Residents can voice opinions about development projects

WOODBURY-Developer Bill Brodsky may be in for a tough fight as the bell sounds for round two of his face off with Woodbury residents. Brodsky of Carteret Group Inc., along with Legacy Ridge at Highland Mills, have been pressuring Woodbury law makers for permission to bend a few zoning laws, that would allow them to build ambitious developments on both sides of town. The Carteret group has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for one of the two proposed projects that will be reviewed at two public hearings held at Monroe Woodbury High School. Brosky has asked that housing density be increased for his project by dropping the minimum lot size from 2 to 1 acres per unit. The first hearing was held on Thursday, the second is set for Monday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. Residents can also express opinions on changes in senior housing and zoning laws. The project in question is a 451 home (130 senior citizen housing units) residential development to be built on the 400 acre site located just northwest of Dunderberg Road and northeast of Ninninger Road. In what some citizens are calling a bribe, Brodsky and the developers of another zoning-unfriendly project called Legacy Ridge have offered to donate roughly 400 combined acres of open space to the town and to rebuild a local sewer and water treatment facility under the condition their zoning wishes be granted. If Brodsky doesn't get what he wants it appears likely he'll sell the land. All this comes during what some are calling a bidding war for land in the Monroe Woodbury area, with Kiryas Joel among those on the front line. Brodsky's site is adjacent to a patch of land recently bought by Kiryas Joel developers, and having been approached by them, he warns we may see development density similar to that of the tiny village if his plans are denied. But town officials say that whoever owns the land will have to abide by the same laws. Residents who choose to voice their opinions to the town board may do so by either by attending the public hearings or send written comments to Desiree Potvin, Town of Woodbury Town Clerk's Office, P. O. Box 1004, 511 Route 32, Highland Mills, NY 10930. Written comments will be accepted by the Town of Woodbury Town Board until Monday, August 1, 2005 at 4 p.m.