Current Issues - May 2007

Open Government and Accountability

by Chris Rand

NYS is encouraging all government meetings to be televised.  The LaGrange Democratic Party supports televising all government meetings held within the town of LaGrange using the cable access channel available to the town.

A tape of the meetings could also be archived at the LaGrange library for those who do not have cable service.

Minutes should be taken and available for all governmental meetings in the Town of LaGrange.  Currently, minutes are not taken for the workshop sessions held twice a month by the Town Board

Town Finances

The LaGrange Democratic Party supports fiscal restraint and sensibility when accounting for the town’s finances.

Last year, on November 1st 2006, the town board recommended increasing spending by 11.7% for the town, while also approving pay raises for some town employees as high as 12.5%.  The town boards own consultants identified seven employees as being overpaid, but were given the raises nonetheless.  The LDP went on record questioning the large increase /raises.

Building and Development

The LaGrange Democratic Party is committed to increasing the business base in LaGrange.  We also favor a landowner’s right to pursue the real estate possibilities of their property.

The LaGrange Democratic Party also recognizes the responsibility and the importance of development oversight as to not affect the town in negative ways.   A cornerstone of thought on this is “how will it impact the current and future residents”.

Impact studies on the following must be scrutinized thoroughly with the following in mind to benefit the town residents.

• Preserving open space
• Impact on adjacent properties
• Traffic considerations and alternatives
• Water supply and sanitary sewage
• Stormwater management
• Environmental concerns—wildlife and flora
• Infrastructure-schools, fire, police and tax implications

There are currently several Planned Development Districts (PDD) before the town that need very careful consideration for the Future of LaGrange.

The Town Center

Located across from Arlington High School, this project encompasses 194 acres of proposed development, including

• 623 housing units
• 70,000-sq. ft. commercial space
• 93,000 sq. ft. office space
• 78,000-sq. ft. of hotel space. 

At the current time, the major concerns with the Town Center development are:

• The property is over 30% wetlands.
• The traffic on Route 55 will have roundabouts and will lower the speed limit at that location to 30 mph.
• It will increase the student enrollment that will further increase our school tax burden.

Halstead Farms

Located on 152 acres on Titusville Road, this project is proposed to include:

• 656 multifamily housing units
• 88,000-sq. ft. of office space
• A strip commercial center

This property encompasses a flood plain along the Wappinger Creek with about 22 acres left undeveloped. When the land dedicated for commercial, office and floodplain is removed from the overall tract, the density is 6 housing units per acre

Apple Acres Property

This is a forty acre piece of property. The proposal includes:

• 39 single-family homes
• 47 town home

This would be a gated community for age qualified housing (55 or over) with private roads built to town standards. The development will maintain the roads and lighting.

Titusville Corporate Park

This property is currently zoned industrial . It is being proposed  for development with 95 townhouse style homes along the rail trail.

Issues with these development plans include:

• Traffic on Titusville and it’s intersections (especially Route 55 and Noxon Rd) is very congested and the narrow road can barely handle the increases from the recent construction already completed (Golds Gym, Dunkin Donuts,and Titusville Plaza
• ¨Enviormental concerns
• School enrollment increases to an already burgeoning district