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Zoning board to hear rental dispute

OBSERVER Photo by Anthony Dolce Residents Dave Maternowski, left, and Phil Leone, right, view the town of Dunkirk zoning Map.

Residents of Woodlands Drive in the town of Dunkirk who have been opposing the operation of a VRBO in their neighborhood for the last several months could soon be getting their official chance to appeal.

Originally, the group of neighbors filed for a meeting with the Dunkirk Town Zoning Board back in November, and while the residents would have liked the meeting sooner, they will tentatively get their chance on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Provided the zoning board is ready to rule on the matter at hand, the residents should be able to make their case.

Residents appealing to the Zoning Board is a rarity, at least as far as Dunkirk town Supervisor Richard Purol can tell. In his memory, there has never been one, and part of the delay in getting to this meeting comes with timing and working out procedures.

“I don’t think we’ve ever done an interpretation, as far as I remember,” said Purol.

“I do know that the zoning board had their reorganizational meeting… I think what they’re looking for now is a little legal advice on our side to find out what’s the proper procedure and how we do it.”

The residents of Woodlands Drive opposing the VRBO were out in full force at the Dunkirk Town Board meeting on Wednesday night, and resident Phil Leone made it clear that they were not going to let the issue die.

“All we’re asking is that the code be followed as written,” Leone said. “I know we’ve said that before. It’s like beating a dead horse. It’s been taking so long to get this matter before the zoning board… We don’t want you to think that we forgot about this.”

Purol noted that no decision has been made on whether or not to allow VRBO or other rental properties within R-1 districts in the town. Additionally, the notion that the board had vested interest in owning their own rental properties was once again denied by Purol.

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