In 2022, some residents became informally aware of plans by the Town of Gates to clear approximately 15-20 acres of the wooded area in order to build a new Department of Public Works – Highway Department, along with space for the town’s Recreation and Parks Department, on the western end of the property; the remaining acreage was to be converted to a park with a possible museum of some sort. Access roads would be next to existing homes.
As neighbor concern grew, some area residents created and displayed lawn signs to help call attention to this issue and protest the land development.
On 7/17/23, the Gates Town Supervisor, Cosmo Guinta, offered a public question and answer forum. Notice of this meeting was sent to only houses that directly bordered the west end of this property, with approx. 7 days’ notice. Despite this, with the assistance of social media to help spread the word, over 100 residents attended this meeting. For nearly 2 hours, most expressed a variety of concerns for the proposed plans; no support for the existing proposal was expressed publicly during this event.
Concerns shared were as follows: (note this is a very brief, non-prioritized summary and may not reflect all expressed concerns)
⦁ A reported $15,000 – $20,000(see FOIL’s page) has been spent by the Town on a series of concept maps depicting possible land use without input from the residents that will be directly, and indirectly, impacted
⦁ Increased traffic on already highly traveled roads (also added safety issue)
⦁ increased noise and dirt in a land-locked residential area
⦁ impact on wildlife – which in its current state has a positive effect on many
⦁ increased security issues with newly created access to back of residential properties
⦁ History with town not effectively maintaining existing properties to stated and /or previous standards
⦁ Property values would be negatively impacted.
There were previous attempts by Dolomite to sell this land for development that did not materialize over the decades. The Town’s previous attempt to build an ambulance site in the same general area in (May 19, 1964 petition) was abandoned due to lack of community support.