I have always admired Altamont and even more so lately.  It has that "Mayberry, Andy Griffith" appeal and yet the sense of a town on the move in the right direction.  I like the new senior housing project they have been working on.  Of course my soft spot is D'burg, if I promise you a decrease in town taxes will you move out here?  Just kidding!!!!! We even have 12 acres hanging around doing nothing but costing us money in taxes every year.  

http://www.dailygazette.com

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Realtor offering 47-acre joint parcel
Ex-farmland likely to draw commercial interest
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Carol Renna can remember when Route 7 was a country road on the outskirts of Rotterdam.
    Her husband Dennis grew up in their small house when the state Thruway was still in the planning stages. She moved into the house more than 20 years ago when the Crounse and Bradshaw families still operated sprawling farms on the edge of town.
    “It was all farmland,” she recalled last week. “We’ve seen a lot of changes.”
    And more changes are in store for the western entrance to Rotterdam. Kingston-based Win Morrison Realty is marketing 47 acres of former farmland between Interstate 88 and Duanesburg Road. The properties are owned by three separate parties, but are being offered as a package for $9.68 million.
    “We’re trying to make things happen,” Morrison said. “Progress is what we’re trying to make happen.”
    Included in the land up for sale is 10 acres that is part of the former Stoney Acres Nursery. Another 23 acres is being offered with the former Bradshaw Farm off Old Duanesburg Road and abutting the Thruway.
    Morrison said his agency is now negotiating with the Mohawk Valley Library Association to include several acres behind their Duanesburg Road office in the deal. Calls to the association were referred to an attorney representing the organization, who declined to comment.
    Any sale of the property to large development interests could drastically reshape the area, which is now a mix of empty land and single-family homes. These development pressures are increasing as private negotiations to extend a sewer line to the Princetown border near fruition.
    An attorney representing Rotterdam indicated the town is discussing the final details. Once these are finalized, he said the sewer line would move into planning.
    Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the town is well aware of the development pressures facing the area. He said marketing the properties together in a highly accessible location is bound to draw interest from big business. “Obviously, a piece of property that large in that location has tremendous value,” he said.
    Morrison has already brokered a major deal adjacent to the land now on the market. In September, his company sold the 24-acre Crounse farm to Flying J Inc., a Utah-based company that specializes in developing truck stops.
    In just two weeks on the market, Morrison said the new parcel has already drawn a fair amount of interest. Once a potential buyer is secured, he said his agency would negotiate to buy out the remaining residential property owner.
    “Probably, a lot of those houses will be going also,” he said.
    Tommasone said the town will ultimately have review authority over any large-scale project. The area has a mix of single-family residential and agricultural zoning, meaning development would require rezoning subject to Town Board approval.
    “We have to be careful that what we are doing doesn’t negatively impact our neighborhoods,” Tommasone said.
    Renna said she and her husband were contacted by Morrison’s agency and aren’t opposed to selling their land. She said their neighborhood no longer resembles the rural area of years ago.
    “It’s a shame,” she said. “It’s getting to be more like Albany.”

Oh I see that Justin must be reading this message board, huh?

Quoted from 47

I have always admired Altamont and even more so lately.  It has that "Mayberry, Andy Griffith" appeal and yet the sense of a town on the move in the right direction.  I like the new senior housing project they have been working on.  Of course my soft spot is D'burg, if I promise you a decrease in town taxes will you move out here?  Just kidding!!!!! We even have 12 acres hanging around doing nothing but costing us money in taxes every year.  

I also like the Mayberry appeal to Altamont. They have still been able to maintained their original look. I also like the idea of being close to RT 20 where you have access to everything. We are looking for a home with some land and that is very pricey in Altamont.
And yet we love Duanesburg since it still has it's country small town charm. And I hear that there are some nice people who live there too! Who knows, we may have to talk about those 12 acres!

Move west kemosabie(how is it spelled?)----run to the hills.....

It appears that things are moving along on Rt 7. There are a couple of bids that are in for the 3 largest parcels of land. We don't know who they are, since it is confidential. I understand that once the bid is accepted by the 3 landowners, which could be as soon as this week, the potential buyers would then go through the process of "Do Diligence" Kind of like “Evaluate before you Obligate”. This process can take anywhere from 2 to 4 months. After that time, if the potential buyers decide to further continue with the purchase, they will then seek possession of all of the homes from I88 to the Thruway.

