County planners approve several projects in Orleans

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board approved several projects on Thursday, including a woodworking business in Kendall, a gravel pit and office addition in Barre, a new church in a Barre home, and an auto repair shop in Ridgeway.

Here are highlights from the Planning Board meeting:

Gerald Solazzo has planners’ support for a church within his residence in Barre at 13404 Gray Rd.

Solazzo is a minister in the Order of Melchizedek and wants to start The Church of the Healing Christ. He would have services, perform marriages, do counseling, Bible reading, praying and healing services at the site, which is in a remote part of the county surrounded by woods.

Keeler Construction has the Planning Board’s support for a gravel pit at 13517 on land owned by Patricia Keeler. The site was last mined about 30 years ago.

In the company’s application, Scott Scharping, chief engineer for Keeler Construction, said Keeler will not mine more than 1,000 tons per year from the site, which is an average of less than a truckload of material per week. Mining hours are proposed for between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Keeler also is planning a 1,063 square foot addition to an existing 1,950 square foot office building.

Planners said the changes to the building and the gravel pit are logical fit within the existing Keeler Construction complex and would likely be unnoticed by most motorists passing by on West Lee Road (Route 31A).

Brian Voelker, owner of Five Star Automotive, has the board’s support to move his business from Albion to 3922 Salt Works Rd. in Medina in a light industrial district.

Voelker, a Middleport resident, wants to use about 2,700 to 3,200 square feet in a complex of buildings owned by Barnes Metal Finishing.

Karl Driesel wants to open a woodworking business at 1750 Kendall Rd. Driesel wants to construct a 50-by-104-fot building to manufacture custom mill working with the southeast corner of the building used as a showroom.

A detached 18-by-32 foot building would be on the northwest side of the main building and be used for sawdust collection. There will be no painting or finishing work other than sanding.

Planners recommended the Town of Kendall approve the site plan for the project.

The project has one unusual issue. A portion of the Crandall Avenue is actually part of the property and was never acquired by the Town of Kendall. County planners said the town should take over that section of the road.