Canton project on hold

CANTON — The village Board of Trustees decided Monday to hear the public's opinion before they vote on rezoning a parcel on Main Street for a Nice N Easy.

The board of directors of Grasse River Heritage Group, a nonprofit waterfront preservation and development organization, has already come out against the proposal for a gas station and convenience store on the empty lot that was once Main Street Mobil.

In a resolution sent to the village, Grasse River Heritage wrote "our goal should be to eliminate eyesores downtown, not to create new ones."

The need to add to the village's tax base is obvious, the group's resolution stated, "yet simple prudence and respect for the value of successful, ongoing projects demand that a more appropriate use be found for this location."

Jane T. Semple, a member of Grasse River Heritage, said at the Board of Trustees meeting that she was surprised the village Planning Board didn't have a recommendation on whether the property should be rezoned to allow gas stations.

Mrs. Semple said she was afraid Valentine Stores wouldn't be willing to make concessions on the appearance of the store to make it compatible with being in the village's historic district.

"Please evaluate what their intentions are and how it will comply," she said.

The public session at 6:30 p.m. March 29 in the municipal building will allow for questions and pro and con comments before trustees decide whether to proceed with a zoning change.

"I think it would be useful to have people have input on this," Mayor Charlotte C. Ramsay said. "It's not an official public hearing."

A zoning revision in 2006, the same year Main Street Mobil shut down, banned any future gas stations in the historic district.

Valentine Stores' proposal for the lot is the first since it went on the market. The development might also include purchase and removal of the adjacent building on Miner Street.