It was a decision that faced backlash from many residents in one Central New York neighborhood. In May, the Town of Geddes voted in favor of an overlay district that would expand the use of properties for certain businesses along the West Genesee Corridor. After residents filed a lawsuit against the town this summer, a court decision is now in.
GEDDES, N.Y. -- Hundreds of Westvale residents pooled their resources together this summer to fight against a Geddes Town Board vote for a professional overlay district along the West Genesee Corridor.
"None of us were happy that we had to resort to litigation, but we simply could not get this town board to listen to us," said Costello, Cooney & Fearon PLLC partner Maureen Fatcheric.
About 300 people donated to the West Genesee Corridor Legal Fund. Months after filing the lawsuit, a judge ruled the board's vote was invalid.
"The neighbors who participated in this legal action against the town were of course very happy with the results. It's what we were looking for from a court of law," said Fatcheric.
The court ruled that due to the number of petitions, the overlay district needed at least three-fourths of the board's to vote to go through. In this case, it was a 5-2 vote. Additionally, there were issues regarding notification requirements.
Town Supervisor Manny Falcone says he was unhappy with the decision, given the amount of time the board put into it.
"In the end, the people have the right to take it to court and to get the judge's ruling, and I respect that. And the board respects that," said Falcone.
Falcone says he doesn't think the board will appeal the decision due to potential costs, but he thinks there can be compromise.
“We need to look at specific areas of the corridor. There's two ends of the corridor, in the east and in the west, that are separate of the center of the corridor that is really in question," Falcone said. "I think that is a residential area truly, so I think we can work those areas out."
Fatcheric says even though her clients won, they'll continue to monitor how the board moves forward.