Golden Triangle plan
By Christian M. Wade
Times Herald-Record
cwade@th-record.com
Town of Wallkill – A crucial vote on a proposal by a Monroe-based developer to build a massive housing and retail complex in the Town of Wallkill has been delayed, and several town officials are calling for a new, independent traffic study of the project.
It's the latest twist in a saga that dates back more than a decade, when developer Michael Jeremias proposed to build 90 town houses and as much as 500,000 square feet of commercial space on a 90-acre wedge of land between Routes 211 and 17.
At a meeting last week, the town Planning Board was supposed to vote on a final environmental impact study of the project, prepared by the developer, which suggests that the proposed development will not have a negative impact on the town.
But the seven-member Planning Board decided to table a vote on the environmental study, saying they needed more time to review the developer's proposal.
And several members of the Town Board, including Councilmen Eric Valentin and John King, are pushing for an independent study of the project's impact on traffic.
"We are not convinced by the findings of the developer's environmental study that this massive project will alleviate traffic in the area," Valentin said yesterday. "This project is a fast-forward to Rockland County, supported by a voodoo traffic study."
Valentin proposed that the town pay for another traffic study of the project, conducted by an independent consulting firm. "It will be money well spent," he said.
The Golden Triangle is perhaps one of the largest proposed developments in the Orange County town's history.
The project hinges on approval from the Planning Board, which is divided on the effectiveness of the plan, and state and federal transportation officials, and it would be done in two phases. The town houses would be built first, followed by the commercial properties – including a 200-room hotel and 14 multi-use retail units ranging in size from 3,600 square feet to 126,500 square feet.
The proposal calls for building a new town road between Scotchtown Road at the north end of the property and Route 211 at the south end. Traffic now leaving Route 17 to get to Route 211 East would instead come off the highway onto the new road.
Meanwhile, the town's newly created Conservation Commission has weighed in on the controversial project, issuing a report that raises "serious concerns" about the impact of the Golden Triangle on the local environment and the increase of traffic.
By Christian M. Wade
Times Herald-Record
cwade@th-record.com
Town of Wallkill – A crucial vote on a proposal by a Monroe-based developer to build a massive housing and retail complex in the Town of Wallkill has been delayed, and several town officials are calling for a new, independent traffic study of the project.
It's the latest twist in a saga that dates back more than a decade, when developer Michael Jeremias proposed to build 90 town houses and as much as 500,000 square feet of commercial space on a 90-acre wedge of land between Routes 211 and 17.
At a meeting last week, the town Planning Board was supposed to vote on a final environmental impact study of the project, prepared by the developer, which suggests that the proposed development will not have a negative impact on the town.
But the seven-member Planning Board decided to table a vote on the environmental study, saying they needed more time to review the developer's proposal.
And several members of the Town Board, including Councilmen Eric Valentin and John King, are pushing for an independent study of the project's impact on traffic.
"We are not convinced by the findings of the developer's environmental study that this massive project will alleviate traffic in the area," Valentin said yesterday. "This project is a fast-forward to Rockland County, supported by a voodoo traffic study."
Valentin proposed that the town pay for another traffic study of the project, conducted by an independent consulting firm. "It will be money well spent," he said.
The Golden Triangle is perhaps one of the largest proposed developments in the Orange County town's history.
The project hinges on approval from the Planning Board, which is divided on the effectiveness of the plan, and state and federal transportation officials, and it would be done in two phases. The town houses would be built first, followed by the commercial properties – including a 200-room hotel and 14 multi-use retail units ranging in size from 3,600 square feet to 126,500 square feet.
The proposal calls for building a new town road between Scotchtown Road at the north end of the property and Route 211 at the south end. Traffic now leaving Route 17 to get to Route 211 East would instead come off the highway onto the new road.
Meanwhile, the town's newly created Conservation Commission has weighed in on the controversial project, issuing a report that raises "serious concerns" about the impact of the Golden Triangle on the local environment and the increase of traffic.
ביטע לערן דיך אויס וויאזוי צו מאכן פון לינקס צו רעכטס, דוקא
תוקן על ידי - davka - 13/05/2005 16:24:27