Common sense and the Orangeburg Commons

For the last 10 years I have worked to protect our community and the environment on Orangetown’s  Planning Board as a Member and Chairman for 2 years, and before that on the  Architecture and Community Appearance Board of Review as Member and Vice Chairman for over 20 years. At this time I am also a Democratic candidate for the Town Council.     

Orangetown will have a number of huge land use decisions to make in the near future. These will include the RPC property and most immediately the Orangeburg Commons just south of Lowes on Route 303 in Orangeburg.

Many of these large tracts are now first reviewed by the Town Council.  Although well meaning, their collective experience in the crucial review process is limited. Nancy Low-Hogan was a Planning Board Member and Chair in South Nyack. Her departure will substantially diminish the collective planning experience of the voting members. 

When developers bring the proposal approved by the Town Council to the Planning Board, both the developers and the town planners - yes, that is what we are referred to as in the press -  are in an uncomfortable position. The applicants often regard Planning Board review of their proposals as double jeopardy, and an impediment and a delay in their approval process. When the Planning Board notes any problems or deficiencies in a proposal they are publicly disagreeing with the Town Board who appointed them.

The end result is the biggest developments that need the most review arguably get the least experienced review.

At the most recent Orangetown Town Council meeting, I again proposed collaboration to reduce these conflicts with the caution that we now have a unique and quite possibly a last best opportunity to better protect our neighborhoods and to establish a forward thinking partnership with our new commercial neighbors. It was received with indifference by most of the board.

Despite my numerous private and public attempts over the last decade, nothing has changed.

The latest version of the Orangeburg Commons is the third generation plan for this site. First it was a warehouse type proposal, next it was another strip mall and hotel combination. Now to the best of my knowledge, it will have a large food store.

We most certainly need good tax ratables for the income that they bring to the town. We should also look very carefully at the larger picture to determine if the extra traffic and other costs of these large developments really are in the community’s best interest.

These latest large proposals will have a substantial impact on our town for years. They will also serve for years as precedence for what will be approved in the future.

This is no time for a fire sale mentality when deciding what will become an integral part of Orangetown. As the old cliché says, they aren’t making any more land.

Common sense review is not enough - careful experienced review is essential.