By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2022 at 9:21 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – Carl Miller of East Aurora takes his boat out of the Oak Orchard River at the new boat launch at Point Breeze. The site opened to the public on Tuesday, April 27.
“It’s a dream,” Miller said about the new boat launch. “The ramp is well drained. The ramps are longer. It’s so much better.”
The project was $627,000 and was 95 percent funded through the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Carl Miller pulls his boat out of the water. He went fishing with two others and they caught a few brown trout and a lake trout on Saturday.
During the historic flooding of 2019, the previous boat ramp was submerged, preventing access to the floating docks, and forcing the boat launch to be closed.
The new launch is raised about 2 ½ feet and will be more resilient in case of flooding and higher lake levels, said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW commissioner.
Other resiliency measures implemented in this project include:
Installation of new boat ramp and abutment above high water level;
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2022 at 9:36 am
CARLTON – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted in favor of the site plan and a special use permit for a new 2,200-square-foot pole barn for Captain’s Cove on Route 18, overlooking the Oak Orchard River in Carlton.
George Lacey, owner of the business, plans to demolish a building that is currently used for a store and replace it with a 55-by-40-foot pole barn that would be set farther away from Route 18.
Lacey said it will be an upgrade for the business, and also be safer for traffic and customers by creating more parking and moving those spaces farther from the road.
He modified the site plan for the new building since it was originally presented in November to now meet setback requirements for the town of Carlton. The setbacks include 75 feet in the front, 80 feet in rear, 80 feet on left and 240 feet on right.
Lacey plans to disturb half an acre of a 3-acre lot. The building will meet the state energy code requirements by having an updated heating system and some solar arrays, the Planning Board said.
Lacey, owner of Captain’s Cove since 2015, used to have the store down by the Oak Orchard River but that building was flooded and badly damaged in 2017 when the water levels were at all-time highs. Lacey took down that building and raised the parking area by the river. He relocated the store to a house that is more than a century old on the upper bank.
The former house isn’t well suited to be the store, which is why Lacey is taking it down and building a new structure.
“I see a lot of potential there,” he said about the Point Breeze area. “But we need to be forward-thinking. I’ve been trying for 18 months to build a simple pole barn.”
Lacey said he hopes to see others invest in the Point Breeze community.
“The area needs improvement,” he told members of the County Planning Board. “Small business feeds on small business.”
In other action, the Planning Board:
• Recommended the Town of Murray approve a special use permit and the site plan for a 27,500-square-foot building at 15631 Lynch Rd.
Sam and Son wants to use the building with nine truck bays and 33 parking spaces for employees, customers and guests. Sam and Son primarily works with constructing and expanding electrical substations and installing transmission line poles.
• Recommended the Town of Clarendon amend its zoning text to allow more than two travel trailers, campers and recreational vehicles on a private lot but only for special events – weddings, graduation parties, family gatherings. Those vehicles can be parked overnight for a period not to exceed 14 days in a calendar year.
• Voted in favor of a request from the Town of Gaines for a 6-month moratorium extension on the installation of freestanding and ground mounted solar energy systems.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club gathered for conversation following a day of spring cleaning on Saturday. At left, vice commodore Phil Abel chats with Tracy and Frank Panczyszyn. Members have done extensive renovation to the club house, including painting the dark wood white, some of which is visible at left and installing a smart TV.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 April 2022 at 5:07 pm
Bob Hodgins, left, commodore of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club; Phil Abel, vice commodore; and John Brown, past commodore take a break during spring cleaning day Saturday at the Yacht Club on Archbald Road.
CARLTON – Summer is just around the corner, and members of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club are getting ready.
Grass is getting green, days are getting longer and the Yacht Club had its spring cleanup day on Saturday, during which Commodore Bob Hodgins of Bethany shared plans for the sailing season.
This is Hodgins’ second year as commodore, during which he will continue to encourage new members and increase relations with the community.
Hodgins and his wife Mary Lou have been involved in the Yacht Club for more than 30 years, when their children were in the first youth sailing program. The Hodgins are avid sailors and have sailed their boat all over, from the Caribbean to Figi.
Last year, Hodgins started Thursday night races, inviting everyone living on the Oak Orchard River to participate.
“People on the creek came up and used the club, and we plan to do it again this year,” Hodgins said.
