Bargain hunters across Long Island are probably thinking the same thing: Finally a discount retail favorite across much of the country with new stores opening soon in Farmingville and Hempstead Ross will take over a one-story space inside Expressway Plaza at 2280 North Ocean Avenue — next door to Skechers and a few doors down from Burlington located at the southwest corner of North Ocean Avenue and Horseblock Road also includes LA Fitness and Stop & Shop Brookhaven Town officials approved the site plan for the store earlier this year Town Councilman Michael Loguercio said he has been actively assisting in adding new tenants in Expressway Plaza and that he is excited to have Ross Dress for Less as the latest arrival with the renovation of the location currently in progress,” he told Greater Long Island and offer a product to the community that everyone is looking forward to.” A new Ross location is also coming to Hempstead Village Commons at 340 Peninsula Blvd. where its neighbors include an Aldi food store and discount retailer TJ Maxx Long Island Business News reported that Ross would open four Long Island stores in 2025 It remains unclear when the stores in the two other locations — Bohemia and Islandia — will open The company has not responded to requests for comment from Greater Long Island Ross Dress for Less is the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the country — bigger than Marshalls With more than 1,800 stores in 44 states and territories home goods and accessories at 20% to 60% off department store prices but the franchise relies on thrill of the hunt to keep shoppers coming back Tap here to see what’s happening Two children were struck in New Hempstead village in Rockland County One child sustained a serious leg injury and the other had minor injuries The vehicle's driver remained on scene and is cooperative Rockland County Business Journal April 23, 2025- The Village of West Haverstraw Planning Board, as lead agency, has made the Final Scope for the proposed Grassy Point Bend Wholesale Storage and Warehousing Facility available. The Final Scope is available at the following address: 130 Samsondale Avenue, West Haverstraw, New York 10993, from the contact below and online at: https://www.westhaverstraw.org The action involves the approval and development of a 454,000 ± square foot warehouse facility with accessory office space trailer storage spaces and related infrastructure improvements and lighting on three lots (proposed to be merged) totaling 34 ± acres located in the Village’s Planned Light Industrial (PLI) zoning district The project site is a former Construction and Demolition Debris Landfill that will be capped as part of the development process The project is located at East Railroad Ave 62 & 63 on the Tax Map of the Village of West Haverstraw) 2025  – The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has determined that the proposed US Route 9W at Oak Tree Road will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves obtaining a permanent easement from one property listed on the National Register of Historic Places and another permanent easement from a property that is over 50 years old and unevaluated for eligibility on the National Register of Historic Properties New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) found that the project will have “No Adverse Effect” upon historic resources The project will provide geometric and operational improvements to this intersection that will relieve congestion at the intersection and lower the number of accidents along the corridor The project will also improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians The preferred alterative is to replace the existing signalized intersection with a modern single-lane roundabout intersection The project is located at the intersection of US Route 9W and Oak Tree Road in the Town of Orangetown 2025 – The Town of Ramapo Planning Board has determined that the proposed Torne Valley Vineyards will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the Ramapo Planning Board has received an application from JSF Associated Inc (applicant/owner) for a Special Permit Request to operate Torne Valley Vineyards as a Country Inn Torne Valley is submitting this permit in order to legalize their operation as a Country Inn The application is for the existing conditions of the site and no construction is proposed The Vineyard is in zoning district R-40 and resides on approximately 14.9 acres of land The project is located at 1-9 Torne Brook Road in the Town of Ramapo Notice of Acceptance of Draft EIS and Public Hearing  The project is located on Letchworth Village Road in the Town of Haverstraw atorres@townofhaverstraw.org has determined that the proposed New 26-100 Fire Headquarters will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the construction of a new fire district headquarters on land located north of the existing fire station three (3) of which are occupied by existing residential homes and two (2) of which are vacant lots In addition to the construction of a new fire headquarters the Proposed Action will include construction of site improvements for drainage in addition to parking and site circulation It is also anticipated that a fueling station will be installed as well as an emergency generator which is intended for emergency use only to allow for continued uninterrupted operations in the event of power outages The new fire headquarters building will be two-stories in height and will provide sufficient space for the mix of uses needed in a modern fire headquarters including: five (5) double apparatus bays; storage facilities; office and conference room facilities; common areas; exercise areas; kitchen and bathroom facilities; and standby facilities for storms The existing fire station located at 99 West Ramapo Road approximately 1,000 foot south of the Proposed Action Site would remain active during construction of the Proposed Action in order to allow for the District to continue providing emergency services throughout the duration of the construction period the District intends to sell the existing fire station and use the new facility for the entirety of their operations The project is located at 65 West Ramapo Road in Garnerville 2025 – The Village of West Haverstraw Planning Board has determined that the proposed Grassy Point Bend Wholesale Storage and Warehousing Facility may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared The project is located on East Railroad Avenue and Beach Road in the Village of West Haverstraw Notice of Acceptance of Draft EIS and Public Hearing The action involves a proposal for Blue Rill Estates an approximately 18-acre parcel of property The action includes applications (i) to the Town Board to apply the RSH overlay zone to the subject property; and (ii) to the Planning Board for subdivision approval (to merge the three tax lots) and site plan approval to construct approximately 105 residential units for senior citizens and related amenities internal roads and recreational facilities The project is located at 444 Saddle River Road in the Village of Airmont a senior housing complex proposed for an approximately 18 acre parcel of property January 15, 2025 – The Clarkstown Planning Board, as lead agency, has made the Final Scope for the proposed Cedar Corners available. The Final Scope is available from the contact below and online at: https://www.clarkstown.gov/planning/downloads/ The action involves the proposed merger of 15 tax lots and re-subdivision into 3 new tax lots The proposed development on Lot #1 will be considered for site plan approval while the development on lots #2 & #3 are conceptual in nature and illustrative only Lots #2 & #3 are being included to ensure a comprehensive and unsegmented environmental review Lot #1: The proposed construction of two buildings consisting of 383,652 square foot of warehouse/office space with 404 parking spaces Lot #2: The conceptual plan consists of an 1,800 square foot fast food restaurant with 36 parking spaces Lot #3: The conceptual plan consists of a two story 147,600 square foot warehouse/office building with 209 parking spaces The property is located on 38.3 acres of CO COS and LS zoned land on the west side of NYS Route 303 bordered by the CSX railroad to the west and an existing shopping center and existing dwellings off Meola Road in Congers The project is located in the area of Old Orchard Road and Meola Road in Congers has determined that the proposed Heights Subdivision will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the receipt of an application from Sarah Israel (applicant) and Benjamin Israel and Sarah Israel (owners) The development area consists of 2.12 acres ± on the east side of Heights Road approximately 140 foot east of Stemmer Lane The two lots currently have single-family homes The applicant is proposing to subdivide the two lots into four and have single-family dwellings on each lot and Lots 3 and 4 will have access via access easements The application is within the Town’s Scenic Overlay District and subject to the requirements of Chapter 215 of the Town Code Stormwater will be designed to achieve zero net increase in runoff Area variances are required for each lot and will be requested from the Zoning Board of Appeals The project is located at 3 and 5 Heights Road Highview Road in Suffern 2024 – The Town of Ramapo Planning Board has determined that the proposed Talmud Torah Ohr Yochanan Site Development Plan Special Use Permit will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an application from David Kalisch (applicant) and Talmud Torah Ohr Yochanan (95-97) / Cong Gam Zhe Le’toiva (93) (owners) represented by Civil Tec Engineering and Surveying for Special Use and Site Development Permit approval The project area consists of 4.23 ± acres on the south side of Highview Road approximately 311 foot west of Dalewood Drive The applicant is proposing the expansion of 2 different schools across 3 lots for a total of 640 students and 39 staff A subdivision is proposed to abandon the lot line between 56.05-1-8 and 9 to create a single parcel for Talmud Torah Ohr Yochanan The existing school is proposed to be expanded by constructing a 37,200 square foot yeshiva is to remain with a 26,400 square foot addition proposed An additional 20 parking spaces will be shared between the two parcels for a total of 99 spaces The project is within the Scenic Road District The applicant requires variances on all lots which will be requested from the Zoning Board of Appeals 2024 –  The Town of Orangetown Planning Department has determined that the proposed 622 Route 303 – Project Al Foxie will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves a proposal by 622 Rt 303 LLC (Applicant) to merge two lots and construct a 160,120 square foot warehouse and distribution facility The proposed action would merge Tax Lot 65.14-1-11.2 (5 Al Foxie Way) (14.87 acres) with Tax Lot 65.14-1-11.3 (622 Route 303) (3.63 acres) (Project Site) which are undeveloped and total approximately 18.49 acres (Proposed Project) The Project Site is located within the LI (Light Industrial) and LIO (Light Industrial-Office) Zoning Districts The Proposed Project includes approximately 7,000 square foot of office space within the warehouse The Proposed Project requires site plan approval from the Town of Orangetown Planning Board a stream diversion permit from the Town of Orangetown Town Board and a height variance and a variance to allow trucking movements at all hours from the Zoning Board of Appeals The project is located at 622 Route 303 in the Town of Orangetown jslavin@orangetown.com has determined that the proposed Ramapo Cheder will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the subdivision of 30.778 acre lot (Tax Lot #49.14-1-21) into a 5.618 acre lot (Lot 1) and 25.161 acre lot (Lot 2) located in the R-40 zoning district of the Town of Ramapo Proposed action for Lot 1 consists of a 51,593 square foot (footprint) school for religious instruction The school shall serve children in grades pre-school through 8th grade with an accessory day-care center Approximately 440 students and 5 day-care attendees will utilize the facility Lot 1 will have ingress/egress via a one-way entrance and one-way exit connected to West Maple Avenue The site will have a 75 space parking lot and 13 bus parking spaces Proposed action for Lot 2 consists removal of an existing shed to comply with R-40 zoning regulations The existing dwelling on Lot 2 is unoccupied and no further action is currently planned for the lot The eventual disposition of the structure will be determined in the future it is uninhabitable and no improvements to it are currently planned The project is located at 667 New Hempstead Road in Spring Valley 2024 – The Town of Haverstraw Planning Board has determined that the proposed Eastgate will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an amendment to the zoning map to rezone a portion of the site from the R-40 District to the C–Commercial District thereby placing the subject property entirely within the C–Commercial District site development plan approval is being sought to construct a two-story 15,500 square foot office building on the property The project is located at 321 Route 202 in the Town of Haverstraw The action involves the development of 300 residential rental units within seven (7) 3.5 story buildings situated on a 22.93 ± acre parcel of land The site is within the R-120 “Rural Residence District” and the proposed actions requests a rezoning to the LA-17 “Luxury Apartment Multifamily District” where multifamily residential uses are principally permitted Associated site improvements are proposed including access driveways recreation areas (such as tennis or pickleball courts October 9, 2024 –  The Town of Clarkstown Planning Board, as lead agency, has made the Draft Scope for the proposed Cedar Corners available. The Draft Scope is available at the Town of Clarkstown Planning Department, 10 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956, from the contact below and online at: https://www.clarkstown.gov/planning/downloads/ The action involves a proposal to merge 16 tax lots and re-subdivide the property to create three new tax lots Only Lot 1 and Lot 3 is proposed for site plan approval There are no specific development plans for Lot 2 The uses on Lot 2 are conceptual and illustrative only They are provided to ensure that this environmental review is comprehensive and unsegmented but are not proposed to be constructed at this time No variances are required as a result of the Proposed Action Proposed Lot 1 consists of two warehouse/office buildings connected by a common corridor The proposed southern building consists of 198,000 square foot of warehouse space on the lower floor and 2,500 square foot of office space on the upper mezzanine floor for a total building area of 200,500 square foot The proposed northern building consists of 178,252 square foot of warehouse space on the lower floor and 2,500 square foot of office space on the upper mezzanine floor for a total building area of 180,752 square foot the total area of all of the buildings on Lot 1 is 383,652 square foot The maximum height of the building is 40 foot While 402 parking spaces are required per Town code for the proposed buildings 404 parking spaces are provided along with 71 loading berths The expected tenants are larger users such as interstate trucking companies that may need store-housing or warehousing space Proposed Lot 2 consists of a conceptual fast food drive-thru restaurant with a building area of approximately 1,800 square foot The maximum height of the building is 35 foot Approximately 36 parking spaces are proposed while 27 parking spaces are required per Town code The expected tenant is a small eatery chain Proposed Lot 3 consists of a two-story building also proposed to be used for warehousing The building consists of approximately 187,200 square foot of warehouse while 188 parking spaces are required per Town code The expected tenants are small users such as machine and automotive repair workers there is open space proposed with a conservation easement (Tax Lot 35.19-2-6 comprising of 2.5 acres) The project is located at Meola Road and Route 303 in Congers September 25, 2024 – The Village of Airmont Planning Board, as lead agency, has made the Final Scope for the proposed Blue Rill Estates available. The Final Scope is available at the following address 251 Cherry Lane Tallman, New York. 10982, from the contact below and online at: https://www.airmont.org/resources/public-notices/ The action involves a proposal to conduct a project on three parcels of land with a total area of approximately 17.99 acres located on the west side of Saddle River Road approximately 78 feet south of Long Meadow Drive The land is currently being used as the Blue Rill Day camp which includes various existing structures The Project includes removal of the existing structures on the site and construction of a senior housing project The Sponsor proposes 105 units of semi-attached The site will be served by two entrances on Saddle River Road The development will also include two community centers as well as active and passive recreation areas to be used by the residents The development will also include off-street parking The project is located at 444 Saddle River Rd in the Village of Airmont Availability of Draft Scope and Public Scoping Session  A public scoping session on the Draft Scope will be held on August 22 The action involves a proposal by the applicant for the construction of a senior housing development consisting of 106 semi-attached two-story homes The site will have access via two entrances onto Saddle River Road and will be served by municipal water and sanitary sewer with a total lot area of approximately 17.99 acres 2024- The Town of Haverstraw Planning Board has determined that the proposed Garnerville Mini Storage will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the proposed amendments to the zoning code to regulate self-storage facilities within the C – Commercial District and place the subject property in the C – Commercial District and obtaining site development plan approval to construct a three-story self-storage facility at the subject property The project is located at 3 West Ramapo Road in the Town of Haverstraw atorres@townofhaverstraw.org  A public scoping session on the Draft Scope will be held on August 14 The action involves an approximately 23 acre portion of the former Letchworth Property (Tax Lots 19.16-1-14) for (i) the Town Board to consider rezoning the applicable portion of the Letchworth Property from the R-120 zoning district to the LA-17 zoning district; and (ii) the Planning Board to consider subdivision approval (from the remainder of the former Letchworth Property) and site plan approval to construct approximately 300 residential units in seven buildings and related amenities 2024 – The Town of Orangetown Planning Board has determined that the proposed 125-155 South Greenbush Road may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared The action involves a proposal by the applicant for two separate projects: an expansion of an existing warehouse at 125 South Greenbush Road as well as a new warehouse at 155 South Greensburg Road Alexander Properties proposes renovating and expanding an existing 318,652 square foot warehouse to 411,400 square foot (3,600 square foot less than the previous site plan) with 188 on-site parking spaces (previously 468) The Project Site is comprised of tax lot 74.07-1-15.1 a 24.53-acre property located at 125 South Greenbush Road in the LI Zoning District The Project Site is presently improved with both warehouse and office space of which the office space would be demolished to accommodate the expansion of the warehouse facility Alexander Properties proposes to construct a 117,120 square foot warehouse (10,880 square foot less than the previous site plan) with 92 on-site parking spaces (previously 152) The Project Site is comprised of tax lot 74.07-1-15.2 an 11.9-acre property located at 155 South Greenbush Road in the LI Zoning District The Project Site is presently improved with a small parking lot used by 125 South Greenbush Road that would be reconfigured The project is located 125-155 South Greenbush Road in the Town of Orangetown Availability of Draft Scope and public Scoping Session  June 5, 2024 – The Village of New Hempstead Board of Trustees, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed 103 Brick Church may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. The Draft Scope is available from the contact below and online at: https://newhempstead.org/?page_id=2407  A public scoping session on the Draft Scope will be held on June 25 The action involves the a Zoning Code Amendment to create a new 1R-10 Residential Zone which would permit Single Family Residences to be built on lots that are a minimum of 10,000 square foot The proposed Brick Church Road Community would include up to 325 single family The proposed project site is approximately 149.7 acres The site is currently being used as the NY Golf Club The proposed residences would replace the golf club operation The project site is connected to existing municipal water and sewer service Site development plan will require Subdivision approval from the Village of New Hempstead  The project is located 103 Brick Church Road in the Village of New Hempstead has determined that the proposed WPT Acquisitions LLC Proposed Warehouse will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves a proposal by WPT Acquisitions (Applicant)  to construct a 175,760 square foot warehouse with 150 on-site parking spaces and 34 loading bays (Proposed Project) on a 13.805 acre property in the CC and Route 303 Overlay Zoning Districts (Project Site) The Project Site comprises three tax lots: 74.07-1-36 (12.07-acres) and 74.07-1-2 (1.34 acres) which would be merged as part of the Proposed Project The Project Site is presently improved with a vacant approximately 106,000 square foot church which would be demolished to accommodate the Proposed Project The Applicant proposes to widen Mountain View Avenue from the Project Site entrance to its intersection with NYS Route 303 The Applicant would install a dedicated left turn lane from Mountain View Avenue to NYS Route 303 The Applicant would be responsible for any necessary upgrades to the existing traffic signal at NYS Route 303 and Mountain View Avenue The proposed roadway and intersection improvements require Highway Work Permits from the New York State Department of Transportation and Town of Orangetown Highway Department The Proposed Project requires site plan and re-subdivision approval from the Town of Orangetown Planning Board The project is located at 518 NYS Route 303 and 13 & 21 Mountain View Avenue in the Town of Orangetown 2024 – The New York State Office of Parks has determined that the proposed Aerial Application of Btk to Control Spongy Moth Infestation at Bear Mountain State Park will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the Since 2015 Palisades Instate Park Commission (PIPC) and NYS OPRHP biologists have observed severe spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) infestations within Bear Mountain State Park which have lead to repeated tree defoliation events and even wide spread tree mortality in areas surrounding key infrastructure as well as in forested uplands of the park In 2024 using the NYSDEC “Field Protocol for Sampling Spongy Moth Egg Masses” NYSOPRHP natural resource staff quantified that within their survey areas spongy moth egg masses totaled >1000 per acre (a management threshold likely to produce widespread tree mortality) In an effort to prevent further forest degradation and potential unsafe recreational opportunities NYSOPRHP and the PIPC are proposing to conduct two aerial applications of Foray 48B or like product (Bacillus thuringiensis Subsp.Kurstaki(Btk) an organic bioinsecticide specific to lepidoptera) via helicopter approximately a week apart with the first application scheduled for when oaks are observed at 40-60% leaf out and while spongy moth larvae are actively feeding Previous applications of Btk have been performed within areas adjacent to Hessian Lake as recently as 2018 The helicopter would be staged in an open field area within an area of Iona Island that was previously utilized for this purpose Approximate total area of application would be up to 1,395 acres of Parkland in 2024. The project is located in multiple Upland Areas within Bear Mountain State Park at 3006 Seven Lakes Drive in Tomkins Cove April 24, 2024 – The Town of Clarkstown Planning Board, as lead agency, has made the Draft Scope for the proposed Cedar Corners available. The Draft Scope is available at the Town of Clarkstown Planning Department, 10 Maple Avenue New City, NY 10956, and online at: https://www.clarkstown.gov/planning Lot #2: The conceptual plan consists an 1,800 square foot fast food restaurant with 36 parking spaces April 10, 2024 – The Town of Ramapo Town Board, as lead agency, has made the Final Scope for the proposed Harriman Meadows available.  The Final Scope is available at: 237 Route 59 Suffern, New York. 10901 and online at: https://www.ramapo.org/page/harriman-meadows-seqra-documents-168.html for the construction of a residential project consisting of 479 dwellings on 196.4 acres with primary access from US Route 202 and NYS Route 306 The proposal includes an amendment of the Town Comprehensive Plan and a map change of 61.3 acres from R-40 to MR-8 to meet the continuing need for diversity in available housing in the Town  The project is located on US Route 202 (Haverstraw Road) and NYS Route 306 in Pomona 2024 –  The Thiells Roseville Fire District has determined that the proposed Public Bond for Property Purchase and Construction of a New Fire Station will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves a public bond referendum to fund the construction of a new fire station on land located north of the existing fire station which Thiells Roseville Fire District intends to purchase (Proposed Action) The Proposed Action Site is comprised of five (5) adjoining tax lot Three (3) of the lots are occupied by existing residential homes and two (2) are vacant lots The Proposed Action includes the purchase of the above referenced properties and the demolition of all existing structures on the site In addition to the construction of a new fire station An emergency generator will be installed for emergency use only to allow for continued uninterrupted operations in the event of power outages The new fire station building will be two stories and 28 foot in height approximately 22,225 square foot in gross floor area (GFA) and will provide sufficient space for the mix of uses needed in a modern fire station including: three (3) single apparatus bays two (2) double drive through apparatus bays; multipurpose meeting room; administrative suite; kitchen and bathroom facilities; and fitness/training facilities would remain active during construction of the Proposed Action in order to allow Thiells Roseville Fire District to continue providing emergency services throughout the duration of the construction period the district will sell the existing fire station and use the new facility for the entirety of their operations The project is located  at 63 West Ramapo Road; 63A West Ramapo Road; 65 West Ramapo Road; 69 West Ramapo Road; 1 Angelus Drive in Garnerville March 13, 2024 -The Village of Haverstraw Village Board, as lead agency, has accepted a Final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed The Haverstraw Chair Factory Site. The Final EIS is available at the following address: 40 New Main Street Haverstraw, NY 10927 and online at: https://voh-ny.com/chair-factory-development/ The action involves the adoption of zoning amendments to establish the a new form based code overlay district for the Chair Factory Redevelopment Site The zoning will facilitate the development of 450 residential units (at 441,500 square feet) 15,000 square feet of community serving facilities and commercial/retail as well as 563 parking spaces in a mix of structured space (192,700 square foot) and surface parking spaces the project proposes to include shoreline stabilization and the development of a waterfront multi-use trail. 