GOSHEN – The Orange County Industrial Development Agency has approved a 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with Merlin Entertainments Group, parent company of Legoland, which wants to build a theme park in the Town of Goshen.
Merlin had originally sought a longer PILOT, but the IDA studied and rejected it, noted Chief Operating Officer Laurie Villasuso.
“They did initially apply for a 30-year-PILOT but we took a really hard look at the facts and figures,” Villasuso said. “We worked real closely with the Orange County Office of Real Property and a subcommittee of board members along with our independent study with KPMG and determined a compromise of 20 years.”
The IDA also approved sales and use tax exemption for construction of the project and equipping the facility.
The project is moving closer to final town approval.
