Letters to the Editor
The destruction of environmentally sensitive lands for developer profit
By Mike Beilman
Jan 20, 2008, 19:35

I have been a resident of the Town of Lancaster since 1949. As a youth, I covered 90% of the open lands and 100 % of the lakes, creeks and ponds.

Nothing has become more obvious to this individual than subdivisions built on junk land purchased for a pittance by developers, or their front men, some times as long 20 years ago, and then turned into huge profit making ventures for the rich who place future environmental liabilities and catastrophes on the homeowners and taxpayers.

I know because I sold the 20 acres for $20,000 and watched what became of that investment for a developer. Where is the "smart development" or, is it smart developers?

Using the Town of Amherst as the front runner in green light construction followed by the City of Buffalo building on toxic Brownfields, you would think the Town of Lancaster would learn a lesson from their political neighbors.

No, instead they allow developers to build houses on the most environmentally sensitive land for profit. Land that is designated as being in the 100-year flood plain should not be the site for housing; examples Cross Creek, Windsor Ridge.

The solution is just stop subdivisions from being developed on such lands. Quit the manufacture of illegitimate greenspace and build in direct natural harmony with Mother Nature. Have the assessor assess vacant land at full market value instead of developers and the rich walking away with super profits on intentionally undervalued land.

Parts of Cross Creek lie in a federally designated flood plain. Ellicott Creek used to be dredged by the Corp of Engineers until about 35 years ago. The reason was the damage to aquatic life.

As a 14-year old boy my friends and I used to swim in the creek and dive off the Stony Road Bridge into Ellicott creek. The bottom of the creek was about 7 foot from the bottom of the bridge.

Since that time, silt from erosion and dirt from the Tops warehouse, trees, branches and any thing else that flows down the creek have gradually led to the level of the creek being 3 feet from the bottom of the bridge. The developers should be stopped or have the problem rectified and bonded for future floods.

How do these projects get approved? Just appoint an employee from the NYS DEC to the planning board and it will get the green light. Stony road and the Ellicott Creek have been flooding for years. Ask any employee of the Town Highway department.

The current planning board is composed of some members who know of the problems there. One former Supervisor was involved in litigation that prevented a building permit from being issued on Stony Road one hundred feet south of the bridge.

That same Supervisor at that time was the Attorney for the estate that sold the Windsor Ridge land for development.

Now a main sewer line is built 10 ft. from the edge of the creek. Drive by and see for yourself.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

People deserve the Government they elect.

Mike Beilman
Lancaster



© Copyright 2003 by Speakupwny.com