A proposed development project on East Main Street in the village of Marcellus drew a crowd to village hall Wednesday April 29 where Jeremy Gorelick presented a preliminary site plan to the village planning board during a special meeting. Gorelick has been working with the board for several months to develop plans that would be in line with the village and town’s vision, and presented the first formal plans to the board. The project would be developed in two phases.
Phase 1 would involve tearing down existing structures along Main Street, renovating a victorian-style home on the corner and building an additional space along the street that will be create 8,400 square feet of mixed-use commercial and retail properties and senior housing rentals on the second floor, and building 16 townhomes off the street. Phase 2 could not begin until sewage capacity allows for the additional 16 planned townhouses, a problem that would be solved by tearing down the laundromat. The second phase would also complete the road in a loop around to Main Street on the east side of Marcellus Town Hall. Many concerns raised by the board members and the public could be addressed if the road could be narrowed from the county-recommended 24 feet to 18 feet, which was originally proposed, Rudy Zona of RZ Engineering pointed out. The wider road limits sidewalk and yard space and invites more traffic issues, and is not in line with DEC and environmental planning, said Planning Board Vice-Chair Dan Kwasnowski. Emergency vehicle access and county planning recommendations stood as arguments against the narrower roadway. Plans are available for view at the Marcellus Village Hall; a scale model will be on display soon for residents to examine, Gorelick said. The planning board will vote Wednesday May 20 and is expected to vote on the preliminary site plan.