Supervisor Provides Answers About Double Tree Hotel Development In North Harmony
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3/9/2008 - To date, the town of North Harmony has not received a project application. We are at the very beginning of the process. The developer, John McGraw, for the Bootey Bay Doubletree Hotel Project, has requested that the town of North Harmony take lead agency status. In New York state, the procedure is established under S.E.Q.R. or State Environmental Quality Review. We have sent out letters to all concerned agencies to determine if they have an interest in being lead agent. To date, only the NYS DEC has expressed an interest in being co-lead agent.
The developer has requested that a new resort district be created with a minimum lot size of approximately 10 acres ''to ensure that large tracts of land are required ... to ensure proper buffing and screening from neighboring properties.'' The area in question has been zoned for hotels since 1989. The issue is height and in the R6 zone, the 10 stories would be considered under a special use permit if the R6 district is created. The request for the change in zoning has been sent to the Planning Board for review and recommendation. It will then come back to the town board to make the decision. Additionally a public hearing will be held on the proposed change. This hearing will be advertised in The Post-Journal and posted on the Web site, townofnorthharmony.com.
If this project proceeds, there will be public hearings and everyone will have an opportunity for input. Scoping sessions, if held by the town, will not be held until at least April so that our non-resident property owners will have the same opportunity as residents for input. If the NYS DEC is lead agent, they may hold scoping sessions, but are not required legally to do so.
Rather than just requesting a business reduction, the developer has suggested installing a sewer line from Ashville Bay to Stow for payment in lieu of taxes for a limited period of time. To make the project viable he has suggested putting condos on the top three floors. The condos would be privately owned and taxed as would the property the developer has purchased. Only the hotel would be tax exempt.
The sewer line would be large enough to accommodate not only the hotel, but the residences between 394 and the lake from Ashville Bay to where the sewer ends in the town of Chautauqua (If an agreement is developed with the town of Chautauqua) The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Board is the agency that would have the authority to grant tax exemption to the project as a tourist destination. They could grant sales tax exemption on building materials for the new construction and mortgage tax exemption too.
I believe that the town has an obligation to be open-minded and objective in reviewing the possibilities of this as an opportunity for sewers, perhaps water, additional tax base and jobs, sales tax and bed tax, rather that simply dismission this business out of hand. I understand that there are some who want no more development along the lake, but I do feel that perhaps some of the development must come in our area since we are adjacent to an interstate highway with an easy on-off access. I think to expect nothing to happen in our town is unrealistic and if we can improve the quality of the lake, I believe we have a duty to investigate those possibilities
The developer has requested that a new resort district be created with a minimum lot size of approximately 10 acres ''to ensure that large tracts of land are required ... to ensure proper buffing and screening from neighboring properties.'' The area in question has been zoned for hotels since 1989. The issue is height and in the R6 zone, the 10 stories would be considered under a special use permit if the R6 district is created. The request for the change in zoning has been sent to the Planning Board for review and recommendation. It will then come back to the town board to make the decision. Additionally a public hearing will be held on the proposed change. This hearing will be advertised in The Post-Journal and posted on the Web site, townofnorthharmony.com.
If this project proceeds, there will be public hearings and everyone will have an opportunity for input. Scoping sessions, if held by the town, will not be held until at least April so that our non-resident property owners will have the same opportunity as residents for input. If the NYS DEC is lead agent, they may hold scoping sessions, but are not required legally to do so.
Rather than just requesting a business reduction, the developer has suggested installing a sewer line from Ashville Bay to Stow for payment in lieu of taxes for a limited period of time. To make the project viable he has suggested putting condos on the top three floors. The condos would be privately owned and taxed as would the property the developer has purchased. Only the hotel would be tax exempt.
The sewer line would be large enough to accommodate not only the hotel, but the residences between 394 and the lake from Ashville Bay to where the sewer ends in the town of Chautauqua (If an agreement is developed with the town of Chautauqua) The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Board is the agency that would have the authority to grant tax exemption to the project as a tourist destination. They could grant sales tax exemption on building materials for the new construction and mortgage tax exemption too.
I believe that the town has an obligation to be open-minded and objective in reviewing the possibilities of this as an opportunity for sewers, perhaps water, additional tax base and jobs, sales tax and bed tax, rather that simply dismission this business out of hand. I understand that there are some who want no more development along the lake, but I do feel that perhaps some of the development must come in our area since we are adjacent to an interstate highway with an easy on-off access. I think to expect nothing to happen in our town is unrealistic and if we can improve the quality of the lake, I believe we have a duty to investigate those possibilities
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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