Firm apologizes for ad criticizing Chili Board

 Company seeking to construct a Target regrets criticism of town

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.
D & C Staff Writer

(October 10, 2006) — CHILI — North American Properties regrets placing a one-page paid advertisement in the form of a letter that criticized the Chili Town Board for failing to act promptly.

Jeff Pape, director of development for North American Properties in Georgia, said it was the wrong decision.

 "If we had to do it again, we wouldn't do it," said Pape, whose signature was on the letter.  

The company placed an advertisement in the Gates-Chili Post on Aug. 30 hoping to gather support for its shopping center project but instead ended up angering town officials. Pape spoke in person to the board Wednesday night for the first time since the advertisement ran.

The advertisement states: "In July 2006, the Planning Board declared its intention to act as lead agency on the Paul Road project. More than eight weeks later, no action has been taken by the Town to start this process. Our patience is thinning. If the Paul Road project does not move forward immediately, Chili will lose its opportunity with Target, now and in the future."

North American Properties, which made its initial proposal last year, wants to build a 53-acre shopping complex with two big-box stores on Paul Road. The board must wait for the completion of an environmental study before acting.

 "I don't think it helped that you are putting out an impression that we are not doing our jobs," said Dennis Schulmerich, a Town Board member who also saw North American Properties' proposal at the Planning Board level. "I am going to vote on this project based on its merit, but if you paid a public relations firm for this, then you should fire them."

Schulmerich said the town is putting an overall development plan together "and not just going to react to a developer's application."

The advertisement also stated that after North American Properties first considered building a shopping center on Chili Avenue, the company calculated the town would have to take out a $20 million bond to replace the buildings that would need to be demolished, which would have been a tax burden to the citizens.

 Michael Slattery, a Town Board member, said he didn't appreciate the "scare tactics."

"This kind of thing scares people who are on fixed income and don't want to pay more taxes," he said.

 "This whole advertisement could have been worded better."

 Both Benderson Development and North American Properties had proposals to build shopping centers in Chili, featuring a Target. Benderson Development proposed building a 37-acre retail complex on Chili Avenue. The town's Highway Department, senior center, Fire Department and Memorial Park are located on the site.

 In late September, Target agreed to enter into a contract with North American Properties to come to Chili on Paul Road if the Town Board approves the project.

 ELAMOTHE@DemocratandChronicle.com