Comments on: In Clarence, Wegmans Lobbies You

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:06:20 +0000

I love the fact that Wegman employees are instructed not to voice their opinions about this issue, as it may effect their jobs! I like Wegmans, but think they are way off on trying to build this big box store on that site. How about building it towards Lockport more, there is no Wegmans there and I’m sure there is plenty of customers that would love it. Just keep our Wegmans like it is.
Also, Transit Road will be even worse than it is now. Those poor kids from the middle school trying to cross Transit Road won’t have a chance at all! JUST BUILD IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT”S NOT PART OF CLARENCE’S MASTER PLAN.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:26:52 +0000

This NEW WEGMANS SUPERSTORE project is socially irresponsible and ill-conceived. The project is TOO LARGE on a site that is TOO SMALL.

Wegmans has told their employees at the Transit Road Store that this is a done deal. Their fliers are FULL of the typical large corporation rhetoric. Jobs and taxes.

Unfortunately there are a large number of unfortunate truths that Wegmans and their developers do not want anyone to know.

1. They have NOT gotten approval from the Town of Clarence to REZONE the 7 acres of single family residential land, that the store is to be built on to Major arterial commercial. The town’s master plan that was enacted in 2001zoned it that was to PROTECT the existing neighborhoods.
2. The proposed 100′ buffer zone will be the SMALLEST in the Town of Clarence along the Transit commercial corridor. This will set a dangerous precedent for future development along Transit that could endanger more neighborhoods and hundreds of homes.
3. The last Bella Vista Group development that was successfully built in the Town of Clarence was the SUPER WALMART. Everyone who travels along Transit between Sheridan and Maple/Greiner KNOW what a nightmare traffic is. The neighborhoods directly behind Walmart are continually picking up trash and other debris that gets blown from the Walmart site. Bella Vista did not do what it said it would to protect the adjacent neighborhoods from lighting, sounds and other pollutants.

The residential homes behind the current Wegmans on Transit Road were built AFTER Wegmans. People who bought those homes knew they were moving in behind a major commercial space. They also bought their homes for substantially less because of their location. Even thought the buffer is LARGER than the proposed one at the new store, they can hear the truck traffic, snow plows parking lot vacuums, compactors and a whole host of other noises clear as day 24/7.

The residents of the Town of Clarence are not against development. We are not against new jobs and taxes. We are not against Wegmans. We are against this project because it will endanger children and severely impact the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhoods.

There are other options that will meet the goals of Wegmans and not have an adverse impact on the Town of Clarence.

By: Jen14221

Jen14221 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:47:41 +0000

I like Wegman’s too. Wish they could pick up that one next to Target and move it to Lockport.

By: Buffalopundit

Buffalopundit — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:28:40 +0000

It’s Transit Road. You don’t live within a block of Transit Road in that area and not expect something massive to get built there. It’s also Wegmans, and people like Wegmans, and the people who don’t live near the site outnumber the people who do. I’d like it to be built, and I’d like it to be built on the Clarence side of Transit.

By: Jen14221

Jen14221 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:13:42 +0000

What do YOU think, Alan?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:49:45 +0000

I’ll go back to Wegman’s when they let you use a house discount card. Is it too much to ask to get the advertised price without the privacy invasion?

By: M

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:44:45 +0000

Has anyone taken into account that with the new traffic from this on Transit, it will be almost impossible to get out of Transit Middle School? It’s hard enough now. Just look at the traffic impacts farther down Transit at the Sonic Car wash. Why doesn’t Wegmans just build a new smaller store on the Clarence side to complement their current facility across the street instead of building an less welcome mega store? Are there any tax abatement incentives being taken for this project-moving business from one part of Erie county to another while leaving empty buildings in its wake?

By: STEEL

STEEL — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:14:38 +0000

Andrew,

We can’t keep making excuses as we destroy the planet that gives us life.

By: Jon Splett

Jon Splett — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:30:33 +0000

“It will also make the quality of life in the neighborhood it will disrupt at par with the worst neighborhood in Buffalo. ”

Totally true. Completely rational statement.

Living in Clarence will instantly turn into living in the fruit belt because of a giant Wegmans.

(God do I love delusional suburanites.)

By: pauldub

pauldub — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:48:07 +0000

Lemme see. Will turn East Amherst into a neighborhood worse than anything in the city.
Lost property taxes due to declining home values (didn’t happen when they built the new one on Alberta)
Destroy a quiet neighborhood. Would that be from all the wild tailgate parties in the parking lot I hear so much about?
Anyone who votes for it must be on the take.
Sounds like a post from BRO.
BTW, Target always builds new. So watch for that coming to your quiet neighborhood!