Chautauqua Coalition
for Responsible Development
We agree with the sentiments raised in the Open Letter to the Town of North Harmony in last Sunday’s Post-Journal and would like to add the following …
We believe there are several things ALL of us in the Chautauqua region can agree on:
We love Chautauqua Lake
We are concerned about the ecological health of the Lake
We want more economic prosperity for the area
We must preserve the charm and character of the Lake’s surrounding communities
We are NOT against development. In fact, we believe that tasteful and prudent development of the area is good. But we ARE very concerned that the current plan for Bootey Bay will bring with it unexpected costs to taxpayers, harm the environment, and damage the charm and character of the Lake.
Our concerns are in three specific areas:
Higher Taxes and Fees
Harming Chautauqua Lake
A Building Far Too Large and of Unacceptable Design
Tax Impact to Residents
We are concerned about the developer’s engineering estimate that if this project leads to residential sewer and water service, affected residents will be required to pay $1000 annually, for water and sewer treatment, as well as unknown costs for hook-ups and ongoing maintenance. As recent letters and editorials in the Jamestown Post Journal have explained, non-resident taxpayers contribute the greater portion of taxes paid to North Harmony. This additional assessment would place an additional financial burden on both resident and non-resident taxpayers. A full disclosure regarding the financial impact will help us understand our costs related to sewer and water lines.
Why is the developer pushing so hard for tax abatements? He seems to argue that building the sewer and water lines to his hotel is a gift to the community and that the authorities should grant him special tax status as a result. If so, why the extra burden on those who will be required to use the sewer and water lines?
Environmental Impact to the Lake
This is potentially the single biggest issue with the most dire consequences. The Bootey Bay site is directly adjacent to a protected and fragile aquatic wetlands preserve. Science has shown with increasing certainty that wetlands provide a hugely important role for the surrounding ecosystem. We know that Chautauqua Lake’s ecosystem is already in trouble. We want a full environmental impact study performed by a qualified third party. Furthermore, we want the US Fish and Wildlife Service and NY Department of Environmental Conservation involved.
Aesthetic Impact to the Area
In our view, this is the single easiest issue to address. The developer’s plans today call for a 10-story “tower” with a possible second one as well. The height of the structure would be twice the height of the remaining trees. The height of the structure would be TWICE that of the Chautauqua Athenaeum hotel and more than twice the height of other recent projects in the area. It would be visible from miles around and truly dominate the shoreline. This is just unacceptable. The structure should be designed to accommodate the surrounding character of the area and not in any way be visible over the tree line. In fact, entire practices of architecture specialize in designing structures to enhance and blend into the surrounding areas. A big-box building surrounded by black-top parking lots does anything but blend in. The charm and character of the area must be preserved. And any assertion from the developer that he can’t make enough money without a ten-story edifice rings hollow.
We want to work with the Town of North Harmony to come to a solution that’s good for all of us. We ask that open, thoughtful, and thorough consideration be given to all of these matters and that we not hurry into creating comprehensive zoning changes which would allow other ten-story towers around the Lake -- this precedent would impact generations to come!
We are the Chautauqua Coalition for Responsible Development. Join us!
(Email save.chautauqua@gmail.com)
