Lewiston projects deemed 'not consistent' by Greenway Commission

Photo and report by Terry Duffy

Call it a matter of consistency.

Members of the Niagara River Greenway Commission met Tuesday at the Beaver Island State Park Clubhouse to consider three submissions for project consistency with Greenway Plan objectives.

Following a brief series of comments by the public, followed by presentations by project submitters, only one - the Research Foundation for SUNY Buffalo State's Emerald Shiner Habitat Conservation and Restoration Study in the Upper Niagara River - met with a unanimous vote of consistency by the Standing Committee.

Two others - one submitted by Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Reiter for the $9.2 million Lewiston Civic Center, and one by Lewiston-Porter Central School District administrators for their encumbered $6.2 million Phase II Capital Improvement Project - failed, and both by near unanimous votes of being "not consistent" by the nine attending members.

Vice Chairman Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, who ran the session in place of Greenway Chairman Robert J. Kresse who was absent, essentially spoke the views of all attending members who cast negative votes as he called both proposals "great projects, but not consistent as a Greenway project."

Soon after, Reiter, who likened his appearance before the panel to "being at the dentist's office," said he would be redefining his presentations en route to a future appearance before the Greenway Commission Host Committee.

Lew-Port Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Don Rappold voiced the same sentiment as he said, "Yes, we'll be appearing again."

Look for an expanded report in Saturday's Sentinel.