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."