March 11th - Zoning Board of Appeals - Lan.Air Strip

[4248]

Town Hall 21 Central Ave - March 11th 8:00PM , will be the ZBA's - Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to discuss the zoning for Lancaster Air Strip located at 4343 Walden Ave. Lancaster NY.

FAA is out of control - $3.4 Billion spent on "Private Venture Air Strips" not public safety - private play grounds for private plane owners at tax payers expense.

Please tell a friend and try to attend - this affects hundreds of area residents and near by Towns , not just Lancaster.

This notice is scheduled for a March 4th public notice.

SACL = Safe Aviation Coalition of Lancaster has joined with concerned Lancaster area to question the legality of this rezone.

This air strip has received a rezone and Town Board approval without a mandatory public input hearing. The Town Board and Lancaster's IDA Chairman Bob Giza have approved paper work to allow the air strip to expand. They have also helped the air strip receive $12 Million Fed Tax dollars (FAA Money) to finance the unwelcome expansion.



Lancaster Town Zoning Board asked to determine legality of Lancaster-Buffalo Airport expansion
By Safe Aviation Coalition of Lancaster
Feb 18, 2010, 16:59

A group of Lancaster residents, the Safe Aviation Coalition of Lancaster [SACL], has filed an appeal to the Town of Lancaster’s Zoning Board of Appeals [ZBA], asking the board to determine whether the extensive expansion of the Buffalo-Lancaster Airport is legal under the town’s zoning laws. A similar request, made on December 18, 2009 to the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer, Jeffrey H. Simme, has not been responded to by either Mr. Simme, or the Town Attorney, John Dudziak, Esq.,

The Buffalo-Lancaster Airport is a private airport located at 4343 Walden Avenue, east of Pavement Road. The members of SACL, who are largely concentrated to the south of the airport, have concerns regarding the noise, safety and privacy issues associated with the facility’s operations. It is their contention that the Lancaster Town Board and Code Enforcement Officer have repeatedly violated the town’s zoning ordinance by allowing the airport to substantially expand its size, capacity and functions. SACL’s attorney, Arthur J. Giacalone of East Aurora, NY, provides the following explanation of his clients’ claims:

Neither the current Town of Lancaster zoning ordinance, nor the zoning code in effect when the airport began its operations in the mid-1960’s, allows construction and operation of an airport or airstrip. The facility is, at best, a “non-conforming use.” Under the town’s zoning laws, a non-conforming use may not expand by more than twenty-five percent (25%) or extend beyond the lot occupied by it at the time it became a non-conforming use. In 1989, when the town’s current zoning law was enacted, the airport occupied approximately 25 acres of land, had a runway about 1,900’ long and 25’ wide, and included a hangar large enough to store 10 airplanes. By 2006, the airport covered 94 acres, its runway had been enlarged to 3,200’ by 75’, and it had three hangars with the capacity to house 44 planes. In 2007, the Town Board and Federal Aviation Administration approved plans that would allow the airport to expand to 143.1 acres [570% larger than its size in 1989], extend its runway to 5,500’ [110% longer than its 1995 length], and substantially increase the number and size of aircraft housed on site.

Despite the fact that the airport’s consultants have reminded Town of Lancaster officials that the airport and surrounding area is not zoned for use as an airport, the town officials have repeatedly approved proposed expansions, and have expressed support for large, taxpayer-funded projects. Additionally, although the Lancaster Industrial Development Agency is required by its enabling statute to take into consideration local zoning laws when considering financial aid requests, it has approved multiple Buffalo-Lancaster Airport applications for real property and sales tax exemptions.

At no time have the zoning laws of the Town of Lancaster been enforced. At no time have the rights and concerns of the residents living near the airport, or under the flight paths of the airplanes that utilize the Walden Ave. facility, been taken into consideration or protected.

[Lancaster Resident]

The Lancaster Zoning Board of Appeals will have an important opportunity, starting with the March 11th public hearing on SACL's airport zoning violation findings, to do the right thing to stop futher expansion of the airport and hopefully to faciliate a reversal of the damage already done to the residents quality of life, property values, etc, by the illegal expansion that has occurred to date. This will be an important test of our local government's ability to recognize a bad mistake and take the needed steps to correct it FOR SAKE OF THEIR RESIDENTS/VOTERS. If they do not rise to this challenge then one can only expect that the informed residents will do everything in their power to see that the responsible government officals days in government will end soon.

It is important for any resident that wants to see how their local government handles a mistake, that is so obviously harmful to the residents and the Town (at least obvious to all that are well informed), to attend this Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing. I expect that it will be very interesting and hopefully not another chapter in bad governance 101.....

