Preserve Ramapo

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Ramapo: Pascack Ridge zone change hearing draws hundreds in heated public hearing

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Residents packed Ramapo Town Hall to speak out on the proposed zone change for the Pascack Ridge housing project on Aug. 15, 2019 (Photo: Steve Lieberman)

“Hundreds of residents packed Town Hall as talks got heated on a zone change that would allow a Pascack Ridge developer to build at least 220 housing units on less than 30 acres along the Clarkstown and Spring Valley borders.

After listening to nearly two dozen speakers over several hours on Thursday night — most of whom trashed the project as over-development favoring ultra-Orthodox Jews and out of character for the area —  the Town Board’s five members closed the public hearing, but will accept written comments and emails to the Town Clerk’s Office until Sept. 3. [Read more…]

Critical Public Hearings: Pascack Ridge and Ramapo’s Northeast Strategic Plan on Wed Aug. 15 and Monday Aug. 19

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From CUPON

Below are 2 critical projects that will be enacted by the town of Ramapo’s elected Board if we do not express our concerns about them.

On August 15th a Public Hearing will be conducted on Pascack Ridge.  This proposal is to build approximately 290 housing units on the wooded property between Rose Ave in Spring valley, North Pascack Road, and Ewing Ave in Hillcrest. If you live or travel in this area, loss of the scenic forest, increased traffic, noise and congestion will become a way of life. [Read more…]

Ramapo and Mount Vernon demonstrate the dire need for stronger building code enforcement

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Senator James Skoufis
Photo: Carucha L. Meuse/ The Journal News

The Journal News  “Senate probe of New York’s building codes zeroes in on two municipalities with terrible reputations: Mount Vernon, where a lone inspector handles the entire city, and Ramapo, where lax enforcement has led volunteer firefighters and the County of Rockland to step in.

“The key takeaway from this investigation is that there has been a systematic failure to adequately prioritize code enforcement at all levels of government,” said state Sen. James Skoufis, who leads the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.

He said his panel’s seven-month deep dive looked at “what is working, what is not working and where we need to focus on prioritization of code enforcement in the State of New York.”

And Mount Vernon and Ramapo were repeatedly cited in the report for failures.  [Read more…]

Top offer of $5 million for quarry could ease Ramapo budget woes as town seeks more bids

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“The Suffern Quarry has drawn additional offers, including a top bid of $5 million, for potential industrial development on the 60 acre site that features a massive hole filled with millions of gallons of water.

Ramapo received two proposals this week from a New Jersey realty company and a developer from Maspeth in Queens, with both offers topping the previous high bid of $3.2 million received among the first three offers this month.

Supervisor Michael Specht said Friday that he’s pleased by the growing interest, but hopes for additional offers. He said there’s no time frame to choose a buyer and Suffern would decide the use of the property. [Read more…]

POSTPONED: Bluefield Extension Project on the Ramapo Zoning Board Agenda Postponed until August 15

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We have been advised that the Bluefield Extension Project on the Ramapo Zoning Board agenda for Wednesday July 24 has been postponed to Thursday, August 15, 2019. CUPON had submitted all of its documents in writing by July 17, and the Applicants now want time to respond, so the Town is rescheduling the meeting. We know that this is in the dead of summer, but CUPON asks if you are in Town on August 15, please attend the meeting.

Ramapo gets 3 proposals to purchase Suffern quarry

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Aerial photo of the Suffern Quarry

The Suffern Quarry   Photo Courtesy Lee Ross (www.rosspilot.com)

“Ramapo officials will consider three proposals to sell the Suffern Quarry, the massive hole filled with millions of gallons of water overlooking the business district.

The proposals range from $3.2 million to $1 million to purchase the property, along with offers to lease the 60 acres pending an option to buy down the road.

The three developers proposed commercial development, such as warehousing, a landscaping business and storage, and a film-production facility.

Although Ramapo owns the quarry, Suffern controls land-use approvals. The property is zoned for light industry zoning and doesn’t allow for housing. [Read more…]

Chestnut Ridge Wants Planning Board Approvals for Home Burials in Village Neighborhoods

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That headline is not a misprint. At this Thursday’s Village Board meeting (July 18, 8pm–Village Hall) the Mayor and Board will consider allowing residents to bury human remains on their property with little more than an application to the Planning Board, such as you might submit for putting up a shed on your property.

The following letter was sent out by CUPON explaining the proposed change to the municipal law and also recent controversies created by local school buses. [Read more…]

Concerns raised about ‘substantial equivalency’ regulations as comment period opens

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State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia Photo: Carucha L Meuse/The Journal News

“As the state Education Department begins accepting public comments Wednesday on proposed regulations for private-school instruction, state officials are staying quiet on key components of the regulations that concern advocates for “substantially equivalent” academics in private schools.

The regulations lay out instructional ground that private schools must cover at each level of schooling, from math and science to health education and the visual arts to citizenship and the U.S. Constitution. They are intended to clarify how private schools can comply with state law, which has long required that academic instruction in private schools be substantially equivalent to what’s taught in public schools.

But the proposed regulations include possible concessions to religious schools, particularly Hasidic yeshivas, that have faced criticism for offering limited academic instruction to male students who are focused on religious studies. [Read more…]

Suffern school board elects new president, then names new acting superintendent

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“The Suffern school board elected Matthew Kern as its new president and Paul Shapiro as vice president Tuesday evening meeting, before naming Lisa Weber, the district’s assistant superintendent of instruction, as acting superintendent.

Lisa Castaldo, who served as acting superintendent since Superintendent Douglas Adams’ suspension in March, was named the new assistant superintendent, effective July 15.

Kern and Shapiro, who were the only board members nominated, were unanimously elected. Two of the seven board members, Donald Cairns and Angus MacKenzie, were not present for the votes. [Read more…]