TRR photo by Chris Conroy Undaunted by the morning rain, supporters of the 17B Quickstop’s expansion to the veteran’s park took to the street to raise public awareness of the project. (Click for larger image)

Red, white and blue with frustration

By CHRIS CONROY

SMALLWOOD, NY — In some situations, a postponed decision can cause as many problems as a definitive answer.

Such is the case when it comes to the recent Bethel Planning Board decision to postpone a final ruling on an application for the 17B Quickstop Citgo station that came before it at a public hearing on May 27.

Braving the cool Sunday morning rain, community members took to the streets in front of the convenience store to raise public awareness on the subject.

According to Paul Zaccari, the owner of the Quickstop, the park is designed to honor veterans, fire fighters, police officers and victims of the September 11 attacks. Zach Zaccari, Paul’s brother, has donated all the money necessary for the park improvements. Those improvements would include the construction of a pole barn pavilion, addition of more flags and improved landscaping. The application also included a request to accept the signs that have already been erected on the property.

“When I went for the permit… the building inspector told me the things that were required,” said Paul Zaccari. “There were two signs that are on the property that were never on the original site plan.” Zaccari was told that to make the signs legal, he should file proper paperwork along with the building permit.

Bethel building inspector Tim Dexter said that all of Zaccari’s paperwork was in order when it was filed. Zaccari was confident the approval process would go smoothly.

When the topic was raised at the planning board meeting, Zaccari said everything went well until the issue of the signs came up. It was at that point that he was told the details he had submitted regarding the content and design of the signs was inadequate.

“They wanted to know the text of the signs,” Zaccari said. He explained that the signs carry the 17B Quickstop name and are used for advertising things for sale in the convenience store, but not cigarettes or beer.

The concerns over the signs, as well as some pre-existing aesthetic issues, were raised by Bethel First, a well known and active community improvement group.

To mitigate those aesthetic concerns, the decision on Zaccari’s permit was put off until the next meeting. That decision put the park expansion plans on hold.

“We want our park to grow,” said veteran John Rhymer. Rhymer said he is among those who don’t feel it’s right for one organization to dictate what “country” is. “This is country… our country. We fought for it.”

“Everything we’re trying to do is basically to support the troops, support the area,” Zaccari said.

“This is legal,” said John Nicosia of the submitted plan. “There should be no conversation.”

Herman Bressler, the chair of the planning board, was unavailable for comment at press time.

“Some people will say that the public was overbearing,” Dexter said. At a public hearing, he said, everyone gets to voice their opinion. “And that’s just what it is: opinion.”

In order to demonstrate the public support for the park proposal, veterans and other residents are planning another rally for June 8 at 10:00 a.m. outside of the 17B Quickstop.