We have been in contact with the representative of Win Morrison, the company listing these parcels. As it gets closer to the deadline, we will discuss "our future" with them and see what they have to offer. We will probably seek and independent appraiser and attorney to guide us through this process. And possibly contract an independent real estate agent to represent us.

Also, I wanted to say that Flying J's is a large truck stop. But that is not all that they are. The way it was explained to me, is that IF the town does not want a truck shop at that location, they can build to suit, so to say. They would build something else like possibly a hotel, restaurant or market. So it is not just a truck shop. It is many things, just under one name.

This is all we know so far.

We received this in the mail today:




     PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on March 27, the Town of Princetown Planning
Board will hold a public hearing to consider applications for site plan approval,
subdivision and a special use permit submitted by Robert Iovinella and Timothy Larned,
90 West Campbell Road, Schenectady, New York 12306, for construction of a food
distribution warehouse facility to be located on lots identified as Tax Parcel #57.00-1-
14.11 in the Town of Princetown, zoned Commercial (C-w), and Tax Parcel #57.00-3-
15.1 in the town of Rotterdam, zoned Light Industrial (1-1). The applicants have
proposed construction of a 41.5-feet high, 168,000 square-foot building, expandable to
250,000 square-feet, to be located in Rotterdam; and construction of 12,8000 square-foot
truck maintenance facility, parking lot, and stormwater management system to be located
in Princetown.  The properties are along Feuz Road and Becker Drive in the towns of
Rotterdam and Princetown.

     The plans for the site may be viewed at the Princetown Town Hall during normal
business hours.  SAID HEARING will take place at Town Hall 165 Princetown Plaza at
7:30 PM, at which time all persons will be given a chance to be heard.

BY ORDER OF THE PRINCETOWN PLANNING BOARD
Patricia Bishop, Chairwoman

Timothy Larned cant even take care of his property on Patton Drive.....unless he is no longer the owner....forgive me if he is not...but, if he is I would suggest a little more attention to his property.......if he cant do that then the scales are unjust for his movement on the present lot for the planning board.......

East vs West
Me vs Them

http://www.dailygazette.com

Quoted Text

PRINCETOWN
Potential impacts concern residents
Distribution center project under review
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Princetown’s Planning Board Thursday heard from Rotterdam residents disenchanted with their town’s approval of the McLane Foodservice Inc. distribution center proposed for Feuz Road.
    More than three dozen people turned out to a public hearing on the project, a 168,000-square-foot distribution center, a large parking lot and 12,800-square-foot truck repair building on the Princetown and Rotterdam border near the Interstate 88 exit.
    While the project has passed in Rotterdam, the developers still need site plan, special use permit and subdivision approval from Princetown, where the truck repair building is proposed.
    Following more than two hours of comments, Princetown’s Planning Board tabled the project until concerns raised during the hearing could be answered by the developer. Chairwoman Patricia Bishop said the board is trying to scrutinize the project because of the area concerns.
    “We’re trying to do a very thorough review of this project because it’s a big deal around here,” she said following the hearing.
    McLane distributes mainly to fast food companies such as Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. The company now employs about 135 workers at its Guilderland plant and could add up to 40 more jobs if it builds the Rotterdam center, according to company representatives.
    Engineers representing the company pitched a short description of the project before Bishop opened the floor for public comment. The meeting was also attended by a regional director from the state Department of Transportation.
    Many of those in attending the meeting were homeowners in Rotterdam’s Country Walk Estates and Eldorado Acres, the two residential developments surrounding the proposed 27-acre development. Residents raised issues from how the 24-hour all-week truck traffi c would affect their quality of life to whether the Rotterdam-supplied water connection would have enough pressure for fire safety.
    “With this size of a warehouse, you have a heavy fire load,” warned Marvin Blessing, a volunteer of the Pine Grove Fire Department.
    Residents also expressed concern over the traffic volume the operation might cause for an area already busy with tractor-trailer rigs. The I-88 exit is a link with the Thruway and Route 7.
    Lori Bergami of Becker Drive said she observed four bad accidents near where the entrance to the center will be off Route 7.
    Phil Contompasis of Country Walk Road in Rotterdam said he recently purchased his home, not realizing that a major trucking site could be built down the street. He said the portion of the center in Princetown could have a chilling effect on residential development there.
    “Basically, we’re going to be living in a hub of trucks,” he said. “If I had known six weeks ago this was an issue, I would have never bought here.”
    Likewise, Country Walk resident Marianna Lawler said the project would detract from the quality of life in her neighborhood. She thanked the Princetown planners, saying they scrutinized the development better than Rotterdam did.
    “The town of Rotterdam cares little about the quality of life of its residents,” she said.
    But Paul Hasbrouk, one of the few Princetown residents to speak, advised members of the planning board to view the project strictly from their own perspective. He said the town had provided for such development in the location where McLane’s is proposed.
    “Our town has to look at the laws that pertain to us here in Princetown,” he said.
    Board member Rose Norkus said the concerns raised by residents in Rotterdam seemed valid and are worth addressing before the project is approved.
    “I don’t live anywhere near it, but listening to some of these descriptions scares me to death,” she said.

