Proposed Westwood Neighborhood Project
772 North Forest Road and 375, 385 & 391 Maple Road
Mensch Capital Partners, LLC, Petitioner

Overview of Review Process

Background

As with all rezoning requests in Amherst, the Planning Board must first hold a public hearing and make its recommendation to the Town Board.  The Town Board then holds its public hearing; this Board has the authority to make the final decision on the rezoning.

The Westwood project has been classified a Type I action under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), requiring the applicant to prepare a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS).  The Westwood petitioner submitted this document along with the rezoning application.  Both documents are available on this website.

According to the SEQR regulations, Type I actions must undergo several additional steps than smaller-scale actions before a final decision can be made.  These include:

• Preparation of a Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) by the Town
• Preparation of a Findings Statement by the Town.

Each step involves reviews by Town departments and outside agencies that lengthen the review time.  In addition, each step requires public notice and publication in keeping with SEQR and Town Law.  For example:

• Preparation of the FEIS must be completed within 45 calendar days from the close of public hearing, unless extended by mutual consent.
• The Findings Statement cannot be issued sooner than 10 days after filing of the FEIS and must be completed within 30 days.

Where are we in the Review Process?

Public Hearings

Planning Board: The first public hearing on the project was held by the Planning Board at its meeting of November 17, 2016 (on the rezoning and the DGEIS).  The hearing was adjourned (held open) to the January 19, 2017 meeting and again adjourned to the March 16, 2017 meeting. Due to the submittal of an updated Traffic Impact Study (see Project Documents below) and comments from the Town Engineering Department, the hearing was adjourned at the March 16th meeting with no specific follow-up meeting date given.  Adjacent property owners will be notified and legal notice will be published when a date has been determined.  An amended rezoning application package was submitted by the applicant on March 20, 2017 and can be reviewed below.

Town Board: On September 18, 2017, the Town Board held a public hearing on the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) submitted for the project in accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) requirements.  A Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) was prepared and a Notice of Completion of the FGEIS was issued on November 20, 2017.  The SEQR Findings Statement, the final step in the environmental review process, was issued by the Town Board on December 11, 2017 and can be reviewed below.

The Town Board public hearing on the rezoning of the Westwood site cannot be set until the Planning Board hearing ends.  At this time, the end date of the Planning Board hearing cannot be determined.

Any questions may be directed to the Planning Department, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY, 14221, (716) 631-7051 or by email to acarrato@amherst.ny.us.

Project Documents

Traffic Study

• Westwood Traffic Impact Study-February 2017

Amended Rezoning & Planned Unit Development Application (March 2017)

• Cover Letter with Amended Rezoning Application 03-20-17
• Exhibit A- Exhibit Listing 3-20-2017
• Exhibit B- Amended Rezoning Application
• Exhibit C- Rezoning Survey REV031717
• Exhibit D1-4 Rezoning Legal Descriptions
• Exhibit E- Application Question #11 Response
• Exhibit F- Application Question #16 Response
• Exhibit G- Conceptual Master Plan 18x24
• Exhibit H- Conceptual Master Plan 8.5x11
• Exhibit I- Project Representative List
• Exhibit J- Westwood Trip Generation Letter
• Exhibit K- Floodway and Floodplain Location Map
• Exhibit L- Amended Draft Local Law
• Exhibit M- Planned Unit Development Process Assessment
• Exhibit N- PUD Agreement
• Exhibit O- Westwood Design Standards
• Exhibit P- Memorandum-Planning Department-1-6-17
• Exhibit Q- Engineering Department Comments 1-19-2017
• Exhibit R- DSCA 4-11-17
• Exhibit S- C&S Stormwater letter
• Exhibit T - Residentual Demand Summary Analysis
• Exhibit U- NYSDOT Safety Study Summary 02-03-17
• Exhibit V - Specific Plans 18x24
• Exhibit W - Specific Plans 8.5x11
• Exhibit X - UB Sanitary Sewer Letter

Previous Amended Rezoning & Planned Unit Development Application (December 2016)

