The evening of 2026-10-05 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls Zoning Board.
Audience was on the larger side, I counted around 120 people. But I’ll defer to any official count the Village produces, as my position wasn’t the best to count form. Regardless, a considerable difference from the average Zoning Board meeting.
First application was for a garage site plan at 71 West Main. After some back and forth between the applicant and the Board, along with one public comment in favor, the application was approved.
This application was much more in line with what the Zoning Board normally deals with. It was nice to have that for the larger audience to see. Showing how, most of the time, it’s not a controversial topic. Just our neighbors adding garages, rooms, fences, etc. Having said that, the bulk of the meeting was comments on Morrell Builders Copperfield development.
Brian (ZBA Chair) pointed out how available documents are on the Village’s website. Which I think is great. He also said any new documents would be posted there. Also great. But if that’s going to be the case, perhaps adding dates to the links would be beneficial. To make it easier to tell if things have been added since the last time you checked.
As before, many of the commenters had difficulty sticking to the time limit. This was exacerbated by the constant clapping. If the applause had waited until the commenter was done, and we had applauded while the next person was walking to the podium, it would have been much more efficient. But since it was a Public Hearing and the Board was there to listen, overall I think it went well. Round of applause all around.
Approving the project in phases was requested. Brian did say that was how things would go, and I’ll point to Wolfsberger and Pinebrooke as two past examples. While both projects presented as a whole plan, they were approved in phases. I wouldn’t expect anything different here. This gives the developer the ability to update their plans as time passes, if the situation warrants it. While the public has the assurance they won’t go wild as soon as they get the first approval, since more approvals will be needed.
Another commenter talked about having to live with the outcome of this project. Which I found amusing as I’m pretty sure the developers said at a previous meeting that a few of them do live in the Village. Meaning at least a few of ‘them’ are ‘us’. Even if newly ‘us’.
A resident claiming their name didn’t matter spoke to environmental concerns. Fair enough. But what stuck out to me was that, even if she didn’t name herself, I know her name. And since I’m terrible with names, I can’t be the only one there who did. Just part of living in a community like this. Even if you don’t know everyone’s name, you still recognize many of them.
Mathstone was mentioned (or as they have renamed themselves, Honeoye Falls Apartment Rentals). Another developer who has been before the Zoning board quiet a few times over the years. I know concerns were expressed during some of those visits, but it seems to have worked out well enough. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do due diligence now. But also shows the sky doesn’t always fall, despite the claims.
David (CEO) said the sewer project was independent of Copperfield. Which fits what I’ve heard at previous Village Trustee meetings. They have been working on that for a while now, as the existing plant is nearing (at?) end of life. Yes, this development will need to be factored into the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. But that project hasn’t broken ground yet, so shouldn’t be a factor here.
Traffic concerns were repeated. Which I think is fair. Looking at how long it took to resolve the Manor crosswalk hints at how slow traffic issues can take to address. Good to have it being looked at now, before these new residences add to the issue. Maybe by the time they get built, the appropriate road and infrastructure changes will have been made. Or maybe not…
The lands use for farming, and the smell of manure, was commented on. Which highlights how if land isn’t used for one thing, it will be used for another. If there aren’t enough people willing to farm the land, it is inevitable the land ends up with another use. Selling to a housing developer in this case. Although, after the meeting ended, I thought I heard some people chatting about a group effort to buy the land and turn it into a park. Even if the developer doesn’t agree to sell this particular property, perhaps the idea could be looked at if/when future farmland stops being farmed. For those so inclined, might be a good time to start negotiating some rights of first refusal.
The height of the apartment building came up, along with the required variance. May be worth noting that area variances require addressing the ‘Five Questions‘. One of which covers altering the character of the neighborhood. Considering the number of comments on this, the ZBA has an easy path to denying any variances. ‘The requested variance will negatively alter the essential character of the neighborhood, as demonstrated by the many members of the public who provided comments.’ The ZBA may choose a different path, such evaluating is their job. But the turn out would help justify a denial. Not just for the apartment height, but any other variances that may come up.
Of course, variances won’t do anything to stop the overall project. Measurables (height, setback, etc) that violate code? Easy to deny. But the property owner’s right to build? Harder to deny outright.
In the end, this Public Hearing was closed. Brian did say another Public Hearing would be opened if/when an updated project was presented. Although no dates were offered. I’m sure they will be posted somewhere in due time. Or you could plan to show up the first Monday regardless. While there isn’t always a meeting (as they only meet if there are topics on the Agenda), having the excuse to go for a walk around the Village is it’s own reward.
As an aside, one of the benefits of watching the recording is you don’t have to smell whatever aroma is clinging to people. I doubt it was the manure the one comment alluded to. Smelled more like marijuana to me, but the prevalence of that is a whole other mess. Even with that, glad I made it to this meeting in person.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the October 05, 2026 meeting of the Honeoye Falls Zoning Board.
Link to agenda on Village website.
Tonight also happened to be another three meetings at the same time. Thankfully the Town recorded theirs, so I can watch it later. Shame the Library didn’t, but such is life.