NEW YORK – The Board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Stewart Airport, has approved a new 20-year lease with the USDA to operate its animal import quarantine center there.
Port Authority Aviation Director Thomas Bosco told the board on Thursday that the facility, which is housed on 67 acres, has been at Stewart for over 40 years.
“The site accommodates 18 buildings, 16 of which are specialized for animal quarantine,” Bosco said. “The other two are used for management purposes. Half of the lease-hold is not suitable for development due to wetlands and steep slopes. It is, however, ideal for setback requirements for quarantine facilities of this type.”
The current lease, which was in place when the Port Authority took over Stewart in late 2007, did not include rent; however, the new lease will include $4.8 million in ground lease fees.
The Stewart facility is one of three in the country. The others are in Miami and Los Angeles.
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