OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon
Residents who live near the former Point Chautauqua Golf Course expressed concerns about the proposed housing development at the Chautauqua Town Board meeting.
Residents who live near a proposed housing project on a former golf course in Dewittville are calling for Chautauqua town officials to slow the process down.
They want to see the town’s comprehensive plan completed and have the new water district be used by current residents first. Town officials, meanwhile, say they haven’t received the project application yet for review so there’s nothing for them to do at this point.
In August, Ellicott Development held a public information meeting to present its plans for the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course, which is officially being called Sunset View. They are proposing 32 single family homes, a series of townhome unit buildings and a four-story building that could have 30-40 units in it. They also want to have a restaurant on the property open to the general public.
They said at the meeting the earliest they envision construction beginning is a year from now.
The project was met with mixed reactions. Many nearby residents spoke out against it over concerns of additional traffic, trespassing, and impact the development could have on water and sewer.
During the September Chautauqua Town Board meeting, residents from Point Chautauqua and Chautauqua Lake Estates, which both border the former golf course, were in attendance.
One person with the Point Chautauqua Association, noted how both the village of Mayville and town of Chautauqua are currently in the process of putting together a comprehensive plan for both municipalities.
“I commend the town on trying to create this. Hopefully we’re going to have a short-term and long-term vision on where this beautiful area of the north side of the lake wants to go over the long haul,” he said.
The resident said the development will have an impact on traffic, sewage, water, and how it will affect the lake.
“I would propose that we complete this comprehensive plan, which is going to take a lot of work and it’s a great idea, before we go and move forward with Sunset View,” he said.
The village and town has been working on the Comprehensive Plan for nearly two years now. They have the grant funds, hired a consultant and have just about completed its surveying. A public meeting is expected to take place in October.
Town Councilman Scott Cummings is a co-chairman of the Comprehensive Planning Committee. He agreed that land use will be an important part of the comprehensive plan.
Town Supervisor Don Emhardt said although a Public Unit Development application has been submitted, they do not have any formal plans from the developer.
“Right now, we have nothing to act on,” he said.
Even though there’s no formal plans submitted, residents continued to share their concerns on the proposal.
A resident of Chautauqua Lake Estates said she is concerned about the placement of the pool for Sunset View residents, as well as the location of the restaurant and parking lot.
“We have some very major concerns about this because it does impact us greatly,” she said.
Another Chautauqua Lake Estates resident argued that they may build the restaurant and four-story building first and then give up on the rest.
“We’re concerned about the way this is proceeding. It doesn’t seem to be proceeding under a good faith effort by the part of this Buffalo development company,” he said.
Some attendees at the meeting noted they are not in town during the winter months and requested the town to hold their meetings on zoom or some other way electronically so residents of Chautauqua Lake Estates and others can attend when they’re gone.
The town is currently in the process of changing one of its water districts from using lake water to using well water. The treatment plant being used needed $5 million worth of upgrades, so the town decided to switch to well water. The state Department of Environmental Conservation supports the change, in part because of the algal blooms in Chautauqua Lake.
One resident said the new water district should be put in use first before Sunset View is allowed to be built and added to the district.
“They should have it (water) before someone that comes in Buffalo and gets 400 units of it,” he said.
Emhardt responded saying that the former golf course is already part of the district, regardless of the owner. They will be paying for their share and have the right to the public water.
But the resident is concerned the new well may not produce enough water.
“If you add those 400 units or whatever it is, and then you run out, what do you do?” he asked.
Emhardt said every indication is that there will be enough water.
“We have run all our tests on the wells that we have. They have been pumped extensively. There’s plenty of water,” he said.