One thing Hodgins is particularly excited about is the Yacht Club purchasing a boat, so they can offer a shared boat program. He said he has been meeting with all the commodores on the south shore of Lake Ontario and several of them have a shared boat program.
The Yacht Club now owns a 28-foot sloop with an inboard engine. Anyone who wants to learn to sail or doesn’t have a boat can share the boat with up to four others. Each will pay $400 for the year.
From left, Patty Moorhouse and Bob and Kayleen Muscarella enjoy camaraderie at the Oak Orchard Yacht Club Saturday. A day of spring cleaning was followed by a potluck supper.
Hodgins expects the boat to be in the water in two weeks.
One big change they made was how the club functions. Previously everyone was encouraged to go through all the positions, which sometimes pushed someone into a position he was not qualified for or didn’t want. To change that, they rewrote the constitution.
“We will try to recruit people with skill sets for each position,” Hodgins said.
They have also added a technical director, website technician and marketing director. They also eliminated the second secretary’s position.
Officers of the club, with Hodgins, are Phil Abel, vice commodore; and the late Bill Wymyczak, rear commodore. Wymyczak was diagnosed with cancer in January and died March 24. His memorial service was Sunday at Sacred Heart Club in Medina.
Hodgins said a new rear commodore will be chosen soon.
Dave Soehner of Lyndonville is IT director with his wife Cinnamon. Jeff Thuman of Barker does the website. The marketing position still has to be filled. Kim Hoffman of Albion is membership chair, and John Zimmerman is director of the youth sailing program.
Hodgins added in the future they will encourage the board’s officers to work as a team with their spouse.
Sandy Chappius, owner of Chap’s Diner in Elba, will again run the kitchen at the Yacht Club.
Hodgins is excited about the interest in the youth sailing program, which is in its 30th year. Last year they ran two classes, and they are already half filled up for this year. It would be possible to add a third session if the demand is there, he said.
Mary Lou is hoping with Covid restrictions lifted, visitors will again come from Canada.
Information on the Oak Orchard Yacht Club is available on their website at www.ooyc.org and on Facebook.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2022 at 10:53 am
The towns of Carlton ad Kendall will wait a year for town-wide reassessments to see if the market settles down and the impact of inflation.
Lisa Hewitt, the assessor for both towns, made the announcement about the postponement.
“It has been decided that additional time is needed to responsibly inform property owners of assessment changes and the potential impact to taxes,” Hewitt said in a public notice. “Both towns have agreed, that given the recent rise in inflation across the area, that they do not want the changes in assessment adding extra stress to property owners.”
Many towns in Orleans County and in the region are doing reassessments and the numbers have been a shock to property owners with a wild real estate market pushing housing values up significantly.
In Clarendon, for example, the average assessment for the 1,000 properties in the town increased 25 percent since the last reassessment in 2019.
The median price for homes in Orleans County is up 68.5 percent in four years, jumping from $81,000 in 2017 to $136,500 in 2021, according to data from the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.
Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor, said he supports olding off on a town-wide reassessment for a year.
“To do a re-val this year would create a lot of uncertainty and that’s not the objective of the town,” Cammarata said. “We want to work with factual data and the factual data we don’t have.”
Cammarata said he expects the real estate prices will come down now that interest rates are going up.
“Let’s see how the market changes,” Cammarata said. “And it’s changes. In order to do a fair assessment of the situation, it is in the best interest to hold off and see how the market levels off. Hopefully the market will calm itself down and hopefully it will be better to residents.”
Cammarata said he expects the Town Board will approve a resolution of support of the assessor’s decision during its meeting on Tuesday.
SeeNewYorkWithUs.com offers many “daycation” trips for people to experience the state.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 April 2022 at 10:17 am
WATERPORT – Spending the summers at the family’s cottage on Lake Alice proved to be the guiding factor on deciding where Peter Bartnik would spend his retirement, while continuing to pursue his entrepreneurial interests.
Peter Bartnik
Bartnik, who grew up in the Rochester suburb of Chili, went to Potsdam State College and got his bachelor’s degree in computer science, followed by a master’s in innovative marketing at Syracuse University.
He invented contact management software for an insurance company, and when he left there, he went into business on his own. He borrowed $7,000 from family and friends to start his business and his first sale was one copy of his software for $99.
