more before voting on the special use permit and variances requested.
“I don’t feel prepared to vote on this tonight,” she said at the meeting.
The other commissioners seemed to agree, and the item was placed on hold to be discussed again at the group’s May meeting.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.