Kiryas Joel looking to create park along Larkin Drive

MONROE — Work is underway to turn a 70.5-acre parcel along Larkin Drive owned by the Village of Kiryas Joel into a park. The project underwent scrutiny by municipal attorneys because the plans for the play area did not go before the Town of Monroe Planning Board. Approximately 50 of the acreage includes the Mountain Lakes which housed the old Ice House, which backs up behind the Lamplight Village complex. “The land,” Monroe Building Inspector William Muente said “is exempt from our town zoning because its land (on Larkin Drive) is owned by another municipality (Kiryas Joel). Muente gave two examples of how one municipality can build within another municipality: The Village of Monroe, for instance, built its water filtration plant on town property and the Town of Monroe added a small addition to the court building on Lake Street. The fact that the project was not brought before the town planning board was a bone of contention with resident Ward Brower. “If a developer comes in, he must go through the legal steps to get the project done,” Brower said. Town Supervisor Sandy Leonard said there are community issues, such as the use of Smith’s Clove Park by residents of Kiryas Joel. “They are paying for it as town residents,” Leonard said. Town officials also note there are very few single-family homes in Kiryas Joel. Based on 2008 county figures, the number of people living in Kiryas Joel is more than 20,000. It’s also a young population, with the medium age at 15. “It (a new park) will take the pressure off our parks,” Leonard said. “They (KJ) need it.” Kiryas Joel officials have not returned calls about the playground effort. In other business Leonard has appointed former town councilman Peter Martin to serve as the town’s budget officer. He will be paid the $3,000 stipend previously paid to the supervisor. He will be the chairman of the Town of Monroe budget workshop. The Monroe Free Library’s operational budget proposition was approved to be placed on the November general election ballot. The library is requesting a $52,307 increase. This would bring its operational budget to $1,216,132 if approved by voters.