New rule may kill park land sale

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February 6, 2007

By Jane Smith The Meadville Tribune Tue Feb 06, 2007, 12:15 AM EST

02/06/07 —

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — The future of Conneaut Lake Park appears to lie in the hands of the Summit Township Board of Supervisors.

A rule the supervisors recently established may scuttle the proposed sale of 3.3 acres of park land. The sale is considered key for the park’s future — it’s expected to raise the money the park needs to open this year and erase much, if not all, of the park’s debt.

Supervisors last summer adopted an ordinance prohibiting more than six condominiums on one acre with a three-acre minimum area in business and residential zoning districts.

However, Conneaut Lake resident Greg Sutterlin had submitted a bid to buy 3.3 acres of land at Conneaut Lake Park and construct 30 condominiums on the site, which is 10 per acre. He plans to erect units with 30 condominiums on the site which once was the Flynn House and adjacent parking lot.

However, under the ordinance, he would need at least five acres of land.

He’s 1.7 acres short.

“I need to get a variance” from the Summitt supervisors, Sutterlin said, noting “20 condos for the amount of money I’m investing is not economically feasible.” He said it’s not just the cost of the land, but the additional expenses of engineering studies and surveys and construction that have to be added.

Without the variance to allow him to build 30 condos, Sutterlin said he’s not certain he can move forward with his plan to purchase the land.

Plans were to sell the property to help pay off the park’s $2.1 million debt and have sufficient revenues to open the park this summer.

“We are trying to make it happen. We definitely want to get the park open,” said Sutterlin.

Supervisors meet today at 7 p.m. at the township building, but there is no formal vote advertised on a variance request.

The 115-year-old amusement park came under court jurisdiction after it was declared a charitable trust following a lawsuit by a former member of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park. The park was deeded to the trustees by former park owner/operator Gary Harris to be held in trust for the residents of northwestern Pennsylvania.

Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com.

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New rule may kill park land sale

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