GOSHEN – The Board of Directors
of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce has voted to formally support
the development of the Legoland theme park in the Town of Goshen.
Chamber President Lynn Cione said the facility will mean hundreds of jobs, boost the economy and grow tourism.
“This is a small scale theme park,” Cione said. “This is not a giant theme park with roller coasters that are tens of stories high. The roller coasters will not be higher than the tree lines. It will be a seasonal theme park open six months of the year. It will provide yet another hotel for our community and we need hotels. One of the fastest growing sectors of our industries is tourism and hospitality, so something like Legoland fits very nicely into one of our growth sectors.”
Cione said the property upon which Legoland would sit generates $91,000
in property taxes now. If constructed, a payment-in-lieu of taxes plan
would guarantee $1.4 million annually in the first year the park is open
and increase to $52 million over the course of the 30-year agreement.
Not everyone sees the theme park the same way. Opponents say it will clog the roadways, impact the area’s water supply, and kill the rural character of the community.
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