Wilmington townhouse project a shame
POSTED: March 16, 2010
To the editor:
To the Wilmington residents:
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
While most of the people were in their cozy homes on Wednesday evening, March 10, the Wilmington Zoning Board of Appeals approved the building of 27 townhouses by the First Columbia developers on Bowman Road, aka the beach road. What a shame that the hundreds of people who don't agree with this didn't make their opinions known. The attempt by means of a petition was not recognized because it wasn't a "proper petition," so that was easy for the ZBA to dismiss as invalid.
It was obvious to those of us who did attend some of the meetings that the ZBA didn't care where the majority of the town residents stood on this issue. In the 42 years I have lived here I have not seen anything that comes close to this recent hot topic, but the ZBA did not want it to be open to a vote by all the residents. They wouldn't even go as far as to ask for a show of hands at the public hearing at Whiteface or before they voted on the 10th. They said that anyone could have signed in to speak at the Whiteface meeting. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking to a board or a crowd of people. I knew that others would be expressing my sentiments, so I didn't want to take up more time. Now I know that more of the residents should have spoken. What a shame.
When the two-hour meeting at the community center came to a conclusion, everyone on the ZBA was in favor of the so-called variance except for Bob Girardin. He made some very valid points, which were much appreciated by many people. Since it wasn't a public hearing, no one was supposed to speak unless, of course, they wanted you to. The variance could have easily been for two units. The developer could build six buildings with three units per building, and the ZBA still would have had the control it so adamantly wanted. There could be numerous alternatives that would have been much more acceptable. With 27 units there is the possibility of an influx of 300 people. That's a lot of flushing toilets as well as canoes and kayaks on the river. The people on the ZBA, all business owners, don't use the beach, so why would they care how crowded the area is? But will it make a difference to you?
Now that the deed is done, the can of worms for development is even more open. The people need to be better informed. Don't let a few make all the decisions for all. If you don't make your opinions known in the future, that would be the greatest shame of all.
Nancy Gonyea
Wilmington
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-37 | Post a comment
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WoundUp
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04-26-10 8:38 PM
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Yes Al, I do have an ounce of brain matter! I have alot more brain than you may think. And I have no problem being on a board. As for disliking the businesses in town, I happen to be friends with many of them, it is you that gets on my nerves! I am sick of hearing how much you contribute....you are not the only person that does, and it is not only business that contribute! Believe me I have done my fair share in the community and will continue to do so. It is just unbearable to be in a room with people like you, well when you are in the room and not out making yourself another drink.
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albear
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04-15-10 5:21 PM
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Woundup!!!! I know that Winnie's intentions are not to turn Wilmington into another Lake Placid. You want her, the ZBA and the Town Board to go? Winnie's ideas are very valid and she is trying to help the town. If they all go, are you going to assume a position? By the way, I have a business in this town. If you happen to have an ounce of brain matter, you probably know who I am. Funny, the businesses are not liked. But, just today, I had two local charities approach me for contributions and I gave... Look at the Wilmington Christmas Party contributors. 90% are LOCAL businesses!!! I always contribute for Wilmington youth....why not thank us for that?
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WoundUp
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03-24-10 12:48 PM
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Hey Winnie, Your only for this because you are a transplant in the town....and just like the others that are transplants you want to turn our nice little town into another Lake Placid. I think you, the Zoning Board members (less Girardin) and the Town Supervisor all need to go!None of you are doing a service to the town, except ruin it.
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northcountrynell
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03-23-10 8:00 AM
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WinnieWilmington BINGO!!!!! WHy stuff this project next to the Town beach which is enjoyed by many residents and visitors. You are right. If they had picked a more suitable spot for the project....people would still care...but they would not be concerned that they would be ruining a nice public spot. This would be considered smart growth. Instead they want to bend the zoning rules to fit way too many T-houses in a spot where it will have a negative slant...not only for the area, but with feelings of locals who think that the ZBA has let them down. With all the great things the town has done over the past 40 years that I know of...this is one of the worst decisions that I can think of. Town officials have bent over backward to see that Wilmington has remained a beautiful ,funtional comm. Hope this decision does not wipe out all that they have worked so hard for in the past.
