Village of Washingtonville Has "No Appetite" to Revisit Major Housing Plan for Casazza Farmland

ejreporter
4 hours ago
4 min read

Updated: 5 minutes ago

Center of the historic Village of Washingttonville

Editorial

After several years and many thousands of dollars completing a new Comprehensive Plan for the Village, the owners of the Southern Gateway to the Village and very beginning of the Catskill Mountains and Tourism attractions, the owners of the spectacular Southern Gateway View (and one of the last large open space views) made yet another attempt to convince the Village to use it for a new "affordable housing development". The 150 acres is overlaid with a large and currently protected scenic view from Route 208 across the fields and with Woodcock Mt. in the background. There could be ample space to put about 40 single-family homes on an acre each and still retain the farmland and mountain view. But the applicants, eager to sell the entire acreage as a unit, have not been successful negotiating any compromise during the months since the Comprehensive Plan was passed. Not only is the Village Board of one mind not to give up the iconic view and signature farmland, saying that they have no appetite for reviewing yet another presentation with essentially the same housing goals, they have plenty of data from public sessions, interviews and surveys showing that the residents agree, with hundreds of comments, many of which were the importance of keeping its small and historic image. Others emphasized their most important goal to have a place for festivals, artisans and community activities that is close to Village Center.. They also have data from scientists about the encroaching problems that upstate is starting to have due to overdevelopment.

Data chart showing encroachment of environmental degredation and pollution as overdevelopment creeps North.

And then there is the overwhelming passion that current residents all over Orange County have for farm based products, events and festivals. While there are no other LARGE open space areas to solve the "low cost housing" issue, there are several areas even closer to the Village Center that clusters of 10-12 veteran and young family units could be built. One such place could be along the new Schunnemunk trail. And there are several older homes with repair issues within a mile of Village Center where another 10 townhouses could be built, without removing the Village's top visual and important environmental land attraction. And it will have to act soon if Washingtonville wants to "stay in the loop" of surrounding communities that have very successfull Agri-Businesses (Roe's Orchards, Pine Hill Farm, Blooming Hill Farm, Rowe Farms, on Station Road, Pennings Orchards, Wright Family Farm, and nearly dozen wineries), just to mention a few within 10-15 miles, and ACCORDING TO NEW YORK STATE RECORDS, farming still earns $ billions of dollars of farm production income per year (not to mention the boost to other businesses).

And what about the alternative? How successful and popular are the two high density cardboard cut-out affordable housing complexes now getting completed in South Blooming Grove. What about the vows that low-cost housing can be a reputable accomplishment. But we all know what can and often happens if that developer has a problem.....the chances that the project will be taken over by another reputable developer, or not, well we can call those

chances "iffy", and failure means disastrous results that can be seen for miles.

"Prospect Gardens" in the Village of South Blooming Grove

One of the many Public Sessions held with hundreds of community members while the new Comprehensive Plan was being developed.

The Village received a very complimentary response from Orange County Planning about their new Comprehensive Plan.

And what about Traffic congestion if it becomes a significant housing development. Traffic congestion in this major North-South corridor is already an issue, and with few acceptable solutions available that would retain the historic and country atmosphere that makes this community.

And what about the rush of environmental advocates, hikers and artisans we

hope to see coming this way as the Schunnemunk Rail Trail gets completed during the next 2 years. Where else could a major annual Festival or two be held. Where can we have a large community garden and teach people how to stay healthy where food on the land grown near their home has the best chance to keep them healthy and the process of growing it themselves gives incalculable joy.

And so, the Village Board (after the meeting) spent a litttle time chatting about what the chances might be that the applicant would find it acceptable to begin with 30 or 40 single-family homes on one acre each. And meanwhile, we wonder -HAVE THE APPLICANTS DONE ANY recent serious inquiries whether the Land Trust and/or Open Space Institute would be interested in purchasing 1/3 of the remaining acreage (including the Scenic Overlay) that would be seriously supportive of the new trail they have spent so much time, effort and money on.....and 10 young single-family homes along the Trail'sedge (that an "interested purchasing persons" list would be ready-made from the 10 nearest hiking groups). What about having 3 successful trail related businesses near the Trailhead. That would leave just about 50 acres for a Community Garden, a Pavilion, and just MAYBE a state-of-the-art Assisted Living Senior Coimplex with 15-20 units.

Children going on a little adventure behind May's Field along the Schunnemunk Rail Trail that is expected to be completed during the next 2 years, from Chester, through the Town of Blooming Grove, Village of Washingtonville, Hamlet of Salisbury Mills and Town of Cornwall