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Archives for January 2019

Airmont: Judge tosses Hasidic congregation’s legal action against village

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Congregation’s legal action against Airmont is dismissed by state judge

“An acting state judge rejected an Orthodox Jewish congregation’s legal action claiming Airmont violated its own zoning laws involving a synagogue hit with violations during a village wide building moratorium.

Mayor Philip Gigante applauded the village’s vindication in state Supreme Court, as he also has denied allegations made in two separate federal lawsuits claiming the village discriminates against Orthodox and Hasidic Jews.

The congregation’s legal action – called an Article 78 – has nothing to do with the two civil rights lawsuits. [Read more…]

Public Participation Meeting: Northeast Ramapo Charette Work-in-Progress Wed Jan 23

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The meeting will consider several large-scale development projects in the Northeast Sector of the Town of Ramapo, and comments from the public will make up much of the evening’s agenda.

Time: 6pm  Wednesday January 23

Location: Pomona Middle School, 101 Pomona Road, Suffern, NY

The Northeast Ramapo Strategic Plan Study Area Map and the November 29 Open House Presentation can be found here.

Lawsuit accuses Chestnut Ridge of discrimination vs. Orthodox and Hasidic Jews

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“Even as local officials consider a hotly contested zoning law that would permit houses of worship in houses in residential neighborhoods, a coalition of ultra-Orthodox Jews filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Ramapo village.

The legal action – filed hours before Tuesday’s fourth public hearing on the proposed law – states the village’s five-acre minimum for a house of worship was “onerous” for religious freedom. [Read more…]

CUPON: Special Chestnut Ridge Board Meeting, Tues. Jan 15

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Special Village Board Meeting, Tuesday January 15 at 7:30 PM at the Chestnut Ridge Middle School, 892 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Spring Valley. This meeting is another continuation of the special hearing on proposed large scale zoning changes.

We want to thank everyone who attended the previous meetings, we had 1000 people at the first and over 600 at the second meeting

We need to attend this meeting because the board is getting close to making a final decision! [Read more…]

Ramapo mulls future for multiple properties amid deficit, development issues

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The Suffern Quarry Image courtesy Rosspilot

“Town officials continue to wrestle with the future of properties once bought for profit and for green and historic preservation as part of an ambitious plan to prevent development.

With the town facing an estimated $8.5 million deficit, officials are contending with new financial realities as demands for more housing clash with demands for open space.

On Monday night, five of those dozens of properties were discussed during a public hearing that lasted several hours and was attended by dozens of residents who packed Ramapo Town Hall. [Read more…]

Tonight–Monday Jan 7–Public Hearing as Ramapo Discusses Selling Open Space Properties

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Ramapo Sign For Sale by OwnerTonight at 7pm, the Town of Ramapo Asset Review Commitee (TARC) will hold a meeting to gather public input on its intention to sell the following properties:

Tilcon Quarry, 15 Tilton Road, Suffern;
40 Pinebrook Road, Chestnut Ridge;
Hamlets of Ramapo, Lake Street, Hillburn;
Ramapo Cultural Arts Center, 66 Main St. Spring Valley; and
96 Camp Hill Road, Pomona.

No doubt, these properties are likely to end up in the hands of developers. If you would like to be heard, or further informed on what the Supervisor and Board have in mind, be there at 7 tonight.

New York slumlords thrive as political leaders look away: Preserve Ramapo Chairman

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Photo of Bob Rhodes Chairman of Preserve Ramapo

Robert Rhodes Chairman Preserve Ramapo

The following editorial by Robert Rhodes appeared in The Journal News December 31, 2018

Our housing market is broken. Improving economic conditions have not led to the construction of affordable housing. The cost of two-bedroom apartments in Manhattan went up by 30 percent in 2016 and the outer boroughs were not far behind.

As rents have increased the marginal middle class is moving down into less desirable housing and paying more and more money for housing while competing with poorer families. This is what happens when more money chases the fixed supply of an essential product. [Read more…]