York Town News
Potential York's Wild Kingdom developer returning to town Tuesday
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK BEACH - When Oscar Plotkin arrived in town on April 26 to host a community forum on the future of York's Wild Kingdom, he pledged he would return to hear from more residents.This Tuesday, Aug. 8, Plotkin is scheduled to do just that.
Plotkin, owner of Berkshire Development, LLC, is scheduled to host a forum with residents of the community as he did this past April, confirmed Bob Dunfey, who serves as Berkshire's local liaison.
"I want a broad cross section of the York community to participate in authoring the plan for the York Wild Kingdom land through forums to be scheduled," Plotkin said in the announcement of the upcoming forum.
Plotkin held the first of what he pledged would be multiple public forums to hear concerns, questions and ideas from residents about the York's Wild Kingdom property in April.
"Although we had a great turnout at the April York Beach meeting, there are many who are interested in the future of this significant parcel of land who, for one reason or another, were not present and would have attended," Dunfey explained. "This additional opportunity has been scheduled to accommodate those who missed the first meeting and hopefully draw more residents from all parts of York."
Prior to meeting with members of the public on April 26, Plotkin met with town officials and the York Beach Renaissance Committee. He then told those who packed the Union Bluff for the first forum that he was not harboring a specific plan for the site as he first wanted to hear from the community.
He suggested York and Berkshire might create what he described as an "iconic" development for the 80-acre York's Wild Kingdom parcel with the addition, potentially, of more land for a total of up to 200 acres devoted to a multi-use project in that area.
At the April meeting, many of those who spoke said they would like to work with Berkshire Development to find common ground, while others cautioned against growth.
Plotkin has pledged to keep York's Wild Kingdom, in a renovated form, as part of the site, based on feedback from the community on the importance of having that attraction in York Beach.
"What we could have on that 200-acre site is something the world could come and see," Plotkin said.
At this time, no formal plan has been submitted to the town for such a project, Dunfey confirmed on Friday.
If Berkshire Development should request a potential zoning change at some point in the future, he said, it is not likely that would happen before November of 2007. However, he added, whether a zoning change request will be brought forward has not been determined.
Town Planner Steve Burns confirmed in his most recent Planning Department report that no new action has been taken on the York's Wild Kingdom project.
"The purpose of this meeting is an opportunity for York residents to meet Oscar and for Oscar meet York residents," Dunfey said. "At this meeting, York residents can share their thoughts, ideas and concerns and ask questions before Berkshire Development begins developing a site plan."
Tuesday's meeting will be held at the York Harbor Inn at 7 p.m. All York residents are invited to attend and refreshments will be served.
