Orangetown Board Approves Change to Senior Citizen Housing

The minimum age to be eligible for senior citizen housing in Orangetown is now 55.

The Orangetown Town Board approved the change in its meeting Tuesday, amending Town Code Chapter 43, Zoning, Article XI, Section 11.2 entitled "Senior Citizen Housing."

The Board of Managers of The Meadows at Pearl River Condominium requested the change, which reduces the age for senior citizens from 62 to 55 when it relates to senior citizen housing only.

"We did some research on The Meadows," said Orangetown Deputy Attorney Rob Magrino. "When the Meadows was built, it was built under a senior citizen portion of the law. The Meadows petitioned for the change of definition of senior citizen from 62 to 55 os they can market their homes to people 55 and over."

Ira Emanuel, an attorney from New City, represented The Meadows in this matter. He brought a petition with signatures from 44 of the 59 owners of units in The Meadows supporting the change. Many were in attendance at Tuesday's board meeting.

The measure passed by a vote of four to one, with Councilman Michael Maturo voting against it. Though The Meadows is the only entity in Orangetown that would be impacted by the change, Maturo expressed concern that it could be used with new senior housing developments in the future.

"By expanding the definition town-wide of senior citizen, which is inconsistent with what the nation is doing, where it is going up, you are impacting the future of housing for individuals over 62.

"It is a certain age, not something to be adjusted to the market needs of one property. I don't se why changing the town-wide definition makes sense when it is one property that would prefer to have this at the moment."

Magrino and town attorney John Edwards both said that the new definition would be very narrow and is unlikely to have any impact beyond The Meadows.

The board also approved the addition of an alternate member of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals, this time by a unanimous vote.

"I talked about this for several years," Councilman Denis Troy said. "I'm happy this is going through tonight."

National Police Week

Orangetown Supervisor Paul Whalen read a resolution honoring National Police Week which is May 15-21. He acknowledged law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including 160 nationwide in 2010. May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day. All flags in the town will be at half mast to honor those officers and their families.

"On behalf of entire town board, I would like to proclaim May 15-May 21 as National Police Week in the town of Orangetown and publicly salute law enforcement officers here in our community and in communities across this nation."

All Wet

The board approved the use of garbage cans and barriers for parking and pedestrian control for the Orangeburg Fire Departement's Annual Carnival June 1-5 in the Dominican College Parking lot. Whalen announced that he will be taking a turn in the carnival's dunk tank for the second consecutive year.

"I still haven't learned my lesson," Whalen said.

Troy joked that he and Maturo will be lining up for their turns.