VILLAGE OF WILLIAMSVILLE COMMUNITY PLAN AND FINAL GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Prepared by: Behan Planning and Design SRF Associates, Inc. Devonomics, Inc. Environmental Design & Research, P.C. WILLIAMSVILLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mary E. Lowther, Mayor Brian J. Geary, Trustee Jeffrey L. Kingsley, Trustee Brian J. Kulpa, Trustee Basil J. Piazza, Trustee Date of Acceptance: April 12, 2010 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT DOCUMENTATION Name of Action: Village of Williamsville Community Plan Location of Action: Village of Williamsville, Erie County, New York Lead Agency: Village Board of the Village of Williamsville 5565 Main Street Williamsville, New York 14221 Contact: Mary Lowther, Mayor Phone: 716-632-4120 Prepared by: Behan Planning and Design 112 Spring Street, Suite 305 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Devonomics 2 Main Street, Building 17 Biddeford, ME 04005 SRF & Associates 3495 Winton Place Building E, Suite 110 Rochester, NY 14623 Environmental Design & Research, P.C. 217 Montgomery Street Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY 13202 Contact: John Behan, AICP Phone: 877-622-3426 Date of Acceptance: March 22, 2010 Public Hearing: June 23, 2008 and November 26, 2009 Comments Due: December 26, 2009 RESOLUTION ADOPTING SEQR DETERMINATION ON MOTION by Deputy Mayor Kulpa, seconded by Trustee Kingsley, the following resolution was adopted: WHEREAS, the Village Board wishes to adopt the Village of Williamsville Community Plan, a comprehensive planning document as authorized by Village Law Section 7-772, to guide future land use decision-making and regulation within the Village; and WHEREAS, by resolution dated March 22, 2010, the Village Board determined that the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) for the proposed Community Plan was complete for purposes of review under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and thereafter caused a Notice of Completion of the FGEIS be duly filed and published; and WHEREAS, the Village Board has reviewed and duly considered all comments concerning the proposed Community Plan and has undertaken its independent review and consideration of the conclusions in the FGEIS; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, having undertaken its independent review and consideration of the conclusions in the DGEIS and FGEIS and all other relevant information in light of the environmental criteria contained in the SEQRA regulations, the Village Board, as SEQRA lead agency, does hereby adopt the attached SEQRA Findings Statement, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Motion carried. 4 – 0 Village of Williamsville Proposed Community Plan And Generic Environmental Impact Statement State Environmental Quality Review Act FINDINGS STATEMENT Pursuant to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review Act) of the Environmental Conservation Law and the implementing regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Williamsville as lead agency makes the following findings: NAME OF ACTION: Adoption of Village of Williamsville Community Plan LEAD AGENCY: Board of Trustees of the Village of Williamsville ADDRESS: Village Hall 5565 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 I. DESCRIPTION / LOCATION OF ACTION / PURPOSE AND NEED: The action involves the proposed adoption by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Williamsville ("Village Board") of a new "Community Plan" (the "Plan"), a comprehensive plan within the meaning of Section 7-722 of the New York State Village Law, which expressly serves as, and incorporates, a Generic Environmental Impact Statement ("GEIS") pursuant to SEQRA. The general intent of the Plan is to guide the physical revitalization of Village neighborhoods and districts, protect and preserve the unique historic, mixed use character of the Village, mitigate traffic impacts on the Village, leverage to the fullest the potential of the Village's pedestrian environment and to foster economic development within the Village. Section 1 of the Plan discusses the Village's current geographic and economic context and sets forth the vision for the Village built upon its unique and historic characteristics, including its diverse neighborhoods, its historic Main Street commercial district and its unique physical setting. Section 2 of the Plan specifies a Village Land Use vision of a community consisting of traditionally scaled, walkable neighborhoods in close proximity to an historic and vibrant Main Street core. It proposes four major land use classifications to preserve and implement this vision and makes specific recommendations for planning policies and future land use regulations with respect to these classifications. Section 3 identifies the importance of transportation impacts on Village character and seeks to mitigate the negative impacts associated with heavy commuter traffic through the heart of the Village. Section 4 of the Plan indentifies specific objectives and recommendations to realize the vision of the Village's Main Street Business District as a vibrant retail, office and residential hub serving both nearby residents and visitors from throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region. Section 5 outlines specific planning and land use regulation objectives with respect to 2 "focus areas" within the Village -- the "Village Square" in and around the historic Williamsville Water Mill and the area around South Long Street. Section 6 of the Plan establishes priorities for implementation of the Plan and indentifies potential funding sources. Lastly, Section 7 of the Plan provides the GEIS Analysis and Section 8 analyzes the GEIS alternatives. II. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY: The Plan was developed pursuant to an open planning process dating back until at least 2005, when the Village Board created the Community Plan Committee ("CPC") made up of a broad cross section of Village stakeholders. The CPC provided policy guidance to, and oversaw the work of planning consultants retained by the Village to assist the CPC in preparing the Plan and the accompanying GEIS. The planning process continued with numerous public workshops and public meetings intended to maximize opportunities for public input. The Village Board declared its intent to act as Lead Agency for the purposes of complying with SEQRA with respect to the Plan on May 14, 2007. On May 27, 2008, the Village Board accepted the DGEIS as complete and provided notice that comments on the DGEIS would be accepted until July 3, 2008 or 10 days after the close of the public hearing, whichever was later. On June 25, 2008, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advised the Village that it had reviewed the DGEIS and submitted comments with respect to protected or potentially protected water resources within the Village, the location of a regulated gas well within the Village and the existence of archaeologically sensitive areas within the Village. The Village Board duly noticed and conducted a public hearing on the Proposed Plan on June 23, 2008 and received a number of comments from interested parties thereat. By two separate resolutions dated June 8, 2009, the Village Board voted to reject the Draft Plan and then to return it to the CPC for reconsideration of the "few points hindering Board approval." The CPC reconvened on August 25, 2009 and on September 22, 2009, and, on September 22, 2009, voted to return the Draft Plan to the Village Board with certain recommendations for modification, which modifications were incorporated into the Draft Plan. Thereafter, the Village Board duly noticed and conducted another public hearing on October 26, 2009 and again received a number of comments from residents and other interested parties. On January 13, 2010, the Village referred the Draft Plan and DGEIS to the ECDE&P, pursuant to General Mun. Law § 239-m, and on January 19, 2010, ECDE&P responded without a recommendation based on its determination that the proposed action is of local concern. The Village Board subsequently caused to be prepared an FGEIS in accordance with the requirements of SEQRA including, among other things, the Village Board's response to all public comments received during the public hearings. By resolution dated March 22, 2010, the Village Board determined that the FGEIS was complete for purposes of SEQRA review, and thereafter caused a Notice of Completion of the FGEIS be duly filed and published. III. IDENTIFIED AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND RELATED MITIGATION: A. General The Village Board has reviewed and duly considered all comments concerning the proposed Plan and has undertaken its independent review and consideration of the conclusions in the DGEIS and FGEIS and all other relevant information in light of the environmental criteria contained in the SEQRA regulations. The conclusions in the DGEIS, FGEIS and the Plan are expressly incorporated by reference into these SEQRA Findings. Based upon its review, the Village Board has determined that the below areas of potential environmental concern have been identified with regard to the project and has thoroughly considered each: The proposed adoption of the Plan and will not directly result in any building activity or otherwise directly affect the environment in the Village. Neither the GEIS nor these SEQRA Findings are intended to fulfill the SEQRA requirements for the approval of any future project- and/or site-specific proposals which may follow adoption of the Plan. Rather, the GEIS and these SEQRA Findings will serve as a general foundation