A SWIRLING controversy over how to use 53 acres of waterfront land
owned by Erie County has put the spotlight on the Sturgeon Point Marina.
The marina, which is west of the county land in the Town of Evans, is
celebrating its fifth anniversary as the only publicly owned boating
facility in the Southtowns.
By all measures, the marina is not only a successful operation but
demonstrates that there is a continuing need in the area for boating
facilities.
All 217 of the marina's slips are filled. Most of the slips are 22 feet and
smaller, generally serving fishing boats. There's a waiting list of 150
boaters, many of whom own larger recreational boats.
"If we had 26- or 28-foot slips, there are 30 to 40 boats we could pull
right in," observed Dennis Borowczyk, a marina staffer.
Bruno Niedzwiecki of Angola is one of the lucky seven along the marina's
"Rodeo Drive," the dock for larger boats. "This is a great spot right
here," said Niedzwiecki, standing in the cabin of his 25-foot Larson. "We
get nothing here as far as weather."
Anyone familiar with the Evans stretch of the lake knows that Sturgeon
Point primarily offers boaters a safe harbor thanks to the breakwall that
was built as part of the $ 4.5 million state, federal and town funded
project.
Any expansion of the marina would be equally expensive and so far, no one
has put any real plan on the table.
"There is still a need in the Southtowns (for boating facilities) but
Sturgeon Point is not going to fill that purpose," said Richard Tobe,
county commissioner for environment and planning.
Tobe points to the area's geographical limitations including the fact that
the county's property is a bluff with no water access and that expanding
the marina would require the building of an expensive breakwall to increase
the protected area.
But, a county legislator and town officials want to preserve a marina
option.
"We saw the value for future boaters to use this area as a natural bay,
possibly a safe harbor," said Erie County Legislator Bert Villarini, a
Hamburg Republican who has come up with a compromise proposal to reserve
half of the property for public use, including the possibility of a marina
and the other half for possible future development.
Evans Supervisor Albert Chase agrees a marina faces hurdles but he wants to
make sure the county doesn't sell any property that would prevent a future
marina.
Tobe has the job of making recommendations to County Executive Gorski on
uses for the 53 acres of waterside land that the county owns near the
marina. The County Legislature asked Tobe's office to get involved after it
rejected a $ 26,000 bid to purchase the land. The county originally planned
to auction the property for development but has since pulled back on that
plan in the face of stiff opposition, especially from those who want the
lakeside portion to remain open to the public.
Tobe said his proposal would reserve a small portion along the water's edge
for a passive park with the rest freed for development. "The rest we would
try and sell," he said.
Frank Parlato, who has led the citizen fight to keep the land from the
auction block, insists the area can become a future marina. "I can envision
a world class marina if we take the bay and expand the marina as funds
become available," said Parlato. "We can keep the green space for the
public to visit and have a magnificent view."
At the marina, managers and slip-holders go by what they see every day -- a
busy marina.
"It's for future use," said Joe Kremblas, marina foreman. "Right now there
isn't any money available anywhere but you never know in 10 years, five
years, money could become available to expand it."
To slipholders, the marina offers a pristine refuge. On a warm summer
night, the area draws not only boaters but children and families who walk
the sandy stretch or linger by the refreshment stand for an ice cream cone.
"I'm really happy here," said Paul Michalek of West Seneca, who recalls the
"mom and pop" operation of the old marina. He recalls the silting every
fall that forced boaters to wade across the entrance channel. Even now, the
marina isn't perfect. Boaters complain of weeds, silt that has to be
continually dredged and no dock power, but they know times are clearly
better.
"This is a dramatic improvement and worth the wait," said Michalek.
Local J-27 skippers will compete this weekend in match racing for the James
H. Righter Trophy. The Buffalo Yacht Club is sponsoring the annual Great
Race series Friday through Sunday. The racing will pit a BYC team against
teams from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the Buffalo Canoe Club and the
Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club.
The event, which will be held in the Buffalo Harbor, will test the sailing
skills of some of the area's best. The racers will compete in rounds
leading to a final series. The final will be sailed Sunday starting at 9:30
a.m. Spectator boats are encouraged to attend. The trophy presentation will
be Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Buffalo Yacht Club on Porter Avenue.