2024 – Rockland County – The New York State Office of Parks has determined that the proposed Rockland Lake State Park – Phragmites Herbicide Treatments will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves a proposal by NYS OPRHP which aims to control patches of invasive Phragmites australis that have colonized around Rockland Lake Greater than 2.5 acres of Phragmites australis would be controlled using a wetland approved herbicide – glyphosate (53.8%) at a spray concentration of 4-6% using low volume/ low pressure backpack sprayers in targeted areas of Rockland Lake State Park between September 1st and the first killing frost The occurrences of phragmites are representative of small patches found during the initial infestation of this plant into a native species dominated ecosystem NYS OPRHP intends to treat these patches before they become large monocultures that will outcompete the native vegetation species found adjacent to these locations dead standing biomass will either be cut using handheld sickle-bar cutters or left in place to fall and decompose on its own This will allow the herbicide to translocate to the rhizomes of the plant Herbicides will be applied by a New York State (NYS) licensed applicator in accordance with the herbicide’s labeled instructions and following agency Best Management Practices for the application of herbicides The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) reporting tool for glyphosate application will also be utilized when appropriate The project is located 299 Rockland Lake Road in Valley Cottage 2024 –  The Town of Ramapo Planning Board has determined that the proposed Bluefield Extension Amended Subdivision and Site Development Permit will not have a significant adverse environmental impact  The action involves an application from Yakov Grunwald (applicant) and Sunshine Gardens Realty LLC/ Yakov Grunwald (owner) represented by Civil Tec Engineering and Surveying P.C for a proposed amended Site Development Permit and Subdivision Plat at 11 The development area consists of 1.05 ± acres approximately 365 foot south of Eckerson Road The applicant is proposing a 4-lot subdivision two lots will have two-family residences with two accessory apartments The other two lots will have three-family residences with three accessory apartments A site plan was previously developed and approved at the project site for 10 principal dwellings and 5 accessory apartments under application No The applicant is seeking to construct an additional 5 accessory apartment units and 2 parking spaces The footprint of the building will remain the same as previously approved Public sewer and water will be utilized and stormwater has been designed for zero net runoff The applicant will be requesting area variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals Primary Contact: Hannah Ross, Town of Ramapo, 237 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901, Phone: (845) 357-5100, rossh@ramapo-ny.gov has determined that the proposed Route 202 Business Park Site Development Permit will not have a significant adverse environmental impact  The action involves an application from Hendel Grossman and Route 202 Professional Plaza LLC (applicant/owner) for Site Development Permit approval at 103 Ladentown Road The development area consists of 13 ± acres located on the north side of Ladentown Road approximately 450 foot east of Camp Hill Road The applicant is proposing to construct two one-story structures that overlap in the middle The middle section will be two stories and will include centralized mechanical and site services The application previously received a negative declaration in 2021 the project was no longer an allowable use within the new CC District (formerly PI) and the project did not receive final approval The applicant is seeking an amended negative declaration for the current proposal which is an allowable use within the CC Zone The current proposal is a less intense use than the previous iteration of the project which received a negative declaration from the Ramapo Planning Board Stormwater has been designed for zero net runoff The applicant will be requesting variances from the Town of Ramapo Zoning Board of Appeals has determined that the proposed Hempstead Road Subdivision will not have a significant adverse environmental impact  The action involves an application from 62 Hempstead LLC (applicant/owner) for (Major/ Realty) Subdivision Approval at 62-64 Hempstead Road in Spring Valley The project area consists of 0.99 ± acres of land on the east side of New Hempstead Road approximately 313 feet north of Williams Avenue within R-15 The proposal is to subdivide the parcel into four lots with single-family residential dwellings on each lot Area variances are being requested from the Ramapo Zoning Board of Appeals The action involves the adoption of zoning amendments to establish a new form based code overlay district for the Chair Factory Redevelopment Site The zoning will facilitate the development of 450 residential units (at 441,500 square foot) 15,000 square foot of community serving facilities and commercial/retail and the development of a waterfront multi-use trail Broad Street and Allison Avenue in the Village of Haverstraw has determined that the proposed Dykstra’s Estates Subdivision will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the receipt of an an application from FFBB Nyack LLC (applicant/ owner) represented by Civil Tec Engineering and Surveying P.C and Terry Rice The development area is comprised of three parcels consisting of 2.46 ± acres of land located on the south side of Old Nyack Turnpike and is located within the R15A Zoning District The proposal is for a seven-lot subdivision with a two-family residence with one accessory apartment on six lots and a single-family residence on lot 7 with a gate provided to prevent through traffic The access from Old Nyack Turnpike will permit right turn in/right turn out only A sewer main extension and a water main extension are proposed Stormwater has been designed for zero net increase in runoff and will connect to the existing drainage system on Old Nyack Turnpike Area variances are required and will be requested from the Zoning Board of Appeals 2023 – The Town of Haverstraw Town Board has determined that the proposed Local Law No 13 of 2023 will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves the The proposed action consists of the consideration and adoption of a Local Law No 13 of 2023 amending Chapter 167 of the Town Code to regulate cannabis uses in the C Commercial District and the PIO Planned Industrial Office District within the unincorporated Town of Haverstraw. The project is located C Commercial District and the PIO Planned Industrial Office District Haverstraw The action involves a proposed redevelopment project to include the demolition of the existing 533,000 square foot Novartis pharmaceutical complex and construction of three (3) Class “A” industrial warehouse/wholesale distribution facilities The facilities will include 1,221,800 square foot of new warehouse construction with associated loading bays trailer storage spaces and other site improvements including but not limited to lighting utilities and stormwater management facilities The project site is located within the PLI-Planned Light Industrial Zoning District wherein warehousing uses are permitted as of right under the Village of Suffern Zoning Code The new industrial park will include three (3) warehouse with Building 1 consisting of 963,100 square foot Building 2 consisting of 170,500 square foot and Building 3 consisting of 88,200 square (Project) Access into and out of the site are provided by two driveways to Hemion Road a southerly access drive (proposed for cars only) and the northerly Old Mill Road access drive which would be used by cars and trucks The two access points traverse the portion of the property located in the Village of Montebello  The project is located at 25 Old Mill Road in the Village of Suffern Primary Contact: Joanne Cioffi, Village of Suffern, 61 Washington Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901 |  (845) 357-2600 Rockland County – November 22, 2023 – The Town of Ramapo Town Board, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Harriman Meadows may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. The Draft Scope is available from the contact listed below and on line at: https://www.ramapo.org/page/harriman-meadows-seqra-documents-168.html The action involves a Rezoning and Comprehensive Plan amendment for a proposed planned residential development titled Harriman Meadows composed of 479 residential units of mixed types The project is located on US Route 202 (Haverstraw Road) and NYS Route 306 in Pomona Contact: Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo, 237 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901, Phone: (845) 357-5100, E-mail: spechtm@ramapo-ny.gov 2023 – The Town of Ramapo Planning Board has determined that the proposed Hickory Estates Subdivision (Major/ Realty) will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an application from 48 Hickory Estates LLC (applicant) and Jacob Jeremias (owner) for Site Development Permit and Major Subdivision approvals at 46-48 West Hickory Street The project area consists of 1.01 ± acres on the south side of West Hickory Street approximately 49 foot east of Brook Street within the R-15 Zoning District The applicant is proposing a five-lot subdivision with detached single-family homes on each lot Area variances will be requested from the Zoning Board of Appeals The project is located at 46 and 48 West Hickory Street in Spring Valley Contact: Hannah Ross, Town of Ramapo, 237 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901, Phone: (845) 357-5100, E-mail: rossh@ramapo-ny.gov Rockland County – The Town of Orangetown Town Board has determined that the proposed Orangetown Comprehensive Plan Update will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an update of the Town of Orangetown Comprehensive Plan for the first time since 2003 to establish a guiding framework for future sustainable development and natural resource preservation in the Town (Proposed Action) A Comprehensive Plan is a long-term planning document that establishes a community’s goals and aspirations for the future while providing a roadmap for how to achieve them Upon adoption by the Town Board of the Town of Orangetown the 2023 Comprehensive Plan will replace its predecessor the Town of Orangetown 2003 Comprehensive Plan The recommendations of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan are based on community feedback and are intended to balance a healthy economy with quality residential and commercial character protecting the integrity of natural resources The project is located throughout the Town of Orangetown Contact: Allison Kardon, Town of Orangetown, 26 West Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, Phone: (845) 359-5100, E-mail: akardon@orangetown.com 2023 – Rockland County – The Town of Stony Point Planning Board has determined that the proposed Oak Ridge/Jessup Valley North Subdivision will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an amendment to a Negative Declaration pertaining to an standard subdivision of a 14.06 acre property located at the northerly terminus of Jessups Lane creating 8 new building lots to reflect re-subdivision to a cluster subdivision creating 4 new building lots and including one lot with an existing residence and preserving 10.69 acres through conservation easement The project is located on the northern terminus of Jessups Lane in the Town of Stony Point Contact: Mary Pagano, Town of Stony Point, 74 East Main Street, Stony Point, NY 10980, Phone: (845) 786-2716, E-mail: mpagano@townofstonypoint.org Orange County – The Town of Cornwall Planning Board, as lead agency, has accepted a Final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Star Warehouse Expansion. The Final EIS is available from the contact listed below and on line at: http://timmillerassociates.com/star-warehouse-expansion/ The action involves a proposal by the applicant for a 50,000 square foot addition to an existing 185,835 square foot warehouse building and other site improvements including four new loading docks The Project Site consists of 36.9 acres with access to NYS Route 32 via a private shared drive and emergency access to Star Road/ Creamery Hill Road The entrance road to Route 32 will be reconstructed as part of the project The site is served by private well and septic The project is located at 20 Industry Drive in the Town of Cornwall Contact: Neil Novesky, Town of Cornwall, 183 Main Street, Cornwall, NY 12518, Phone: (845) 534-9429, E-mail: Dhines@cornwallny.gov 2023 – Rockland County – The Town of Ramapo Town Board has determined that the proposed Millers Pond Planned Unit Development (PUD) will not have a significant adverse environmental impact The action involves an application from Mount Ivy The parcel consists of 143.7 ± acres of land located on the north side of Pomona Road approximately 0 feet west of Camp Hill Road and Station Road intersections with Pomona Road The applicant is proposing a mixed-use development under the Town’s Planned Unit Development District zoning regulations pursuant to Section 376-24 of the Town of Ramapo Zoning Code The project site is composed of three tax parcels that are currently zoned RR-80 The project site is the location of the former Minisceongo Golf Course The development proposes to include 637 residential units and approximately 67,000 square foot of mixed-use commercial space The commercial space is planned to include such uses as retail The project is located at 110-118 Pomona Road Contact: Hannah Ross, Town of Ramapo, 237 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901, Phone, (845) 357-5100, E-mail: rossh@ramapo-ny.gov August 30, 2023 – Rockland County – The Village of Haverstraw Village Board, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Haverstraw Chair Factory may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. The Draft Scope is available from Village of Haverstraw’s Village Clerk’s office and on line at: https://voh-ny.com/chair-factory-development/ A public scoping session on the Draft Scope will be held on September 18 Public comments related to scoping will be accepted until September 22 The zoning will facilitate the development of 450 residential units (441,500 square foot) The project is located in the Village of Haverstraw take a selfie Sunday in front of the new mural on West Columbia Street in Hempstead that promotes social justice A blank brick wall on an unexceptional one-story building in Hempstead is now enlivened by a colorful mural with an inspiring political message organizers and community members gathered Sunday on West Columbia Street for the official unveiling of the artwork which is intended to promote civic participation and leadership in immigrant and working-class communities features the faces of activists and community organizers in New York City and Long Island and bears the words "Vota por tu comunidad / Vote for your community." It's located on a wall of a building at the corner of West Columbia and North Franklin streets that includes a church and a market The Center for Popular Democracy, a Brooklyn-based social justice group with affiliates across the country, commissioned the mural and partnered with the nonprofit Make the Road, which has an office in Brentwood, and the Brooklyn-based New York Communities for Change politics and crime stories in Nassau County By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy is an organizer with New York Communities for Change mainly around issues of fair housing and climate who has attended protests and traveled to Albany to lobby for social justice issues is one of the young people portrayed on the mural "We were very excited to be a part of this," Moore said The celebration of the artwork on Sunday afternoon was a lively scene: Children drew with chalk and teens painted a banner with the message "El pueblo jamas sera vencido," which  means "The people will never be defeated." Adults grilled corn and chicken and many of those gathered for the event took one another’s photos in front of the mural Some community members who came to the corner to watch Fernández as he painted were back Sunday senior director of strategic initiatives at the Center for Popular Democracy "The reception has been beautiful," he said The mural is the first of about 50 planned for communities nationwide "at the forefront of all the injustices," Gonzalez said "and they deserve to have beautiful art." Hempstead's new mural — and its message "vote for your community"— is part of the three organizations’ efforts to inspire immigrant and working-class communities to get involved in organizing and electoral work "Voting is one tool of many to improve our communities and we’re hoping that this art engages folks makes people curious enough to learn about what’s happening in elections," Gonzalez said "Our mission is to make voting cool." lead organizer with Make the Road’s Youth Power Project said: "We are in a political moment in this country that can really determine the future for these young people So they want to be here to make sure their voices are heard." Muñoz said the students she works with are "listening to the conversations" about immigration and race "and a lot of the rhetoric that is used it makes them angrier and it makes them fight even harder for the rights that we have." came from Colombia four years ago and now lives in Bay Shore He said a lot of the discussions about the border and immigration get it wrong "I think America is a great place for immigrants and I think we can contribute to this country," Montalvo said Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months 2025 at 2:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Upgrades have been completed at a North Hempstead dog park NY — Upgrades to North Hempstead Dog Park will be unveiled on Thursday Tully Park hadn't been updated since its initial opening in 2019 Renovations include an expanded play area and new turf for local canines Work was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act a government stimulus bill to help improve local infrastructure following the coronavirus pandemic The project was completed nearly two weeks of schedule Tully Park is located at 1801 Evergreen Ave Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The New York Department of State today announced the completion of the Newbridge Road Park water access point project in the Town of Hempstead as part of the South Shore Blueway Trail Plan The completion of this new public access point adds a year-round ADA-accessible recreation destination that connects to the access point at Seamans Neck Park in Hempstead creating a network of water access points for individuals to experience Long Island’s South Shore “The South Shore Estuary is one of Long Island’s crown jewels supporting public health outcomes and driving the Island’s tourism economy,” said Secretary of State Walter T Mosley. “These ADA-accessible water access points foster year-round recreational activity while also leveraging continued economic growth in the region for generations to come.  Projects like these accelerate the momentum and progress we’ve generated toward fully implementing the South Shore Blueway Trail and maximizing access to the Bays for people of all ages and abilities.” The Newbridge Road Park and Seamans Neck Park access points are part of the overall South Shore Blueway Trail and offer year-round access to the waterways of the South Shore Estuary Reserve in the Middle Bay and East Bay The South Shore Blueway Trail is a safe and enjoyable network of water access points for human-powered boats and beachable sail boats cultural and entertainment wonders of Long Island’s South Shore while also protecting wildlife and habitats in the Estuary Funding for the project at Newbridge Road Park came in part from the DOS Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) program which is funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund The new access points implement part of the broader South Shore Blueway Trail Plan which was funded by a $50,000 grant from the LWRP and completed in 2015 In addition to funding for the access points and the Blueway Plan the DOS LWRP program previously provided a $240,000 grant to Nassau County for accessibility improvements to existing boat ramps and kayak launches at Cedar Creek Park Wantagh Park and two sides of Bay Park Beach This project supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative which was launched in July 2024 to promote physical and mental health by encouraging New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers take a break from social media and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. Water recreation access projects like these along both the Nassau County South Shore Blueway Trail and the Suffolk County Blueway Trail fully support the Governor’s commitment to improving mental and physical health through outdoor activities This project also supports Governor Hochul’s Master Plan for Aging by providing access to water-based outdoor recreation for people of all ages and abilities Governor Hochul issued an Executive Order in 2022 to develop a comprehensive master Plan for Aging.  The Department of State is playing a critical role in the development of the Plan by creating communities that are pedestrian and bicycle-friendly and which provide ample public space for social interaction which prevents social isolation and promotes mental health James McDonald said, “An active lifestyle is essential for good health and wellbeing and Governor Hochul’s leadership on this inclusive project demonstrates the State’s commitment to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to resources that promote a healthy lifestyle The Department fully supports projects like this one that encourage people of all ages and abilities to ‘Get Offline Get Outside,’ and furthers the goals of the Master Plan for Aging to ensure all New Yorkers are able to access an age-friendly environment.” New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said “The Master Plan for Aging is working to ensure older adults lead healthy active and fulfilling lives for as long as possible and this waterway access project does just that Increasing outdoor recreational accessibility for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities bolsters New York’s designation as an age-friendly and inclusive state As NYSOFA continuously promotes intergenerational activity Get Outside” with younger family members and friends.” "Nestled along the south shore of Long Island the Town of Hempstead is proud to work with New York State in implementing resources to help residents enjoy our local waterways The Newbridge Road Park Kayak Launch is one of many town access points to the Blueway Trail and I look forward to this continued partnership in protecting and enjoying the waters of Hempstead Town." Senator Kevin Thomas said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for supporting this new ADA-accessible access point at Newbridge Road Park The completion of this project ensures Long Island’s South Shore is more accessible for everyone to fully enjoy and benefit our outdoor spaces.” “These important upgrades will protect families and provide new opportunities across our region Investing in our communities is key to moving Long Island forward.” Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio said, “I am thrilled that the Newbridge Road Park segment of the Long Island South Shore Blueway Trail has been completed providing Bellmore and Merrick residents with convenient local access to our beautiful waterways Long Island is home to many scenic natural wonders and this Blueway Trail not only allows people to witness these water-based marvels firsthand but also encourages them to engage in outdoor recreation I want to thank New York State for their work on this water network and for making it ADA accessible ensuring that all residents can enjoy our island.” Citizens Campaign for the Environment said and public access to them is a meaningful part of island life Kayaking and paddleboarding activities are growing in popularity across all age groups Providing access points allows more residents to enjoy the scenic beauty and recreation value of our wetlands and thriving marine life.  