At one point he didn’t want to be a programmer anymore and went to live with his brother in Massachusetts, where he got a job as a telemarketer.
“I became good at it,” he said.
He decided to move back to Rochester in 1991 and went to work for the Sutherland Group, a computer re-seller.
“I began to envision myself in the position I wanted to be,” Bartnik said. “I envisioned myself at the top of the board. In three months, I was there.”
Several other jobs followed, one with a company in Buffalo for 20 years. He ran their Rochester office until 2018. Lincoln Financial Group was their biggest customer, selling them more than 1,000 computers a year, he said.
“They asked me if we had an asset disposal company to take their old computers,” Bartnik said. “We do now,” was his answer.
He formed Computer Systems Asset Disposal and it grew rapidly. They did $100,000 worth of business the first year, and in five years hit $5 million.
Bartnik sold the company in 2020 for what he said was “enough money to retire comfortably.” And he did just that at the age of 55.
“June 2020 was the best month of my life,” he said. “I got married to the love of my life, sold my business and got a recording contract.”
Bartnik explained he also writes country music and his songs have been pitched to Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.
The song he wrote for his dad is titled “The Man I Hope to Be.”
He has 13 songs under contract with Merf Records.
It was also 2020 when Bartnik bought the house next to his family’s cottage.
His current endeavor is an online venture called “SeeNewYorkWithUs.com,” in which he goes to places, such as restaurants, museums, wineries, cideries and distilleries.
“We don’t tell them we’re reviewing them,” Bartnik said.
He had met Kellie Schrader a few years ago and reconnected with her as videographer.
“She is a terrific videographer,” he said.
After reviewing a site, Bartnik puts together a “Daycation” and posts it on his website. He recently finished Medina, then started on a feature of the Buffalo waterfront and plans to do Cooperstown, Corning and Lockport next.
His website is on track to have 150,000 followers by the end of the year, and he projects one million followers next year.
His website is designed in a way that anyone with a smart phone can open it up, type in a location and up pops a map for everything to do in that area.
Bartnik has visited 26 countries and 39 states.
“I highlight all the great things to do in an area – small towns and big towns. I just love helping people have the best possible travel experiences,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2022 at 10:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – About 140 baskets are ready in the Cartlon Rec Hall for a benefit today for BJ Aina and his family. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the raffle ends at 6 p.m.
Provided photo: BJ Aina and his wife Amy are shown with their sons, Hank and Hoyt.
The 500 tickets for a pulled pork dinner have already sold out but people are still welcome to try to win a basket or stay for the four bands that will be performing from 6 to 11 p.m. No one under 21 will be allowed inside after 6 p.m.
Aina, 42, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Feb. 9 from a medical condition called AVM (arteriovenous malformation). Aina was unaware he had the condition.
He is currently in a rehab facility run by Strong Memorial Hospital that gives speech, occupational and physical therapy.
He and his wife Amy have two sons, Hank and Hoyt. Mrs. Aina showed her husband a video of all the baskets in the raffle, and other items and food. He was stunned.
“All of this for me?” he told her.
Aina is part of a big family and he well connected locally as an enthusiastic hunter and outdoorsman. He works at Flower City Glass.
“He knows so many people,” said his brother, Tyler. “It’s amazing to see how everyone came together.”
BJ looks forward to coming home. He has been hospitalized or in the rehab unit for care for nearly 60 days.
“He is doing a lot better,” his brother said.
BJ’s wife said he is making progress. She said she appreciates the response from the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2022 at 7:33 am
YATES – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized an emergency replacement of the culvert on Yates-Carlton Townline Road over Johnson Creek.
The culvert suffered a structural failure on Feb. 20 due to high water flow in the creek. The culvert – a corrugated pipe – already was rotted on the bottom, said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW commissioner and engineer.
The fast-moving water pushed the pipe, and caused a shoulder to collapse. That instability has now spread to near the center line of the road, Papponetti said.
He wants the culvert to be replaced with precast concrete. There is currently a shortage of materials which could keep that section of the road closed for a few months. Or there is a chance the county could locate an available precast concrete culvert the right size.
“There is no set schedule,” Papponetti told county legislators on Wednesday. “We’re getting the survey work done to properly size the culvert.”
The emergency designation from the Legislature allows Papponetti and county officials “to procure all materials, labor and equipment necessary to complete the work in an expedited manner.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2022 at 12:47 pm
84-year-old firefighter again leads Carlton in responding to most calls
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Richard Brakenbury, left, is congratulated by past Carlton Fire Chief Andrew Niederhofer after Brakenbury won the Chief’s Award for 2021.
Brakenbury, 84, is one of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company’s primary drivers. He has led the fire company for responding to the most calls for at least the past two years, and has been among the most active firefighters for decades.
He responded to 168 calls in 2020 and more than 50 percent of the department’s 300-plus calls in 2021. He lives next door to Station 1 in Waterport on Waterport-Carlton Road and is often the first at the fire hall for a call.
“I just like doing it,” Brakenbury said. “It gives me something to do.”
He still gets up in the middle of the night for some of the calls. He drives the fire company’s pickup truck for emergency and fire calls.
Brakenbury is a Kodak retiree and a Carlton firefighter for 65 years. He takes annual driver training.
He said Carlton has many long-time dedicated firefighters. He also is encouraged by a new group of younger members.
Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, left, presents a commendation to Martin VanWyke in honor of his 60 years as a member of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company. VanWyke remains an active member as one of the primary drivers.
His sons are also long-time members with Kurt at 35 years and Gary at 30 years. VanWyke also received certificates from the offices of State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the Firefighters Association of New York State.
David Starkweather, right, receives the President’s Award from Ed Cooper, the fire company president. Starkweather was praised for his efforts leading recent renovations to the Carlton Rec Hall. He manages the kitchen and bar for the site that hosts about a dozen events a year.
Starkweather said new windows will be going on the west side of the building as part of an exterior remodel.
He volunteers about 40 hours a week at the rec hall. He is recently retired as a tugboat captain for the Canal Corp.
“He always has great enthusiasm,” Cooper said about Starkweather. “He is willing to tackle any job.”
Carlton line officers and other officials are sworn in for 2022.
Fire Company Officers for 2022: Ed Cooper, president; Richard Brakenbury, vice president; Valerie Niederhofer, secretary; Tom Yockel, treasurer; and the following as directors – Martin VanWycke III, Jocelyn Yockel, David Starkweather, Jacob Marks, Robin Hughson and Robert Brown III.
Line Officers for 2022: Dale Niehaus, chief; Andrew Niederhofer, first assistant chief; Seth Dumrese, second assistant chief; James Fisher, captain; Matt Hughson, first lieutenant; Noah O’Kussick, second lieutenant; George Snell, Jr., chief mechanic; Ed Cooper, chaplain; David Bertsch, EMS coordinator; Robin Hughson, EMS captain and Terry Williams, Fire Police captain.
This was the first Carlton Volunteer Fire Company banquet since 2019 after the events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns.
Debbie Yockel, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, presents a check for $1,000 to Fire Chief Dale Niehaus to be used for the fire company.
Matt Hughson receives a gas card in appreciation for responding to calls in 2021. Andrew Niederhofer presents the card. Other firefighters also received gas cards for their service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2022 at 9:05 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday accepted a $1,397,885 bid submitted by Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca for a new bridge on Yates-Carlton Townline Road over Johnson Creek, just south of Route 18.
This is the low bid on a project that will be 80 percent funded by the federal government. The county cost will be $279,577.
Union Concrete and Construction did the work last year on the new bridge on Route 104 in Ridgeway, a project which just won an award as “project of the year” from Genesee chapter of the American Public Works Association. That honor is for “Structures less than $5 million.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 December 2021 at 9:20 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Eddie English of the Lord’s House hands a present to a member of the congregation during a celebration on Saturday evening.
WATERPORT – The Lord’s House held a celebration on Saturday evening after a busy day of distributing toys to more than 100 children.
The Lord’s House since 2008 has partnered with Toys for Tots to have gifts for local children.
The church also shared 41 boxes of food this Christmas season with local families.
The church on Saturday had dinner with about 50 people to thank them for supporting the ministry the past year.
Some of the presents are under the Christmas tree inside the church.
The celebration included music and a dance from youth in the church.
Eveyln Brady, right, and her granddaughter Jayla Brady present gifts to people who attended the celebration service on Saturday. Pastor Eddie English and his wife Rose, the church’s first lady, are at left.
