Yates officials share details about upcoming special election on land purchase for expanded park

The Town of Yates has posted this map on its website showing 153.3 acres of land the town wants to acquire to expand its park near Lake Ontario.

Press Release, Yates Town Board

LYNDONVILLE – The Town of Yates will be holding a special election to decide whether or not the Town Board should be authorized to purchase NYS Electric and Gas (NYSEG) land to expand the Yates Town Park on Lake Ontario.

The vote will take place on Thursday, June 20, from noon to 8 p.m., at the Yates Town Hall, 8 S. Main St.

The ballot referendum will read: “Utilizing grant funds, shall the Town of Yates be authorized to purchase 153.3 acres from NYSEG for $700,000 to expand the Yates Town Park?  YES or NO”

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to expand the town park as it was originally envisioned 25 years ago,” said Russ Martino, the former town supervisor responsible for obtaining the original 6-acres of the current park.

He emphasized that from the beginning the planning efforts have called for a much larger park.

“Our original 2002 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) and our 2003 Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan (WOCP) strongly supported a 120-acre park,” he said.

According to Jim Simon, the current town supervisor, the updated LWRP is at the NYS Department of State for final review, and it includes the Yates Town Park expansion goal.  “In addition to the LWRP, our 2019 update to the WOCP, which included a survey of town residents and two public hearings, features a primary goal of expanding the Yates Town Park,” he said.

Only Town of Yates registered voters will be allowed to vote in the special election. The registration deadline with Orleans County Board of Elections is May 28.  Absentee ballot applications must be requested from the Yates Town Clerk no later than May 28, and absentee ballots must be postmarked to the Yates Town Clerk no later than June 20.

There will be two public meetings open to all and attended by town board members to discuss the proposal and to answer questions: Thursday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the Yates Town Hall; and Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Yates Town Park (north terminus of Morrison Road).

Details regarding the proposal – including an informational flyer, the final draft of the purchase agreement, and a map of the proposed expanded park – can be found at the town website: townofyates.org.

One of the important conditions in the purchase agreement is that the town has two years to obtain grant funding for the $700,000 purchase. If the town does not find grant funding for the purchase, the agreement is void and the town’s escrow will be returned.

“Even if we get the grant funding, does that mean there is no impact on the Yates’ taxpayers? No,” Simon said. “There will be some costs for environmental review of the land, for town insurance, and for upkeep.”

Many ideas have been suggested about what to do with the additional land, but according to Simon, two things are certain – that it will always remain parkland by virtue of the purchase agreement, and that any other development of the land (like a nature trail) would be based on the recommendations to the Town Board by a committee comprised of town staff and residents (to be formed should the voters approve the proposal).

Another factor town voters will need to weigh is whether or not the decrease in tax levy from NYSEG will be outweighed by the positive economic activities, the enhanced recreational opportunities, and the improved health benefits of people visiting an expanded park.

The Yates Town Board believes that increasing free public access to the wildlife, forest and natural Lake Ontario shoreline is worth the investment.

Supervisor Simon encourages people to attend the public forums, to email him (jamesjsimon11@gmail.com), or to call him (716-946-2075) to learn more about this proposal.

“This is not so much about us as it is about our children and grandchildren – it is a chance to preserve one of the last stretches of open space on Lake Ontario for all our current and future residents to enjoy,” he said.