Public safety comes first

On Feb. 5, our council voted to establish a "Suburban Open Space Committee" to "accomplish the investigation phase of the proposal to acquire and preserve urban and suburban open space in North Amherst and the acquisition of farm lands through easements or purchase of property for flood control as well as green space in Eggertsville, Snyder, Willow Ridge and Williamsville."

This "exploratory committee," one appointment per board member, was to "investigate all aspects of the proposal" and "report back to the Amherst Town Board no later than 120 days as to the feasibility and process associated with this proposal."

Only two appointments were made. No meetings, investigation, report, feasibility study, no process accomplished. Nothing.

Instead, voters are rushed to make an uninformed, $12 million referendum decision without the basic information our board required for their own decision to proceed.

Mr. Kindel wants higher density or bulk shifted to existing neighborhoods where infrastructure is already present. Fine, if voters know in advance and understand this complex program requires intensive planning and funded administration.

"Flood control" is a completed drainage study partnered with new floodplain maps and engineering expertise to prioritize parcel acquisition. History proves the passive, educational open space and natural percolation Kindel envisions aren't enough.

Referendum failure may endanger future efforts to acquire dual purpose, flood relief/recreation parcels. Amherst farms, counted on one hand, include 622, taxpayer-subsidized "Farmland Protection" acres.

Adherence to the new Master Plan already protects wetlands and rural density in North Amherst. This referendum is designed to fail given absence of any plan and inability to sell "nothing" to an electorate with tax bills, that with all due respect, the Sierra Club won't pay.

Few have been more outspoken about flooding, sinking, wetland preservation and careful, planned development than I. Careful planning, fiscal responsibility and public safety come first.

Colleen Bogdan

East Amherst