Additional updates provided on police, court facility

Senior Project Manager Gwen Howard from Foit-Albert & Associates was once again in attendance at the Monday night Town of Lancaster Board meeting to provide a status update on the architectural design of the new police and court building, which will be located on Pavement Road. 

Howard said that in the past two weeks, the firm has been working to develop some conceptual elevations. Also, Howard mentioned that they are preparing to estimate the construction costs as required for this phase, but mainly their focus has been on the shooting range facility, which will be housed in the building behind the current Pavement Road police facility. 

The firm has been working on a building that will consist of two floors for the police department, while the other half will be a one-story level for the courts. Howard displayed two drawings during the meeting to show the conceptual design. One of the designs features the building facing Pavement Road and shows that there are going to be two entrances-one which will lead to the courts and the other to the police. Another view was from the front parking lot. 

Howard said that the façade of the first floor building will be constructed of brick and the second floor will be metal paneling. The material the firm is looking to use is large horizontal roman brick, coupled with anodized aluminum and horizontal copper metal panel on the upper floor. 

“It is a very rich, very durable, very plush look on the façade, but also as maintenance free as you’re going to find for a facility,” remarked Howard. 

In response to a question asked by Lancaster resident, Dan Beutler, about the proportions of the building, Howard said that the total square footage of the building was 27,000 square feet and the size of the police building only would roughly be between 15,000 to 16,000 square feet

Also Lancaster resident, Mike Fronczak, inquired if green technology would be included into the design. 

Howard said they are looking at a number of factors such as recycled content on the metal panel and concrete brick, and the placement of the building so there is full use of natural light. 

Also, during the meeting, the town board approved an agreement that it made with Niagara Lutheran Development, which owns and operates Greenfield Health & Rehabilitation Center and Greenfield Manor Inc., For Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT). 

Town of Lancaster Assessor Dave Marrano explained that approximately 18 months ago, the town initiated a discussion and meeting with representatives of Greenfield’s, as a result of recent court decisions that took place through New York State. Properties such as Greenfield’s, a not-for-profit business, will no longer be tax exempt and will engage in a PILOT agreement. 

Marrano said PILOT agreements have been done at Syracuse University, Union College, and some nursing/ rehab facilities in parts of the state. Before the agreement, the only taxes not-for-profit facilities were paying were water and sewer taxes. They made no contribution toward any town or school taxes. 

Marrano added that in year one the town will secure about $175,000 in additional revenue and that the revenue will increase two-percent a year. 

“It is something we are going to continue to do. Some of these not-for-profits that are competing with profit business, for example, Greenfields competes with Elderwood [Senior Care], which is located right on Como Park Boulevard, compete with other businesses that are fully taxable. It is trying to level the playing field. I think it is a good agreement and it is something that will provide us with their contributions toward shared services that they are using,” remarked Marrano. 

In addition, a public hearing will be held at 8:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, on the Preliminary Budget for the year 2012 and for the Special Districts and Special Improvement Districts. The budgets are available to the public for inspection during regular business hours at the town clerk’s office. 

Also, the town board will be applying for Federal Community Development Funds or known as the Community Block Grant Funds and must identify eligible projects which would benefit low to moderate income areas in the town. The town will hold a public hearing at 8:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, to provide an opportunity for citizens to express community development and housing needs. 

The next Town of Lancaster Board meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, in the town hall, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster.