Old bus garage to take on new life

By ROBERT WOODS

ELDRED, NY — Highland Planning Board and Eldred Central School business collided at the Highland Planning Board when the board was approached by an out-of-state resident who plans to buy the Eldred School District’s current bus garage and open several businesses at this site.

Paul Kleiber, a resident of Connecticut, who is building a Pond Eddy, plans to buy the garage located on Crawford Road in the Town of Highland and construct 24-hour-accessible storage units, a landscaping business and possibly an antique shop. Bruce Frazier, the current owner of the garage, is anxious to sell the property because the garage will be empty at the end of August.

The Eldred School District is relocating its bus garage to the Town of Lumberland. Kleiber presented his proposal to the planning board and asked for the necessary permits to conduct his businesses. The board did not foresee any problems but because storage units are not specifically mentioned in the zoning ordinance, the board requested Kleiber attend the zoning board meeting on July 20 to confirm that his plans are in accordance with Highland’s zoning ordinance. Kleiber indicated that he will attend that meeting.

The buses will be housed and serviced at the Town of Lumberland Barn beginning in September. This decision was made in February and approved by the Eldred Central School Board of Education.

“The current bus garage did not meet the growing/present needs of the district. The current garage doors could not be closed during the winter because the garage was just too small,” Eldred Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz said.

The planning board meets on the first/fourth Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., at the Eldred Town Hall and the zoning board meets on third Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.