Source: Syracuse Newspapers/Neighbors West, April 08, 2004, by Martin F. Kelley return to the Bullett NewsStand
Borodino Landing proposal opposed
To the Editor:
I am writing to take issue with the remarks and proposal of Frank Moran
concerning development of Borodino Landing, as reported in West Neighbors March
18.Neighbors
West, 3/18/04
My family has owned a cottage on Bockes Road for more than 40 years.
As near as I can recall, the location of the Denslow southern property line has
been debated, on and off, since the mid-'60s.
I believe the "common knowledge" that Moran referred to is that
neither the town nor the property owner wanted to incur legal expense necessary
to resolve the issue.
My recollection is that the amount of frontage in question was five feet or
less.
Yesterday, I paced off the distance between the white building at the water's
edge and the stop sign on the northern side of the landing.
The frontage is much closer to 35 feet than the 20 to 22 feet cited by Moran.
It has been my experience that during summer months, the landing is very much
utilized by families. Presumably most of them Spafford residents.
The primary limitation to how many people can use the property is not the size
of the beach area. It is the availability of parking. How does Moran plan to
address that issue?
From a practical standpoint, I also have a problem with Moran's suggestion to
remove the boulders from the south and north ends of the landing.
I believe those boulders serve to help preserve the beach area by reducing
erosion caused by wave action.
Substitute crushed stone and sand? Only if you're prepared to bring in more
material after every storm.
Some other questions to consider: How are you going to insure that only Spafford
residents will be using the landing? Are you going to limit the hours the beach
is open? Will there be a lifeguard on duty?
Who will be responsible for cleaning trash and debris? Who will be responsible
for traffic control and enforcement?
What impact will all this have on the town's liability insurance? Who is going
to pay for all of this?
Last but not least, the families that live on and just off Bockes Road also are
Spafford residents and taxpayers.
Frank Moran is not going to be impacted by the increase of traffic, trash,
noise, etc., if his proposal becomes reality.
His view of the lake is not going to include a pair of portable toilets. Frank
Moran says he doesn't want to turn the landing into Coney Island?
Why would he care if he did? He hasn't used that landing, other than to launch
his boat, in the last 15 years.
Spafford residents have been parking on the road, walking down the hill, sitting
on the shale beach and swimming in the lake for generations.
The only cost to the town has been maintenance of the road, a necessity for fire
protection anyway.
The local property owners pick up the inevitable trash that accumulates on busy
weekends, and serves as an informal neighborhood watch.
A wise man once said: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Martin F. Kelley
Borodino property owner