Published: July 29, 2008 10:47 am      

TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Shop growth irks locals

EXPANSION: Odors, noise irritate homeowners near auto shop.

TOWN OF TONAWANDA — The expansion of Amherst Radiator has nearby homeowners worried.

The business, located at 2160 Niagara Falls Blvd., was constructed before 1998 in a general business district. At that time, automotive shops were allowed in general business districts.

Amherst Radiator was grandfathered in under the new town regulations, but in order to expand, the business had to apply for a special use permit, according to Town of Tonawanda Building Inspector Carl Heimiller.

Now that the business is growing, Dexter Terrace residents like Carl Edholm are worried that the expanding business that borders their properties will mean bigger problems.

Edholm brought his concerns before the town board Monday, showing photographs of peeling paint and detached downspouts to prove the building that’s nine feet from his property is in poor condition.

“There are smells from paint and paint thinner, noise from fans and compressors,” Edholm said. “It makes enjoying your backyard a hard thing to do.”

Residents have gone so far as to call the building inspector’s office, which in turn sent someone to examine the problems. Owner David White said he’s addressing the problems, and that the expansion will help with the process.

“We can’t keep the paint from peeling when there’s moisture coming down from the roof,” White said. “That’s why I want this expansion, to put a new roof on and improve the building.”

The expansion would add a bay for car repairs to the existing shop. That bay will feature aluminum siding that won’t peel, White said.

Other concessions have been made in the past, with Edholm admitting that White installed an 8-foot fence to dampen noise and prevent residents from having their view ruined by the facilities in back. But resident Ken Emmons presented his own photos to the board, which showed that the building is still visible from his yard. Emmons said he’s worried the smell of chemicals and noisy conditions will increase when the shop takes on more business.

Councilman John Bargnesi urged both sides to be open to some give and take, especially considering the close quarters being shared by both sides.

“There has to be a happy medium here,” Bargnesi said. “In an area like this, where there’s commercial and residential areas, we have to be good neighbors.”

To that end, Bargnesi got White to agree to chipping paint on the back of his building in order to receive his permit. Other provisions included keeping the property orderly, not having more than 16 cars on-site at any given time and keeping cars within outlined parking spaces. No more than two unlicensed cars are allowed on the property at any given time, and those must be screened from public view.

With the provisions in place, the board approved the expansion.

n In other business, the board passed the State Environmental Quality Review Committee’s approval of the plan for turning 300 Sawyer Ave. into a strip club. That approval is the first step for Mustang Sally’s, an adult cabaret. The club is aiming to open on Sawyer Avenue since that road was one of the few areas not rezoned after the club’s first attempt to enter the town last May.

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.