[4248]

As the date of the Lancaster Air Strip revue approaches - Town Hall has consulted with "Outside Attorneys" - and no Bob even if they work Pro-Bono its not totally honest or ethical for you to claim, "We didn't hire them - we are not paying them!" - so please don't embarrass your self further by using those deceptive lines. Yes it has worked in the past - but theres too many people watching this time!

This Air Strip issue is shaking some tall trees. Lets go back a few years - the Town Leaders have been quietly helping the owners get money and tax exemptions. The IDA Chairman/Town Supervisor has quietly been facilitating tax breaks, including sales taxes - for years. Quietly helping them get the "Receiver Air Strip Status" so they could get Homeland Security Funded and FAA Fed Tax Dollars.

Point being, this now involves "Federal Agencies" - State and Federal Regulations and Rules. Wouldn't it be some thing if the FBI or other agency started actually looking into these little deals???????? Like the purchase of the old Bocce Building and how the Lancaster IDA Funded that deal and for whom????????????

Then what a shocker it would be if some agency looked into the SEQR Review for the Air Strip and found how it was done incorrectly and incompletely without public input as required!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if in filling out all the needed paper work for the Town IDA,State Grants,Federal Grants and Air Port Classification Change - did anyone ever bother to check if the air Strip was even in possession of the correct legal zoning and permits needed to actually exsist???????????????????

You see, our Town Board is so used to sweeping things under their local rug, - They don't seem to fair as well when someone impartial, not paid by the Town - actually looks at things with all the laws in mind.

March 11 th is just the start of what could be, the correction of a serious act of arrogance. Even if the ZBA Boys do as their told, Even if Mr.Simme can skate. That doesn't close the door on further Court actions and personal back lash for Elected Officials in this Town.

Some believe the Feds are already sniffing!

[4248]

Tax dollars being used to fight tax payers. The Town has once again hired "Outside Attorneys", better known as Contributors to fight against tax payers.
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The Town has quietly helped this Private Air Strip get $700,000.00 "Homeland Security" tax dollars to build a fence. The Town has quietly helped this private Air Strip get $930,000.00 Tax dollars to buy land assessed at less that half the purchase price. The Town has quietly helped this Air Strip receive $13 MILLION Fed Tax Dollars.
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The IDA Chairman/Town Supervisor has helped them avoid paying property taxes and even sales taxes. He also gave them 3 IDA Tax Exemptions and they applying for a forth.
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Not one job created, over whelming public opinion is against any more back door deals for a "Private Air Strip Owner", everyone cries about Government waste and out of control spending.
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21 Central Ave.,Lancaster NY,8:PM Town Hall/Opera House. Be there if your tired of your tax dollars being funneled to "Political Insiders" for personal profit.

[gorja]

Originally posted by 4248:
Tax dollars being used to fight tax payers. The Town has once again hired "Outside Attorneys", better known as Contributors to fight against tax payers.
-
The Town has quietly helped this Private Air Strip get $700,000.00 "Homeland Security" tax dollars to build a fence. The Town has quietly helped this Air Strip receive $13 MILLION Fed Tax Dollars.
-
The IDA Chairman/Town Supervisor has helped them avoid paying property taxes and even sales taxes. He also gave them 3 IDA Tax Exemptions and they applying for a forth.
-
Not one job created, over whelming public opinion is against any more back door deals for a "Private Air Strip Owner", everyone cries about Government waste and out of control spending.
-
21 Central Ave.,Lancaster NY,8:PM Town Hall/Opera House. Be there if your tired of your tax dollars being funneled to "Political Insiders" for personal profit.

AGREE 100%.

Originally posted by 4248:
The Town has quietly helped this private Air Strip get $930,000.00 Tax dollars to buy land assessed at less that half the purchase price.

Actually to be correct it is assessed at $940,000.

95.00-4-20.2 - Ransom Rd property purchased from E&E
Full assessed value- $940,000 ALL TAXABLE
http://www.oarsystem.com/ny/lancaste...50000004020200

[4248]

Town Hall 21 Central Ave - March 11th 8:00PM , will be the ZBA's - Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to discuss the zoning for Lancaster Air Strip located at 4343 Walden Ave. Lancaster NY.

FAA is out of control - $3.4 Billion spent on "Private Venture Air Strips" not public safety - private play grounds for private plane owners at tax payers expense.

Please tell a friend and try to attend - this affects hundreds of area residents and near by Towns , not just Lancaster.

Thanks for the correction - glad to see it.