P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky
Looking out from the public boat launch at Lakewood Community Park to Burtis Bay on Chautauqua Lake.
In an effort to keep current and potential property owners, on or near Chautauqua Lake, up to date on the status of the lake, a wetlands public meeting will be held Saturday.
The Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association, a non-profit organization, will hold the meeting from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point. Lake advocate Jim Wehrfritz, and CLPOA board members will give presentations.
“In that meeting we will be reviewing the testimony, and comments the CLPOA provided to the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Conservation) in mid-September, discussing the opposition or lack of it from elected representatives,” Wehfritz said.
He added that the meeting will also be a chance to gather public input for the Oct. 29 DEC general permit meeting, and to discuss “what’s next” as the organization seeks a delay for the DEC’s Jan. 1, 2025, enforcement of the regulations.
The 2022 Wetlands Law amendments and 2023 draft regulations can regulate the use of significant portions of the lake and adjacent shoreline with major negative impacts on tourism, commercial interests, property values, and ultimately, property, school, and sales tax revenue.
Wehrfritz, and Lakewood Village Trustee, earlier this year began raising concerns about the new wetlands designation and its potential impact on Chautauqua Lake. Concerns initially focused on the Burtis Bay area of Chautauqua Lake in the town of Ellicott and village of Lakewood. Wehrfritz has said the new regulations could affect the entire lake. Homes along Chautauqua Lake’s shores makeup more than 25 percent of the county’s total taxable value.
The towns of Ellicott, Ellery, Busti, and North Harmony, as well as the villages of Bemus Point, Lakewood, Celoron, and Mayville have passed resolutions opposing the state wetlands designation.
State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, had sent a joint letter in June to Sean Mahar, interim state DEC commissioner, expressing their concerns with the way proposed wetlands regulations could affect Chautauqua Lake. They specifically asked that the proposed DEC regulations not designate lakes as wetlands because that designation would be inconsistent with both existing statutory language and decades of precedent.
Also, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel asked the state to delay the regulations.
“US Congressman Langworthy, State Sen. Borrello, State Assemblyman Goodell, County Executive Wendell, and boards in the lakeside Towns of Ellery, Ellicott, Busti, and North Harmony and the villages of Lakewood, Bemus Point, Celoron, and Mayville have all publicly stated their opposition,” Wehrfritz said to the county legislature recently. “Several thousand (people) have signed a petition opposing the regulations, hundreds have provided written comments in opposition, and at least 14 have provided testimony in opposition specific to Chautauqua Lake. CLPOA testimony was given in-person in Albany on Sept. 12.”
Wehrfritz added that written comments from CLPOA and its legal team and others were provided on Sept. 19. Legislator Lisa Vanstrom, R-Ellicott, signaled her support for property owners along the lake after Wehfritz’s comments.
“But, we have yet to hear you voice your support or non-support for the regulations. Your constituents are left wondering why,” Wehrfritz noted.
He added that the new regs are being interpreted by the NYSDEC to include Chautauqua and other lakes. For Chautauqua Lake, the regulations will require the most stringent restrictions on common activities. All parts of Chautauqua Lake and its shoreline could be regulated – not just the South Basin to which the DEC has given most attention, he said.
“As you know, although only 1 percent of the County’s land area, shoreline and near-Lake properties generate over 25 percent of total Chautauqua County property tax revenue. If designated wetlands, property values and tax revenue are sure to decrease. Property tax rates will have to increase for all in Chautauqua County to make up the shortfall. School tax rates will increase in lakeside districts or more. Sales tax revenue will decrease as lake-related tourism, a mainstay of the Chautauqua County economy, suffers,” Wehrfritz said.