Public feedback dominated the Monday’s Canandaigua City Council meeting, as residents raised numerous concerns during an extended public hearing on a proposed rezoning amendment. The regular session, held at the Hurley Building, also included the approval of several infrastructure contracts and a special event resolution.
Councilmember Erich Dittmar chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Bob Palumbo, who was unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Rezoning proposal draws continued feedback
The meeting opened with a continuation of the public hearing to amend Chapter 850 of the city code regarding a proposed rezoning associated with a planned unit development (PUD) for a new housing project near Kennedy Street and North Road. Multiple residents voiced concerns about the development’s potential impacts on water drainage, neighborhood aesthetics, pedestrian safety, and city services.
Stan Taylor, a resident of Kennedy Street, advocated for the installation of signage restricting construction traffic on neighborhood streets and recommended architectural revisions to the proposed home designs. He also raised concerns about water retention in the area and encouraged the city to engage a third-party engineer to review the developer’s drainage plans.
Other residents echoed those concerns. Megan, a North Road resident, cited issues with standing water and questioned the accuracy of existing water tests. She also emphasized the need for sidewalks on both sides of the proposed streets and called for a review of city infrastructure capacity, including emergency services and school transportation.
Rob, another North Road resident, noted frequent brownouts and a persistently saturated backyard. Sarah Gross, a resident of the town of Canandaigua, described persistent drainage issues and urged the council to consider long-term stormwater maintenance responsibilities. Barbara Luick raised safety concerns related to stormwater retention ponds and submitted independent runoff calculations for consideration.
Attorney Rob Brenner, representing the developer, briefly responded that all concerns had been previously addressed through correspondence and prior public input. Council closed the public hearing without taking action. Further discussion is scheduled for the May 12 Planning Committee meeting.
Council approves other resolutions at meeting
Council adopted five resolutions following discussion and roll call votes:
- Resolution #2025-024: Waives the city’s open container ordinance (§246-2) for the Central on Main outdoor dining area during specific BID-sponsored events from May 14 to October 25, 2025, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Resolution #2025-025: Awards a $62,500 contract to Colliers Engineering and Design for a structural and functional assessment of the Canandaigua Lake Outlet Gate and Feeder Canal Gate. The project is 75% grant-funded, with most of the local match covered by staff time.
- Resolution #2025-026: Awards a $15,200 contract to Aubertine and Currier for engineering an ADA-compliant pathway to a future kayak launch at Lagoon Park. Like the outlet gate project, 75% of the cost is covered by a grant.
- Resolution #2025-027: Awards a $116,640 contract to Spallina Materials for resurfacing Fire Station #1’s parking lot. The city approved a $50,000 capital reserve amendment to cover costs exceeding the original $75,000 budget.
- Resolution #2025-028: Approves a special event application for the “Return Tour of Lafayette” parade on June 7, 2025, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s tour of the United States.
Public comments on other issues
During the public comment period, resident Joanne Fiorentino raised concerns about an increase in 18-wheeler traffic on Bristol Street. She requested improved signage and noted safety risks from truck speed and volume. Councilmembers discussed potential solutions, including updating digital maps to reflect local truck routes.
Council also approved the minutes from its March 31 meeting and reviewed community core values before entering regular business.
The next Planning Committee meeting, where the rezoning matter will be discussed further, is scheduled for May 12.
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