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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , September 13 , 2017
‘ Radical rezoning ’ at issue in Montgomery
Continued from page 1
for retention basins . With an industrial development , she said the property would have a great deal more impervious surface and nowhere for the stormwater runoff to go .
Hayes explained that the property owners would still have to go through the regular Planning Board process for any future project , but Pitts objected , saying the town board should address the issues “ at this point , rather than kick it down the line to someone else .”
“ If you don ’ t change the zoning , it ’ s less likely to happen ,” said Pitts .
Pitts also asked the supervisor if the local law was due to someone asking him for a favor .
Hayes replied that the owner of the property across from Neelytown Road had inquired . After the town board looked it over , they decided that it made more sense to rezone the three parcels up to the town line rather than just the initial property .
Susan Cockburn , who previously served as town supervisor and is currently seeking election to the town board , reminded the board members that an extensive study of the area was done by local planner Alan Sorenson several years ago , including aerial photos and mapping of the flooding . She asked whether the board had consulted the document or done any research prior
VOTE FOR to putting forward the local law . The board admitted they had not looked at the study . Cockburn criticized the board ’ s failure to research before attempting such “ radical rezoning ” along the Wallkill River .
“ It ’ s wrong what you ’ ve done ,” said Cockburn . “[ Sorenson ] knows what he ’ s doing . I don ’ t think you do .”
The property owner defended the proposed local law , explaining that he had hired an expert who told him that his property could be filled and used for commercial , but that it didn ’ t make sense to build a residence there as no one would want to live there among the commercial and industrial properties of the town . He also pointed out that he would be providing the town with a new ratable and thus it would be a benefit to the entire town .
The public hearing was continued to the board ’ s next meeting on Sept . 14 at 7 p . m .
The public hearing for the proposed solar law was adjourned to the same evening , as the town has not yet received comments from the Orange County Planning Department .
In other business , a representative from Frontier approached the board about offering cable service advising that they are set to roll out services soon to seven municipalities in Orange County . A public hearing for the proposal was set for Oct . 5 at 7 p . m .
F . BRYAN PAZ
Endorsements : Democratic Party
Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation , AFL-CIO
Latino Democratic Committee of Orange County
Working Families
TOWN of MONTGOMERY SUPERVISOR
VOTE TUESDAY , NOV . 7
www . townofmontgomerysupervisor . com
Police Blotter
WALDEN POLICE
Amelia Pagan 33 of Walden was charged August 19 with criminal possession of stolen property 4th and grand larceny 4th . She was arraigned , remanded and returned to village court on August 25 .
Rosa Bairan 23 of Middletown was charged August 19 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd and arrested on a bench warrant out of State Police . She is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 and was turned over to the State Police .
Laura Thoby 38 of Walden was charged August 20 with criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument , petit larceny and she was arrested on an arrest warrant out of Walden . She was arraigned , remanded to Orange County Jail was scheduled to appear in village court on August 23 .
Hank Destefano 36 of Pleasant Valley was arrested August 22 on an arrest warrant out of Dutchess County . He was turned over to the Dutchess County Sheriff ’ s Department .
Lisa Richburg 50 of Walden was charged August 23 with harassment 2nd . She was arraigned in village court .
Mark Williams 26 of Montgomery was charged August 23 with criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument . He was arraigned , remanded to Orange County Jail and is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 13 .
Cristiann Piccininni 39 of Walden was charged August 23 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . She is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 13 . Robert Espinosa of Orlando FL . was charged August 24 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 13 . Joseph Hannigan 28 of Walden was charged August 25 with unlawful possession of marijuana . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Lester Cooper 63 of Newburgh was charged August 25 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Oct . 11 . A 19 year old female of Pine Bush was charged August 28 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . She is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Rebecca Phillips 34 of Walden was charged Aug 29 with 2 counts of aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd and use of cell phone . She is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Jelani Garland 21 of Walden was charged August 29 , with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Nicole Rojas 21 of Walden was charged August 30 with unlawful possession of marijuana . She is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Vincenza Villani 41 of Walden was charged August 30 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd , fail to surrender license and use of a cell phone . He was arrested on a bench warrant out of the Town of Newburgh . He was turned over to the Town of Newburgh Police and is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 27 .
Wayne Fields 26 of Newburgh was arrested August 30 on a bench warrant out of Walden . He was arraigned , remanded to Orange County Jail and is scheduled to appear in village court on Sept . 13 .
MAYBROOK POLICE Ricky Day , 24 , of Maybrook , was charged August 17 , with aggravated unlicensed operation , unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and equipment violation . He is due back in village court on Oct . 10 .
Deborah Gilbert , 51 , of Maybrook was charged August 19 , with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unreasonable speed . She is due back in village court on Oct . 10 .
Jessica Mohan , 20 , of Middletown , was charged August 24 with with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle , unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and equipment violation ( tinted windows ), failure to keep right , unsafe tires , unlawful possession of marijuana , criminal possession of stolen property 4th and unlawful fleeing of a police motor vehicle 3rd . She was due back in village court for a preliminary hearing on August 29 .