West Seneca residents angry about tree removal at subdivision site

The removal of hundreds of trees from a West Seneca homebuilders site, and the outrage its evoking from neighbors, has the Town Board looking at measures to mitigate such a controversy in the future.

Following Mondays board meeting, during which several residents demanded that the town block further work on phase three of Camelot Square, west of Angle Road, lawmakers emerged from an executive session with a three-pronged resolution.

Introduced by Councilman John M. Rusinski, the resolution requires the notification of adjoining residents when requests for preliminary and final subdivision approval are pending before the town Planning Board. Such notification typically is reserved for rezoning and special permit requests.

Additionally, Councilman Eugene P. Hart said information will be obtained from municipalities with tree ordinances to see whether its appropriate for the Town of West Seneca.

And Supervisor Sheila M. Meegan said lawmakers will take a serious look at a retree initiative for the residents affected by the Camelot Square project.

But by the time the executive session ended, most of the residents who had complained about developer Eugene Piotrowskis project had left Town Hall.

I made that motion simply because the residents of the town have a right to know when somethings coming to their neighborhood, Rusinski said afterward. Had that been in place, then I think, instead, we would be looking at this in a different light.

Residents have been complaining about tree removal at the planned 55-lot subdivision since work began last month.

Minutes from the June 13 Planning Board meeting, where the final plat was unanimously approved, indicate that at least one board member noted the abundance of trees on the west side of the site and asked that as many as possible be saved. The developers engineer said, They will not clear-cut the property and will preserve as many trees as possible.

But Town Board members said the intent wasnt specific from either the Planning Board or the developer about saving existing trees.

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West Seneca residents angry about tree removal at subdivision site