TOWN OF MONROE – State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens has designated the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kiryas Joel as lead agency for the review of a proposed annexation of some 510 acres of land from the Town of Monroe.
His decision dated Wednesday, January 28 is based on his finding that the village board “has the broadest governmental powers for investigation of the impact(s) of the proposed actions and hence greater capacity to review impacts of development that may be a consequence of annexation.”
Lead agency status was also requested for the DEC, Monroe-Woodbury School District and Orange County. County Executive Steven Neuhaus maintains, though, that the county should be designated lead agency “for all large annexations which would expand a municipal border by 10 percent or more and would have such a massive impact on local resources.” He said the state legislature should “give counties a definitive role in this process.”
The property proposed for annexation consists of 177 tax lot parcels in seven cluster groups with more than half appearing to be unimproved. A total of 462 acres contain forested and agricultural lands, water features and wetlands.
Martens said he received many letters of concern requesting that neither the town board of village board be selected based on the possible motivations of each municipal body. “In past lead agency disputes involving annexations, the commissioner has indicated that a municipality’s possible motivation is not relevant to resolution of the dispute,” he wrote.
Opponents of the annexation maintain village fathers plan on using the
land to double the size of the village and its population.
Martens’ decision does not change or diminish the jurisdiction of the Monroe Town Board in its role as an involved agency and issues identified by the town board must be considered in the review of the project, he said. Substantive issues raised by interested parties, including the school districts, should also be included in the review.
The commissioner also reminded KJ officials that they have committed to an enhanced and transparent coordinated review including public scoping sessions, web posting of documents and a SEQR hearing on the draft generic environmental impact statement.
Assemblyman James Skoufis (D, Woodbury) does not believe KJ officials will do justice to the process.
“Given the Village of Kiryas Joel’s propensity to disregard environmental laws and regulations, as well as the village’s indifference toward the open meetings law, I strongly believe KJ’s government is completely incapable of leading such a critical environmental review,” Skoufis said. “I will continue working with stakeholders in holding the leadership of Kiryas Joel accountable during this lengthy process.”
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