What does hostpc have to do with this? I couldn't find any mention of it on their website
hostpc must have the saverotterdam domain name now, right?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Apparently hostpc, owned by JoeM who previosly posted to the Schenectady forum, hosted the Save Rotterdam web site. The site seemingly no longer exists.
As for the need for sewers and other infrastructure, I suggest that residents contact both their Schenectady County Legislators and the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority. Tens of millions of dollars of public revenues have been wasted with a focus on entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars in the City of Schenectady. These tax revenues are sorely needed to maintain and enhance our infrastructure in the county. Investments in cleaning up brownfields and developing shovel ready sites would provide locations for business development.
Though violent crime is rampant in the City of Schenectady and our roads, bridges, and sewers are deteriorating to a state of being dangerous, at least we have a lot of pretty buildings in the few blocks around Proctor's Theatre. >
ROTTERDAM Distributor drops plan for center McLane Food cites delays, weak economy BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
McLane Food Service Inc. has scrapped plans to build a distribution center proposed for 27 acres straddling the towns of Rotterdam and Princetown, citing overall project delays and a recent economic downtrend. Members of the Princetown Planning Board were expected to address the project’s site plan, special use permit and subdivision applications Thursday when they received notification the company had canceled its plans. Planning Board Chairwoman Patricia Bishop said the notification came through project engineer Joe Bianchine of ABD Engineers after the town requested McLane address several concerns raised by area residents. “They just said that at this time they were canceling the project,” she said Friday. “We were all surprised.” McLane’s had proposed moving its distribution center in Guilderland to a 168,000-square-foot facility they proposed to build on a former gravel pit off Feuz Road. Bart McKay, a spokesman for McLane, said the project faced delays on several levels that made building a new distribution center unfeasible. “The added cost associated with enduring these delays was not one we wanted to bear,” he said. McKay said the company hasn’t decided whether it will move the project to another location or if it will be abandoned altogether. He said the need for additional space forecast when the project was proposed in 2005 didn’t seem as imminent given recent economic trends. “Certainly for the time being, we’ll stay where we are,” he said. The project had already received all its necessary approvals from Rotterdam and was awaiting a decision from Princetown. Rotterdam Planning Board Chairman Lawrence DiLallo expressed dismay the company pulled its application altogether, rather than complete the process they started nearly three years ago. “They were so very close,” he said. DiLallo said many of the conditional approvals granted for the project, such as the property’s change of zoning, will likely become null. Developer Robert Iovinella would have to bring in a project to the area nearly identical to McLane’s, according to DiLallo. “[The zoning change] applies specifically to McLane’s project,” he said. Iovinella first proposed the project nearly three years ago on 15 acres in Rotterdam and 12 acres in Princetown. The project would have significantly expanded the company’s storage space and included a 12,800-square-foot truck repair building. McLane distributes mainly to fast food companies such as Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. The company now employs about 135 workers at its Guilderland plant and intended to add up to 40 more jobs after the expansion project was completed But many residents living in the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed site argued a 24-hour sevenday distribution center would disrupt their quality of life. Others feared the large volume of truck traffic brought by the development would create a dangerous situation at the nearby Interstate 88 interchange. Issues with runoff from the company also generated complaints from residents. Some worried such a large project operating on a septic system could both exacerbate ground water issues in the area, as well as create runoff problems in the nearby Normans Kill. Mariana Lawler, a resident of the Country Walk Estates, was glad to hear McLane had pulled their plans. She said the project simply didn’t fi t the character of the area. “It was just an inappropriate use for the land it was going to be placed on,” she said Friday. “In another place, where there were more industrial buildings and it wasn’t so residential, I’m sure it would have been fi ne.” Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the failed project shows the need for Rotterdam to continue its push to establish infrastructure and planning for the area. Had a sewer line and the proper zoning been in place, he said the time needed to pass such project would have been significantly shorter. “Perhaps it would have been planned differently from the outset,” he said.
DiLallo said many of the conditional approvals granted for the project, such as the property’s change of zoning, will likely become null. Developer Robert Iovinella would have to bring in a project to the area nearly identical to McLane’s, according to DiLallo. “[The zoning change] applies specifically to McLane’s project,” he said.
Trying to fit a square in hole made for a circle. They need to bring business that is consistent with the already existing development. I am not against commericial progress around that neighborhood, it just needs to fit. You just don't build neighborhoods and then decide you want it to be industrial as well. I hope Rotterdam considers this as we move forward. Because that land will be developed thats for sure. Hopefully people are conscious of good fit.
About the sewers, Septics for individual houses is workable, Septic for a warehouse so large, (with plans of expansion) and industrial waste is just not workable. Allowing a place to be built that requires sewers, with the promise of sewers to come is just plain wreckless. I understand sewers have been promised in this area for 18years now. Ummmm where are they? where is the plan?
As to the warehouse thats behind the Citgo. Not even on the same scale as McClanes would have been. Its off RT 7, its across the street. Its not in backyards, bordering residental. McClanes would have been bordering residental on all sides off Rt7. And not to mention they(Citgo) has several problems of thier own as it is.
As far as taxes, put something in there that devalues the neighborhood, and I hope all those people in the neighborhood that pay high taxes already complain about property value and get thier taxes lowered. In the end decreasing tax revenue.
Brad I couldn't agree more that Metroplex should be putting some of the money they have into building new and rebuilding the deteriorated infrastructure in the areas that need it instead of just sinking all the money into the multimillion dollar strip on State Street.
BUSINESS PEOPLE; McLane Chief Pleased With Sale to Wal-Mart
By DANIEL F. CUFF Published: October 16, 1990 LEAD: Drayton McLane Jr. of Temple, Tex., seems to be sitting pretty. Mr. McLane is selling the privately held McLane Company to Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the successful discount chain. In addition to becoming vice chairman of Wal-Mart and sitting at the side of Sam Walton, he will remain president and chief executive of his own company, which will be an autonomous subsidiary.
Drayton McLane Jr. of Temple, Tex., seems to be sitting pretty. Mr. McLane is selling the privately held McLane Company to Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the successful discount chain. In addition to becoming vice chairman of Wal-Mart and sitting at the side of Sam Walton, he will remain president and chief executive of his own company, which will be an autonomous subsidiary.
The McLane Company is a distributor that serves 26,000 stores throughout the United States, providing grocery and non-grocery products, including perishable and nonperishable and general merchandise items from 14 distribution centers. It employs 4,300 people and is doing $3 billion in sales this year.
''We should increase the size of our business tremendously,'' Mr. McLane said. ''We will be outside of Wal-Mart and will treat them as a customer. This should add another $3 billion to our sales within 18 months.''
Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., did not disclose how much it would pay for McLane. Shareholders in McLane will be offered cash or Wal-Mart stock.
Wal-Mart, with its 1,470 stores and larger warehouse clubs, has its own distribution system. ''The acquisition of McLane will provide a solid specialized distribution network complementing our existing capacities,'' said David Glass, Wal-Mart's president and chief executive.
Sam Walton, the 70-year-old founder of Wal-Mart, is one of the richest people in the country. The company has grown by adding retail stores all over the country and paying attention to its merchandising. Acquisitions are rare for Wal-Mart.
Mr. McLane's grandfather founded the business, based in Temple, in 1896. His father, who is 89 and still comes into the office, was chief executive until the late 1960's.
Mr. McLane, 54, said he had worked at every job in the company, starting with the warehouse. He went into the business after he received an M.B.A. from Michigan State. In 1959, he recalled, the company's sales were $2 million. Expansion over the years came from ''aggressively expanding, working hard and taking care of customers,'' he said.
Wal-Mart Announces Sale of McLane Company To Berkshire Hathaway
PRESS RELEASE 2may03
BENTONVILLE, AR./OMAHA, NE—Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today it has entered into an agreement for the sale of McLane Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, to Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
McLane, based in Temple, Texas, is one of the nation's largest wholesale distributors of groceries and nonfood items to convenience stores, drug stores, wholesale clubs, mass merchandisers, quick service restaurants, theaters and others. It was acquired by Wal-Mart in 1990.
"This transaction is positive for both Wal-Mart and McLane," said Lee Scott, Wal-Mart's president and chief executive officer. ÒThe sale will allow Wal-Mart to focus completely on its core retail business, and it will create expanded business opportunities for McLane.
"McLane is a profitable, well-managed company with thousands of outstanding teammates, and we appreciate the significant contribution they have made to our business for the past 13 years," Scott added.
Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire, said: "Grady Rosier has developed a service oriented organization that supplies tens of thousands of locations in an extraordinarily efficient manner. We believe there is an excellent possibility for expansion of the customer base in the future."
McLane Company president and chief executive officer Grady Rosier said, "McLane Company and our dedicated teammates have thoroughly enjoyed the years spent with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. We are equally excited about joining Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and the opportunities this change in ownership will create for our future. We see this event as very positive for our customers, supply partners and McLane teammates."
Rosier added that McLane's current management team will remain in place with business operations continuing as usual. McLane will continue to be based in Temple.
The sale is subject to regulatory approval. This is expected to occur by the end of June. Following the acquisition, McLane will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
In fiscal 2003, McLane trade sales were $14.9 billion. In addition, Wal-Mart Stores and SAM'S CLUBS made $7.2 billion in purchases from McLane.
Wal-Mart also announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent to sell Merit Distribution Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of McLane, to Swift Transportation Co., a Phoenix-based national truckload carrier. Merit provides long-haul, over-the-road trucking services to a number of companies, including Wal-Mart's grocery distribution centers and retail outlets throughout the U.S.
Proceeds from the McLane and Merit transactions will total approximately $1.5 billion. Excluding a one-time gain, the transaction will have a dilutive effect on Wal-Mart's earnings of approximately $.01 per share in fiscal 2004 and approximately $.02 per share in fiscal 2005.
In addition to its grocery and foodservice distribution business, McLane also operates an industry-specific software company. The company employs approximately 14,500 in the United States. In the international market, McLane operates several distribution centers, providing third party logistics services to large multi-national companies; as well as providing traffic management and control functions for these clients.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,890 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 530 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. Last year, Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed more than $200 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. More information about Wal-Mart can be located on-line at http://www.walmartstores.com and http://www.walmart.com. The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at http://www.samsclub.com. And more information about Wal-Mart's Good. Works. community involvement is available online at http://www.walmartfoundation.org.