A member of the youth group presents a card to Rose English.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2021 at 9:50 am
Photo courtesy of Bill Vosteen
CARLTON – The mouth of Johnson Creek in Carlton is getting dredged and the work is nearly done at the site near Lakeside Beach State Park.
It is part of a $15 million regional dredging project at eight counties through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
In Orleans County, the Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in August for the first time since 2014.
The dredging projects remove built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterways to allow for continued safe passage of watercrafts to support the tourism economy and preserve wildlife in the region.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 December 2021 at 7:58 am
Provided photos
CARLTON – Multiple fire departments responded to a house fire late last night at 1375 Waterport Rd. in Carlton.
The Carlton Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to the scene at 11:52 p.m. with other nearby departments soon called for mutual aid.
No one was injured from the fire but the house is a total loss. The Orleans County Department of Public Works is assisting with heavy machinery to safely take down the structure.
UPDATE at 10:28 a.m.: The home was owned by Scott Foley. Brad Chasey and Hailey Falls were living in the house but were not home at the time the fire started. They are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Carlton, Lyndonville, Medina Albion, COVA, Ridgeway Shelby, Kendall, Orleans County Emergency Management, Orleans County DPW, the Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, and Orleans County Sherriff’s Office all responded to the scene. East Shelby, Murray and Barre were all placed on standby to cover calls across the county.
The fire is still under investigation by the OC Fire Investigation Unit.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2021 at 7:30 am
Photos by Bob Murphy
KENT – Bob Murphy was visiting family in Kent over the weekend and took these photos in Kent at Peter Smith Road. He sent the photos to his sister-in-law, Peggy Bropst.
The owl was hanging out in her front yard but seems to most enjoy sitting on a F12 tractor. The owl was seen there on Saturday and then for about six hours on Monday.
The owls typically nest in the Arctic tundra and winter in Canada. But in recent winters they have migrated into the U.S. in search of food.
Lakeshore Road and Lakeside Park Road fortified for future high water from Lake Ontario
Provided photos: Pictured above, erosion of original Lakeside Park Road West access road, in the town of Carlton. The road was degraded due to repeated flooding events.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
CARLTON – Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a $1.7 million resiliency project on Lakeshore Road in the Town of Carlton, Orleans County, as part of the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Past ice pressure and severe storm damage has eroded the bluff adjacent to Lakeshore Road, which not only created hazardous situations on the road, but also posed risks to public utilities and nearby private property. To remedy this, the project addressed erosion issue and strengthened shoreline protection, through the installation of an onshore riprap revetment system with regraded slope.
In addition, the area between the revetment and the slope was vegetated to minimize potential erosion loss and protect the toe of the bluff. Improved stormwater collection and landscaping along the roadway will also help to reduce flooding during extreme precipitation events.
Pictured above, the completed Lakeside Road West flood resiliency project, which included the construction of a new access road and the installation of rip rap stone to stabilize the shoreline and protect the public water line, is seen.
“Many shoreline communities along Lake Ontario bore the brunt of climate change’s effects through more severe storms and historic flooding events, and through New York’s REDI program, we are making strategic investments in these communities to make the region safer for its residents and visitors,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “As we look to the future, protecting the people who live in these communities is my top priority, and shoreline resiliency projects like this one will help mitigate flooding, enhance safety, and create sustainable infrastructure.”
Additionally, Governor Hochul announced the completion of a $261,000 resiliency project awarded to the town of Carlton, also through the REDI program. Flood resiliency measures undertaken in this project include the construction of a new access road and installation of riprap stone along the shoreline to protect the public water line during future high-water events.
Pictured above, the bluff along Lakeshore Road, in the town of Carlton, eroded due to wave, ice, and severe storm events.
The shoreline along Lakeside Park Road, which runs along a peninsula between Lake Ontario and Johnson Creek, has experienced degradation due to repeated flooding events. The shoreline erosion caused the access road to become unusable, resulting in the loss of land protecting homes, and approximately 300 linear feet of public water line at risk of being exposed and compromised.
The completed project mitigates future flooding risk and reduces the erosion of the Lakeside Park Road, while ensuring safe access for residents and emergency responders, and protecting critical infrastructure.
