Richard Casale: Glass Barn development is putting lipstick on a pig

To The Daily Sun,

Since your newspaper gave so much space to such a positive "puff piece" on the proposed commercial event facility on Cherry Valley Road in Alton, I think the opposition deserves the same opportunity to voice their concerns.

First, your reporter failed to mention that the owner and developer were required to apply for a special exception for the commercial event facility. It only mentioned that four variances were applied for, which is incorrect. A special exception is required for a commercial event facility in the rural zone of Alton, and has a much higher approval threshold than a simple variance.

Second, why didn't your reporter take the time to visit the surrounding neighborhoods and actually speak to those of us who will be negatively impacted should the Town of Alton approve this commercial event facility? There are significant implications to both Alton and Gilford if this passes, and both sides of the story should be heard. The owner and developer are now changing their characterization of this development from a corporate event facility to a local wedding venue, in order to minimize the negativity.

Having a corporation control an entire neighborhood is unprecedented and extremely concerning. Experts have stated that the planned development will cost $50-60 million, so catering to weddings 2-3 days a week doesn't make any financial sense. This development has to pursue big corporate functions 5-7 days per week, 52 weeks per year or it will go defunct in short order.

Don't be fooled by the out-of-state billionaires and their sweet talking. This is just putting lipstick on a pig.

Richard Casale

Alton Bay