Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Couple say town survey shows developer encroaching on land
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.

    Chris and Claudine Hodge claim a land survey commissioned by Rotterdam proves their case against the town and a local home builder they’ve accused of encroaching on their private driveway.
    The Ghents Road couple say they own the land that Pigliavento Builders is using to serve as a driveway for a single family home the company built as part of Brookview Court, a subdivision of the massive Helderberg Meadows development. In a lawsuit fi led in June against the town and several parties associated with the developer, the Hodges accused the town of wrongly approving plans for the home because it doesn’t meet the necessary setbacks outlined in Rotterdam’s building code.
    At issue is a boundary line in a 1853 deed that shows the Hodges own land later used to access the driveway to Lot 126 of the subdivision. Mark Blackstone, an independent engineer hired by the town, indicated in a November survey that the boundary line cited by the Hodges and disputed by the developer appears to be accurate.
    “Why burden and torture yourselves, us and the court with this issue,” Chris Hodge told members of the Town Board during their meeting this month. “You spent public funds to get an answer to this question. You now have an answer, and it is time to act.”
    Michael Moore, an attorney representing the Hodges in their legal claim, sent a letter to the town demanding that all the project’s approvals be rescinded immediately. He also demanded the town withhold any certificate of occupancy for the nearly completed home and that the developer submit a new plan for Lot 126 reflecting the accurate boundary.
    But attorneys representing the town believe the Hodges are wrongly characterizing Blackstone’s survey. Mike Murphy, a private attorney contracted by the town, characterized the Hodges as working retroactively to stop a development that was approved by the town and failing to produce documentation that shows they own the property in dispute.
    “The letter from the Hodges’ attorney vastly oversimplifi es the dispute the Hodges started, omits important parts of Mr. Blackstone’s affi davit and ignores the fact that the Hodges still do not own the portion of Ghents Road that they claim is theirs,” he said.
    If the Hodges are successful in their lawsuit, the home constructed on Lot 126 could ultimately be landlocked. The town has not yet issued a certifi cate of occupancy for the home, Murphy said.
    Town Attorney Kate McGuirl said the Hodges are trying to claim ownership of a town-owned road. The area in dispute once had a gravel drive that leads to the Hodges’ residence, which was set back into a forested area beyond the neighborhood on Ghents Road.
    “Unfortunately, there is nothing cut and dry about this case other than the fact that the town of Rotterdam owns its roads,” she wrote in an email.
    The Hodges, however, claim the gravel roadway beyond a dead-end sign where the paved portion of Ghents Road ends is their private driveway. They claim the developer has no right to use this driveway to access Lot 126. .............................>>>>..............................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01402&AppName=1

AW COME ON....   what makes the Town think they can do this to people.....is it because the builder has more money and can buy their way in????......

the Town Planning Board is not a commission that speaks for the people........get some new blood in there.......there's plenty of land left in this town........


ooops forgot.....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO   LAST NAME ENDS WITH THE ABOVE LETTER....

THE END......

The nayboobs always have an opinion -- even though they don't even have a clue what they are talking about.

If the town of rotterdam planning board was a rubber band factory the town tax would be zero

But they insist on adding developement that drives up services costs we all must pay for thr benefit of the developers

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The nayboobs always have an opinion -- even though they don't even have a clue what they are talking about.

So show us the documentation that they don't have a clue.   Well?   If course, NEVER provides any EVIDENCE on these boards.   Typical of a political PUPPET and his imaginary friends telling fairy tales

Quoted from SueM2342

If the town of rotterdam planning board was a rubber band factory the town tax would be zero

But they insist on adding developement that drives up services costs we all must pay for thr benefit of the developers

The above is one of the most ignorant comments that I have seen posted on this website.  
New development INCREASES the tax base which is one of the few ways to increase town revenues without increasing the tax rate.

B.T.W. - you might want to learn how to spell

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The above is one of the most ignorant comments that I have seen posted on this website.  
New development INCREASES the tax base which is one of the few ways to increase town revenues without increasing the tax rate.

B.T.W. - you might want to learn how to spell

Uh, talk about ignorant comments.  Would you care to tell us what new development has done to the tax base in Schenectady????    HUH??????    Well??????    Got an answer?   And provide your evidence.

Of course, he will NOT answer this question because it proves him WRONG AGAIN.

In a 'normal' 'well run' community.....development would mean lower taxes........NOT ANYWHERE IN SCHENECTADY COUNTY ISTHAT PROVEN TRUE!!!!

Taxes are rising in the entire county with the city shamefully leading!!

it is clear that schenectady county is supporting either 'new residential development' OR trying to sell vacant ones like the city is....BECAUSE they need the revenue!! WHY??? Because the METROPLEX/GILLEN has given the farm away in the way of taxes to all of the the businesses and the folks who are part of the friends and family club.

IT'S BUSINESSES....the ones who pay 'their fair share'....100%...in taxes that is suppose to keep residential property taxes low!! Schenectady hasn't seen that benefit since the beginning of the METROPLEX/GILLEN over 10 years ago!!!

OF COURSE THE DEVELOPER GETS A WINK AND NOD.....

they are the NOB-BOOBS.......right DVOR?

Quoted from senders

OF COURSE THE DEVELOPER GETS A WINK AND NOD.....

they are the NOB-BOOBS.......right DVOR?

The developers of Helderberg Meadows hardly got a "wink and a nod" --- it literally took decades to get approval of the development which in its earliest form/version (Guildercrest or Guilder Crest) dates way back to the late 1960's.  

The fact is that the nayboobs get their jollies complaining and whining about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in local government.  They are nothing but a bunch of demented jack asses.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The developers of Helderberg Meadows hardly got a "wink and a nod" --- it literally took decades to get approval of the development which in its earliest form/version (Guildercrest or Guilder Crest) dates way back to the late 1960's.  

The fact is that the nayboobs get their jollies complaining and whining about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in local government.  They are nothing but a bunch of demented jack asses.

        I know it is your "right" to express yourself, but I'm surprised the Town would allow you to comment on this especially since you are an "agent" of the Town as a P.C. member!  Especially in the light that the Hodges may be correct and the Town wrong . . . .

in the donut shop.....PC is abolished and needs to be revamped.......DV iso longer in charge.....this was awhile back..so anyathing this person has to say is not worth it's weight in print...

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The above is one of the most ignorant comments that I have seen posted on this website.  
New development INCREASES the tax base which is one of the few ways to increase town revenues without increasing the tax rate.

B.T.W. - you might want to learn how to spell

Quoted from mikechristine1

Uh, talk about ignorant comments.  Would you care to tell us what new development has done to the tax base in Schenectady????    HUH??????    Well??????    Got an answer?   And provide your evidence.

Of course, he will NOT answer this question because it proves him WRONG AGAIN.

See and DV again came to this thread at 9:52 pm and posted, but he REFUSES to respond with an explanation of why he told yet another lie.   He simply CANNOT provide any proof that dem sponsored development increases the tax base.   Just can't prove it, so he PRETENDS that he doesn't read my posts.   And to avoid a response means he doesn't have to admit he doesn't know what he's talking about

At least we know the official position of the administration now.

Drainage was a major concern right from the get go.

however....i'm sure that a survey and the tax maps AND tax bills will answer all questions.....yes?