It ain't nothin' but a party, Frank Stanton told the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday evening in his second attempt to win approval for a special-use permit to host mudding events on his seven-acre property in Bethany.
"This is not a business," Stanton said. "It's a party. It's just a bunch of people getting together and having fun. That's all it is."
Planners recommended disapproval of his permit and didn't offer much encouragement for him to try again.
After a meeting two weeks ago, where planners were much more receptive to his proposal but told Stanton he needed a more formal plan before they could approve it, a pair of nearby Bethany residents wrote the planning board and raised objections to these mudding events.
Robert Reyes and Elaine Shell contend Stanton operates his mudding events as a business.
There's a Facebook page with 700 likes. The events are listed on at least two mudding event Web sites. They suggest it's not just friends showing up to run their trucks in the mud.
"Whether it's a trick of acoustics, with him being in a 'dip', we don't know, but the noise level at and in our home is awful," the couple wrote. "Most of the trucks running are modified with high revving engines, have no mufflers, and are extremely loud."
While Stanton tried to assure planners that there are never more than a couple hundred people at a time on his property at 9832 Bethany Center Road, Reyes and Shell argued that as many as 400 people might be on the property at one time and are concerned that Stanton wants the events to grow even bigger.
Stanton said they can't get any bigger because he'll never be able to buy adjoining property since it's currently owned by a large and successful dairy operation. He said he doesn't make any money off the events. There are no prizes, no awards, nothing that would make these commercial events.
"This will probably fizzle out in five or six years as my kids get bigger and things change," Stanton said.
The vote recommending disapproval was 6-0.
I wonder how so many other
I wonder how so many other people put up with noise from a nearby social activity? I live on the west side of Batavia, and often I can hear the stock cars racing at the Fair Grounds... so it must be unbearable for all those residents who live on E Main St, Cedar St, etc. I also have a best buddy who lives on Douglas St. and when I've been to visit him while a Muckdogs game is happening, the announcer's loudspeaker forced me to have to shout to converse sitting on his deck. Then there was the time I went to the NHRA Race in Charlotte, NC... we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge about a mile from the racetrack, and promptly at 11am those darn race cars woke me up, even rattled the window in our motel room! And just imagine those poor souls who live in the Colby & Sumner Rd area of Corfu when Darien Lake has a Head-banging concert... OMG! That would put me over the edge. I'd have to sell my house and move... get my point?
I'm all for having fun on
I'm all for having fun on your own property, but "...there are never more than a couple hundred people at a time on his property..." sure makes me think this is a business. Who would let all of those vehicles and people tear up their property and take the risk of being sued after an accident without being a business? I feel badly for those who enjoyed these activities, but feel more sorry for the neighbors who must have had to put up with a ton of noise and traffic.
That one day a year must to
That one day a year must to be unbearable. Maybe instead of whining they should attend the party and enjoy themselves.
It's really isn't anyone's business if he did made money hosting this party.
It's one day a month,
It's one day a month, minimum, Frank Stanton said. The permit would allow two days a month, but Stanton told the board that one day a month was all he could handle by himself.
I didnt see that mention in
I didnt see that mention in the article. That might be alittle much.
I still believe he has the right to make money.
I've helped plan a few
I've helped plan a few parties in my day, I'd be willing to bet any profit he is making is small potatoes. I get the impression that he does this for the fun and sense of community. I know a few people who attend these mudding events. Thats how they have described it.
I remember a time when you
I remember a time when you could pretty much do what you wanted to do with your own property. These were also the days when government officials realized they worked for the people - not vice versa - and neighbors would gladly put up with an occasional inconvenience knowing the favor would always be returned.
Now, the various levels of government want to get in your pockets (but they're fees, not taxes!) and neighbors want to get in your business. Property owners are on a very short leash. In spite of New York's ridiculously high property taxes, we can exercise only limited control over what we "own".
I did attend the event a few
I did attend the event a few months ago, and saw no problem. It seems that the world is populated by people who cannot stand anyone having any fun. This is a harmless pursuit, with families in attendance, and, though a little noisy, was in the daytime. It is like the Frost Ridge harpies, complaining about nothing. There is plenty of silence when you are dead, and life is for the living. If these people value silence so much, perhaps the library would suit them. I can hear the stock cars from Batavia, but since they are done racing before I retire, I am not constantly complaining. Though I do not mud, I certainly saw a lot of families that did, and who were enjoying themselves. How far off the beaten path do we have to move to avoid constant complaining?
Its New York State the no fun
Its New York State the no fun state. This is a shame I bet the little airport out there a couple doors away makes more noise or the huge dairy farm accross the street. It use to be you moved to the country so you can do this type of stuff. Who is this town board working for the people or just some people. All the people on Pratt Road are entitled to quite so the polarwave place and area 51 should definetely be shut down. And while we're at it The Conrail tracks keep me up at night STOP THE DARN TRAINS..
I think what I find the
I think what I find the saddest is that people are at the mercy of a few who seem to rule over the majority. Whether this individual is making any money off this venture is of little consequence. Are these same people carrying signs against home owners allowing parking at events such as the Appleumpkin festival or Pike Fair for $4.00 a car? America was built on the principle of free enterprise. I am certain that Mr. Stanton is not making millions off this venture, and families are allowed to gather and have harmless fun. I can only wonder how the people of Sturgis, S Dakota feel when hundreds of thousands of bikers converge on their town annually. Farm machinery causes noise, so should we make them stop too? These small towns don't have a lot of family activities available to participate in, so the town board, elected by the majority, should consider what is good for the masses, not only for the happiness of a few. Some people would complain if you hanged them with a new rope, and should lighten up. Life is so short, and family activities should be valued, not shut down.