Well-laid plans? Hamptonburgh Highjinks
Dear Nieces and Nephews
Attention Equestrians and Homeowners in Hamptonburgh!!!
Monday May 7th at 7PM, the Town of HamptonburghTown Board at 18 Bull Rd.
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 will discuss the Green Acres Development and the Zoning Change.
It seems that our Orange County leaders and public figures are in hot pursuit of another development deal that really has us shaking our heads. It seems that in order to keep Medline, a medical distribution company in Orange County, they support the relocation of Medline to the Town of Hamptonburgh from it’s current location in Wawayanda.
Medline, wants to expand but does not have enough space in it’s current location. What would you do in this case if you wanted to keep it in the county? Why, if you were Steve Noodlehaus and his friends, you would propose to put it in the middle of a rural area that is composed of horse farms!!! Yes that’s correct in Fridays THR,
STEVE SAID: “It’s a night-and-day difference” (compared to a housing development)“What is going to be the lesser burden on the neighbors, and what’s going to be the biggest benefit?”
Wait, what did you say? Will a major medical distribution center be a better fit in the middle of horse farms or will a housing development be more disruptive? Oh yes, those senior citizens and their 18 wheelers, driving on the local roads to/from the store will really, truly be more disturbing than the medical supply SUV’s and Mini-vans quietly gurgling along, securely delivering anesthesia accessories, syringes and needles, from their distribution center, one that fits in so well, most people mistake it for a horse farm! (That’s sarcasm again. ) http://www.medline.com/category/Pain-Management/cat6120004;ecomsessionid=snXDb6+xixID2fg3V8rjkA__
On no! Steve, we think you have that backwards. But don’t worry, your good buddy, Maureen Halahan of the under-investigation Orange County Partnership, is coming to your defense.
MAUREEN SAID: “If this doesn’t go through, Medline could leave the state and take hundreds of jobs with them,” http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180503/officials-warn-of-medline-exit-if-larger-warehouse-not-built
Jobs jobs jobs!!! Medline currently has 340 employees and with the expansion hopes to employ 500. Not “hundreds” to be gained. And to lose the 340 current jobs depends on where they relocate. Do you think that Medline wants to retrain 340 people? Silly Maureen, you and your friend, Steve Noodlehaus, don’t seem to have your story straight.
Are you seriously comparing the burdens of the two options? Are you seriously saying that the medical supply distribution center is less burdensome in terms of noise, traffic and pollution?
Maureen, there are 357 major businesses in Orange County the majority of which are manufacturing and/or distribution. Just how many more do you want? How many more do you think we need? Is this 'love of county' or love of a bonus/commission based on the number of new businesses in the county? Or perhaps, other financial incentives? http://www.ocpartnership.org/includes/generate.aspx
OCP Spreadsheet:
Some of the items Steve and Maureen did not highlight:
Medline will be getting ANOTHER tax abatement in the form of a PILOT.
Medline will benefit by saving time and money, especially if the Hamptonburgh Town Board pushes the project. (see link below, Jankowski)*
A Senior Housing development (the original proposal) will be a much better fit than a warehouse distribution center and it is not taxing on the school system. But there are other options as well.
Medline will be more disturbing to the neighbors and the environment.
Is Medline, who seems to be threatening to leave in order to receive a tax abatement more important? Is the potential addition of 160 jobs more important that the existing horse farms and their proprietors? After all, the horse farms employ people, the horse farms are for breeding, buying and selling of horses and for hacking (not the computer kind). Are the potential jobs worth MORE THAN THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE FARMS AND MAKING A LIVELIHOOD in a beautiful pristine setting? Just who the heck do you represent???
Add this to the fact that the farms in NYS (dairy, specialty crop, etc) are disappearing rapidly! To preserve the area, why not place another horse farm there? Or a small “carbon footprint” business that caters to Equestrians?
And this is just insulting:
“HAMPTONBURGH - A developer is so dedicated to being a good neighbor that he’s offered to buy out the people who live in the neighboring homes for 120 percent of their appraised value if they don’t like his project.”
“Zvi Segal, with the Green Acres Development Group in Wappingers Falls, recently sent a letter to some homeowners on Quarry Road who abut about 360 acres of land he owns at Route 416 and Eager Road.”
If the developer purchases the land surrounding the project, what need is there for a buffer zone and dedicated green space in the immediate area? We do not believe his offer of buying surrounding
properties is for altruistic reasons. Ask yourself how much easier it would be for the developer if he owned even more of the parcels.
Place a major commercial project in the middle of a rural or environmentally sensitive area? This is not the first time. (Reference: Legoland)
Nieces and Nephews, do you see the pattern?
“…what’s going to be the biggest benefit?” asks Steve
“To whom?” asks your Auntie.
PS Dear Hamptonburgh Equestrians:
If you think it this not going to happen in spite of your protests, look at who your elected officials are:
Town Board and former candidate for NYS Assembly Rich Cocchiara Friend of Steve (FOS)
Town Justice Richard Golden: Attorney for OCPartnership led by Maureen Halahan (FOS)
Town Highway Superintendent AND Planning Board member James Cawein Sr. (Elected and Appointed positions. Is this done in any other municipality? Should it be?)
Town Supervisor Robert S Jankowski: in office since 1975, please read his message in the March newsletter and ask yourself if he is interested in “preserving the rural character of the town”. He, too, is a Friend of Steve (FOS) \http://www.thephoto-news.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130425/NEWS01/130429963/0/MILESTONES01/Diana-gone-County-Exec
And even more problematic:
Jankowski said: “I’m hopeful that after careful consideration the town board will vote to approve this tremendous benefit to all town residents.”
Just like in Goshen, this town supervisor has made his decision beforehand. Why could that be? The arguments he has made in favor of the Medline project are inaccurate at best and possibly disingenuous.
Maybe he is more focused on the road to Longboat Key, Florida. Wouldn’t it be nice if he had some extra cash to spend in his retirement?
posted by Auntie Alibi @ 12:16 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
As usual Miss Auntie and team profound investigating. With so many areas more suitable it does make one wonder doesn't it. OC is on a tremendous downslide and the same names always seem to be mentioned and involved. It is time for a major investigation into certain of these names and affiliations.
Great work as always. I'm amazed and deeply appreciative for what you do Auntie!
Auntie Alibi and the Team want to thank all of the Nieces and Nephews who attended the meeting on Monday at the Hamptonburgh Town Hall. Well done!
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