Hamburg town officials reacted cautiously Monday night to developer
Frank Parlato Jr.'s offer to give the town Buttermilk Falls.
The liability problems associated with allowing public access at the top of
a 90-foot cliff was chief among the concerns as officials said they would
take a long, careful approach.
Owners of abutting property said opening Parlato's land would invite
trespassing on their land and create a liability problem for them.
Alfred and Charlotte Wozniak said they own the land at the bottom of the
falls and other land along the 18-Mile Creek gorge and are willing to sell
it to the town.
The waterfalls are on Hemlock Creek, which flows into 18-Mile Creek.
Parlato's parcel of about a quarter of an acre offers a scenic view of the
creek gorge below.
Hamburg and the Town of Evans, which owns land on the other side of the
creek, are involved with the state in developing a fishing area. The state
plans to build a parking lot on the Evans side, and the two towns hope to
repair the former Versailles Road bridge over the creek to allow
pedestrian, including handicapped, access.
Hamburg Highway Superintendent Richard A. Smith urged a go-slow approach to
make sure the town is protected and there are provisions for maintaining
the area, known as Hobuck Flats.
Councilman D. Mark Cavalcoli said there "are serious liability problems" to
be looked at but told Parlato, "We appreciate your generous offer."
Parlato also suggested the town consider raising the recreation fee it
charges developers from the current $ 600 per lot to $ 2,000 or $ 2,400 per
lot.
That would encourage developers to elect the option of setting aside green
space or give the town more money to purchase green space, Parlato said.
On another matter, Town Board members had high praise for the work of
volunteer firefighters as they conducted a public hearing on fire
protection contracts for eight companies totaling nearly $ 1.9 million.
The board took no action on the proposals. Supervisor Patrick H. Hoak said
it would act Nov. 7, when a public hearing on the 1994-95 budget also is
scheduled, at 7 p.m. The town is "blessed" to have volunteers who provide
fire protection for less than $ 2 million, Hoak said.
He said the increases sought are justified pointing to the extensive
training offered by Lake Shore, the fund-raising problems Scranton has
experienced, the service contract at Armor and the additional green space
purchased by Woodlawn.
The current contracts and proposed increases are: Armor to $ 130,000 from
$120,000; Big Tree to $ 305,000 from $ 296,500; Lake Shore to $ 393,940 from
$ 361,800; Lake View Fire District, no change at $ 25,000; Newton Abbott to
$ 312,850 from $ 302,850; Scranton to $ 315,450 from $ 294,950; Village of
Hamburg to $ 108,000 from $ 103,000; and Woodlawn to $ 297,700 from $
277,800.
In other action, the board:
Called a public hearing for 7 p.m. Nov. 14 to consider rezoning 25 acres on
the north side of Beaubein Drive from Residential Agricultural to Single
Family Residence.
Approved the appointments to the Youth Board of Jessica Coggins of Hamburg
High School, Brian Connolly of St. Francis High, Christina Roberts of
Immaculata Academy and Sherri Puleo of Frontier High.
Heard Hoak say that steps are under way to make the spectator area of the
hockey rink accessible to the handicapped. The comments were in response to
a complaint by Joseph Russell, regional administrator of the Eastern
Paralyzed Veterans Association.