Open space proposal
Opponents speak out week before vote
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

A week before the Amherst Town Board is expected to vote to place a proposition on the November ballot, a group against it spoke out.

Gathered on the steps of Town Hall, representatives of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, Sustainable Amherst and other business associations voiced their opposition to Council Member Bill Kindel's proposal to bond $12 million for purchasing open space.

"We strongly oppose this ... we want the Town Board to defeat the resolution," Jim Knight, president of BNAR, said.

The board is planning to vote at its Tuesday, Sept. 4 meeting on whether or not to place the item on the ballot. If that is approved, residents will then vote on the bond in November.

Knight said such an action would raise taxes, stating that the study used by Kindel has holes in it.

"Ducks don't pay taxes," he added.

Kindel has claimed that keeping the land open will not raise taxes and actually save on service costs.

Knight added that the Comprehensive Master Plan adopted in January should regulate the use of land.

Also speaking at the news conference was Jo Nasoff, a professional planner with the Framework for Regional Growth, saying the town needs a comprehensive approach to land use planning.

"I would ask the Town Board not to rush to judgment but instead to follow a deliberate and prudent course of examining all planning tools available to it," she said.

Nasoff added that a wrong decision could lead to regret.

Responding to the proposal to bond $12 million, George Grasser, president of Partners Livable Western New York, said the money could be used much more effectively.

"You don't buy open space as a solution to stop open sprawl," he said. "You buy it for a certain reason."

Colleen Bogdan, who spoke as a resident and on behalf of Sustainable Amherst, said the voters have a right to know the information.

She presented a resolution from February where the board agreed to form a Suburban Open Space Committee to study the feasibility of the proposal. As of August, the committee still had vacant seats.

Council Member Deborah Bruch Bucki said she had been told only one meeting had been held and to hold her nomination.

The press conference was held at 4 p.m. Monday, one hour after the Town Board called its weekly work session to order. At 4 p.m. the board was still discussing town matters and none were present at the conference.

At the close of the news conference the work session had adjourned. Council Members Shelly Schratz and Bucki both said they were unaware of the news conference being scheduled.

Kindel stepped out of the work session to answer media questions. He stands by his proposal to ask the voters their opinion and wants to see the land purchased by the town so it is guaranteed to remain open.

He has said with 80 percent of Amherst developed that the town can't continue to wait and should focus on preservation.

The next Town Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday.

For agenda information, visit www.amherst.ny.us.