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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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