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Leishman Point > Waddington Citizens Speak Out
a. Citizens Unite to Better Community
Around the same time the land was returned to Waddington a grass-roots group of citizens, from all walks of life, began meeting to discuss various issues relating to Waddington. This group was later named the Waddington Redevelopment Association or WRA. WRA members discussed many ideas the first couple of months. Many of the discussions were related to ways to revitalize Main Street, including the St. Lawrence Hotel. While Main Street was the focus, it was recognized that appropriate development of surrounding areas, including the surplus lands, would play a significant role in the successful revitalization of Main Street.
These citizens made a presentation to both the Village and Town of Waddington in March of 2002. Included in the presentation was specific mention of the surplus lands, and how the citizen’s group believed it to be a very important component of the revitalization of Main Street. When the group asked for input on Leishman Point, they were told that the St. Lawrence County Planning Office was working on a plan; which the group was led to believe would be a best-use plan with a few various options. However, this was not true.
Letter To Village (PDF)
The Waddington Planning Board voted to recommend a 16 lot residential subdivision on Leishman Point, despite very vocal pleas by residents present at the planning board’s June meeting. Only three members of the board were present. The proposal passed with only two votes. Citizens were told that was enough for a quorum.
When the citizens realized what was happening, they petitioned the people of Waddington to ask the town board for a community planning process to include all of the surplus lands. The petition was signed by 80 citizens.
b. Town Board Approves Residential Plan Despite Opposition
During the June 2002 Waddington Town Board meeting, the St. Lawrence County Planning Office admitted that their office was instructed to draw-up plans for a 16 lot residential subdivision – nothing else was considered. The Waddington Town Board misled its citizens for three months.
An appraiser estimated the lots on the north side of the Point could sell for $100,000 each and $80,000 each on the south side. The town would develop Leishman Point themselves and would pay an estimated $400,000 for a common sewage system, road construction, utilities, engineering services, etc. The prospective homeowners would be responsible for drilling their own wells.
The citizens presented the board with the petition signed by 80 people, but it was ignored. It was evident that the town board had made up its mind on Leishman and did not want to hear from its citizens.
During those next few months, members of WRA, as the group was now called, began to collect and analyze all documents pertaining to the surplus lands and other economic documents and data about Waddington. It then became obvious that the board was missing a large opportunity by only considering one development option for Leishman Point.
Members attended public meetings and spoke privately to board members to convince them that more time was needed to involve the public and come up with a best-use plan for this very valuable land. Their pleas continued to be met with deaf ears and the board voted to begin planning a residential subdivision. They sent out a request for proposal in an effort to hire an engineer to help them develop Leishman Point on their own.
Only one firm responded to the request. After a couple of meetings the engineering firm was hired and began work on Leishman Point.
Members of WRA told the town board that there would be many other citizens who were not aware of what was happening on Leishman Point and that they would soon be coming forward asking for them to consider development alternatives to the residential subdivision.
c. WRA Offers Alternatives
In October of 2002, many citizens attended the town board meeting to offer alternatives to the 16 lot residential subdivision and ask for more input in a presentation called “Working Together for a Brighter Future”. The meeting erupted into a shouting match when the group’s presentation was cut short by the board. Leishman Point was now on everyone’s radar screen, and it was painfully obvious that citizens’ input was not welcome in town government matters – especially on Leishman Point.
What began as a debate over land use now progressed into the core of American idealism. Like many small, rural towns, where politicians are not challenged, the citizenry has purposefully been kept uninformed in an effort to ‘simplify’ decision making. The conflict was now just as much about the struggle for democracy as it was a debate over land-use.
Waddington Citizens Upset Over Leishman - Ogdensburg Journal
d. The Town Board Holds Off
At the next town board meeting in November, the supervisor made an unexpected, but welcome announcement to many, that they would be sending the engineering firm home and would postpone further development until spring. The supervisor said that the town would entertain ideas that are “not pie in the sky…and will generate tax revenues.”
Town Board Holds Off - Ogdensburg Journal
e. WRA Makes Presentation to Citizens of Waddington
A November presentation by WRA was given to the general public to inform them of what the group was doing. WRA showed the people that it was working toward developing a master plan from a multitude of ideas that would improve the core business district by increasing economic development through tourism, but would also retain the small town charm. The key would be a town-wide comprehensive plan put together by as many citizens as possible.
The meeting was attended by approximately 100 very interested people (very good for a small village of just over 900 residents and a town of 2,212 ). A large part of the meeting focused on Leishman Point. A lot of information was presented and many attendees remained after to voice their opinions. It was a victory for democracy and increased the number of people interested in what WRA was trying to accomplish; and membership swelled.
WRA Presentation - Working Together for a Brighter Future (Requires Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)
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f. WRA Expands/Strengthens
There were now enough talented people involved to form six working groups; Main Street, Communications, St. Lawrence Hotel, Grant Writing, Events and Surplus Lands.
These groups meet independently on a regular basis then report back to other members and the general public at a monthly meeting, which is held the last Thursday of every month.
