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The
Forum:
Let's stop
the parking-area expansion
To the Editor on June 12:
The Dunkin’ Donuts store located on South Franklin
Street recently submitted a proposal to the Village Planning Board to
expand its current parking area. As a private homeowner, local voter,
taxpayer, and father of two little girls I find this proposal to be
deeply disconcerting. I am troubled by the prospect of the Dunkin' Donuts
franchise tearing down one perfectly good residential property (if not
two) to increase the size of its parking area, and the message it sends
to the citizens of this town, the surrounding area, and the thousands
of tourists who visit each year.
The people who come to visit Watkins Glen do not make the trip because
Watkins has a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise or any other related box
store entity. These stores can be found anywhere in the United States;
they are generic, predictable, and unexceptional. What makes people
travel to Watkins Glen is the fact that we still have some semblance
of that small town local community atmosphere. This is what makes Watkins
Glen special and unique. This is what separates us from being just another
predictable anywhere type town where everything is pre-packaged and
processed in an impersonal assembly-line fashion.
It is my hope that Dunkin’ Donuts is not given the approval by
the Village to move forward with its plans to destroy one perfectly
viable residential home (if not two). According to the “Village
of Watkins Glen Comprehensive Plan” which was finalized in December
2012, the Village shall “Institute a demolition law to prevent
the demolition of existing buildings along Franklin Street for use as
surface parking lots.” If ever there was an instance where this
type of law needs to be implemented, it is certainly to be found here.
Furthermore, at a Board meeting last December the Board of Trustees
voted to deny approval of a proposed parking lot expansion for Chemung
Canal that would include razing the Pro-Air building on Franklin Street.
Certainly the same sound and reasoned judgment will be applied to the
current Dunkin’ Donuts proposal.
The few remaining homes located along South Franklin Street should be
regarded as ambassadors of the Village so that when people come to visit
they are greeted by more than just parking lots and box store franchises.
The proper balance must be found so that homeowners and residents aren’t
given the impression that the Village only cares about attracting the
drive-by consumer. The future of Watkins Glen depends on families like
my own, who look to put down their roots, send their children to our
schools, and engage in the civic and social activities that make a town
a home.
I strongly urge my fellow residents and others to attend the next Planning
Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 19th at 7 p.m. Please click
here to sign the petition to stop the Dunkin’ Donuts parking
lot expansion.
Liam F. O’Kane
304 South Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY
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