• COVER LETTER -Gillert-Amended Rezoning Application-Shaevel-FINAL-12-19-16
• Exhibit A- Exhibit Listing
• Exhibit B- Project Representative List
• Exhibit C- Boundary Survey
• Exhibit D1 - TND Legal Description
• Exhibit D2 - MFR7 Legal Description
• Exhibit D3 - GB Legal Description
• Exhibit D4 - RC Legal Description
• Exhibit E- Application Question #11 Response
• Exhibit F- Application Question #16 Response
• Exhibit G - Revised Conceptual Master Plan
• Exhibit H - Revised Conceptual Master Plan
• Exhibit I- Architectural Sketches
• Exhibit J- ACOE JD Letter
• Exhibit K - Floodway and Floodplain Map
• Exhibit L- Amended Draft Local Law
• Exhibit M- Planned Unit Development Process Assessment
• Exhibit N- Draft PUD Agreement
• Exhibit O- Westwood Design Standards
• Exhibit P- ATSB Comments
• Exhibit Q- ACAC Comments
• Exhibit R- Planning Dept. Comments
• Exhibit S - Engineering Dept. Comments
• Exhibit T - Wendel DCSA Report
• Exhibit U - Residentual Demand Summary Analysis
• Exhibit V1 -Conceptual Master Plan with no new trees
• Exhibit V2 -Greenspace & Trail Plan
• Exhibit V3 -Roads & Parking Plan
• Exhibit W1 -Conceptual Master Plan with no new trees
• Exhibit W2 -Greenspace & Trail Plan
• Exhibit W3 -Roads & Parking Plan

Previous Rezoning & Planned Unit Development Application (October 2016)

• Application Cover
• Completed Rezoning Application
• Cover Letter (Shaevel to Gillert AICP Planning Director - 10.07.16)
• Exhibit A- Exhibit Listing
• Exhibit B- Project Representative List
• Exhibit C- Boundary Survey of Area to be Rezoned
• Exhibit D-1- Legal Description, TND District Rezoning
• Exhibit D-2- Legal Description, MFR7 District Rezoning
• Exhibit D-3- Legal Description, GB District Rezoning
• Exhibit D-4- Legal Description, Lands to Remain RC District
• Exhibit E- Application Question #11 Response
• Exhibit F- Application Question #16 Response
• Exhibit G- Preliminary Conceptual Master Plan (24x36-color)
• Exhibit H- Preliminary Conceptual Master Plan (8.5x11-b&w)
• Exhibit I- Architectural Sketches
• Exhibit J- Wetland Delineation Map
• Exhibit K- ACOE JD Letter
• Exhibit L- FEMA Floodplain and Floodway Map
• Exhibit M- Full EAF, Part 1
• Exhibit N- Town of Amherst NYSDEC FEAF Soils Addendum
• Exhibit O- Zoning Map Amendment, Draft Local Law
• Exhibit P- Planned Unit Development Process Assessment
• Exhibit Q- DRAFT PUD Agreement (10.03.16)
• Exhibit R- Westwood Design Standards

Findings Statement

• Findings Statement

Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS)
for the proposed Westwood Multi-Use Development

• Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS)

Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS)
for the proposed Westwood Multi-Use Development

• Table of Contents, Cover Letter, Executive Summary
• Section 1 - Introduction and Project Background
• Section 2 - Public Involvement, Regulatory Reviews and Project Schedule
• Section 3 - Analysis of Alternatives
• Section 4 - Description of Existing Environmental Setting
• Section 5 - Evaluation of Potential Adverse Environmental Impacts
• Section 6 - Description of Proposed Mitigation Measures
• Section 7 - Cumulative Impacts
• Section 8 - Thresholds for Future Environmental Review of Related Actions
• Section 9 - Unavoidable Adverse Impacts
• Section 10 - Growth-Inducing Aspects of the Project
• Section 11 - Effects on the Use and Conservation of Energy Resources
• Appendix I - Site Assessment Reports, Studies, & Correspondences
• Appendix II - Project Planning & Development Analyses
• Appendix III - Project Environmental IMapct Reports & Studies
• Appendix IV - Revised DGEIS Submission Reports, Studies & Public Correspondence
• Appendix IV (Supporting Documents)
• Appendix IV (Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring Report)
• Appendix IV(MJB Consulting Report)

Communications from Jeffrey S. Burroughs, Town Engineer,
Commenting on the Rezoning Application

• Engineering Department Comments (9/22/2017)
• Engineering Department Comments (8/24/2017)
• Engineering Department Comments (5/10/2017)
• Engineering Department Comments (4/28/2017)
• Engineering Department Comments (1/27/2017)
• Engineering Department Comments (11/11/2016)

Helpful Links

• NYS DEC State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Process Guide
• Related Project Documents on westwoodamherst.com