Go-cart request refused

NORTH EAST — Despite being “permanently tabled” last year, the request to revisit Robert Trotta’s go-cart track proposal made its way back to the Town Board’s table on Thursday, Feb. 17, much to the frustration of those present. Town Supervisor Dave Sherman read aloud planner Arthur Brod’s request for a proposed amendment to the zoning code for a go-cart track on Route 44 in the town of North East — this time for electric-powered go-carts — a change from the gas-powered carts of the past. Brod is the planner hired by Trotta.The previous proposal for a go-cart track was met with much opposition from the community, which expressed concern about noise, air and light pollution. There were also worries about loss of rural character and a weakening of the village center. The Town Board was presented with a petition signed by 182 people at its business meeting on June 10, 2010. It stated, “We urge the town supervisor and the Town Board not to support a zoning change or special use permit to include go-carts anywhere on Route 44.”At the February Town Board meeting, Sherman recommended sending the most recent proposal to the Planning Board for comments.The amendment proposes changes to the BD-3 district, which runs from the town/village line by CVS out to Kelsey Brook, in an area known as the Boulevard District.“My last notes indicate in July I prepared an amendment for you that restricted the use of go-carts to electric-powered go-carts,” Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky said. “My notes say you tabled the matter.”“This is a new request,” Councilman Carl Stahovec said. “Now we’ve got another request for basically the same thing, but we said back then the only way we would look at it would be if it’s electric.”“I make a motion to table this,” Councilman Dave McGhee said, his temper rising. “I don’t want to address this.”Stahovec moved to table the proposal; Councilman Steve Merwin seconded the motion. A question arose: “For how long?”McGhee replied with much emotion, “’Til I feel like it.” His response elicited laughter from the audience and the Town Board alike. “I don’t have a time-table,” he added. “I just say table it tonight.”“All I’m saying is if we do reconsider it, if we refer it on to the Planning Board, refer to the one I drafted because it provides better protection to the town,” Replansky said.

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