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WinnieWilmington
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03-22-10 9:36 PM
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If it had been any other piece of property in this town, no one would have cared.
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northcountrynell
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03-22-10 7:20 PM
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WinnieWilmington...the town IS NOT dying. It is not only holding its own...but has made giant leaps in the development of parks and rec. areas...especially when compared to what any other local town has done not only to keep the town looking great, but for what it has developed for the local people incl. youth. How you can compare Wilmington to Keeseville or c-ville is beyond me. Many things have done well here for the last 40 yrs that I have lived and grown up here. Just maybe the majority of residents LIKE it this way. Development is fine...overkill is just greed. Like I said...time will tell. Just llok at ALL the empty storefronts in LP, along with the empty office space...everyones get rich plan...now sitting EMPTY and rundown.
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WinnieWilmington
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03-22-10 3:14 PM
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Sorry...meant to say..you obviously have NOT been at the meetings where the developer described that not all buildings will be built at once
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WinnieWilmington
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03-22-10 3:13 PM
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Nell....you obviously have been at the meetings where the developer described that not all buildings will be built at once. One of the reasons speakers at public hearings address the boards is so that they aren't talking to the entire community - only the people on the board, to help them overcome their stage fright. There were plenty at the public hearing that were in favor of the project and had stage fright as well. This was not about $ signs - it's about this town surviving. If you can't see this town dying, then shame on you. Maybe all the businesses in Wilmington should close so this town looks like Clintonville or Keeseville. Look around Nell. No wonder it's Whiteface/Lake Placid and not Whiteface/Wilmington. Realize that you live in a tourist destination.
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northcountrynell
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03-22-10 10:55 AM
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WILMINGTON WEENIE...you can post all the "rules" you want. Does not mean they were followed. Not everyone is a public speaker. There are enough negative feelings about this project from locals which need to be heard before this building takes place. As of now the way the real estate market stands, either there will be unfinished and half sold properties sitting for years, or owners will rent to anyone just to make their payments. Either way...$ signs and not thoughtful growth fueled this decision. This is one of the few times since 1972 that I can think of where Wilmington had made a poor decision on something which will affect the entire comm. Just sit back and watch where this project ends up 5 years down the road. Time will tell. SHAME ON THE ZBA MEMBERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE TOWN>>>>AND DONT LISTEN TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE!!!!
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WinnieWilmington
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03-20-10 1:55 PM
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I agree with Ms Gonyea...Shame on the people who opposed this and didn't voice their opinions at the public hearing.
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WinnieWilmington
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03-20-10 1:40 PM
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"An “open meeting” is a meeting of a public body for which adequate notice has been given to the news media and to the members of the general public, and at which the media and the members of the general public are permitted to attend, observe, and listen as the public body conducts public business.8 An “open meeting” is not a meeting where the local public body is required to listen to public fact, opinion, or debate." NY Dept of State- Conducting Public Meetings and Public Hearings
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WinnieWilmington
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03-20-10 1:39 PM
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Annoyed-"Public hearings are open meetings conducted by local boards to gather information from the public, and to survey public opinion as part of a local law-making or rule-making process. Unlike public meetings at which the citizenry may only observe the members of the municipal body as they conduct business, at a public hearing the citizens are encouraged to speak and comment on the specific subjects addressed at the hearing." NY Dept of State- Conducting Public Meetings and Public Hearings
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annoyed
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03-20-10 9:20 AM
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I guess what the townspeople needed to do was picket in the street. . would that have got the attention of the ZBA. On March 10th - a meeting that I attended NO ONE was allowed to speak- NO ONE could voice their opinion. This was known so maybe that is why there were "40 people". As far as the meeting at whitesface the people who attended were NOT asked in a showing of hands who was for or against. The ZBA assumed that the only people who spoke were those with an opinon. And we all know what we look like when we assume! Exactly waht they look like to the MAJORITY of the town. . .
