Neighbors against multi-million dollar development

A 40 to 80 million dollar development could be going up in Victor. It includes retail space, offices and a hotel, but not everyone in Victor is welcoming it with open arms.

“Traffic,” said Marlene O’Keefe of Victor, “it's just unreal. You can't get off my road.

O'Keefe says traffic will only get worse if a major commercial development moves in next to her home off Rowley Road in Victor.

“This is a very small town,” she said. “We've got two lanes going through the village, and it takes 25 minutes to go four miles.

DiMarco developers say putting up the retail shops, offices and a 100-thousand square foot hotel on this 100-acre plot of land won't create more traffic on Route 96. In fact, developers say they'll be "complementing" vehicles already coming through.

“There's obviously traffic there to begin with without this,” said John DeMarco II, president and COO of The DeMarco Group. “And there will be traffic in the future."

And DiMarco says there's a future for this kind of development in the area. The project includes a " Main Street" section which features benches and walkways that could be appealing to more than just shoppers.

“It's an environment,” he said. “It's not just a shopping center. There's a reason to come here to look around and it complements or provides a different experience than a mall.”

But O'Keefe says it's an experience she'd rather not have to deal when she comes home after driving through a traffic nightmare on Route 96.

“I'd hate to have to look out my back door and see the big old back of a motel!”