Public hearing on Thursday morning for STAMP sewer line that goes into Orleans

ALABAMA – There will be a public hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday for eminent domain proceedings to allow a sewer line along Route 63 from the STAMP site to Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County. The eminent domain would be for a temporary construction easement.

The hearing will be at Alabama Volunteer Fire Department, 2230 Judge Rd.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center is leading the effort to put in a new sewer line to serve the 1,250-acre manufacturing park just south of Shelby in the Town of Alabama.

According to a legal notice the eminent domain proceedings would be for land owned by David Schloss and Allison Adkison, Donald and Dana Quackenbush, and Brennen and Valerie O’Connor. Two of the parcels are in Shelby and one is in Alabama.

The sewer line has the potential to bring up to 6 million gallons of sanitary sewer into the Oak Orchard each day.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari has publicly stated his concerns that the influx of water into the Oak Orchard could jeopardize efforts to develop the Medina Business Park.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation also has been very vocal in opposing the project because they say the project disturbs land and natural resources that are vital to the Seneca culture.

The first tenant at STAMP, Plug Power Inc., is under construction for a $290 million hydrogen production facility that is expected to be ready in the summer 2024.

Another company, Edwards Vacuum, announced plans in November for a $319 million factory that will produce equipment used in the semiconductor industry.

There is still plenty of space at STAMP for other businesses and GCEDC officials say they are talking with other companies about coming to STAMP.