For those of you who have been worried that the vacant property on the Brunswick side of Oakwood Avenue opposite our development entrance would become home to something distasteful -- pig farm, car lot, dump, etc. -- don't worry. There's going to be a lovely paintball operation installed there.
The Town of Brunswick has approved construction of such a facility, and, as you may have noticed, a gravel driveway already has been installed from Farrell Road onto the parcel.
The facility will be available to law enforcement personnel on weekdays and to the paying pubic on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
The plan was first proposed to the town on July 12. According to meeting minutes:
Thomas V. Kenny, Esq. appeared on behalf of David Mulinio. Mr. Mulinio is seeking
approval to establish and operate a paintball facility off Oakwood Ave. and Farrell Rd. The
entrance will be on Farrell Rd. with parking off Farrell Rd. Three fields are planned; two Scenario and one Speed Ball. Small structures will be built on fields as obstacles and cover. The games play like "Capture the Flag," with the objective of capturing the opponents’ flag and returning it to a determined point. Any player hit with a paintball is eliminated. The plan is for the facility to be open two days a week, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Staffing would be six to ten people including: Registration, Gun Calibration, 2 -5 Referees, Safety Supervisor and overall Supervisor.
VISITORS WHO WISH TO SPEAK: Note: The following visitors may have spoken multiple times during the hearing. If so their comments are combined into one:
• Ginette Chambers, Farrell Rd., asked if this was to be seasonal, what would be done to address hygiene and the business’ marketability. She had noted similar facilities opening and rather quickly closing up. An additional concern of hers was traffic on Farrell Rd. and the impact it will have on developments now being constructed nearby.
• Bill Bradley, Farrell Rd., is concerned about stray paintballs and if the Town would benefit at all from such a business. Another concern was since it is mostly a cash business, how would the sales tax revenues the Town should receive be tracked. He also believes this is an improper use of this property as zoned, and would have a negative impact on surrounding properties including his own. Mr. Bradley presented an audio recording of a similar facility to highlight the potential noise produced not from the guns alone but from the yelling of the participants during the games.
• Kathy Betzinger, Valley View Dr., had asked young people, nieces and nephews for their views on this type of venue. While these people enjoyed this type of activity they noted the facilities were usually well away from residences where the sound would not be heard. The same people also noted that the parks they had used did not usually last more than a year. If this business fails what other plan would the town have for the property? Another point was how are the participants to be kept from encroaching on adjacent property. Will the entire
area be fenced?
• Marcia Christiano, Highpointe, was concerned about the traffic impacting the Highpoint entrance which is directly across from Farrell Rd. and also the impact on the residential nature of the area.
• Thomas Powers, Farrell Rd., has had the experience of having his vehicle hit with paintballs. He feels this could easily happen throughout the neighborhood with people carrying their own guns. He also was concerned about the traffic.
• Lou Bonelli, Liberty Rd., also addressed the traffic situation and asked if this were an appropriate use for the parcel. Operating time should be more specific.
• Mark Madden, Liberty Rd., agreed with the others about the traffic and potential vandalism. He feels the number of participants on any given day have been misrepresented to the low side. He also feels the activity and noise would have an impact on the diverse wildlife in the
area.
• Orlinda Carafello, Farrell Rd., added to the concerns of yelling and profanity, which may occur during matches, litter and possible vandalism. She also questioned if this were a seasonal operation.
• Vinnie Castiglione, Liberty Rd., agreed with others concerning traffic, litter, noise and
vandalism.
Liz Cordella, Valley View Dr., asked for clarification on operating days and times.
• Mary Birch, Highpoint Dr., agreed with the traffic concerns and felt it was the beginning of the end for the peace and beauty of the surrounding neighborhood.
THEN, AT THE Sept. 6 Planning Board meeting, these specifics were presented by the project's attorney and these actions taken:
The next item of business on the agenda was the site plan application by David Mulinio for a proposed
paintball facility located off Farrell Road. Attorney Tom Kenney was present for the Applicant. Also present was Ronald LaBerge, P.E., consulting engineer for the Town of Brunswick on this application. It was reiterated by the Board that this matter had been the subject of a Planned Development District application, which had been approved by the Brunswick Town Board subject to conditions.
