Go-carts stalled by applicant

NORTH EAST — The Town Board’s business meeting of Thursday, Sept. 8, was both busy and well attended. The crowd was in part due to the anticipated discussion about rezoning the Boulevard District on Route 44 East to allow for a go-cart track, a request that has repeatedly come before the board without success. The proposal not only met with displeasure from the board, but the public has expressed its concern as well. A petition signed by 182 residents against the construction and operation of a go-cart track was circulated throughout town and presented to the Town Board last year in protest.The community outcry only contributed to the board’s decision last year, which was consistent with decisions of the past. At that time the request was again shot down by the Town Board, but just a couple of months ago businessman, land owner and local attorney Robert Trotta informed the board he plans on reintroducing the idea of go-carts once again. And while the last time the proposal was made before the Town Board, and it “permanently tabled” the matter, legally the applicant has every right to bring the proposal back to the board table as often as he likes. The Town Board decided at its August meeting to allot 10 minutes to hear Trotta’s proposal on Sept. 8.However, at the Sept. 8 meeting, town Supervisor Dave Sherman instead informed the board and the audience the plan had changed.“I received word from Mr. Trotta regarding the go-cart request, and since he was [allotted only a short period of time] he asked we remove him from the agenda for this evening and asked we consider him for another evening,” Sherman said. “I advised him it will be up to the Town Board to do so.”There was no comment from the rest of the board nor was there any further discussion on the matter.

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