The evening of 2025-04-21 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls Board of Trustees.
The meeting started out with Rick (Mayor) sitting to the side while the rest of the Board discussed continuing the practice of the Mayor also fulfilling many of the Village Administrator roles. And they decided the Mayor could, at least until 2029 (unless they change their mind between now and then). While this started as a temporary practice when the previous Village Administrator retired, I could see this becoming a long term approach. Or at least until the Mayor changes.
There was a Public Hearing about surveying the old Critics property, and spending the funds to do so. While that was the reason for the Hearing, the discussion was more around the eventual usage of the land. Long story short: the surveying is being done so a portion of the land can be attached to the Fire Department. There is currently no firm plan for the rest of it. So for the time being, the Village has another parking lot and small park.
Amusingly enough, the Library asked to use that ‘park’ for some of their events this summer. Harry Allen Park will be ‘closed’ for part of the summer, and the Library does many activities during the summer. So using the grassy area directly in front of the Library is a good alternative. Who knows, maybe they will like it enough to purchase the land. Then they can use it anytime they want.
As for the Harry Allen Park project, the gazebo rebuild should kick off shortly after Memorial Day. Other parts of the project have different dates. I haven’t seen a complete list yet, but I’m sure that will be shared as the project moves along.
The SEQR for proposed zoning change around cannabis gave a ‘Negative Declaration’. Which is SEQR speak for ‘not a problem, continue the project’. So the Village will likely be holding a Public Hearing on this in May. The proposed code change would limit cannabis activities to the General Business area, which is basically the shopping area of West Main. Likely some nuance in the details, so if that interests you look for the Village to release the formal Public Notice before too long.
This process did remind me of the Dunkin Donuts drive thru zoning change. That one highlighted to me how, for zoning changes, it’s about what is currently allowed in comparison to what the proposed change allows. While the exact details between a cannabis store and a drug store (ie Walgreens) are different, from an environmental point of view they are the same thing. Same (or close enough) footprint, electric, traffic, water usage, etc. At least in the abstract, which is where things are from a code change view. Which makes the outcome of this step expected.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the April 21, 2025 meeting of the Honeoye Falls Board of Trustees.
Alas, Agenda was not available online. Perhaps it will be on the Village’s website in the future, perhaps not…
There was also a Town Board meeting tonight. Alas, I cannot be in two places at once. So I was at this meeting and not that one. Which means tomorrow I get to watch the recording of that meeting. Not as good as being there, but beats the minutes (no offense to the minute taker).