The more connected we are to our waters The South Shore Estuary Reserve Blueway is a great way to get outdoors be active and connect with nature. We applaud Governor Hochul and the Department of State in prioritizing access to our waters.” Two drivers ticketed by school bus cameras in the Town of Hempstead have filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out all tickets issued since the program launched in 2022 The complaint filed Friday draws heavily on reporting from a Newsday investigation published last week and alleges the town is illegally ticketing drivers and violating their right to due process "Because the whole program has been infected with this lack of due process this whole thing should be canceled," said Jonathan Neuman the Fresh Meadows attorney representing the plaintiffs "We want these people who paid their tickets to get their money back." The lawsuit claims that drivers who contest their tickets with the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency are not given certain evidence before their hearing and are unable to confront any witness for the town they are not provided with a determination of the case or instructions on how to appeal the decision From breaking news to special features and documentaries the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you "It is clear that the entire hearing process violates the basic fundamentals of due process," the complaint says Both the Town of Hempstead and BusPatrol America the company that manages the town’s program Hempstead Town spokesman Brian Devine said the town is reviewing the lawsuit but would not comment on pending litigation BusPatrol spokesman Gary Lewi also said the company had no comment on the lawsuit The lawsuit also alleges the town has been illegally issuing bus camera tickets within school districts that never agreed to participate in the program State and local laws require districts to opt in before tickets can be issued on their behalf Newsday reported last week the town wrote more than 80,000 tickets over the past two year within four school districts — Baldwin Lawrence and Valley Stream 13 — that have not opted in more than $20 million to the Town of Hempstead and BusPatrol was ticketed within the Lawrence school district Following the publication of that investigation, Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr. demanded that BusPatrol refund all drivers who were improperly fined Town Attorney John Maccarone also wrote a letter to BusPatrol on Thursday saying no further tickets should be issued by cameras from school districts that don’t participate in the program BusPatrol said it "will take appropriate action in accordance with the law," but in the past the company has been adamant the town is the party responsible for the tickets issued through the school bus camera program It was not immediately clear how drivers who paid a fine would go about getting a refund or how tickets issued in the four nonparticipating school districts would be thrown out the complaint requests dismissal of all school bus camera tickets — including those in districts that agreed to take part Newsday reported the town wrote more than 270,000 tickets in 2023 and 2024 those citations are worth roughly $67.5 million Neuman filed the lawsuit in Nassau Supreme Court but attorneys representing BusPatrol had the case moved to federal court in the Eastern District of New York Neuman told Newsday he is asking the case be returned to state court "Their activities at all times have been purposeful .. and geared toward their profit motive," Neuman said about the town and BusPatrol "The fact that it’s been running in those districts [that didn't opt in] highlights the egregiousness of how this program is not a real program Newsday’s reporting last week also prompted the attorneys who filed a previous lawsuit against Hempstead’s bus camera program to amend their complaint to include the new findings "We were blown away by the Town's admission contained in Newsday’s report last week indicating that they were aware of this issue and continued to issue tickets in violation of law," said Joseph Aron one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs in the second suit Executive Circle Awards Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions 2024 at 1:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}County Executive Day along with members of the County Legislature and Clarkstown Supervisor Hoehmann announced last week the plan to redevelop the Sain Building into mixed-use commercial space and workforce housing NY — County officials have unveiled ambitious plans for the Sain Building in New City along with members of the County Legislature and Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann announced last week the plan to redevelop the Sain Building located at 18 New Hempstead Road "Rockland County is at a crossroads," Day said and young adults about the challenges they face in finding affordable housing This housing crisis is not just about homes — it’s about the future of our community We must act decisively to ensure that Rockland remains a place where people can live Once the legislature declares the property surplus the county’s Division of Purchasing will issue a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of the roughly 3.69-acre site Rockland County legislators in attendance during the announcement included Lon Hofstein "Rockland County should be applauded for pursuing smart and aggressive strategies to combat its housing shortage If the Hudson Valley hopes to alleviate its housing crisis local governments must play an active role by allowing and incentivizing more housing for people across the full spectrum of incomes," Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress CEO Adam Bosch said "County Executive Ed Day and the County Legislature have created positive momentum Wednesday by announcing a plan that will help to preserve a workforce and give the next generation a chance to be home in Rockland County." the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress completed Rockland County’s first-ever comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment which identified significant gaps in housing affordability and availability: Rockland County has launched key initiatives: "Our comprehensive plan called for mixed-use housing here at the Sain building and in anticipation of this day I want to thank the County Executive and County Legislature for working together and their vision for this property," Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said "We look forward to this property coming onto the tax rolls and pledge my support and support all the staff in the Town of Clarkstown." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington North Hempstead is planning to approve a new operator for the course The North Hempstead Town Board authorized hiring a new operator for Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington replacing the longtime manager of the town-run golf course The board last week gave Supervisor Jennifer DeSena authority to execute an agreement with Brooke Holdings LLC to become the Port Washington course's new operator The agreement to manage the town-run course runs 20 years and is expected to generate $18 million in rent and additional revenues The final terms of the contract have yet to be ironed out Century Golf Partners has managed the 168-acre course since its opening in 1998 The founder of Brooke Holdings LLC is professional golfer Kelley Brooke She is also an owner of the Bethpage Golf Group carts and instruction at Bethpage State Park Golf Course She became the property's first female director of golf The North Hempstead Town Board authorized Supervisor Jennifer DeSena to approve an agreement with Brooke Holdings LLC to operate the Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington The town is parting ways with its longtime operator Brooke Holdings LLC is run by Kelley Brooke Her company manages Bethpage State Park Golf Course Brooke recalled watching Harbor Links being built in the late 1990s when she was operating the nearby Alley Pond Golf Center in Queens "It was such an exciting thing for the Town of North Hempstead and I'm so pleased that I have the ability now to invest my own money and really take this course to a whole other level," she said vice president of operations for Century Golf told Newsday he was “very disappointed” in the town's decision “We did respond to the RFPs that went out,” Gaudet said “I guess our communication with the town and our response didn’t meet the requirements they were looking for.” The agreement with Century Golf stipulates that the company is paid $250,000 annually Century Golf is also eligible to receive 10% of course revenues if the town exceeds budget projections The town recorded revenues of $419,684 in 2023 the company would pay the town annual rent along with a portion of revenue that is generated at the course Brooke will pay $350,000 in rent for the first year of the lease; $850,000 for years two through five; $900,00 for years six through 10; $950,000 for years 11 through 15; and $1 million for the final five years of the contract Brooke will also pay the town 15% of any revenue generated above $7 million annually Brooke also plans to contribute $2.7 million in capital improvements to the course in 2025 there were 44,858 rounds played on the 18-hole course and 33,941 rounds on the nine-hole course — representing the highest usage over the past 10 years “The reason for the change is obvious,” said town spokesperson Umberto Mignardi more profitable negotiation for the taxpayers.” Dennis Walsh and David Adhami joining DeSena a registered Democrat who caucuses with Republicans The Democratic council members — Robert Troiano Mariann Dalimonte and Christine Liu — voted against it Democrats said they were not given enough time to vet the resolution They also said they took issue with the vote taking place before the contract had been finalized “I don’t understand how anyone expects me to vote on a 20-year contract,” Dalimonte said at the board meeting and just finding out Friday afternoon at 3 or 4 o’clock … I have a problem with the administration.” DeSena responded that council members are not authorized to engage in negotiations and that it is standard practice for the board to vote on agreements at this stage “The most important thing is that we have this continuity of service for our residents," DeSena said Both Town of Hempstead golf courses are town-operated The Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course in Woodbury is operated by Lessing's on a 20-year Lessing's pays $600,000 in annual rent to Oyster Bay In March 2023, some town residents complained that North Hempstead was approving too many private events at Harbor Links there were fewer tee times available for the public Town officials said they were working on a compromise including limiting the private outings to Mondays Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post A fifteen year dispute that included nine years of litigation was resolved in the final days of 2023 when New York Golf Enterprises transferred a 9.28 acre parcel of land in Spring Valley to Union Village subdivided off the New York Country Club’s golf course at 103 Brick Church Road The street address for the property is 618 Union Road and sits in the Village of New Hempstead when Alan Gestetner and the New York Golf Enterprises (NYGE) entered into a written contract to sell the 9-plus acre parcel after it was subdivided off the larger 160 acres where NYGE operated its golf course The original agreement called for a $250,000 down payment and an additional $750,000 payment upon subdivision approval but Gestetner did make two smaller payments of $25,000 each shortly after the contract was signed Things took a turn for the worse in 2009 when NYGE cut off contact with Gestetner Gestetner filed several lawsuits in Rockland County Supreme Court that it was orally modified and enforceable Gestetner said that NYGE agreed to accept periodic payments of $25,000 each until the subdivision of the land was approved Gestetner would pay the balance due against the $250,000 Gestetner sought “specific performance” – meaning he asked the Court to compel NYGE to sell him the land in accordance with the terms of the modified oral contract saying enforcement of the contract was barred by the Statute of Frauds – which doesn’t have anything to do with fraud – but is a legal doctrine that says that contracts for the sale of real property have to be in writing to be enforceable was that the original contract was partially performed and that the oral agreement was therefore binding and enforceable Rockland County Justice Sherri Eisenpress agreed with Gestetner found the oral modification valid and enforceable and in 2020 ordered NYGE to sell the land to Gestetner in accordance with that oral agreement A stay was entered allowing NYGE to pursue an appeal 2nd Department (the appellate court that reviews decisions from Rockland County) The appeals court in May of 2023 reversed Justice Eisenpress’s order and dismissed Gestetner’s complaint Ordinarily that would be the end of the case but in an usual turn of events given the length of time this has persisted the parties reached an agreement – a stipulated settlement fifteen years after the original contract was signed The agreement allowed Gestetner to assign his rights in the contract to another entity That assignee was given the right to purchase the property for $4 million It was required to pay $750,000 within 30 days of the agreement and the balance at closing (less the $50,000 already received) provided that closing occurred before December 31 The agreement also ended the pending litigation between the parties a frequent investor and developer of real property in Rockland County containing almost 150 acres at 103 Brick Church Road in New Hempstead to Monsey-based 103 Brick Church A proposal pending before the Village of New Hempstead is asking to have the golf course re-zoned to R-10 which would allow for 344 single family homes on the property Existing ponds and wetlands on the property would be preserved The golf course’s previous owner proposed a development plan with the Village that included a mix of housing types under the Village’s optimized cluster development program NEW HEMPSTEAD - A state judge has nullified the village's updated zoning code aimed at increasing the community's