Public has another chance to comment on island development

MONROE — The Town of Monroe has extended the public scoping meeting on the Round Lake Island development proposal. The public has another opportunity to provide comments, in writing or verbally, at the Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 6, at the Monroe Senior Center on Mine Road. John Sorrentino, a Monroe resident and real estate developer, bought the 262,000-acre island about two years ago for only $80,000. He wants to build the home for his family, with a driveway over the water linking the island to the mainland. Many residents have mobilized to voice their opposition to the project, saying it will harm the environment and the scenery, and won’t allow Monroe residents the full use of the lake — as is the case now. A Photo News article last year quoted him as saying: “This is a basic NIMBY. Anytime you want to subdivide or build a house, it’s the same thing. That parcel of land is a couple of thousand feet from any home. It has less of an impact than any subdivision.” In that same article, Kathy Purdy, president of the Round Lake Park Homeowners Association, said: “The needs of the entire town outweigh the needs of one guy who wants to build a house.” The State Environmental Quality Review Act draft scoping document cites “potential significant environmental impacts.” Specifically, according to the document: “As per the Positive Declaration adopted by the Town Board resolution on April 4, 2011, the proposed action may result in significant impacts to: vegetation and wildlife, topography and soils, groundwater and surface water quality, traffic, aesthetic/visual resources and cumulative and secondary impacts.” A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) will address those issues. Tracy Schuh of the Preservation Collective wrote in an e-mail Wednesday to The Photo News: “I think some residents thought it was a dead issue because the planning board came back with a recommendation to deny the request last year. But the project is actually proceeding through the process.” In addition to any verbal comments to be offered that evening, written comments can be sent in advance to the Town Clerk, 11 Stage Rd., Monroe, NY 10950. By Nancy Kriz Read about it To learn more, visit: www.monroeny.org/documents/RoundLakeIslandDraftScopingDocument.pdf www.monroeny.org/documents/PBComments9-7-2010.pdf