Amy Mathisen has a dream -- to build a facility for gymnastics and offer them after-school programs on her parents' farm in Stafford.
Karen Nostrant and Paul Hendel don't necessarily want to stomp on that dream, but they aren't eager to see such a facility close to their home on Caswell Road. The prospect of increased traffic and car lights shining into their windows is not appealing to them.
On Mach 24, Mathisen sent a letter to the Stafford Town Council outlining her plans, which will require land-use changes.
Mathisen's dream starts with converting three or four acres of the farm into a lot for the facility, which would be 9,000 square feet with 400 square feet dedicated to before-and after-school programs and recreational activities.
Parking would be a gravel lot.
In a letter dated May 1, Nostrant and Hendel say the proposed location would be less than 100 feet from their front porch, that the parking area would significantly increase noise and lights adjacent their property, traffic on Caswell would increase from three vehicles per hour to more than 30 and the value of both properties would decrease as a result.
Rather than try to shut down Mathisen's dream entirely, however, Nostrant and Hendel, who are both volunteers with the Stafford Fire Department, suggest the facility be shifted to Griswold Road, which would put a barn between it and the two houses on Caswell.
Mathisen's a 33-year resident of Stafford and has been involved in gymnastics since age 13. She wrote to the town council:
"Gymnastics is a sport that prepares youth for any sport through gross motor skill development, strength training, flexibility and balance. Gymnastics is for both boys and girls of all ages and with the afterschool program right at the center, some parents will have one less stop to make in their busy schedules, which in turn strengthens the family unit. I want gymnastics in Genesee County to have a facility that will be around for years to come with the tools it needs for gymnasts to excel. I have been involved in a program that has moved at least 8 times in the last 10 years. I want there to be a permanent home for gymnastics in Genesee County."
We tried calling Mathisen three times, but she has not returned our calls.
No hearing date has been set to review the proposal.
OH NO! Car lights in my
OH NO! Car lights in my windows and my road being used!!!!
If those are your only concerns then you should thank God.
I think if I were the
I think if I were the homeowner I might have a problem with it too. I dont think its right not to hear both sides of this. I bet when the owners bought the house it was in a quiet country setting.
If you are afraid of progress
If you are afraid of progress and change, move to Cuba
Peter, that's the most
Peter, that's the most ridiculous response I have heard. I don't think you are being serious. It's not about progress it's about people right to privacy and space !
What about the property
What about the property owner's right to do what they wish with their property?
It’s a bit of a stretch to
It’s a bit of a stretch to call a gymnastics building “progress”, but there is a case for the owners of the property to open a business. Anyone know the zoning code for that area?
Try living on Rt. 63 in
Try living on Rt. 63 in Pavilion where an average of 1087 tractor trailers & trucks pass by every day & night. Even with new windows on the house, they still don't drown out the 24/7 noise. (Not to mention the filth on the windows ~~ BLACK exhaust & diesel pollutants.) This house was built in the time of horse & buggies...bet the road was quiet back then. :o)
I can see both sides of this situation, though. Kudo's to her for wanting to to do this for students! Also feel for the disgruntled neighbors. Hoping & wishing for a happy solution for all.
I am not familiar with the
I am not familiar with the property parcel or the zoning laws but i bet they have changed after the complaintant(s) bought the property. Most blight of housing areas are do to your so called progress. I find it impossible that a different location cant be found. I just wanted to state that property owners have the right to dispute what happens around them when they invest in the area that they live. No matter the outcome my life wont change. I used to live in the country till they sold all the farmland and put low cost shantys up.
Are you going to finance the
Are you going to finance the purchase of the new property?
And I do live on 63 in
And I do live on 63 in Batavia. Lots of truck traffic all day.
I should have just said that
I should have just said that i can see both sides of this situation. I guess that's why there is a court system in place to interperet the laws as written and make a decision. I will have to read more but i hope all parties involved can reach a compromise.
I grew up in that area, the
I grew up in that area, the only thing we had to do was walk the creek to South byron and buy some candy at Melba's store...sounds like a place to engage in fun activities could be a good thing. On the OARS website for the Town of Stafford, I don't see Norstrant or Hendel being property owners in the town of Stafford. Is there an actual address of where this is wanting to be?
Dennis, I don't have the
Dennis, I don't have the address, but I'll try to continue to follow the issue. No public hearing set yet.
Howard are you sure of your
Howard are you sure of your source where u got this story? I am just wondering coz stafford aint too big and if the location is a secret i think that this story is a leaked bait to get people ruffled.
Gabor, I don't have the
Gabor, I don't have the physical address. It's the corner of Caswell and Griswold, as I state in the post. I have copies of both letters, which I received directly from the town. The letter are public record. There's no leak and there's nothing inaccurate in my post.
Good luck getting anything
Good luck getting anything done in this town.If it isn't neighbors objecting,have fun going through zoning.We should welcome a business into the area,instead of shooting it down.I thought WNY Concrete was supposed to build a new plant next to Batavia Party House-nothing yet.The owner of Stafford Store wants to build a new store where the gas station used to be-no progress yet-I guess DEC wouldn't allow gas pumps either.Maybe no progress due to economy.
If it was a fire you could
If it was a fire you could google it ? I am sorry but you posted the story and i opened my mouth about it so i guess i am interested. You started it ! haha.
"the box says shut up Gabor".
My daughter had the
My daughter had the priviledge of having Amy as her gymnastic coach. She is a compassionate and devoted person. I am sure that with cool heads that an agreeable solution will be found to the location issue. The idea that having a "ground floor" gymnastics center in this county is great. The YMCA rented a second floor space on Liberty Street for most of the time that my daughter studied. The problem with that site was that it was inaccessible to any person with a physical handicap. It also was far too small to entertain competitions. These competitions are an important fundraiser for any program. It also means that there is revenue for the area. It's not like she is asking to open yet another bar or pizzeria in a town already flooded with too many. (I used pizzeria and bar as an example only. Not meant to be a slight to anyone) It is a unique and useful business. Good luck with the venture Amy. You have my support.
property owner's don't have
property owner's don't have any rights.unless we kiss town boards a***.
and to add check the zoning
and to add check the zoning rules for that area, prob solved.that's why thy have zoning,if it don't fit then you cant do it.
I hardly call 2 places for
I hardly call 2 places for pizza(and other food) and 1 bar too many,plus the Red Osier.As far as zoning,they can get a variance-PITA,but possible.
Mr. Price I used that as an
Mr. Price I used that as an example because it seems that every town in America has more bars and pizza shops then it should conceivably need. Thank you for pointing out the number but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I simply was pointing out that it was a potential business that doesn't have a huge number of competitors already in the marketplace. Look at what happened to the car industry over the last two days. Too many dealerships have now soured the barrel. Zoning and Town Board meetings will determine the outcome.