Island Dispatch, 2003-02-07

              Island DISPATCH  \ I'lioiiv: (716) 773-7676 * 1 a\: (716) 773-71W • E-Mail: MTVW' | Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 57 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District * Vol. 58  No. 450 _ 1 ehrnar) 7. 2003 24 I'ugi's  85c _ Fire On Ice Champs Page 16 Aiming For Top Prize Page 5 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Cold, Lake Snow /, - ■« ( Mt-. .' i '.' "1.".' ' Convenience store with gas pumps coming to a neighborhood near you by Jon Sandino After spending the past two years revising their proposal and battling it out with many concerned Grand Island residents, Parkland Enterprises finally received news their site plan proposal for a convenient store with gas pumps, to be located at Stony Point and Ransom Roads, had been approved by a 4-1 vote by Grand Island Town Board members. The decision,, which came during Monday night's town board meeting, might have pleased those representatives of Parkland that were in attendance, but it clearly upset Island residents that filled the courtroom - causing a handful of people to walk out while board members attempted to explain why the site plan was approved. Though the results might be difficult for residents to comprehend, the non-popular answer for the approval was simple - Parkland met all of the zoning requirements. Those requirements were set when the piece of property was commercially zoned in 1971. "In the final analysis, the only choice was to approve with gasoline or without gasoline," town Supervisor Pete McMahon said. "The no-gas alternative was originally looked at and it was not economically feasible." McMahon added, "It was an emotional issue for both sides... no matter how it works out, there are people that are not going to like the answer." Councilman Kevin Rustowicz, the lone "no" vote, was hoping it was the Parkland party that walked away disappointed. According to Rustowicz, he was ready to fight for the people and not be swayed by the possibilities of Parkland throwing a lawsuit at the town. Despite the mixed emotions, many Island residents who had opposed the site plan from day one, including Kirn Tetreault, recently agreed a store would not be so bad if it was built properly, but pleaded with town board members to omit gas pumps from the project. Due to the board's decision, Tetreault, along with the majority of the attendees, voiced their disapproval and their "lack of faith" in the town board Monday night. "I'm very disappointed with your findings tonight," Tetreault said. As she fought back tears, she continued "because of your decision tonight... I would like to give my personal resignation from the Youth Advisory Board... There's no way I can work for an advisory board that disregards the safety of our community." "When it comes down to fighting for what you believe in, that's very important... so I'm not sure if there wasn't enough intestinal fortitude to fight for what we believe in or we were just not being told the truth," Frank Burkhart said. Councilman Dick Crawford Jr. feels the town board did all that it could have done, leaving no area uncovered. "This project has gone through a list of reviews by previous boards, by the county, by the state, by this town board, and the planning board, and it has come back every time that we have asked them to do additional stuff with the same remarks over and over again," Crawford said. "We all live here and we all know there is a problem there (proposed site area) and that problem is not mitigated out by a gas station being there." Defending herself from an earlier comment made by Burkhart, Councilwoman Mary Cooke told the gathering "I took great pain to read, research and study the many, many documents that came before us." Cooke, like Crawford felt the town board was very fair with the process, listening to any information that was provided before arriving at this decision. As for the next step, that is still ' up in the air. According to Maria Dc Pan Brown, an attorney for Parkland Enterprises, the contract between Tops and Parkland has not yet been terminated. When asked if there is still a chance the store could be a Wilson Farms, Brown told the Dispatch she was unable to comment. Assessment Staffing Resolution Defeated A Rustowicz-based resolution to hire a seasonal assessment clerk following the retirement of a fulltime clerk was defeated by a 3-2 vote. McMahon supported the resolution, however, it was not enough, as Cooke, Crawford and Councilman Dan Robillard did not share the same view. Proposed Grand Island Bridge, Hoyt 'Over My Dead Boy' photo and story by Brian Gorman New York State Assemblymen Sam Hoyt and Robin Schimminger were present at a special public hearing that was held last Saturday at Grand Island Town Hall. The meeting was attended by Town Supervisor Peter McMahon, members of the Grand Island Town Board, and a large number of Island residents concerned with what negative impact the placement of an International Crossing on Grand Island would have on the local community. Ever since plans to improve the Peace Bridge were scrapped, alternate sites have been proposed for an International Crossing that is considered by many to be essential in dealing with the projected quadrupling in border traffic that will occur in the upcoming decades. Grand Island has beea proposed as a potential site for the construction of an International Bridge. Island residents have been very, concerned over the impact such a bridge would have. Construction of a bridge on the Island would likely result in the loss of approximately 400 homes. Many voiced concerns over the environmental impact a bridge would have on Grand Island, others site safety concerns, as some projections indicate that the construction of a bridge on Grand Island would result in an increase in truck traffic to a level that would have an Assemblymen Sam Hoyt and Robin Schimmiger attended a public hearing on Grand Island last Saturday where they heard concerns from Island residents opposed to the construction of an International Bridge linking Canada with Grand Island. continued on page 7 B3P continued on page 7 «3F. ADDITIONS'REMODELING 773-4161 Serving Grand Island's Building Needs Since W76  At a Glance Saturday. J Grand Island Soccer Club House I League 'In Person' Registration 1 Grand Island Memorial Library, I 1715 Bedell Rd. J 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. I I Applications available at town hall, 1 recreation department, library, and at j www.gisoccerclub.org 1 For more information call 773-34361 Mailed applications must be 1 postmarked by Feb. 10 I NO EXCEPTIONS I Wednesday 1 Kaegebein Elementary School 1 Grade 4 Spelling Bee 1 1690 Love Rd., 773-8840 1:30 pjn. ____J FKIMY FISH FRY §63S 1K^e-^^' Cadig-C. lifli'j Dd § HCfft mO Baseline Road (Comer of Love Rd.)  Restaurant - Bar « Banquets 773-4565 ' Mw^a»"g