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Rotterdam taxes are killing the family farm

Congratulations to the town of Rotterdam. You have finally managed to tax any old family farms out of existence. There is no profit to be made baling hay when the farmer has to pay the town $40 per year for each acre he owns.
Soon there will be no woodland or hayfields left in Rotterdam, just little boxes on the hillside.
HAROLD GOODNOW
Rotterdam

I hate to see all the old small family farms disappearing from the area. It's happening all over the state due to high taxes and low farm income.

That is what happens when we pay others to provide for us.....just look at China......

That is what happens when we pay others to provide for us.....just look at China......

so again---better is not equal to cheaper.....

If you look back, people embraced the old Big N on Nott Street. The old JM Fields on McClellen. The old Two Guys downtown. And let us not forget the Shoporama. It was probably one of the first outside malls with Carl company as it's anchor store. Then there was Wallace Company and Barney's department stores down town. And just like there is an APPLIANCE GIANT on Rt7, Sears was the original Appliance Giant on Erie Blvd.

Things are-a-changin' and like I've said before...'we don't live in Kansas anymore Dorothy'

Things are-a-changin' and like I've said before...'we don't live in Kansas anymore Dorothy'

Ain't that the truth!!!!

Too bad, too.  I don't know if it started with Rotterdam Square or the McDonalds moving in and pushing out small businesses at 5 Corners.  Then there's also the Hess that pushed out the laundromat and the Friendly's at Curry and Heldeberg. (Although I know that is quite newer, comparably).

It has to be the toughest thing, trying to be a political leader in a small town like Rotterdam. First you have the nah sayers whenever something new is  being proposed or developed. Second you have the flip side where the people are complaining because this town hasn't been imporved in decades and are looking for some updating.  It truly is a damned if ya do and a damned if ya dont!

How about a compromise and have the town at least do something. You're right Bumble you'll never make everyone happy no matter how hard you try.

Quoted from bumblethru

It has to be the toughest thing, trying to be a political leader in a small town like Rotterdam. First you have the nah sayers whenever something new is  being proposed or developed. Second you have the flip side where the people are complaining because this town hasn't been imporved in decades and are looking for some updating.  It truly is a damned if ya do and a damned if ya dont!

You said it Bumble.  While revising our Comprehensive Plan for the town (adopted July 2006) I sent out a questionnaire asking all the residents in what direction they wanted to see the town go in the future.  Overwhelmingly people said they wanted it rural......except, and this is a big one.......except for a Price Chopper, a hardware store, a drug store, maybe some different restaurants, and miscellaneous "other businesses." but none of them can be located in an area where they live. Only where other people live is acceptable to anyone.  It is tough and we are also revising our zoning ordinance to try and reflect the desires of the people who live here.  There is room for business, which I am absolutely in favor of, but it is not an easy task to accomplish.  We need to be in tune with our farmers.  We need to be in tune with our seniors, we need to be in tune with those who have lived here for 50 years as well as those who have moved here just a few years ago.  One of the most difficult things for me to overcome is the attitude of I bought my property, built my house, and now no one else can live near me. If James Duane (founder of D'burg) had that attitude there would not have been a house built after 1795.  His dream was to have people move to town, build houses, churches, and be a prosperous and important town.  Do you know the village of Delanson was the largest coal storage yard in the world back at the turn of the century?  The village was named after the Delaware & Hudson (Del an son).  Sorry, I got off track,  I need to be mindful of the farmers in town and accomodate their needs, which are few since they are so self sufficient.  We have a right to farm law to make sure farms are not put out of business because of new neighbors.  Thats pretty much all they ask for.  Anyway, it is a balancing act.

The short answer for us in D'burg is to do everything we can to retain the few farms we have left.  Once they are gone, they will be gone forever.  We can't lose them, not to high taxes, not to economic growth, nor to residential growth.  It is not an option.

I agree with you, Rene.  You have a nice little town in Duanesburg.  If some of this stuff is built, I'm sure it would mostly be kept "downtown," i.e. near the intersection of 7 & 20.  Have you possibly looked into some of the sharing / working together, especially with Princetown, as it seems that Rotterdam may be doing from the other end?

I'm glad that you have a policy that's preserving what few small farms we have left Rene. Good job keep up the good work.

plan plan plan......

Rene, thanks for the history of the towns. I never knew any of that. And I think the founders would want to preserve their vision.  And I know that D'burg will be developed just as every other municipality has, but I will hate to see that since I think D'burg is beautiful just the way it is. REALLY!!

I've talked to some folks who live in D'burg and I have often asked them how they live 'out there' and yet go shopping for their necessities. They say it is no problem and that they just buy in bulk so they are not running out to the store every  other day or even every week. They have freezers and storage to keep a months supply if necessary. They are not like us, who runs to the store daily if need be. And these folks love it! They only HAVE to go out for the perishable items like milk. They certainly seem to have a handle on it!