Monday, July 02, 2007
Annexations from Village of Woodbury and Monroe would boost Harriman
This tiny village of 1 square mile has always lived under the shadow of its two larger municipalities, the Towns of Monroe and Woodbury, which divide it down the middle.
But two potential annexations, which pit the village against the two larger towns, could significantly grant it more influence as a southern gateway into the county.
One annexation, a part of the former Nepera property, would take 53 acres of prime commercial land near Route 17 from the recently incorporated Village of Woodbury. That would potentially boost Harriman's tax revenue while decreasing property taxes for its 2,273 residents.
The proposal is drawing heated opposition from Village of Woodbury residents, who gathered for a public hearing about it at Harriman Village Hall on Church Street last week. Most of the opponents complained of the revenue loss for the Village of Woodbury, which is paying an additional half-million dollars a year for its newly incorporated government.
Woodbury incorporated almost all of its town as a village largely to prevent its Hasidic neighbor, the Village of Kiryas Joel, from encroaching on its boundaries. It remains unclear if the new government would fight the annexation.
The other proposed annexation into Harriman would allow a developer to build a 189-unit senior housing development on 11 acres of land near the intersection of Route 17M and Route 17. About 8 acres of the total property would have to be annexed from the Town of Monroe, which has vehemently fought the annexation since it was first proposed in 2003.
Monroe wants the land to remain part of its commercial corridor along Route 17M. The town has argued that annexation would deprive it of crucial tax revenue, as well as inhibit the growth of more businesses along its primary commercial strip.
Annexation of the property would provide Harriman its only senior housing development, as well as give it a foothold for more expansion farther south along Route 17M.
Harriman Mayor Stephen Welle said that a three-judge panel of the State Appellate Court recommended early last month to allow the annexation, as long as the developer, American Senior Communities LLC, builds the senior homes within five years. Failure to do so would return the land to the Town of Monroe.
A ruling on the annexation could come within the month, Welle said.
Monroe Supervisor Sandy Leonard said her government would continue to fight the annexation.
"I do not want to give up any of the town's commercial tax base," she said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/NEWS/707020323/-1/NEWS
This tiny village of 1 square mile has always lived under the shadow of its two larger municipalities, the Towns of Monroe and Woodbury, which divide it down the middle.
But two potential annexations, which pit the village against the two larger towns, could significantly grant it more influence as a southern gateway into the county.
One annexation, a part of the former Nepera property, would take 53 acres of prime commercial land near Route 17 from the recently incorporated Village of Woodbury. That would potentially boost Harriman's tax revenue while decreasing property taxes for its 2,273 residents.
The proposal is drawing heated opposition from Village of Woodbury residents, who gathered for a public hearing about it at Harriman Village Hall on Church Street last week. Most of the opponents complained of the revenue loss for the Village of Woodbury, which is paying an additional half-million dollars a year for its newly incorporated government.
Woodbury incorporated almost all of its town as a village largely to prevent its Hasidic neighbor, the Village of Kiryas Joel, from encroaching on its boundaries. It remains unclear if the new government would fight the annexation.
The other proposed annexation into Harriman would allow a developer to build a 189-unit senior housing development on 11 acres of land near the intersection of Route 17M and Route 17. About 8 acres of the total property would have to be annexed from the Town of Monroe, which has vehemently fought the annexation since it was first proposed in 2003.
Monroe wants the land to remain part of its commercial corridor along Route 17M. The town has argued that annexation would deprive it of crucial tax revenue, as well as inhibit the growth of more businesses along its primary commercial strip.
Annexation of the property would provide Harriman its only senior housing development, as well as give it a foothold for more expansion farther south along Route 17M.
Harriman Mayor Stephen Welle said that a three-judge panel of the State Appellate Court recommended early last month to allow the annexation, as long as the developer, American Senior Communities LLC, builds the senior homes within five years. Failure to do so would return the land to the Town of Monroe.
A ruling on the annexation could come within the month, Welle said.
Monroe Supervisor Sandy Leonard said her government would continue to fight the annexation.
"I do not want to give up any of the town's commercial tax base," she said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/NEWS/707020323/-1/NEWS
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