Parma Town Board helps
Country Village Estates project avoid delays

The Country Village Estates project, scheduled to be built off Lake Avenue running behind Turtle Creek Lane in Parma, east of the village of Hilton, avoided what could have been a major delay with the help of the Parma Town Board June 4.

Kevin Clark, owner of Park Properties, went to the meeting to ask for the board's permission to allow him to use a performance bond instead of the usual requirement of a letter of credit. Clark pleaded his case to the board saying that financial strain as a result of this project would not allow for him to obtain a letter of credit.

After a great deal of questioning the board members voted 4-1 to grant Clark the exception.

"That was a huge thing for me," said Clark. "Not allowing me to do this would probably have delayed the project until next season."

Supervisor Rick Lemcke said once the board members determined that the town would be protected from any potential financial harm with this agreement (because of the town's control over issuing building permits) the right thing to do was to make the exception.

"It is just good government," said Lemke. "We are not a bunch of bureaucrats who have to stick to a bunch of rules that are etched in stone."

Lemcke said the 146-house project is a great opportunity for those interested in moving into Parma. The houses will range in price from $120,000-$200,000 and some lots are scheduled to be ready by September. The development will be a Ryan Homes project and the contractor is Nicholas Yarussi from Niagara Falls, NY.

"This will allow someone the ability to get into their first house," said Lemcke. "We're all about creating those types of opportunities."

Currently about 80 percent of Parma's land remains undeveloped.