It was also confirmed that this matter had been subject to coordinated SEQRA review, and that the Town Board had also adopted a negative declaration on this action. Attorney Kenney stated that the Applicant was present to address any questions or comments of the Board, but that there had been no changes to the site plan application which had been discussed at the August 16 meeting.
The Planning Board members generally reviewed the conditions attached to the Planned Development District approval by the Town Board. Mr. LaBerge commented that the Town should inspect the access road construction for purposes of stormwater compliance. Chairman Oster noted for the record that if there were any changes proposed for this action, the Applicant would need to file an application to amend the site plan, and come back before the Planning Board for further review. The Applicant understood this.
Chairman Oster inquired whether there were any further questions or comments by the Planning Board members. Hearing none, Chairman Oster confirmed that SEQRA had been completed on this action, and then
made a motion to approve the Mulinio site plan application subject to the following conditions incorporated from the Planned Development District approval:
A. A gravel entrance driveway, approximately 26 feet wide, will be provided off Farrell Road leading to a parking area on the project site located approximately 300 feet from the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and Farrell. The access road area is included in the Planned Development District.
B. The parking area for this project will accommodate approximately 60 vehicles, with adequate room on the project site to expand the parking area if necessary.
C. A walkway will connect the parking area to the location of the paint ball fields on the project site.
D. The Planned Development District includes three different paint ball fields, including a “speed ball” field of approximately 140 feet by 190 feet; a “large scenario” field of approximately 150 feet by 650 feet consisting of numerous structures and obstacles; and a “small scenario” field of approximately 70 feet by 460 feet, also containing structures and obstacles.
E.
The structures and obstacles proposed for the “large scenario” and “small scenario” fields will be movable, less than 10 feet in height, and not permanently affixed. In addition, hollow obstacles shall be filled with sand or water to eliminate reverberation when struck by paintballs.
F. The area of the paint ball fields will be double posted, both at the perimeter of the playing area as well as approximately 200 feet outside the perimeter of the playing area, resulting in a 200 foot buffer between anyone on the outside of the project site from the players utilizing the paint ball fields. Out-of-bounds flagging will be utilized to clearly define areas to be used. The areas closest to residentially-zoned properties shall have temporary construction fencing placed at the perimeter of the fields. In addition, a 12’ high net will be placed around the perimeter of the “speed ball” field.
G. The paint ball facility will be operated on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. On Saturday, the hours of operation shall be limited to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sunday and holidays, the hours of operation shall be limited to 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, registration activity shall occur during the first half-hour, and games shall not commence earlier than one half-hour after registration. Games must end no later than 4:30 p.m. or dusk, whichever occurs earlier. The site will be thoroughly cleaned of litter and debris each operating day. All participants must leave the facility by 5:00 p.m. each operating day. The facility will be closed and gate locked no later than 5:00 p.m. each operating day. In addition, the facility will be available Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., exclusively for police and law enforcement training. No firearms are permitted or allowed in connection with the police and law enforcement training.
H. The paint ball facility will be staffed by an individual who will register players, an individual who will calibrate the paint ball markers, 2-5 referees, a safety instructor, and an overall supervisor.
I. No permanent bathroom facilities are proposed, and port-a-johns will be used.
J. No permanent structures are proposed for the project, and food will be provided through an independent mobile concession truck.
K. No enclosed structures, other than storage sheds for equipment, shall be constructed on the site.
L. No horns, sirens, or whistles shall be used to control game timing.
M. Traffic exiting the site shall be directed to Oakwood Avenue. All literature and directions to the site shall utilize Oakwood Avenue as the best travel path to follow.
N. Emergency access to all playing fields shall be maintained at all times.
Chairman Oster further conditioned the motion on requiring an inspection by the Town Building Department on the construction of the access driveway for stormwater compliance, as well as Building Department confirmation that all hollow obstacles proposed for the playing fields are filled with either sand or water prior to commencement of use. Also, the motion is conditioned on payment of all Town consultant review fees. Member Czornyj seconded the motion subject to the stated conditions. The motion was unanimously approved, and the site plan approved
subject to the stated conditions.