Pictured above, the completed Lakeshore Road flood resiliency project, which included the installation of an onshore riprap revetment system with regraded slope. In addition, the area between the revetment and the slope was vegetated to minimize potential erosion loss and protect the toe of the bluff.
Orleans County Legislative Chair Lynne Johnson said, “As we get set to bring the Lakeshore Road REDI project to substantial completion, we send our thanks to the Governor and the REDI Commission for making this project a reality. With their assistance, Orleans County was able to transform a critical piece of our infrastructure into a more resilient asset. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this process. The entire team did an amazing job. We would also like to thank the residents along Lakeshore Road for their patience, as we disrupted their normal routines. This project would not have been feasible without their cooperation.”
Town of Carlton Supervisor Gayle Ashbery said, “The town of Carlton is pleased that through our partnership with New York State and with Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to the shoreline communities, the Lakeshore Park Road flood resiliency project has completed. When the Lake Ontario waters rise, and we are faced with flooding in the future, we can be confident that our shoreline is secure, and critical waterline infrastructure is safe.”
Senator Robert Ortt said, “Rapidly eroding shoreline and threats to critical infrastructure along Lakeshore Road has required quick and decisive action by New York State and the REDI Commission to protect public safety. By intervening in this situation, addressing the ongoing erosion, and making the proper corrective improvements to existing shoreline protection, our state will be resolving both current safety concerns and protecting against issues that may have arisen in the future.”
Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, “The preservation of our shoreline and protection of our roads is always of the utmost importance, so seeing this project approach its conclusion is very welcome news for all who travel through the area. As I saw firsthand when on a tour with the Army Corps of Engineers in July, the erosion taking place along the road would have become a real threat to the safety of travelers if left unaddressed. Additionally, the loss of the road would increase commute times for workers and travel time for emergency vehicles and could have cost our region thousands of dollars in lost economic activity.”
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 82 projects in the design phase, 19 projects in the construction phase, and 33 projects completed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2021 at 12:56 pm
George Lacey planning several upgrades at site along Oak Orchard River
File photo by Tom Rivers: George Lacey is shown in May 2017 in the former store at Captain’s Cove. The building was emptied and torn down after being flooded from the high waters.
CARLTON – The owner of Captain’s Cove wants to demolish a building that is currently used for a store and replace it with a 60-by-40-foot pole barn that would be set farther away from Route 18.
George Lacey, owner of Captain’s Cove since 2015, said the project would make it safer for customers who wouldn’t be so close to the road and would also provide more parking.
Captain’s Cove used to have the store down by the Oak Orchard River but that building was flooded and badly damaged in 2017 when the water levels were at all-time highs. Lacey took down that building and raised the parking area by the river. He relocated the store to a house that is more than a century old on the upper bank.
The former house isn’t well suited to be the store, Lacey told the Orleans County Planning Board last week.
“It makes no sense to put more money into it,” he said.
Lacey has applied for funding through the Lake Ontario Business Resiliency Program. In addition to the new pole barn for the store, Lacey wants to replace fixed docks with floating docks, elevate the utilities by relocating, and fix destroyed blacktop and ramp and add a fuel station in the parking lot for boats.
He has applied to the Town of Carlton for a use variance, site plan review and special use permit for the pole barn and to relocate the store to that new structure.
Planning Board members said Lacey needed more details in his application to show the project meets the threshold for getting a variance, that the hardship wasn’t self created and the project would be an improvement to the neighborhood. Lacey needs to show an “unnecessary hardship exists” to warrant the variance.
County Legislator Ken DeRoller said the need for a variance is clear. Lacey’s property was inundated from the high waters in 2017, through no fault of the business owner.
That flooding forced him to tear down the original store and relocate it on the upper bank, in a building not intended to be used as a store.
“There have been unusual conditions with the high water and an old building,” DeRoller said. “It would be a hardship to renovate it and bring up to specs.”
Lacey said he would update the application to state the impact from the high waters in 2017 and 2019, and would explain the benefits of the project for the community.
The Planning Board said it expects it will give its support to the project during next month’s meeting when Lacey submits an application with more information.
Lacey said he is very optimistic about the Point Breeze area. He said his lodging at his motel has seen increased demand the past two years.
His planned upgrades at Captain’s Cove would bring more people to the community, he said.
“It would improve the area,” he said. “It will improve the county and the town.”
