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What Benefits to Public on Marsh Hill Rd. in Putnam Valley?
To the Editor:
The Putnam Valley town board voted recently to approve the widening and re-grading of Marsh Hill Road to accommodate a new subdivision.
This subdivision greatly exceeds the length of a town road as specified in town code. The code says, "Intersecting streets shall be so laid out that blocks between street lines shall be not more than 1,200 feet in length". We should not live in fear of lawsuits over this. This road is 3900', more than three times. It's far beyond reasonable flexibility. This law exists for a reason, why now blatantly ignore it?
There was logic offered that population is increasing, we must accommodate it. It is not our job to accommodate increasing population. This would not make us exclusive; there is plenty of rotating existing housing stock for sale in the area.
There was logic offered that 31 acres donated to the town by the developer is a benefit. I am a huge proponent for protecting natural areas. It keeps property tax increases as low as possible, protects our town as we know it aesthetically and environmentally. However, if this is our purpose, don't ask developers to do it! It would be far cheaper for us to buy open space than to have a development add huge costs to taxpayers in exchange for 31 acres. Now that the possibility of a transfer tax has been passed by the state (2% fee that buyers of homes would pay), this is clearly the way to buy open space, costing the taxpayers nothing. Where is the logic to propose collecting land in exchange for developing when we can buy it via transfer tax? Even to buy land via bond would be far less expensive to taxpayers than through pieces of developments.
Development costs taxpayers a huge amount of money in education and highway costs. The issue of property tax revenue vs. school cost or mitigation of costs was not included in the in the planning of this project.
There was logic offered that we will avoid setting a precedent because the new zoning codes will be in place. They are not in place.
The resolution passed by the board states that the project contains less homes and a shorter road than originally proposed. Wow, what suckers! Every development is proposed larger than what is eventually allowed.
The value of a subdivision moratorium can be seen. This should not have been allowed until the new zoning codes and master plan are in place. Our planning board made a huge mistake in approving this. They are encouraging development while the town codes try to protect us. And now, the town board, having some say in the matter is doing damage as well. This offers no benefits to the town or its citizens. The only benefit is to those profiting from it.
Chris Rosen
Putnam Valley
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