Bemus Point Condo Developers Can Finally Begin Building
By PATRICK L. FANELLI
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3/7/2007 - BEMUS POINT — Nearly 12 months have passed since dozens of Bemus Point residents packed the village meeting hall, some in favor of a four-story 40-unit condominium building along Lakeside Drive, and some intent on scuttling the project.
Little has changed at the site since then. Developers have dug a 385-foot water well and are almost finished with a back-up one, but the wide open expanse next to the Lenhart Hotel that will one day accommodate the condominiums looks the same as it did one year ago.
But that is expected to change in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, the Bemus Point Planning Board approved the final component of the construction project, the landscaping design — and developers say they will now obtain a building permit, breaking ground April 1.
''Hopefully, they can move things along so when the weather breaks they can get started on what they need to do,'' said Bryan Dahlberg, Bemus Point mayor.
It has been a hectic year for the Planning Board since its colleagues on the zoning board approved the site plan in March. Since then, Planning Board members have had to work with the developers on virtually every detail of the project, such as the placement of fire hydrants, which was settled at Tuesday's meeting.
The biggest challenge for Planning Board members was the fact that this was by far the largest construction project they have faced in years, according to Don Mozzi, board chairman.
''This has been a big undertaking,'' Mozzi said. ''It was a learning experience for everyone.''
But they rose to the challenge, according to Dahlberg — and there were more than a few handshakes and congratulations when Tuesday's meeting wound to a close.
''They've really been thorough,'' Dahlberg said. ''I can't say enough about the time they put into it. They worked very, very hard.''
In recent weeks, village officials have expressed some frustrations with the project since developers seemed to be making headway at a slow pace.
According to developer Lee Chilcote, he and his colleagues have been busy obtaining approval for every element of the project and cutting through the red tape. He didn't receive permission from the state to even sell housing units until two days ago.
''We'll start April 1 with the earthwork,'' Chilcote said. ''We're trying to do the project in 14 or 15 months, but we would like to shorten that considerably.''
Chilcote says he has a list of potential tenants who have heard about the project and are interested in buying one of the 40 condominium units, which are expected to be priced between $300,000 and $500,000 each.
''I think it's a very attractive project,'' Chilcote said. ''It's the first new condominium project in the Chautauqua region in a number of years, except for the (Chautauqua) Institution. I think there's a pent-up demand.''
The project has been a controversial one ever since it first came to the planning board two years ago. Opponents, especially those living around the site, felt it was simply too big at four stories in height.
Proponents felt that the project was essential for the growth of Bemus Point. Not only would it bring more residents to the area and boost local businesses, but it would also expand the tax base, since it would add millions of dollars in taxable property to the village.
Now that the project is finally moving forward. Chilcote says he will work through the local real estate firms to fill the space.
Send comments to pfanelli@post-journal.com.
Little has changed at the site since then. Developers have dug a 385-foot water well and are almost finished with a back-up one, but the wide open expanse next to the Lenhart Hotel that will one day accommodate the condominiums looks the same as it did one year ago.
But that is expected to change in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, the Bemus Point Planning Board approved the final component of the construction project, the landscaping design — and developers say they will now obtain a building permit, breaking ground April 1.
''Hopefully, they can move things along so when the weather breaks they can get started on what they need to do,'' said Bryan Dahlberg, Bemus Point mayor.
It has been a hectic year for the Planning Board since its colleagues on the zoning board approved the site plan in March. Since then, Planning Board members have had to work with the developers on virtually every detail of the project, such as the placement of fire hydrants, which was settled at Tuesday's meeting.
The biggest challenge for Planning Board members was the fact that this was by far the largest construction project they have faced in years, according to Don Mozzi, board chairman.
''This has been a big undertaking,'' Mozzi said. ''It was a learning experience for everyone.''
But they rose to the challenge, according to Dahlberg — and there were more than a few handshakes and congratulations when Tuesday's meeting wound to a close.
''They've really been thorough,'' Dahlberg said. ''I can't say enough about the time they put into it. They worked very, very hard.''
In recent weeks, village officials have expressed some frustrations with the project since developers seemed to be making headway at a slow pace.
According to developer Lee Chilcote, he and his colleagues have been busy obtaining approval for every element of the project and cutting through the red tape. He didn't receive permission from the state to even sell housing units until two days ago.
''We'll start April 1 with the earthwork,'' Chilcote said. ''We're trying to do the project in 14 or 15 months, but we would like to shorten that considerably.''
Chilcote says he has a list of potential tenants who have heard about the project and are interested in buying one of the 40 condominium units, which are expected to be priced between $300,000 and $500,000 each.
''I think it's a very attractive project,'' Chilcote said. ''It's the first new condominium project in the Chautauqua region in a number of years, except for the (Chautauqua) Institution. I think there's a pent-up demand.''
The project has been a controversial one ever since it first came to the planning board two years ago. Opponents, especially those living around the site, felt it was simply too big at four stories in height.
Proponents felt that the project was essential for the growth of Bemus Point. Not only would it bring more residents to the area and boost local businesses, but it would also expand the tax base, since it would add millions of dollars in taxable property to the village.
Now that the project is finally moving forward. Chilcote says he will work through the local real estate firms to fill the space.
Send comments to pfanelli@post-journal.com.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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