Berkshire Hathaway is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. The most important of these is the property and casualty insurance business conducted on both a direct and reinsurance basis through a number of subsidiaries. (See http://www.berkshirehathaway.com.)
Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire, said: "Grady Rosier has developed a service oriented organization that supplies tens of thousands of locations in an extraordinarily efficient manner.
Having a Warren Buffet business want to set up a permanent home in this area would be a plus. There aren't that many companies out there with McLanes great reputation. Pressure should be placed on our town officials to get infrastructure in place before we loose yet another great company.
And if ya don't...we better not hear any complaints as our taxes continue to grow.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Maybe they will set up on Curry Road near the talked about round-about(cute rhyme), behind the fitness center????? near exit 25, I890.....the whole area big plan.......where are the sewers????
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
I hope that they find somewhere in this town to set up business. Although there truly are many hoops to be jumped through in this town. This town needs infrastructure. I mean how many times do we have to say that? I think that we need a more aggressive town board. In all do respect, we have heard comp.plan and infrastructure for the last 2 terms. They really need to get moving!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
PRINCETOWN & ROTTERDAM McLane truck terminal stays in twilight zone Project seems dead; extension OK’d BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Developer Robert Iovinella will have another two months to fi nd a tenant for the large distribution center project originally proposed for McLane Foodservice Inc. Members of the Princetown Planning Board granted Iovinella a 60-day extension on his project application, nearly a month after company officials informed the town they were no longer interested in developing his 27 acres on the Rotterdam and Princetown border. He made the request through a letter from attorney Donald Zee just two days before the board's meeting Thursday; neither Zee or Iovinella attended the meeting. Iovinella's request fueled rumors the developer may have a new tenant to step into the project. The proposal to build a 168,000-square-foot warehouse and 12,800-square-foot truck repair building received its final approvals from Rotterdam in December and was awaiting consideration from Princetown. Princetown board members initially considered rejecting Iovinella's request because the developer hadn't answered a number of questions about McLane's project. Several board members expressed chagrin over the extension request because there didn't appear to be any reason to move forward with the plans that seemed moot. "I look at this 60 days as starting a whole new cycle," said Planning Board Chairwoman Patricia Bishop. "And [the project] has already wasted a lot of our time." But Town Attorney Todd Mathis advised the board to grant the extension. He said the alternative would be to reject the project outright, in which case the board would need to outline its reasons for denial. "We have to honor the request for an extension and grant it," he said. Attempts to contact Iovinella or Zee were unsuccessful Friday. Calls placed to Joe Bianchine, the project engineer representing McLane, were not returned. The Rotterdam side of the project required a zoning change, which would become null if Iovinella proposed anything markedly different from McLane's proposal, town officials said. About 15 acres of the development lies in Rotterdam. McLane had proposed moving its distribution center in Guilderland to the gravel pit off Feuz Road and near the Interstate 88 interchange. The company proposed employing about 175 workers once the project was completed. The project faced criticism from Rotterdam residents when it was before Princetown's Planning Board in March. This criticism prompted questions including the number of tractor trailers that would use the facility and the amount of noise impact the warehouse would have in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Less than a month later, a project engineer representing McLane informed both towns the company was no longer interested in the project. Company officials later cited overall project delays and a recent economic downturn. The board anticipates making a formal decision on the project during its July meeting. In granting the extension, Princetown offi cials asked Iovinella to submit answers to their questions on the McLane project, even though the company is no longer being considered part of the proposal. "It's sort of a Catch-22," Bishop said during the meeting. "There's no project, so who's going to answer the questions in 30 days."
Princetown board members initially considered rejecting Iovinella's request because the developer hadn't answered a number of questions about McLane's project. Several board members expressed chagrin over the extension request because there didn't appear to be any reason to move forward with the plans that seemed moot. "I look at this 60 days as starting a whole new cycle," said Planning Board Chairwoman Patricia Bishop. "And [the project] has already wasted a lot of our time." But Town Attorney Todd Mathis advised the board to grant the extension. He said the alternative would be to reject the project outright, in which case the board would need to outline its reasons for denial.
Gee Ms Bishop, are things that busy in Princetown that you can't spare another 60 days for such an important economic project? And what I found most amusing was that the attorney suggested the 60 day extension be granted because......
Quoted Text
He said the alternative would be to reject the project outright, in which case the board would need to outline its reasons for denial.
This leads me to believe that they (A)don't have reasons for a denial OR (B)they are just too busy with Princetown's daily business that they just don't have the time!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I don't see the extension as necessarily problematic and procedurally it seems appropriate. If I'd been on the board however, I'd have easily denied it though. The project is dead. Case closed. There has been ample time to answer the questions that remain unanswered. Developers get too much consideration, in my opinion.
As far as the McLane's pull out...I'd suggest it has more to do with economic conditions (ie: less need to expand now) than the delays they encountered. They are not the only company reversing previous intentions.