Wayne considers pursuing NYSEG property

WAYNE--Town of Wayne officials have looked at the former Keuka NYSEG hydro-facility for years with possibilities in mind.
Some people thought it would be great lake access, some thought hiking trails back to Waneta Lake could be featured and some thought it could be a town museum.
Tom Dunbar, Wayne's town supervisor said, "There have been two basic land parcels talked about with the former hydro-plant. One piece is the property from State Route 54 to Keuka Lake and the other portion is about 140 acres from Route 54 to the town of Tyrone."
Dunbar said currently, the town's thinking is focused on a smaller segment of the property. He said, "We are now looking at just the area where the former hydro-plant building is located from Keuka Village Road to Keuka Lake."
In fact, the town has posted on their web site a "Term Sheet" donation letter from a Wayne resident offering to provide $145,000 so the town can acquire and return this portion of the former hydro-plant to the town.
The offer comes from resident William W. Derrick. Derrick has outlined the terms and conditions relating to a potential donation he would make to the town of Wayne for the purpose of the town's acquisition and conservation of the real property described.
In the document he describes his intent. It states the town would 'ensure that the property is restored to, and maintained in, its natural and undeveloped state..."
Dunbar said that means if the NYSEG property, owned by the international Avangrid company, is purchased by the town of Wayne, the former hydro-plant building would be taken down and the land returned to its natural state. Dunbar said the land could then be used for lake viewing with two benches at the water's edge and a winding path from Keuka Village Road to the benches-but not to be used for other recreational purposes.
Derrick has provided a 90-day period for the town of Wayne to acquire the property. (The sheet carries a June, 2020 date.)
Dunbar said, "We are looking at creating a citizen's advisory group to look at the details of this possibility. We will also be talking with the NYSEG parent company, the Avangrid office in Rochester, and presenting our ideas to them about the property."