Boston Board schedules public hearing for proposed rezoning

During its Feb. 1 meeting, the Boston Town Board agreed to schedule a public hearing concerning the rezoning of land behind Deanna Drive. The board designated March 7 at 7:40 p.m. for this hearing in light of a decision made by the town planning board on Jan. 24 to reject a proposal to rezone the land behind Deanna Drive, allowing for more dense development.

In the planning board’s decision to rezone the land, members cited their “opposition to high density housing, resistance to sprawl [and] lack of access to amenities” among other concerns as a part of the reasons why they rejected the proposal.

Town Councilman and Planning Board Liaison Jeffery Genzel, said that the rezoning of land from R-A to R-3, which would allow for more dense development, received a positive recommendation from both the town engineer and the town planner, who said that it fits within the town study.

The Boston Planning Board meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

In another matter, Town Supervisor Martin Ballowe and Councilman Jay Boardway said that they would meet with Hamburg Town Supervisor Stephen Walters on Feb. 3 to discuss the cost of the town’s dispatch agreement with Hamburg. Boardway reported that the town of Boston pays Hamburg $82.07 every time there is a fire or EMS dispatch. Because Boston paid approximately $54,000 for dispatch calls last year, Boardway said that the town is seeking to renegotiate its contract with Hamburg.

The supervisor cited Orchard Park’s cost per dispatch, at $17.50, as one of the reasons why Boston is seeks to renegotiate with Hamburg.

In other board news:

- Cathy Maghran’s application to become a member of the planning board was approved and Anthony Zenuik was appointed as an alternate member to that board.

- Normand and Sandy Queeno, Patrick Penrod and Dan Thiel were appointed to positions of fire police within the Boston Fire Company, with the condition that “certificates of proper training be turned in to the town clerk.”

- The board approved a motion to allow the Boston Democratic Club to use town facilities on April 17 for the annual Easter egg hunt, as well as a motion approving the Boston Emergency Squad to use town facilities on Feb. 25 for its MCI drill.

- Genzel said that services for the new Cole Road water extension will begin in the spring.

- Ballowe reported that the town is utilizing money from a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant to update lighting and signs within the town hall to make them more efficient.

- Town Clerk David Shenk said that the town will abide by a recent law signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to increase the public’s understanding of what its local municipality is voting on before a meeting by posting its board packets to the town’s website on the Friday before the board meeting.

Shenk added that the online information will be removed on the Thursday after the meeting and that some information might be blacked out for legal reasons.

- The town received a $100,000 grant for the Boston Cross Roads’ storm drainage and a $265,559 grant for its Rural and Transportation Service. According to Genzel, the Rural and Transportation Service helps seniors and the disabled in the town travel elsewhere within Erie County.

- Councilman Gary Vara announced that the Conservation Advisory Council is looking for new members. Interested parties can contact Vara by email at CouncilmanVara@TownofBoston.com or by phone at 941-6113 ext. 39.

The next town board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.