NARROWSBURG, NY — Gary Packer, a surveyor, appeared at a meeting of the Tusten Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on January 28 to pursue a matter regarding the parking lot behind Wayne Bank on Main Street in Narrowsburg.

According to Tusten Town Board member Jill Padua, the town has a lease with the bank for the parking lot for $1 a year. Padua said the bank wanted the town to pay for some improvements to the lot, but the town board considered the plan too expensive. According to Padua, the bank then offered to sell the lot to the town, which prompted the town to research the matter.

Packer said he was asking for three variances, a set-back variance, a lot-size variance and a driveway-width variance. He also expressed frustration with his dealings with former town attorney Jeffrey Clemente, who would not agree to a title search. He said there were numerous issues connected to the lot such as various rights of ways.

Jim Crowley, Tusten’s building inspector and code enforcement officer, said the town can’t apply for a variance because it doesn’t own the property in question, rather it is owned by the bank. Also the town does not have a contract with the bank to buy the property. If it had such a contract, the town could ask the ZBA for the variances.

The board denied the request for the variances and Padua said she would begin the process again through a meeting with Crowley. She said the town’s intention is to buy the parking lot if possible and see that it remains a parking lot.