What are our concerns? Check out these key points.

Check out this flyer for a shareable overview of all the key points. More information on all topics can be found under the Learn More section.

TRAFFIC

• It is already heavy at many times on Rt. 250 and could become unbearably heavy and more dangerous. It would not only include Costco shoppers, but numerous tractor trailers daily, both delivering and hauling away materials. If the Costco plan is approved with a gas station, the traffic will be even worse, with members making additional trips each week solely for gas. See reports on other Costco warehouses impact on traffic here.

• We do not yet even know the impact of the all the new traffic from the Arbors at Penfield development (750 residential units) under construction at Rt. 250 and Atlantic Ave. This traffic impact must first be understood before one could accurately estimate future traffic or propose adequate roadway manipulations to ensure safety. See past traffic reports on this stretch of Route 250 here.

TOWN CHARACTER

•  In the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, the Town states “Penfield’s existing character is defined by its man-made and natural landscape such as its neighborhoods, streets, business districts, parks and open spaces. Over the next decade, the Town will utilize proper land use planning and design practices to maintain a sense of pride within the community, enhance its identity, and promote a positive image to visitors.” (Page 50) See the whole plan here.

• No where in this Comprehensive Plan or any town document, does the Town suggest that ‘Big Box’ development, such as Costco, is intended for this region of the town, nor is it suggested to be in line with the Town’s character and their vision for the Town’s future. Instead, references are made to supporting our ‘agricultural history’ and ‘rural’ character and suggestions are made to improve walkability. How does a Costco and turning Penfield into a thoroughfare fit with Penfield’s character and the 2023 Comprehensive Plan?

ENVIRONMENTAL

• The large increase in traffic will cause increased air pollution (ozone and particulate), noise and light pollution in addition to causing the road surface to deteriorate more rapidly.

• The proposed site is adjacent to wetlands, so contamination from refuse – or worse yet, gasoline, could endanger this fragile ecosystem. See the wetland and watershed maps here.

ZONING

• The land in question is currently zoned for Mixed Use Development (MUD), which is well-documented in both the 2010 and 2023 Penfield Comprehensive Plans. In 2023, the Town spent an entire year re-evaluating MUD guidelines through a moratorium which resulted in some modification of the MUD code. The Costco proposal does not in any way fit the Town’s own definition of what is appropriate for a MUD, nor does it conform to universally accepted norms for a MUD. See more information on MUD here.

• Despite claiming ‘This project will bring the desired commercial component to the M.U.D. that has been missing to date’ in their Letter of Intent, the developers are also asking for all the land to be rezoned to ‘Planned Development’, a zoning category that gives developers a vast amount of leeway in their use of the land. Is the Town going to give up on thousands of hours of work and discussion in creating and defining this MUD district, by allowing these developers the ability to not follow any of the MUD restrictions?

• If the zoning were changed to ‘Planned Development’ for this project, it’s easy to imagine the “domino effect” all along Rt. 250 that would change this border road along our agricultural areas into another Ridge Rd. in Irondequoit or Empire Blvd in Webster and Penfield, where commercial growth has been excessive and traffic increases has resulted in severe and deadly crashes. Is this what we moved to Penfield for?