AURORA - Aurora residents are not happy with plans for the village's post office.
Many say they are tired of the length of time this project has been on the table. According to village planning board members, the project has been discussed since November 2003.
“We have to think about the future of our village,” said village trustee, George Farenthold. “We need to move forward with this project.”
The Aurora Community Preservation Panel unanimously voted to move ahead with the demolition of the current post office at a special meeting Wednesday night.
The decision came with only two days before the deadline of a memorandum of understanding between the village and Wells College that would give the village title to 150 feet of lake frontage currently owned by the college in exchange for use of the post office parcel as a parking lot. The memorandum would also give long-term lease of another 850 feet of lake frontage to the village.
“The memorandum for the lake frontage would be an incentive to the village,” said Wells College vice president Diane Hutchinson. “The lake frontage would give public access to the lake.”
The lease would be for 30 years with renewal at the end. The memorandum came in December as part of the plans for the village to demolish the current post office and move it into the Heary building, also owned by the college. Architectural plans call for a reconstructed parking lot to replace the current setting of the post office, as well as public access to the lake. Some residents are concerned that the reconstructed plans would move handicap-accessible parking 100 feet further from the post office.
“If we are to be the friendly and pleasant community that we claim to be, we would help the handicapped residents to get their mail,” said Jacci Farlow. “We would assist them even if that meant bringing their mail to them so they didn't have to visit the post office.”
Randi Zabriskie, village resident and business owner, said the current post office is the village's hub of conversation, and is concerned about how the project will affect the gathering spot.
Some residents voiced concern over the length of time construction will disrupt the village. Officials assured that construction would not delay the use of the post office as it will be done in stages, with the first being to move the current post office to its new location.
The vote is contingent upon the approval of the U.S. Postal Service, as it has a lease on the current building until 2009.
“We have to think about the future of our village,” said village trustee, George Farenthold. “We need to move forward with this project.”
The Aurora Community Preservation Panel unanimously voted to move ahead with the demolition of the current post office at a special meeting Wednesday night.
The decision came with only two days before the deadline of a memorandum of understanding between the village and Wells College that would give the village title to 150 feet of lake frontage currently owned by the college in exchange for use of the post office parcel as a parking lot. The memorandum would also give long-term lease of another 850 feet of lake frontage to the village.
“The memorandum for the lake frontage would be an incentive to the village,” said Wells College vice president Diane Hutchinson. “The lake frontage would give public access to the lake.”
The lease would be for 30 years with renewal at the end. The memorandum came in December as part of the plans for the village to demolish the current post office and move it into the Heary building, also owned by the college. Architectural plans call for a reconstructed parking lot to replace the current setting of the post office, as well as public access to the lake. Some residents are concerned that the reconstructed plans would move handicap-accessible parking 100 feet further from the post office.
“If we are to be the friendly and pleasant community that we claim to be, we would help the handicapped residents to get their mail,” said Jacci Farlow. “We would assist them even if that meant bringing their mail to them so they didn't have to visit the post office.”
Randi Zabriskie, village resident and business owner, said the current post office is the village's hub of conversation, and is concerned about how the project will affect the gathering spot.
Some residents voiced concern over the length of time construction will disrupt the village. Officials assured that construction would not delay the use of the post office as it will be done in stages, with the first being to move the current post office to its new location.
The vote is contingent upon the approval of the U.S. Postal Service, as it has a lease on the current building until 2009.