housing stock Supreme Court Justice Sherri Eisenpress agreed with the challengers' contentions that the Board of Trustees' zoning update was riddled with procedural errors failed to properly inform residents of the plan and allow their participation and violated the State Environmental Quality Review Act "The petitioners have demonstrated, based on the record, that the village's actions were arbitrary and capricious in the change of zone process," Eisenpress wrote in a seven-page decision dated Jan Eisenpress wrote that village officials admitted the procedural errors when they agreed to hold an environmental review public hearing to correct the deficiencies but never did the village acknowledges its errors in failing to comply procedurally with the SEQRA (when passing the comprehensive plan," Eisenpress wrote Village officials have said the rezoning would allow developers more diversified housing and density in exchange for increasing the open space across the village The Board of Trustees has defended their deliberations on the zone changes in 2021 into 2022 The board approved the updated zoning code after several years of public hearings and meetings with residents for their views called charrettes Mayor Abe Sicker declined to comment on Eisenpress' decision and the village's plans including whether officials intend to appeal Eisenpress to the Appellate Division "We have not discussed yet the next steps so I can’t really comment," Sicker said CUPON: New Hempstead must adhere to regulationsThe decision marks a victory for village residents, the Hillcrest Fire Department, and Kearsing & Edwards American Legion Post 1600. CUPON-Rockland, a local advocacy group hired environmental attorney Susan Shapiro who was assisted by Deborah Munitz of the grassroots environmental advocates ROSA-4 Rockland New Hempstead updated zoning challenged: See what lawsuit claims In a statement released by CUPON leader Micheal Miller the group stated: "New Hempstead ignored state law and hastily passed a comprehensive plan failing to articulate the impacts that the proposed zoning changes would have on the Village of New Hempstead’s environment." Village officials failed to articulate the number of additional units that could be built under the new zoning changes and therefore could not calculate the impacts on water and community services like those provided by the Hillcrest Fire Department "We hope that now that this litigation has concluded the village will actually make progress on its promises." stands for Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhoods CUPON: Born amid Ramapo over-development, goes countywide CUPON said a proper environmental study and adherence to the regulations "will allow residents the opportunity to participate in public scoping sessions to help identify the impacts of the proposed changes and provide another opportunity to comment and ask questions on the GEIS document once finalized." The Village Board then passed zoning changes based on the purported environmental review of the Comprehensive Plan The need for housing is attributed by Ramapo officials to the ever-increasing Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish populations Families have been buying homes outside Monsey in villages like Airmont Families also are moving in from the city and New Jersey was earmarked to maintain the village's housing character In a primer on the comprehensive zoning update "The residential changes to the comprehensive plan and zoning were designed to maintain the single-family character of New Hempstead while increasing the amount of open space provided by developers in exchange for small increases in unit counts." Sicker wrote in the single-family optimized cluster zones The developer must offer to dedicate open spaces acceptable to the Village Board The legal action contended the village must follow the law and include residents in the process The opponents' legal action says Sicker and other Village Board members can correct their fatal errors by rescinding their resolutions and doing the required environmental reviews necessary leading to properly supported determinations or findings "Municipalities have tremendous power to enact changes but state laws provide minimum protections to residents to ensure that impacts are identified and mitigated," the statement said Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal Read more articles and bio Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers NEW HEMPSTEAD – Fairview Oval homeowners have asked a state judge to block a Ramapo land sale designed to bring a park to the village and extra land for development at a private school The legal action filed in New York State Supreme Court argues Ramapo sold municipally-owned parkland to New Hempstead without state Legislature approval Parkland cannot be arbitrarily sold for development without the legislation declaring the land is no longer parkland The wooded 22 acres surround the Fairview Oval development of single-family houses Ramapo acquired the property as part of the town approval of the development off New Hempstead Road in 1972 Land deal: Ramapo land sale could mean park, village hall for New Hempstead, yeshiva expansion Zoning challenged in court: New Hempstead updated zoning challenged; see what lawsuit claims The Ramapo Town Board declared the property surplus in April and approved selling the land to New Hempstead for $1.35 million The town approved the price even though the land had been appraised at $3.4 million five years ago New Hempstead would separately sell more than five acres for $1.2 million to the Yeshiva of Greater Monsey at nearby 667 New Hempstead Road the yeshiva has agreed in principle to finance access to New Hempstead Road from the park and improve the curve near the intersection with Pennington Way developers must seek town board approval to build on property topping 20 acres before going before town land-use boards Susan Iskowitz and Zvi Raskin − want to block the sale and maintain the property as wooded open space Their Article 78 was developed by activist Deborah Munitz and attorney Bruce Levine a former county legislator representing Ramapo said Monday they are concerned about clear-cutting the trees and the impact on the water system He also has been involved in blocking a 477-home development at Patrick Farm with Munitz a member of the ROSA grassroots environmental organization The plan “smacks of a predesigned deal pushed through by a developer without any concern for history “I do hope that wiser heads will prevail both in court and among the leaders of New Hempstead.” Munitz said during an April public hearing town officials added the resolution to declare the land surplus at the last minute and didn’t give residents time to study the issue and the town to follow its own rules on selling taxpayer-owned property this land cannot be willy-nilly considered surplus land and sold off,” she said “If the land were to be surpluses it would need to be sold in a way that guaranteed the best return to the taxpayers of Ramapo and there would need to be a process for that as well.” Town Attorney Itamar Yeger said Tuesday the town needs to review the legal action noting the residents filed 49 documents and hundreds of pages "We will review the submissions and save comments said the concept called for 16-plus acres being developed into a park that included a walking trail and various sports courts "that would enhance the quality of life for all the residents from both New Hempstead and Ramapo instead of a mere handful of residents in the immediate area it would detrimentally impact all town and village residents," he said Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht had called the land sale “a positive outcome for everybody." He said the town gets $1.33 million New Hempstead Mayor Abe Sicker said the village’s initial plan calls for using 14 to 15 acres for a community park with play equipment He said a village hall could one day be built on the property to replace the crowded building on Old Schoolhouse Road The older building has been used since residents voted in 1983 to break from Ramapo and incorporate as a village Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal 2024 at 12:34 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Robin Milliner-​Johnson has been named the new principal at the George Washington Immediate School (West Hempstead Union Free School District)WEST HEMPSTEAD NY — The West Hempstead School District has named a new principal at the George Washington Intermediate School Robin Milliner-Johnson comes to West Hempstead after a decade of educational work across New York City's public schools she piloted a phonics curriculum aligned with best practices resulting in 98% of her kindergartners reading at or above grade level by the end of the 2022-2023 school year Milliner-Johnson attended Adelphi University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a Master of Arts degree in childhood education "This achievement is a testament to her ability to coach and develop teachers inimplementing innovative practices that drive student success,” said Superintendent ofSchools Dan Rehman andcommitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments Milliner-Johnson ispoised to lead George Washington Intermediate School into an exciting new chapter." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Multiple injuries were reported Thursday when a school bus crashed into a house and another vehicle in Ramapo A school bus involved in an accident is seen in New Hempstead Multiple injuries were reported Thursday when a school bus crashed into a house and another vehicle in a suburb north of New York City A school bus involved in an accident is seen in the village of New Hempstead in Rockland County A woman looks out the door of a house hit by a school bus in New Hempstead look at the site of a school bus accident in the village of New Hempstead in Rockland County A school bus and other cars involved in an accident are seen in New Hempstead (AP) — Seven children were injured Thursday when a school bus veered off the road in suburban New York hit two parked cars and crashed into a house in the village of New Hempstead in Rockland County the Ramapo police department said in a statement A bus carrying 21 children to school veered off the road hit a tree and then hit two unoccupied vehicles striking several trees and ultimately crashing into the house The driver was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries Five of them were evaluated for minor bumps and bruises sustained injuries that were more serious but not life-threatening The town of Ramapo about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of New York City is home to a large Orthodox Jewish population and the bus was carrying young boys to one of the area’s private Jewish schools NEW HEMPSTEAD – The Ramapo village's recently adopted zoning code update is being challenged in state court.  The 97-page legal action claims the update is riddled with procedural errors violations of the environmental review laws and should be annulled.  Officials have said the rezoning would allow developers more housing in exchange for increasing the open space across the village.  The Article 78 legal action claims New Hempstead Board of Trustees members, with the advice of their village attorney approved a zoning scheme for most of the village that is rife with violations The action claims the board failed to meet state environmental review laws and violated village rules requiring notification to owners living within 500 feet of rezoned properties Legal challenge: Hillcrest Fire Department and some residents want a state judge to annul the New Hempstead zoning code update Development conflicts: Ramapo rezoning plan forces officials to choose between housing needs and rural lifestyle New Hempstead: Residents fret about former Matterhorn Nursery future and willfully violated and ignored New York State environmental and village laws," the legal filing in January states The suit argues the board members defied attempts by the public and agencies to make corrections The complainants asked the court to annul the zoning and order the village to pay legal fees "in light of the level of frivolous behavior exhibited by the village." must bear the burden of bringing a lawsuit to make the village to follow basic legal land-use procedures which the New Hempstead public officials all swore to uphold," the legal action claims Mayor Abe Sicker referred comment to the village's case attorney Terry Rice was accused of having a conflict since he advised the board on aspects of the zoning update including a Pomona Road property across from the Ramapo baseball stadium earmarked for commercial development Rice said Friday he's reviewing the legal action filed by attorney Susan Hito Shapiro on behalf of the Hillcrest Fire Department Kearsing & Edwards American Legion Post 1600 an advocate for fire and building code enforcement,  Alberto Capiro Rice said the rezoning process is long and can be complicated "I am told the village believes it did everything correctly," Rice said "We will defend the village comprehensive zoning update If procedures were not done correctly and there were errors made It's not like anything nefarious was done." The opponents' legal action says Sticker and other Village Board members can correct their fatal errors by rescinding their resolutions Shapiro said Friday there would be