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WinnieWilmington
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03-20-10 9:05 AM
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annoyed - As someone posted on the Press Republican website... "I'm not sure how approximately 16 people speaking against this project at the public hearing out of about 70 in attendance and approximately 40 (for and against combined) people at the March 10th ZBA meeting constitute a majority in a town with 1000 people - adults and children."
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annoyed
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03-20-10 7:52 AM
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"winniewilmington"- the project was up for a vote by the ZBA who represent"the people" of wilmington. That is what they are on the board for. They failed to recognize the outcry of the people NOT to pass this varianace. a BIG SHAME! They have lost the trust of many.
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WinnieWilmington
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03-19-10 7:08 PM
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yesitsme......this project is on PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY. Not something that goes before the public to vote on.
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yesitsme
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03-19-10 5:23 PM
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There COULD BE as many as 300 when the owners use their townhouses as rentals. Everyone knows that the 6 people renting a unit will sqeeze a few more in to share the cost. I don't think some people took the petition seriously, thus the illegible signatures and nicknames. One woman signed for herself, her huband and her children to make the point that the whole family was against the extreme variance. Even some of the teens in town signed so,no,it wasn't a 'legal' petition but didn't it prove a point? I only saw 1 signature that was by a non-Wilmington resident. I think it should have gone to all the people to make the decision on such a large project in such a small area by the most used spot in the town.
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WinnieWilmington
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03-19-10 11:33 AM
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An influx of 300 people? That assumes 11 people per unit in 2 and 3 bedroom townhouses. WOW. Having examined the "petition" there were many signatures in the same handwriting,non-Wilmington residents and someone named "Bobbo Extreme". How does that make the "petition" credible? This was so important to the citizens of Wilmington that they turned out in droves of 70 people at the public hearing and 40 at the ZBA meeting on March 10 and provided the ZBA a list of names that was or questionable origin.
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adkhangeroner
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03-18-10 8:52 PM
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This is a huge disappointment. Over developement will kill Wilmington. It is a mistake to sell out to the business folks. As a local I do not want Wilmington to be like Lake Placid.I will enjoy my quiet beach walk with my daughter as I fear the time is limited.
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shipsaint
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03-18-10 4:01 PM
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everyone had a chance to voice their opinion on this issue,no one showed up,its just the beginning now,say bye bye to your local base,
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snakepliskin
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03-18-10 2:56 PM
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Thank your town supervisor for pushing this forward. If you really want to do some good for the town and stop this kind of stuff from continuing, vote him out in the next election before he sells YOU out next.
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annoyed
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03-18-10 9:32 AM
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Also, if the ZBA thinks for one minute that First Columbia will hire any of our "small town" electricians, plumbers, or carpet installation businesses to work on this project they are mistaken. This company works out of Latham and hires those that they have worked with for years. They will only "put up" a select few members of their crew in local hotels and as far as food- Roy will be selling a lot of subs!
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annoyed
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03-18-10 9:27 AM
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The wilmington ZBA did a huge disservice to the town. During the meeting on March 10th there were so many people there thatthe room was standing room only. No one was allowed to speak- unless you had some sort of "standing" in the town. They went around the table and asked who was approched by townspeople and by how many. Making a conclusion that no one in the town was interested in this subject. If they really wanted to know what the town thought then take a look at how many signatures were on the petition or get a town vote, stand at the post office and approch the subject to those who stopped to get their mail. There are so many ways to find out what people are thinking. The fact of the matter is is that they could have cared less. Every single person on the board ownes a motel and they were considering their wallets not the people of the town who love and use the beach. I would, however, like to disclude Bob Girardin- he was the only one to consider townspeople.
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Wendall
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03-18-10 6:45 AM
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The implication/accusation that this project will dump raw sewage into the river kills the credibility of the objecting party.
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gnarly
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03-17-10 11:06 AM
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"Wilmington townhouse project a shame" Isn't it more like A SHAM?
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