To the Editor:
There will be a Voorheesville Planning Commission public hearing on Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Voorheesville firehouse to review the Business for Good proposal for a tavern/restaurant and café on South Main Street. I urge everyone to attend.

What does Voorheesville want?

The introduction to the Voorheesville Zoning Law adopted in 2019 describes these purposes for the law:

— “To maintain the Village’s traditional small-town character, which includes, but is not limited to well-kept, quaint, peaceful, and quiet neighborhoods, historic structures, and streetscapes as described in the Village of Voorheesville Comprehensive Plan”;

— “To promote walkability, biking, and pedestrian linkages between all locations within the Village”;

—  “To lessen congestion on streets, roads and highways”; and

—  “To encourage housing options that are affordable for all generations.”

What is Business for Good offering?

— A 150-seat tavern/restaurant on South Main Street that, according to a Business For Good spokesperson, will be advertised widely. The proposal is for a destination restaurant, not a local restaurant;

— Up to 110 vehicle trips an hour to the restaurant on peak days;

— Operating from noon to 11 p.m. every day;

— Limited parking available — 37 spaces proposed versus the 83 required by the zoning law (at least 12 of those parking spaces will likely be taken by restaurant staff); 

— A net loss of affordable housing with the proposed demolition of 40 South Main St., a building that has been a part of Voorheesville for 130 years;

— Major increase of traffic from restaurant patrons roaming the streets looking for parking spaces;

— Major impact on the ability of Old Songs to hold concerts and for other South Main Street businesses to operate where on-street parking is required;

— An end to peace and quiet for the homeowners and renters on South Main and neighboring streets; and

— Possible increased risk for children at the school bus stop at South Main and Center streets.

What should we do?

— Insist that the planning commission follow the zoning law and require Business For Good to submit a report by a parking consultant, approved by the planning commission;

— Insist that no approval of the project, including demolition requests, will be granted, until the parking consultant study is completed, reviewed, and commented upon by the public, and there is an agreed-upon plan for shared parking that will meet the need for parking spaces as required under the zoning law;

— Insist that the traffic consultant employed by Business For Good address inconsistencies in traffic data; and

— Attend the public hearing or submit written comments to the village hall so they are received on or before June 7. Comments may be emailed to deputyclerk@villageofvoorheesville.com.

Steven Schreiber

Voorheesville