repercussions from the board's illegal failure to substantively review the impacts of the zone changes under the State Environmental Quality Review Act She argued the situation would mean the environmental impact of any proposed project under the updated zoning couldn't be determined She said the village not only declined to identify for residents the environmental impacts of the proposed updated zoning but also alternatives Ramapo zoning entwined?The rezoning in New Hempstead and potential development in the Northeast corridor in the Pomona area raise concerns about changing neighborhoods to provide more housing Residents also are concerned about the loss of open space and woods The need for housing is attributed by Ramapoofficials to the ever-increasing Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish populations Families have been buying homes outside Monsey in villages like Airmont New Hempstead broke away from Ramapo to become a village in 1983 to oppose multiple-family housing and to enforce zoning and housing codes felt Ramapo officials were lax in enforcing zoning and fire and building codes Sicker wrote, "The residential changes to the comprehensive plan and zoning were designed to maintain the single-family character of New Hempstead while increasing the amount of open space provided by developers in exchange for small increases in unit counts." Sicker wrote In the single-family optimized cluster zones The developer must offer to dedicate open spaces acceptable to the Village Board He said the number of additional units is small varying from 1.2 to 1.5 times the number of lots based upon the gross area An exception is the 34-acre former Matterhorn Nursery property, which was designated as a special residential development and zoned to preserve a significant amount of open space The zoning would preserve the property's environmentally sensitive wetlands The project is allowed to include 150 residential units in a multiple-family complex "The reason for this designation is historical and environmental," Sicker wrote " The property has served as an environmental resource for education as well as a wetlands preservation area." Development potential: Developers eye Pomona Road corridor for big changes Ramapo rezoning: Environmental impacts, traffic increases among concerns in northeast plan Opponents contend the updated zoning map did not clearly identify the areas being considered for rezoning adding activist Deb Munitz created a map for the legal action.  Shapiro said the number of housing units resulting from the rezoning is nebulous She said at a minimum opponents are guessing a minimum of more than 400 homes and a mixed-use hotel center on Pomona Road on lands Ramapo had dedicated as open space Along with the Pomona Road property off Route 45 near the ballpark Ramapo's rezoning proposes allowing businesses along the more rural Route 45 near the environmentally sensitive Striker Property and Pomona Ramapo has allowed development in the town's Pomona section of private schools and other development Critics have argued the town and New Hempstead rezoning work hand-in-hand to add more than a thousand more homes in the northeast corridor Residents from the Monsey area have told Ramapo officials at public hearings their desire for more housing while area residents oppose major development and higher-density housing New Hempstead also is home to the New York Golf & Country Club along Brick Church Road No indication the new zoning impacts the club While the club remains open, potential Ramapo rezoning for the closed Minisceongo Golf Course for high-density housing could allow for 700 houses on the 140 acres. The current one-acre zoning allows for 122 houses The golf course property owner bought the site for $32 million and also owns the Matterhorn property "It is the very definition of arbitrary and capricious decision-making for a board to make major changes in zoning and zoning maps without studies analysis or even documenting any assumptions as to how many units could be developed or the overall density change being approved," Shapiro said.   Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.   NEW HEMPSTEAD - Two people were sent to the hospital after a head-on crash that has closed Route 45 in New Hempstead today An accident investigation has shut down the road between Old Schoolhouse Road and New Hempstead Road when a northbound 1997 Ford Econoline van being driven by a 31-year-old Haverstraw man veered into the southbound lane and smashed into a 2010 Toyota Corolla had serious injuries and had to be pulled out of her car by Hillcrest firefighters Both drivers were taken to Westchester Medical Center Police didn't have any information on the woman's condition Tuesday afternoon.  Rockland Paramedics and Spring Hill EMS also responded LIVE LOOK: Traffic cameras in Westchester, Rockland ROADS NOW: lohud.com/traffic Twitter: @MattSpillane NEW HEMPSTEAD - A 37-year-old Monsey man faces multiple criminal charges after he crashed a school bus filled with students into trees and a house Police arrested Chaim Feder on Tuesday after weeks of investigating the crash on Dec Ramapo bus crash: Boys sent home from hospital 'with positive signs of recovery' Spring Valley: Judge awards Hickory House $2.4M in dispute with contractors over damaged buildings Legislature appointment: Joel Friedman increases Democrats' voting majority before elections Up to 21 children ranging in age between 5 and 10 years suffered injuries in the crash including two 5-year-old boys who are recovering from serious injuries that required Westchester Medical Center stays Five other children also were taken to the Valhalla hospital They were examined for bumps and bruises and released to their families The crash caused extensive property damage Ramapo police charge driver with feloniesAfter weeks of gathering evidence and an extensive investigation the Ramapo Police Department Crash Investigation Unit arrested Feder on the following charges: New Hempstead Justice Michael Koplen arraigned Feder and released him without bail for a future court hearing The Rockland District Attorney's Office had asked the judge to set bail at $50,000 Feder's next court date has not yet been filed Ramapo Police Chief Martin Reilly said Feder was ordered to turn over his passport Police said at the time that the crash occurred when the bus driver likely lost control of the bus as he came down the hill on North South Gate Road The bus hit a minivan at the top of the hill and then skidded off the road and continued through the driveway before hitting vehicles The bus then continued down the green hill through more trees before hitting the ranch-style house at 37 North Southgate Drive Portions of the lawn fronting the house were ripped up as black skid marks and mud stained the road The New York State Department of Transportation investigated the bus Police said no mechanical issues were found "We are thankful that the bus didn't roll over," Reilly said at the time there most likely would have been catastrophic injuries." Rockland District Attorney Thomas Walsh said "every morning parents across the county and country put their trust in school bus drivers to get their children safely to and from school the actions of the defendant put the children on the bus in grave danger and resulted in serious injuries," he said The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic Supervising Assistant District Attorney Stefanie Schera and Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Martin-Thom Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio RAMAPO — A fourth person has died due to injuries sustained when a van driver crashed into a tree in Ramapo on June 15.  A 48-year-old woman from Village of New Square Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht said.  The 2009 Ford Econoline carried 11 people when it veered off New Hempstead Road near Conway Court and crashed at 4:21 p.m and their relation to each other is unclear.  RAMAPO FATAL CRASH: Several dead and more injured following New Hempstead crash COVID: A week without coronavirus-related fatalities in Rockland, a step in the 'right direction' CLARKSTOWN: Summer concert series returns with nine nights of concerts Some of the injuries left people in serious condition Police say it is expected to take several months to complete their investigation.  Isabel Keane covers breaking news throughout the Lower Hudson Valley. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter @ijkeane. Check out how to support local journalism here.   Rendering of the planned 30-unit rental building on Front Street in Hempstead Hempstead acquisition clears way for new multifamily project  NEW HEMPSTEAD — Mesivta Ahavas Hatorah has been operating a boys’ religious school in the village since about 2013 But it has been running without permits because the property at 720 Union Road never received permits to operate as a school — nor did the previous tenants who also had schools there since about 2006 Congregation Bais K’nesses of New Hempstead owns the the property and rents it to Mesivta which uses a portion of the property for a religious boys’ school Although Mesivta is now seeking approval to keep operating village fire inspector Raphael Ziegler does not recommend a school there housing the current number of students nor future plans to expand due to safety concerns Ziegler was also unwilling to issue a certificate of compliance for fire and safety codes during the permit process said the owner never informed the school when it began renting the property three years ago that the building lacked permits “They were under the assumption that it was all permitted and everything was OK because (Mesivta) had seen that for seven years previous there had been schools operating there,” Emanuel said said schools have been held in the building for more than a decade and “there were never any issues” with the village He added that Kehillat is working to ensure the building has all the necessary permits “Whatever is required of the school is being done,” Ratner said “The village is fully aware of what is going on “We don’t want to be doing anything that’s illegal,” he added Mesivta is located on the corner of Union and Brick Church roads and across the street from Hempstead Elementary School RELATED: Rockland yeshiva inspections to go forward in compromise EDITORIAL: Is 'blockbusting' happening here? There are two buildings on the property: One is a bi-level house and clergy residence; the other is a one-story brick building used as a mikvah Mesivta currently has about 55 students in grades nine through 12 and has about 10 faculty and staff members The East Ramapo school district transports students to the school the school also proposes that an educational program with approximately the same number of students would be held there a man at the school said summer classes were in session A day school began operating at the site under a previous tenant around 2006 and other schools have since been run there without proper permits according to site plan documents filed by Emanuel with the village The village “did not object to these users,” Emanuel wrote in the documents referring to the schools at the site “No violation notices were issued during that time.”  Fire and safety inspections of the buildings in December and January documented that a school was operating there without the necessary permits The approved usage was only for the synagogue A previous fire inspection conducted in 2013 referred to pre-K classes offered at the location A certificate of compliance for fire and safety codes was issued later that year New Hempstead Mayor Fred Brinn said the village was working to ensure all codes were being met “and therefore it’s being addressed as need be and has taken action by sending the fire inspector have come in and made a formal application.” In addition to seeking a special permit to operate as a school and site plan approval Mesivta is seeking two variances from village zoning codes: To operate on the current 3.6 acres which is below the 10-acre minimum to qualify for school use; and a reduction in the required number of parking spots The site plan also requests the approval of an increase the student body — up to 80 — for a future expansion Emanuel said the expansion may require some additional construction took issue with both the current layout and future expansion according to a report he submitted to the village about the school's site plan along with emergency services access for not supporting the application "the current layout and proposed site plan is not conducive for a school with the occupancy potential of 50-80 students.”  "The building was was not built as a school," Ziegler wrote in an email to The Journal News The single-family home only has one means of egress "The current fire alarm system is not adequate for a school and needs to be upgraded Ziegler also wrote in village documents that he was unwilling to issue the school a certificate of compliance for fire and safety codes because the building does not have approval to be used as a school “The current building does not conform to the building fire and safety requirements of a school and in good conscience I cannot put my name to it at this time.” Ziegler wrote in an email responding to a school official requesting he reinspect the school and issue a certificate of compliance Brinn said the issues raised by the fire inspector will be addressed by both the village and school before any final determination is made “I don’t overrule my fire inspector,” Brinn said “I have no intention of overruling my fire inspector … It has to be either addressed or (the school) is going to have to comply a resident who lives near the synagogue and school said that the owners have been good neighbors and there haven’t been any issues in the past Minsky said she supported keeping the school if it complies with village codes “If they’re working with the village and the local zoning codes,” Minsky said “and they’re doing things in a way that protects the children in a way that conforms to what the community feels is safe and appropriate Mesivta is expected to go before the New Hempstead Village Board of Trustees on July 25 seeking a special permit to operate as a school and seek variances from the Zoning Board on July 27 Twitter: @mikedonofrio_ 2023 at 10:13 am ETClarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann (Town of Clarkstown)(Town of Clarkstown)(Town of Clarkstown)Editor's Note: The address of the house is 295 New Hemptstead Road The number was incorrect in the original version of this report NY — A Clarkstown property owner is accused of running a 'migrant flophouse' at 295 New Hempstead Road "We’ve never seen a situation this dire," Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said at a news conference Monday Some had arrived as recently as two weeks ago More than 10 more were expected to arrive this week this was like a migrant flophouse," Hoehmann said We believe there are people behind this from the state." Hoehmann called the house "the canary in the mine," saying he suspected there were many more places like it in Rockland Clarkstown found it by executing an "administrative search warrant" for town code violations something he said other local communities do not do He said the investigation began after police officers found two people digging for clothes in a drop-off bin near New City Bowl who said they had recently moved to the house Photos provided by the town showed rooms divided by sheets and shower curtains Hoehmann said children were living in the attic and the garage Lawler called for a crackdown on illegal conversions "and on folks who think it is their right to break the law We have to protect the safety of our residents and our first responders." He also said he hoped the investigation would quickly uncover "Who is behind moving migrants from New York City to Rockland County." "This does not just happen by itself. Somebody's getting rich off it," Day said. He recalled the fire in which five people died in March at a house whose owner was cited subsequently for more than 400 building and safety code violations at his other properties including illegal conversions Day and Hoehmann said inspectors also will be looking at the other properties they believe the Monsey resident owns locally Lawler and Day said they suspected NYC Mayor Eric Adams was involved in the movement of the migrants found in the house on New Hempstead Road They said if it is found to be true then there should be consequences "I don’t have the evidence that Mayor Adams did this but I will say that he certainly tried to dump his problem into my district," Foley said "These types of conditions shouldn’t exist anywhere," Hoehmann concluded "It’s coming to a place like Clarkstown because of failures at the city MORE READING: Molinaro, NY Lawmakers Call For Special Session On Migrant Crisis NEW HEMPSTEAD Residents are keeping a wary eye on the former Matterhorn Nursery property with rumors flying claiming a high-density development is being planned for the area an anonymous flyer went out to residents along Summit Park Road that purports to show an architectural rendering of a four-story 396-unit apartment block planned for the land at 227 Summit Park Road Copies also have been circulating online in Facebook community forums like the controversial "Block The Block Vote" page "What do you think of 1000 more people living right around the corner from you?" the flyer reads says it hasn't received any development application from the property's new owner which bought the 34-acre site for $5.1 million in August 2014 No item related to the property has been listed on the agenda for Thursday's Board of Trustees meeting at Village Hall Mayor Fred Brinn did not respond to a request for comment "There's probably housing coming," Horn said Wednesday in his office development has pushed deeper and deeper into the village of 5,200 people Across the street from the former nursery is Cambridge Heights a newly-completed 54-unit active adult community for people 55 and older New Hempstead officials are in the process of retooling the village's master plan partly to diversify its housing stock and attract more entry-level and affordable housing developments with smaller units "The Village is not seeking to change the quiet residential character of New Hempstead," a statement on the village website says, "but rather seeks to maintain the current density of development as a predominantly single family home community." A meeting to discuss possible changes to the village's zoning is set for 7:30 p.m Long the gold standard among Hudson Valley garden centers, Matterhorn suddenly shut its doors in 2012. It went on the auction block in July 2014 the buyer was New Jersey businessman Joseph Kazarnovsky who subsequently formed and apparently transferred the property to Summit Hempstead LLC A lawyer representing Kazarnovsky did not immediately return a call seeking comment Twitter: @alextailored Time capsule from previous courthouse opened for all to see Texas (Covering Katy News)—Construction on Waller County's new courthouse is officially underway following a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday It is not a traditional courthouse but a building that houses county government offices and will open next year The new $32 million courthouse will accommodate the growth of staff and county services since the previous courthouse opened in 1955 County Judge Trey Duhon opened a time capsule from that building and the event was streamed live See video of the time capsule opening below The copper box contained several newspapers and clippings from the 1950s along with personal letters from County Judge John Winfree and one of the county commissioners and information promoting Hempstead as a great place to do business also included two silver dollars so the current County Judge could "buy a round of coffee," noting that a cup of coffee was five cents in 1955 "I hate to tell him that $2 doesn't even get you a coffee at Starbucks these days," Duhon said Duhon appreciated seeing the contents of the time capsule "It was fascinating to read some of the letters and see some of the newspaper articles from over 70 years ago," Duhon said Judge Trey Duhon holds two silver dollars which were inside the time capsule Waller County Judge Trey Duhon opens the time capsule Waller County Judge Trey Duhon with one of the newspapers found inside the time capsule Judge Trey Duhon holds a newspaper from the time capsule Judge Trey Duhon looks at one of the newspapers found inside the time capsule A rendering of the soon to be built Waller County Courthouse The previous Waller County Courthouse which was dedicated in 1955 The design of the new courthouse incorporates elements of a Victorian-style courthouse that was built in 1894 and demolished in 1954 to make way for the building that was recently demolished including Texas State Representatives Stan Kitzman and Mike Schofield and Paula Gibson represented Senator Lois Kolkhorst Waller County Facilities Manager Danny Rothe Pct 3 Commissioner Kendric Jones and Pct 4 Commissioner Justin Beckendorff and members of the public who devoted hours of their time to meetings and workshops during the planning and design of the new courthouse," Duhon wrote in a social media post "Today was a very important and significant moment in Waller County's history and all of you played a very important part in it!" The new Harmony Healthcare center in Hempstead Harmony Healthcare opens new Hempstead center  Three people died and eight more were injured when a van smashed into a tree in Ramapo on Monday The crash occurred on New Hempstead Road at 4:21 p.m Eleven people were traveling in the 2009 Ford Econoline when it veered off the road near Conway Court Hillcrest and New City firefighters removed several people from the van and all of its occupants were taken to either Nyack Hospital or Westchester Medical Center SCHOOL ELECTIONS: Results will come in over days CORONAVIRUS IN ROCKLAND: County panel spearheads business CUOMO: Bike-pedestrian bridge path opens as 'home run' for region The accident remains under investigation.  New Hempstead Road was closed for much of Monday night while police investigated It was not immediately clear what might have caused the crash the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, Hatzoloh EMS of Rockland County, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps and New Square EMS also responded Staff writer Isabel Keane contributed to this report They say the assault at a home on Bonnie Court involved a knife A suspect was taken into custody and the victim suffered injuries that were not life-threatening Police arrived at the scene around noon and were there throughout the afternoon A News 12 camera captured video of officers interacting with a group of people on the driveway of 4 Bonnie Court It was not immediately clear if the people live at the address but some of them told News 12 that they were asked to leave the home for around three to four hours I was disheartened by a Jan. 10 special report, “Ramapo Nears Breaking Point.” I’m not sure what the value or intent was of having pictures of innocent individuals who are identifiable as Orthodox Jews it seemed to identify those persons as the "problem." We already have enough problems with social media posts by politicians and community leaders who continuously rant about out-of-control development but offer no solutions other than verbal acrobatics This is pointless and divests our community’s responsibilities to manage and cure our predicaments benign sounding arguments about “preserving the character” of neighborhoods masks discriminatory intentions and outcomes Yet ignoring the consequence of what is needed to bridge the needs of our communal growth with sound planning growth and community concerns should not translate into conflicting communicative rhetoric SPECIAL REPORT: Ramapo nears breaking point EDITORIAL: Ramapo's shoddy governance is by design COLUMN: Ramapo's haphazard growth rattles residents INTERACTIVE: Ramapo nears breaking point The kind of growth we are experiencing necessitates the need to create adequate and sufficient housing for the needs of our community’s growing population our local leadership needs to devise and implement serious and strong community planning that is realistic about our existing and expected growth Thoughtful planning decisions must take into account all residents of our town Elected officials must begin to make wise and plausible decisions instead of continuing to propose divisive and exclusionary measures that echo the same reactionary preferences made over the last 30 years It was those policies that created the divisions and tensions in the first place these defensive arguments ignore the fact that the growth we are seeing has benefited and can continue to benefit our community at large in several key ways Increased demand for housing.Allowance for compliant houses of worship or private schools for those looking to buy houses in close proximity.The sensible modifying of zoning laws for larger homes to be built which would enable us to accommodate large families new businesses are opened to support the needs of a growing population We need to wake up and face the facts — Ramapo is growing and will continue to grow My wife and I have lived in New Hempstead for 29 years Our children have been raised and educated here and especially being involved in village government I have witnessed not only the growth of my village and Ramapo but the evolving needs of our residents as well Ramapo was and is a beautiful community to raise our families Saying we need to address a growing population that needs life-cycle and inclusionary housing for families and schools for its children is not negative; it is an opportunity for collective thought and implementation All our residents must take a hard look at the way things are now and we must work together to enact sensible community development policies that allow Ramapo to grow in a responsible and inclusive way We need dialogue with neighboring municipalities to create a welcoming environment that would alleviate the concerns we all share I have created an organization called the “Ramapo Smart Planning & Growth Alliance” and will be assembling a collective of local representatives community leaders and residents who are not only willing to engage in developing solutions but also participating in the implementation of those solutions I welcome you to contact me at fb@rspga.com with your comments Only the engagement of truthful and sincere dialogue without blatant unfounded accusations and intolerance can serve as the basis for us to plan properly in order to address our needs for our future This is not about politics; it’s about doing what’s best for our communities The writer is the mayor of the Village of New Hempstead.