The property in question, more or less.So, Woodbury assembled at the IBEW and denounced the idea of annexing town land into Monroe (by the way, if the annexation went through, the land would end up as being in the Town of Monroe, but would remain in the Village of Woodbury, aint New York State municipal law fun?).
The most compelling argument against the annexation petition had to do with SEQRA (the State Environmental Quality Review Act).
Under SEQRA a small action that has little or no environmental impact can be granted a “Neg Dec” (a negative declaration), meaning that a full SEQRA review is not needed. Since Brach’s petition claims that there are no plans to develop the land, he has requested a Neg Dec.
However, if he has no plans to develop the land, he has no reason to seek annexation. It is obvious that he wishes to build there.
By claiming that there will be no development now, while in fact planning to develop after annexation, he is breaking his overall plan into smaller parts, so as to avoid a full SEQRA review.
This is called “segmentation” and is a definite no-no under NYS law.
If a court looks at this, and IF they are honest, that should put an end to this annexation.
As to the meeting itself, some highlights.
The meeting was overseen by the Woodbury Town and Village Boards and the Town of Monroe Board. Every denunciation of the annexation was loudly applauded, but it seemed that the loudest applause followed each of the many attacks on the Monroe Board, with Sandy Leonard and Harley Doles the targets of choice.
That old gang of Ralph’s reassembled. It did the Uncle’s heart good to see Ralphie, the Ankle Biter, the Rump Roast and others.
Our personal favorite moment came when Ralphling Amy Fitzgerald spoke and then thanked “My Board and the Village Board.” A moment of honesty, Amy?
The prize for least persuasive argument probably goes to Brach’s attorney who spoke about ridge lines and “the Queen.” He did not make clear which particular queen he had in mind. He also said that town and village borders are not carved in stone. In that most old borders are in fact marked by stones, he might have gone for a more apt metaphor.
The most compelling argument against the annexation petition had to do with SEQRA (the State Environmental Quality Review Act).
Under SEQRA a small action that has little or no environmental impact can be granted a “Neg Dec” (a negative declaration), meaning that a full SEQRA review is not needed. Since Brach’s petition claims that there are no plans to develop the land, he has requested a Neg Dec.
However, if he has no plans to develop the land, he has no reason to seek annexation. It is obvious that he wishes to build there.
By claiming that there will be no development now, while in fact planning to develop after annexation, he is breaking his overall plan into smaller parts, so as to avoid a full SEQRA review.
This is called “segmentation” and is a definite no-no under NYS law.
If a court looks at this, and IF they are honest, that should put an end to this annexation.
As to the meeting itself, some highlights.
The meeting was overseen by the Woodbury Town and Village Boards and the Town of Monroe Board. Every denunciation of the annexation was loudly applauded, but it seemed that the loudest applause followed each of the many attacks on the Monroe Board, with Sandy Leonard and Harley Doles the targets of choice.
That old gang of Ralph’s reassembled. It did the Uncle’s heart good to see Ralphie, the Ankle Biter, the Rump Roast and others.
Our personal favorite moment came when Ralphling Amy Fitzgerald spoke and then thanked “My Board and the Village Board.” A moment of honesty, Amy?
The prize for least persuasive argument probably goes to Brach’s attorney who spoke about ridge lines and “the Queen.” He did not make clear which particular queen he had in mind. He also said that town and village borders are not carved in stone. In that most old borders are in fact marked by stones, he might have gone for a more apt metaphor.
