Errors cast doubt on park's master plan

By Jane Smith

4/5/07 April 05, 2007 01:12 am

— There are at least eight significant errors in the $140,000-state-grant-funded plan for Conneaut Lake Park’s future.
In addition, while the plan envisions developing large portions of the park’s property, it offers no estimates on the amount of money the development would raise and there are no appraisals showing the current value of the park’s land. Although no details are included, the plan does state that the revenue raised would pay off the park’s debt, currently estimated at $2.7 million.
Other aspects of the plan appear inconsistent with the needs of the amusement park. For example, all of the park’s parking lots are slated for commercial, retail or residential development. In addition, all of the park’s picnic shelters are slated for retail and commercial development.
The 50-page plan, authored by the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, is considered key because state agencies and private banks probably won’t consider funding the park without some sense of the facility’s future direction.
However, the plan, which was due in August 2006, was finished six months late. Alliance Director Mark Turner said the delay was necessary because work to complete the plan was more extensive than initially expected.
The delay has left little time for park officials to review the plan and secure funding in order to open this summer. Nonetheless, the park’s court-appointed custodian, LeRoy Stearns, is having the plan studied by the park’s attorney out of concern for the accuracy of the information presented.
Areas of the park and the uses envisioned in the plan include:
- Entertainment – includes the current Beach Club and Dockside facilities with no proposed changes. It also extends from the lakefront to Comstock Street, which includes the current midway and games.
- Recreation is proposed for the area from Comstock to Route 618, including the majority of the rides.
- Future residential with revenues to the park is the area along Route 618 adjacent to the former Jo-Winn Trailer Park, now part of the Snow Waters project.
- Future retail/commercial along Route 618 from Reed Avenue to Inlet Drive. That would encompass the current parking lot and picnic pavilions and a number of residences between Matson Street and Comstock Street. Only a few homes along the corridor — across from the water park — would remain under the plan.
- Future development — Camperland and the adjacent parking lot. The plan doesn’t specify what type of development, but both are identified as revenue zones. Also included in this designation is an area running from Comstock Street through the Convention Center and to the site of the former Flynn House on the lakefront. The park is currently entertaining an offer to sell about 3.3 acres of land including a portion of the lakefront and the site of the former Flynn House, but it makes up only a portion of this future development zone.
- Marinas — two are envisioned. One, labeled a private marina, would be located in front of the former Flynn House site. A public marina would be located in front of Hotel Conneaut.

ERRORS AT A GLANCE:
Errors in the Economic Progress Alliance’s plan for Conneaut Lake Park’s future:
- The plan indicates the park’s water system has 250 customers. However, park records show only 119 customers are billed.
- One part of the plan attempts to account for many parcels of park land that were leased to private individuals for between 99 and 999 years. In two instances, the plan indicates land is leased but the park pays the property tax. However, maps attached to the plan indicate the land is not leased.
- In one instance the plan claims the park pays the property tax on a piece of leased property, but a map attached to the plan indicates the property tax is paid by the lessee.
- The plan claims the park has paid no property taxes since 1996. However, county records and park officials show that three partial payments have been made since then.
- Although it attempts to enumerate the park’s debts, the plan makes no mention of a judgment of $118,481.51 against the park from Summit Township that is on record in the county prothonotary’s office.
- The plan shows the bylaws of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park were adopted June 25, 2003, and the “initial” board of directors or trustees was appointed by the court. However, the original board was established in 1997.
- The plan’s existing facilities survey shows the Ferris wheel ride structure “is in good condition.” However, the park’s court-appointed overseer, LeRoy Stearns, said that ride needs repairs and will not be put into operation until those repairs are made.
Alliance Director Mark Turner said the information in the plan was compiled by others, and the Alliance put it together. Despite assurances that he would attempt to identify the discrepancies more than 10 days ago, he has not come forward with answers or responded to calls for comment.

What to watch for next:
- April 11, 7 p.m. — Summit Township Building, Harmonsburg. Summit Township supervisors to hold hearing on proposed ordinance change to allow 10 residential units (condominiums) per acre instead of current six. If approved, it would give Gregory Sutterlin the number he needs to make it economically feasible to purchase the property and give the park money it needs to open this season.
- April 17, 3 p.m. — Crawford County Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony Vardaro to hold hearing at Crawford County Courthouse to consider request to approve sale of 3.3 acres to Sutterlin for $1.7 million. If the request is denied, there is no money to open the park.
- April 17, 7 p.m. — Summit Township supervisors to vote on whether to approve an amended zoning ordinance to allow 10 housing units per acre. If the approval is not granted, Sutterlin has said he will not proceed with the purchase.

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