Coalition for Community Building meets in 'think tank' style setting
by NICHOLAS J. PRIMERANO Ken-Ton Editor

Knowing that communities need to grow, the Coalition for Community Building met this past Wednesday at the Amherst Chamber of Commerce in order to brainstorm ideas on how a CCB can benefit the Western New York area.

The mission of the organization is to educate the community on the need for and importance of a growing economy in this region.

According to the group's mission statement, the CCB will be organized at the local level and will conduct advocacy campaigns for projects that create jobs and create wealth, strengthen neighborhoods and improve the individual and community quality of life.

One of the missions of the group is to break free from the mentality known as NIMBY - or "not in my backyard," which brings forth community activists to oppose development in certain areas of the suburbs. The group feels as though with the right communication and open lines of dialogue, the NIMBY attitude would slowly fade, allowing for better growth and development.

According to group member Carl J. Calabrese, who led the discussion on Wednesday, one of the messages that the coalition is looking to have reach the population is that the trend of "no growth" movements across Western New York is counterproductive to the idea that Western New York can and will grow.

Members of the coalition plan to meet more regularly and make their faces known and seen at town board meetings, planning board meeting and other events throughout the area, in order to ensure that smart development leads to growth in the region.

Members of the group will plan to address why local Chambers should organize coalitions for community building in their individual neighborhoods, how such groups can be formulated and offer assistance along the rocky road ahead.

"At the end of the day, residents and businesses want the same thing," Amherst Chamber President Colleen DiPirro said in a prepared statement.

The panel consisted of Grand Island Council Member Gary Roesch, Town of Tonawanda Deputy Supervisor John Donnelly, Town of Orchard Park Supervisor Mary Travers Murphy, Town of Hamburg Supervisor Steven J. Walters and Town of Lancaster Supervisor Bob Giza.

Both Travers Murphy and Walters discussed during the panel portion of the program how the NIMBY attitude is affecting both of their towns, namely with the prospect of a Wal-Mart being constructed at Quaker Crossing in Orchard Park and another Wal-Mart being proposed near residential property in Hamburg.

Both said residents' groups such as Sprawl- Busters and other Internet-related blog sites have been discussing the projects.

"The definite feeling here was that each individual village or town has different needs, but overall, I think we have an opportunity to expand our community through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce as another set of eyes and ears, said Donnelly. "Furthermore, it was evident that elected officials want the opinions of not only professional groups, but residents of the community for the future development for their towns.

The Town of Tonawanda is already a full developed town, and doesn't really face the NIMBY attitude, as much as East Aurora, Orchard Park or Hamburg.

"We all have to overcome the fear of change and it is going to take a group effort in moving the towns forward," he said.

Those persons interested in assisting with this project are encouraged to contact their local Chamber of Commerce.

e-mail: nprimerano@beenews.com