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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 May 12 - Newspaper ArticleYarmou Town Eyes Red Rose Inn Property By Susanna Graham-Pye r �� Yarmouth selectmen Tuesday night gave hesitant approval to forming a committee to study a town pur- chase of the waterfront Red Rose Inn property. Two parcels, the inn's .33 acres and another .56 acre lot across the street, abut the town's Englewood Beach, a popular area for resident boaters and swimmers. Selectman Richard Ferreira, Recreation Director Linda Sears and Natural Resource Department Director Morris Johnson called the property a "golden opportu- nity. 11 However, the majority of the board said the town is facing too many fiscal restraints, making the purchase of additional open space an unaffordable luxury. "We're so strapped now we can hardly breathe," said Selectman John Howard. "I think the cons outweigh the pros," said Selectman Christopher Bowman. "This town needs more playing fields, we need to irrigate the playing fields we have, we need more indoor facilities (for recreation). Where does this property fall on the priority list; which project are we willing to bump down?" Two buildings sit on the properties, the inn and a house on the land across the street. A septic system upgrade would be required and could cost as much as $125,000. The property is being offered for between $400,000 and $500,000, though Town Administrator Robert Lawton said the realtor handling the sale would negotiate with the town. Ms. Sears, however, said the parcel would answer a number of recreational needs for the town. Currently the town's summer sailing program is oper- ated out of Englewood Beach. According to Ms. Sears, 525 children and adults participate in the program. Sailing equipment is now stored in the public rest rooms. "The program is one of the premier programs the town offers," she added. "The inn would accommodate some of its needs and we would be reducing some of our maintenance costs." "I realize we have a tight budget," she added. "But this is an ideal parcel for the town to own. I feel that if we don't do something now we will look back in 20 years and wish we had." Mr. Johnson said the property could ease the parking problems now encountered by those who launch their boats from the public beach. Parking with a trailer is ,prohibited in the lot, and yet the area is popular among boaters. Vehicles with boat trailers must park across the street from the public lot. The inn itself, Mr. Johnson said, could be used for additional meeting space, for summer recreation pro- grams and, through the schools, for waterfront teaching projects. "Waterfront property in this town is hard to find," Mr. Johnson said. "Even though the town is in a bind, we should try to find ways to develop our waterfront, because the water is why people come to Cape Cod." Mr. Johnson said he had spoken to the health depart- ment and discovered the required upgrade to the proper- ty's septic system might not be as extensive or costly because the town would not be operating a restaurant. Town Administrator Robert Lawton explained fund- ing for the purchase would require a debt exclusion, which means the principal and interest are over and above the Proposition 2-1/2 limit. In spite of its concerns, the board was reluctant to reject the idea without exploring various options. Herbert Schnitzer, chairman of the board, suggested asking the Yarmouth Conservation Trust for help. The Trust was able to convince the owners of the Sea Holly Park along Parkers .River on Route 28 to donate the land to the town. Mr. Johnson asked if bonding, which would spread the cost of the purchase over a long period of time, could also be looked at in more detail. "This is a golden opportunity and it's not going to keep knocking," said Mr. Ferreira, who had requested that the proposal be put before the board for considera- tion. Mr. Ferreira said the recent response from residents to an open space and recreation survey indicated the taxpayers' desire for improvement in recreation oppor- tunities. "We have a responsibility to the young people of this town, to the boating community," he said. "I think we have to provide for younger generations and the genera- tions to come after us." The board agreed to the formation of a committee to report back in six months on the feasibility of the pur- chase and various funding options. "I hate to just kill the thing," Mr. Schnitzer said. "Maybe there is a way to do this that would be accept- able to the necessary two-thirds of the voters for a bond, or acceptable to the necessary majority for an exemp- tion." Mr. Schnitzer asked that Mr. Lawton contact the real - tors to tell them the town was "reluctantly" considering a purchase.