July 08, 1994

EDITORIAL PAGE; Pg. 2

All residents of Erie County should be up in arms about the Gorski
administration's plan to auction on July 11 the last large chunk of their
lakefront property -- the 53-acre parcel at Sturgeon Point.
For 60 years the residents of Erie County have owned this undeveloped land.
For 60 years each succeeding county government wisely understood the value
of preserving this magnificent lakefront resource for future public use.
That is, until now.
Despite a barrage of misinformation from county officials, the plan to sell
and develop this land comes not from the Town of Evans, but rather from the
Gorski administration. "Gorski wants it sold" is the refrain heard most
often from town and county officials alike.
But why?
This is the last land of its kind. Deputy County Budget Commissioner Robert
Kowalewski insults our intelligence by continually calling this lakefront
land a "nuisance" because he must occasionally dispatch a crew to remove a
fallen tree or pick up litter.
The second insult is the price. The lone appraisal for the 53 acres is
$660,000, or about $ 12,452 per acre. Building lots (not acres) miles from
the lake are fetching twice that. Since when does our priceless waterfront
land come so cheaply?
And if the county's $ 10.3 million plan to bring sewers to Sturgeon Point
and vicinity is approved, the market value of the land would double.
It is outrageous that Evans residents are being asked to foot the bill for
miles of sewers (much of it on vacant land) that will benefit a few large
landowners and subsidize some un-named developers.
County Budget Director Sheila Kee says that the county and Evans officials
are working closely together. If that's true, why is Evans -- the town most
impacted by the sewer expansion plan -- the only town without official
representation on Sewer District 2 board of managers?
Both Kowalewski and Kee have told The News that the county wants to widen
its tax base and get the lakefront property back on the tax rolls. But
residential development ends up costing more in services than it generates
in taxes. Towns with an abundance of commercial/industrial properties can
offset the tax losses caused by housing. But in Evans, a town with very
little commercial and almost no industrial tax base, more housing will lead
directly to higher taxes.
The county land is directly adjacent to the Sturgeon Point Marina, which is
a beautiful regional asset but was undersized from its design plans, due to
lack of land for parking. The waiting list for marina slips is as long as
the line of boats waiting to launch on a sunny day. Without the county
land, future marina expansion will be impossible.
And if our lakeside land is sold, what will our county officials do with
the money? Pave a mile of highway, perhaps, or run ECMC for a few days? Is
there anyone left in county government with vision?
Beyond the parochial issue that the people of Evans are getting stiffed by
the county, the bigger picture is that this is the last land of its kind --
environmentally unique, undeveloped and precious.

ROBERT M. CATALANO
Chairman
Sturgeon Point Preservation Committee
Derby

 

Many possible uses

The News, Frank Parlato and Bert Villarini deserve our appreciation for making the public aware of the potential loss of a beautiful piece of undeveloped lakefront property owned by Erie County. The June 27 News article was informative and even included a map of the 53 acres of land that the county wants to sell next to the Sturgeon Point Marina. The idea of selling this beautiful land that has been owned by the county for 60 years is incongruous with the growing concern and desire to preserve open-space land for now and the future and the fact that there is practically no Lake Erie access, even to view it. Thanks to the environmental education in our schools, the younger voters have been made aware of the value of undeveloped open-space land and the need to take measures to save it. Are members of the County Legislature blind to this reality? The possibilities for this land, if held undeveloped for future children, are many and varied. If the county wants to unload it, the Town of Evans is willing to assume ownership. The money to be gained by selling this gem is small in relation to the county budget, but the loss to the citizens will be great.

LEONA ROCKWOOD
Hamburg