The settlement in support of the new Town of Palm Tree

The following is a copy of the United Monroe/Preserve Hudson Valley-Kiryas Joel settlement agreement in support of the new Town of Palm Tree. It was provided to The Photo News by Mike Egan, co-founder of both United Monroe and Preserve Hudson Valley.

Goal: Political separation of Kiryas Joel and the rest of the Town of Monroe to allow each to separately puruse its destiny and end the dysfunctional struggle for control of town government and its powers over annexation, zoning, appointments, hiring, permits, and municipal resources.
Key points1. School districts protected. The agreement is contingent on the Monroe-Woodbury and Kiryas Joel school district boundaries being adjusted so that the KJ district is coterminous with the new town.
2. Mutual support for Palm Tree. United Monroe/Preserve Hudson Valley and Kiryas Joel will advocate for the formation of the new town to consist of the current Village of Kiryas Joel (including the 164 acre annexation) plus 56 acres.
3. If Palm Tree is approved by both the County Legislature and the voters of Monroe via a townwide referendum, lawsuits are settled:
a. UM/PHV and Kiryas Joel will request that the Orange Co. Supreme Court order a Stipulation of Settlement of their lawsuits to include the following terms:
i. KJ will discontinue its appeal of the 507-acre annexation denial decision.
ii. PHV will discontinue its appeal of the 164 acre annexation approvals and its challenges of the annexation SEQRA process and conclusions.
iii. KJ/Palm Tree will not encourage, sponsor, or do anything to facilitate any annexations from Monroe or Blooming Grove for 10 years from the commencement of Palm Tree and for the period between the approval and commencement.
iv. KJ/Palm Tree will not encourage, sponsor, or abet the formations of new villages in Monroe for 10 years from the commencement of Palm Tree and for the period between the approval and commencement.
v. Kiryas Joel and the Town of Palm Tree shall remain coterminous for at least 10 years from commencement.
b. KJ to take all actions necessary to ensure that It and Palm Tree comply with the spirit and letter of the Agreement, including resolutions by both the Village and the Town of Palm Tree.
Additional points:1. UM/PHV agree not to challenge Orange County’s SEQRA findings for Palm Tree.
2. UM/PHV will secure the withdrawal of a petition to annex land from Monroe into Blooming Grove and for 10 years will not support such a petition unless all property owners are signers.
3. UM/PHV will not oppose fair, reasonable and lawful residential zoning and planning decisions within the Town of Palm Tree for 10 years.
4. KJ/Palm Tree will not oppose fair, reasonable and lawful residential zoning and planning decisions within Monroe for 10 years.
5. UM/PHV supports fair and reasonable zoning, appropriate quality of life services, responsible planning, protection of natural resources, and sustainable development in Monroe for the benefit of all of its residents, including those living in the territory that was included in the 507-acre annexation petition and is not included in Palm Tree.
6. UM/PHV will not challenge Kiryas Joel’s continued use of Village-owned land in Monroe currently used for parkland and well water as long as it is used lawfully and in the same manner for the same purposes.
7. KJ/Palm Tree will continue to provide fair and reasonable access to municipal water to properties in adjacent areas in Monroe.
8. KJ shall take all reasonable actions within its authority to expedite the commencement of Palm Tree after passage.