Erie County should make its last long stretch of lakefront land,
located next to Sturgeon Point Marina in the Town of Evans, green space for
public use rather than sell it to a private developer.
That is the opinion of Frank Parlato Jr., who describes himself as an
environmental developer.
"You have an unparalleled opportunity to save and expand the lakefront for
the people," Parlato said. "The Sturgeon Point Marina is only seven acres
and is filled."
Combining the town marina and county land on Lake Erie could double the
amount of marina lakefront, Parlato said.
"If you cleaned up the underbrush and connected the county land to the
marina, you would have that space," he said. "The frontage would double the
waterfront frontage of the marina. The marina could be world class."
Parlato's view is shared by Legislator Bert Villarini, R-Hamburg, who
represents the southwest part of the county that includes Evans.
"You could give the town the waterfront part," said Villarini. "The rest is
still valuable for development."
Sale of the 53 acres, long owned by the county and held for possible
expansion of the adjacent county water authority, was supposed to occur
last week. It has been delayed to advertise to potential buyers here and in
Canada, according to Deputy Budget Commissioner Robert Kowalewski.
Most of the County Legislature, which approved the sale for development,
agrees with Kowalewski that the best use for the land is to sell it and get
it on the tax rolls.
Parlato, waging a campaign by contacting officials and news organizations,
is urging the county to reconsider the sale.
He suggests the land be sold to the Town of Evans for $ 1.
Evans Supervisor Albert Chase said he has asked the county to sell the land
to the town for $ 1 but was rebuffed.
Kowalewski was not available to comment and his office said he was out of
town until today.
Two weeks ago, when the county sold a derelict school to the City of
Tonawanda for $ 1, Villarini raised the same question. He said Wednesday
that he still wants to know why Evans should not acquire the 53 acres for $ 1.
"Why can't they treat us the same way as the City of Tonawanda?" asked
Villarini.
County Budget Director Sheila Kee said that her department has worked
closely with Evans officials and that the county's plan to sell meets their
approval.
"What we are trying to do is to take valuable property and put it back on
the tax rolls," Ms. Kee said.
"The Town of Evans would like to see a nice residential development there.
We have and will continue to act in direct cooperation with the Town of
Evans, and they have expressed very clearly their desire for development of
that parcel."
Parlato said the county will lose nothing and may gain a valuable
recreation area by waiting before selling off the parcel to developers.
What the marina lacks now is space for picnics, for walking and for
children to play, he said.
Parlato, asked what guarantee there would be that Evans would use the land
for recreation, said it could be sold to the town with a restriction
limiting the segment that faces the lake to recreational uses.
"If sewers are approved for the area, it is likely to dramatically expand,
which would necessitate additional recreational space," he said. "I don't
think you can have better recreational space than the waterfront."
Ms. Kee said lots of people have ideas.
"Does he have the money to finance this stuff?" she said, referring to
Parlato. "Nobody ever came to us and said, 'Sell us this.' "
Villarini voted against the sale.
"I think it would make the land more valuable if a portion was set aside
for green space, for trails and the public," Villarini said. "We've owned
it for 50 years. Why the rush?"
Parlato, as a developer, prepared the land for Hidden Hollow subdivision
and its 30-acre wildlife preserve off McKinley Parkway in the Town of
Hamburg. He has proposed other developments surrounded by green space.
Because of his interest in such combinations, he said, he studied the
jagged 53 acres owned by the county north of Sturgeon Point with an
experienced eye.
"If you have a unique area, it should be used to the advantage of the
public, not to just a few people," he said.
Villarini agrees that an extended waterfront arena and park is an appealing
concept.
Villarini said he knows and respects Parlato as a developer concerned about
the environment and that Parlato has no personal financial interest.
"He (Parlato) doesn't have any financial interest, he doesn't live near the
land, he truly believes we ought to maintain part of this area for public
use," said Villarini.
"I have no motive other than as a citizen," said Parlato. "I don't live
near the property, own neighboring land or know anybody who wants to buy
it."