Stow Hotel Under Debate

By NICHOLAS L. DEAN

7/17/2006 - STOW — Before ground is even broken, the possibility of development has one immediate effect on an area — it causes residents to debate.Though the North Harmony Town Board has not yet received the formal application on a proposed hotel project, people in Stow, Panama, Ashville and throughout the area are already discussing its pros and cons.During a board meeting July 10, Town Supervisor Sally Carlson and Deputy Supervisor Robert Yates read a letter discussing and supporting the project into the public record. Written by former council member Albert Brown, the letter outlined the two sides of the issue and seemed to support it in the end.Calling it an important flagship development, Brown asked the board to take a positive position in encouraging the hotel to be built. As he acknowledged, such a thing will take much work and need to overcome many bureaucratic obstacles before receiving approval.A permanent resident since 1981, Brown and his family have owned property in North Harmony since 1972. Having lived in California, Illinois and Michigan, Brown explained that he has previously been involved with planning and development in each of the three states and once headed a department which produced planners in Michigan.‘‘While the changes in this area over the past forty years have been both positive and negative, we remain optimistic that Chautauqua will remain an attractive place in which to live, work, recreate and enjoy life,’’ Brown wrote. ‘‘We are especially pleased that our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends continue to visit this delightful setting.’’As proposed by developer John McGraw, the Hilton Hotel would be located on the 30-acre Bootey property in Stow. At eight stories tall, the hotel would have 150 rooms, 12 condominiums and cost $15 million to build. In February of this year, McGraw said that construction could be completed by early summer 2008 if he could break ground by April 2007. However, to do that, McGraw said the project would have to be ‘‘written in stone’’ by this summer.‘‘Bootey Bay is adjacent to Tom’s Point. It’s the state land,’’ Town Supervisor Sally Carlson said after the July 10 meeting. ‘‘We’re waiting for a formal application because we can’t do anything until we receive that.’’Stating that change is a constant, Brown wrote about how a society will inevitably impact and alter a landscape. Explaining that the relationship between costs, needs and desires of a society is always an issue, Brown said that the board will have to weigh the two points of conservation and planned change.‘‘Thirty years ago, Fairmount Avenue was a simple highway. Today it is a major transportation route with used car lots adjoining much of the roadside vista,’’ Brown wrote. ‘‘Fairmount development represents a lack of vision with piecemeal changes determining the ultimate landscape.’’As both Chautauqua Lake and the county are attractive and unique areas, Brown noted that the intersection of I-86 and Route 394 is a critical area. At less than a mile around, Brown questioned the future of the intersection.‘‘Will it have a quality development, with a sound financial base and be oriented to tourism, recreation and a quality of life and living as projected by Chautauqua Institution and the many quiet residential retreats along the lake and adjoining hills?’’ Brown wrote. ‘‘Or will it be the extension of unrestricted development with little or no regard to relationship with the values and potentials of this prime site?’’Proposed to be built near the Power Boat Club between Wells Bay and Stow Roads, the project would have breakout meeting rooms in addition to hotel rooms. One of the rooms — a 60-by-90-foot room overlooking the bay into Chautauqua Lake — would be used for weddings. When it was proposed by McGraw, Planning Board member Dick Sena explained that a special-use permit would be needed because the development is more than 10,000 feet. Additionally, he said North Harmony Planning Board members believe the hotel will be a great asset both to North Harmony and Chautauqua Lake.‘‘Myself as a builder, I’m thrilled. This will bring back the glory days of Chautauqua Lake,’’ Sena said in February. ‘‘We’re very excited about it.’’If built, Sena believes the hotel would create a ‘‘downtown’’ atmosphere in the Stow area and be a catalyst for numerous other shops and restaurants.‘‘Nothing seems more appropriate in development of the Stow ‘‘metropolitan’’ area than well-financed and planned quality housing, as well as eating and gathering facilities to serve the recreational, cultural and economic/business needs,’’ Brown said. ‘‘The addition of a multimillion investment asset should be welcome in an area dependent on ever inflationary assessment of private homes — often the sole residence of retirees and the elderly citizens.’’Citing Hogan’s Hut as an example, Brown said that the store has gone from being ‘‘a somewhat quaint to a very viable service for both residents and transients.’’ In addition to servicing residents, Brown pointed out that the hotel would be another employer in this end of the county — with a total of 100 full-time jobs and 50 part-time jobs being projected by the developers.‘‘I can understand motivation to keep North Harmony and little old Stow in the backwater by others with varying goods and less motivation,’’ Brown wrote. ‘‘Some negative attitudes and lack of positive leadership over the past few decades have created a Chautauqua County of low incomes, declining businesses with decreasing and aging populations and out migration of our youth. There are many opportunities to create a forward looking and more creative North Harmony without sacrificing the rustic factors which keep the area attractive.’’Before approval can be given, a State Environmental Quality Review would have to be completed on the impact of the project to the land. In February, McGraw said there are no wetlands so it appears there will not be any complications. The North Harmony Planning Board is involving the Chautauqua County Planning Board to make sure all the necessary permits are in place.The next meeting of the North Harmony Town Board will be held Monday, Aug. 7. Board members approved a resolution moving the meeting from Aug. 14. A public hearing which was to be held before the meeting will be rescheduled.

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