On BI...I agree with the comments made in supporting the resolution for the zone change. They are right about the need for business development...and the fact that every time anyone wants to build anything, the NIMBYs come out swinging. BI has agreed to reasonable concessions when it's time to build, as per residents' concerns. I am a bit concerned about the uncertainty of exactly what type of business will eventually be erected...it was on that basis GP voted no. But whatever it turns out to be, it will still have to go through the approval process, where those concerns and concessions can be addressed and agreed upon.
Regarding your comments on the BI rezone here is some info for you to assess. A building assessed for say 1.5 million has an annual Town tax levy (including NYS mandates) of about $20,000 dollars. This is 0.1% of the 20 million Town budget. So if this building were built, it would hypothetically reduce everyone's tax liability by 0.1%. Don't know who you are or where you live, but I will assume you may have a $3,000 dollar Town tax. if you deduct 0.1% of your bill, it amounts to $3.00 dollars per year. Now this is assuming the Town doesn't expand its budget because it now has this additional revenue. So these Rotterdam residents have to live with some spot zoned cr@p so you can enjoy 2 cups of coffee a year? If you are in a position where three bucks makes you crazed for rezones, that's really sad. That's why there are NIMBYs because people can think for themselves.
Problem is Rotterdam has been drinking their septic tank water for to many decades and loving it. No brains left to figure things out. No clue on reality, and they let the politicians feed them the kool aid. Just keep letting them think for you and eventually we will be Rotterdamsterdam (we're well on our way)! The goal is to place business and industry in compatible locations to protect community interests and character, not solely private developers.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
I'd also like to add, that rotterdam residents have been continually fed this same line of bullsh!t for decades....'businesses will keep taxes low'.
Ok then....if that is true, how has the new FEDEX, RAILEX, PRICE CHOPPER FREEZER (all located in the industrial park) and all of the new MFH's that are popping up all over the place kept our taxes low? It clearly hasn't since the residence are screaming 'my taxes are too high'.
Spot zoning does not benefit the residence taxes....only the developer! IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Avon, I think that you are hitting on some good points. The fact is that we do need to do something to reduce the taxes in this area. The reduction has to come in several different ways. Taking your figures, if this would be a $3 reduction on someone's taxes, then that's a beginning. The fact is that there does need to be smart development. I understand that the people in this area may be upset with the fact that someone may be going in near the exit, but if you think about it, the fact is that's exactly what happens around exits of highways. It gives better access to the outside area and it is a place that makes it good for people moving in and out of town to come to do business and/or a place for people from outside of town to come in and do something and/or spend their money in town. While the people who live in this neighborhood do have a right to not have their lives affected significantly, the fact is also that they decided to buy a house that was built directly across the road (although in an offset neighborhood) from the intersection of 2 major highways. If these people thought and hoped that this area would remain forever wild, then the time to go to the town board and petition for that would have been years ago. From what I heard, and no, I don't have some other inside information, just what has been said in public, the current owner of this area is planning on doing what he can in order to aleve the worries of the direct neighbors.
The thing is, it's going to be a negotiation, which means that both sides need to give some. I don't know what the current neighbors have given up at this point, but it sounds as though Mr. Ivonella is planning on doing quite a bit of work with not only putting up a sound barrier, but also lowering the rest of the land to use it as a natural barrier, building the new barrier above it. At the same time, since the last project to come in, the developer has decided to increase the size of what is a natural buffer from a 1/2 acre to a full acre. With this remaining "forever wild," this should help to reduce (not necessarily get rid of all of) the issues to a point where it is satisfactory with both sides.
The fact that they also came in front of the town board stating that they do NOT want to bring something like the McLane's distribution center, which would bring in major traffic of big trucks, as is being planned for the new road (again) for Price Chopper / Golub to bring in it's produce. This would bring significantly less traffic than previously thought, as well as bringing some business, raising some tax revenue both from the increase in property value as well as in the possible sales tax revenue that may be brought in with this project.
There needs to be more smart expansion throughout the county to help reduce not only the town, but also county taxes. The fact that this would bring a reduction on the town taxes also means that it would bring a reduction (albeit spread over a much larger populous) at the county level. This county needs to bring in business SMARTLY so that it does not affect the residents daily lives, but also so that it will help to reduce the tax burden, which is still one of the highest in the county due to many factors including mandates and frivolous spending. I haven't thought about the entire county, but I would also like to see the same type of development around the exits in the county. I also see that exit 24 of I-88 in Duanesburg may be a good place to build out with less impact on the residents. That's something that the people in Duanesburg need to decide, though. Princetown has already done a good job of it around the base of Pangburn Road. If you go and look at the other area where Tiscione's Pizzaria is, this is how I see this area being built. I don't think that would have that much of an effect on the area. I'm not a planner, but that's just an opinion from one resident.
Princetown has already done a good job of it around the base of Pangburn Road. If you go and look at the other area where Tiscione's Pizzaria is, this is how I see this area being built. I don't think that would have that much of an effect on the area. I'm not a planner, but that's just an opinion from one resident.
You are talking about 8:00 - 10:00 operation, not what the B-2 rezone allows for that area. How can you say BI's remedial propsals have any value when there is no project? The POR recommendation, much softer in use intensity, is appropriate for that area.
I'm just saying with what it appeared to be they were speaking about on Wednesday night was more of the POR use in an area that they are trying to get the zoning of the B-2, which would give them the option of anything smaller. Weren't the ideas that he mentioned as a possibility closer to your POR idea? I realize that the change to the B-2 could bring in something bigger. I guess I'm agreeing that the POR is appropriate, but even though it's being zoned B-2, they seem to want to use the POR definition for what they're hoping comes in.
I have a question. Do any of you have a difinitive answer as to what will lower our taxes as far as developing business and industry in our Town? With the new businesses that bumble mentioned why hasn't it made a difference in our taxes?
The real problem is that the more money the town/city/county collects the more money they spend even though they received more money than the year before. Unless the town/city/county cut their spending and apply it to reduce the residents tax load there will never be a tax decrease no matter how many new businesses are created.
I have a question. Do any of you have a difinitive answer as to what will lower our taxes as far as developing business and industry in our Town? With the new businesses that bumble mentioned why hasn't it made a difference in our taxes?
This is a great question for the new administration in Rotterdam! They tout that "we need business" but it appears as though they are just paying back favors to the developers.
The residents need to attend the TB meetings and ask these hard questions and demand answers...even if they cannot produce an answer immediately, let them give us some type of response. It might make them realize that these projects are not bringing in the tax relief they promise and that the residents are onto their smoke and mirrors gig.
This is a great question for the new administration in Rotterdam! They tout that "we need business" but it appears as though they are just paying back favors to the developers.
The residents need to attend the TB meetings and ask these hard questions and demand answers...even if they cannot produce an answer immediately, let them give us some type of response. It might make them realize that these projects are not bringing in the tax relief they promise and that the residents are onto their smoke and mirrors gig.
In all fairness, ALL of the past administrations said the same thing....'it will lower our taxes'...BULLSH!T! It never has and it never will. The more money the government gets....the more it spends. Perhaps these new development's taxes will go to supporting REMS or some other unworthy venture. tic
But sure....I agree....pose this question to this town board and see what ya get....other than the deer in the headlight look!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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