Sullivan code change a bad idea

I amwriting in opposition to the Town of Sullivan’s proposed changes to the Building/Fire Code: Public Hearing to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. at Sullivan Town Offices.

They propose: “There shall be NO outdoor storage of personal property of ANY kind unless contained within a fencedin area, which prevents the contents of the area being viewed from outside the fence.”

My comments: Apparently the intractable problems of a few have now led the town board to propose imposing restrictions on everyone across the town.

I see this as simply a bold grab of property owners’ rights; it is a proposal to deem any personal property left outdoors on private property to be a codes offense to be corrected. This is not an issue for the Building and Fire Code.

This opens a very wide door for current and future town officials; personal property left outdoors can include toys, bikes, boats, mowers, tools, wagons, tents, and so much more that someone is bound to view and find objectionable in their neighbor’s yard or land.

They also propose: “Storage Requirements: ALL residences without a watertight & suitable storage basement or garage storage area MUST CONSTRUCT a storage building having at least 100 square feet of watertight and suitable storage area.”

My Comments: I see no excuse for our town officials to ADD to a resident’s TAXburden by requiring them to build a storage shed and fencing on private property, and then to bury such a restrictive covenant in the Building/Fire Code.

I also do not see any offer by town officials to assist resident taxpayers with these costs by buying and building any required shed and/or fencing on taxpayer properties.

This is not an issue for the Building and Fire Code.

Nearby Radisson may be nice with its property restrictions, but I declined to buy into similar restrictive covenants such as those at Radisson--yet these proposed changes to owners’ rights on private property in Sullivan are highly reminiscent of Radisson’s restrictive covenants-which are unacceptable and not welcome for our Sullivan property.

Apparently the intractable problems of a few have now led the town board to ignore its own advice to town residents facing neighborhood issues [i.e, to seek common ground, seek mediation and other less-restrictive settlements] and propose the easy way out: property restrictions on everyone.

I am opposed to these proposed changes to the Building & Fire Code.

Public Hearing to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. at Sullivan Town Offices!

Arthur Lelio, Canastota