Town to Proceed Purchase of the 200-Acre Granite Knolls Property for Open Space

Town Supervisor Susan Siegel and town board members discussed the purchase of Granite Knolls property during the town's Sept. 15 work session meeting. Although, the public does not speak at those meetings, Siegel made an exception to hear from the public, which turned into a heated debate.

Many of those in attendance were outraged at Siegel's proposal to purchase the 200 acres of open space and then sell 15 acres off to a housing developer in order to put the money toward revenue to support the town's recreational programs. She projected that selling it off could yield $150,000 or more. She spoke of the financial hardships of the town and her concerns.

"We are looking for everything we can do," she said. "We are trying to decrease spending."

Siegel referred to the economic hardships as impossible, difficult and horrendous times. Initially, due to rising medical and pension costs, the town had anticipated a 5 percent tax hike in 2011, but now Siegel she said that figure was 7.7 percent before budget review even begins.

The issue many residents referred to was that the money, which was going to be used to purchase the Granite Knolls property, was going to come from the Open Space Committee fund, designed specifically for the preservation of open space. The property has been appraised at $3.3 million, and Siegel said the town would purchase it for $2.7 million.

But selling off any portion of the land, people said they considered it as a betrayal to the 2008 promise of the previous town board to purchase Granite Knolls for open space.

In 2000, the town approved a fund to purchase open space properties. A volunteer Open Space Committee was appointed to evaluate properties for consideration. In addition, every person who owns land (every tax lot) started to pay an annual flat fee of $30, which went toward the fund. In 2005 the board approved borrowing $5 million to pay for land.

John Schroeder of the Yorktown Land Trust said the Open Space Committee has worked very "hard and diligently" to acquire the property and any changes to the deal was like pulling the "rug from under" his feet.

"The idea that anything other than the outright purchase and preservation of the entire 200 acres as parkland is nothing less than myopic, a violation of public trust and an affront to Yorktown's long tradition of its land preservation efforts," he wrote in a letter addressed to the town board. "The idea that funds destined for use in preserving open space would be used as seed money for development purposes in unconscionable."

Barbara Wilkens, a former town board member, also expressed her outrage and said the proposal was a betrayal.

Patricia Mulligan called Siegel a hypocrite and said the tax payers were a "player" in the decision because they had voted to devote money to open space, and if the town sold those 15 acres, it would be "dishonest and a breach of the public trust."

Richard Campanaro, president of the Yorktown Athletic Club, said there was a dire need in Yorktown for ball fields. As a father of four, he expressed his concerns regarding the Harrison Apar fields where children of all ages practice in a close proximity, which could be dangerous. He addressed the board asking them to figure out a way to provide recreational facilities in the town, despite the means through which they would achieve this.

"The people in this town have had enough," he said. "The youth in this community is extremely important."

Tom Andersen, deputy executive director of the Westchester Land Trust said town board was breaking the implicit agreement it had with them when it asked the Westchester Land Trust to work on the project and negotiate the price.

"You promised us open space," he said. "It's just not fair."

He said the WLT has long been a part of Yorktown, and if board members passed the resolution, it would be a long time before the WLT does any business with the town.

Initially, Councilmen Vishnu Patel and Terrence Murphy backed Siegel's idea. Councilmen Nick Bianco and Jim Martorano said they were supporters of the full acquisition of the property and would therefore against the resolution to sell off the 15 acres.

"Why buy through open space fund and then sell it," he asked. "That's not what the fund was designed for.

Bianco called the proposal a quick fix and promised residents that the town would provide them with ball fields.

It appeared the resolution to sell of the 15 acres would pass 3-2, but then Murphy said he needed to get more information and wanted to speak with the seller's attorney Al Rothchild, who was present at the meeting. After Rothchild refused to speak further, and Murphy abstained from voting. Patel said he would also abstain.

When Siegel formally introduced the resolution to be voted on, and asked for someone to second it, no one did. Town attorney, Jeannette Koster announced she would proceed to contract and close on the full 200 acres, because since the resolution did not pass, a resolution from earlier in the year authorizing the full purchase was still valid.

The town and seller would close on the deal to purchase the 200-acre Granite Knolls property in mid-October.