I think that these people should be taking issue with Mr. Ivanella and Mr. Larned. Ask them why they didn't opt for building condos or apt's. In keeping with the residential atmosphere, it would have been built and occupied by now. THAT is who these folks should be talking to with their concerns.

On the flip side, I am in favor of McLanes. The are a good substantial, responsible company that appears to be bending over backwards for this community. Not to mention bringing in 'good paying' jobs with benefits. Something this area needs badly.

bumblethru

Regarding the need for good paying jobs and benefits I offer the following.  According to the 2000 Census, the Median Household Income for the country was $41,944, for New York State $43,393, for Schectady County $41,739, for Rotterdam $46,267, for Princetown $57,250, for Duanesburg $58,463.  The affluence factor based on this information indicates that there is no desperate need for this company in this region, it would be suited and more appreciated elsewhere.  Schoharie County Median Household Income $36,585.  Now Regional Planners would look at this and say that here is a place that makes sense to site the McLane facility.  Plenty of open space, no noise disruption to existing residential developments, job provision (truly needed), easy access to I-88 and ultimately the Thruway, no additional tractor trailer movements through an already choked corridor and resulting safety issues . . . . DUH!

You conveniently left out the City of Schenectady median household income.

Quoted Text

Schenectady Job Salaries
According to government data, the average salary for jobs in Schenectady, New York is $28,080, and the median income of households in Schenectady was $29,378.

Those are jobs that could help increase the median household income of those in the city.  It would also add a great tax base to the towns of Rotterdam and Princetown.  I believe it's a net gain for both towns and the county.

If you think there is no need for a solid company like McLanes in this area, you are living in some alternate universe.  We are the 8th highest taxed county in the nation.  We don't fix that by detouring multi-million dollar companies from setting up shop in the county.

Quoted from CICERO

You conveniently left out the City of Schenectady median household income.



Those are jobs that could help increase the median household income of those in the city.  It would also add a great tax base to the towns of Rotterdam and Princetown.  I believe it's a net gain for both towns and the county.

If you think there is no need for a solid company like McLanes in this area, you are living in some alternate universe.  We are the 8th highest taxed county in the nation.  We don't fix that by detouring multi-million dollar companies from setting up shop in the county.

It won't add to the city household income most likely, there's no bus route out that way.
But it WILL be a net gain for the town - and the county.

I would have thought that Princetown would have resolved this issue by now. How long has it been now? 1, 2 or 3 years since McLane's presented their proposal?  I would have thought that Princetown would have looked into all of the issues of water, sewers and so on. The exact same issues presented at the meeting last night are the same ones that have been presented over the past couple of years. So either Princetown has made up it's mind already or they are just too busy with other things going on in town.  

And don't fool yourselves about Princetown. They are bitting at the bit for an added tax base to their town.

And don't fool yourselves about Princetown. They are bitting at the bit for an added tax base to their town.[/quote]

I agree with this statement.  Princetown also seems to be geared for large development in the not so distant future.  Obviously it has infrastructure, water, sewer issues to work on (sound familiar?), but with easy access to the thruway/I-88 and little room left for development in Rotterdam, it will come.  As it does expand, both towns could benefit from shared resources.