Controversy brewing in Penfield

Some Penfield residents and environmental groups are saying "not in my backyard" to a developer who wants to build an office park next to a nature preserve. Developers presented plans for the first time at the town planning board meeting Tuesday night.

"It's about 185 to 200 feet from the waterfall," said Jean Baric, an opponent.

Baric points in the direction of where developers want to build the Linden Hills Office Park. Purchased in March, Nightingale Properties wants to build three office buildings, a two-story parking garage and more than 750 parking spaces right next to the Corbett's Glen Nature Park. Baric along with many residents and preservationists say the project is too close for comfort.

"We'll see it, here it, smell it and visually alter the appeal of this area which is seclusion and natural," said Baric.

And for the first time, opponents like Baric got the chance to sound off at Tuesday night's planning board meeting. Developers presented conceptual designs knowing it would be an uphill battle.

"We know there's concerns about the traffic count, we know there's concerns about numerous environmental problems. We're not looking to cut any corners, we're going to take every necessary step to do it the right way," said Elie Schwartz, the CEO of Nightingale Properties.

Some of the concerns include noise, lighting and the proximity of the project being too close to a 20-acre site, which is home to federal wetlands, Allen's Creek, fishery and wildlife. Most importantly, opponents say Linden Hills just doesn't fit in with the area, even though it's zoned for office space.

"I think it is a really inappropriate place. We're surrounded by the park and neighborhoods, it's not where you put a big complex like that," said Baric.

Schwartz says his goal is not to create an eyesore, but to build an office park that's in high demand.

"We want to hear and listen to what everybody has to say. We're not looking to step on anybody's toes, we're not looking to aggravate or insult or disrespect anybody," said Schwartz.

This isn't the first time developers ran into road blocks when they wanted to build on the site which sits in both towns of Penfield and Brighton. But they compromised by placing the building further back from the park.

There was no action taken during Tuesday night's meeting. Board members will take the plans and input and come up with possible modifications in the next several weeks.