IF CHESTER COULD DO IT WHY CAN’T WOODBURY?

Broad View Estate Housing Proposal (Kings Highway, Across from Cold Springs Farm, Chester, NY)
Chester Town Board agreed to review the fair market value of the land once part of the Cold Springs Farm (known as Broad View Estates) as concerns raised about the proposal for new homes to be built on this particular hillside.
There has been discussions about protecting this scenic and historic hillside from the development for over a decade and by many new and long term residents from all sides of town. Many claim that this land has great resource value to the community including watershed protection, recreation opportunities, town landmark and biological diversity. In addition, it is centrally located in the Town of Chester, near the Municipal buildings including the Town Hall, Senior Center, Police Station and Library. It is highly visible for safety and convenience. The adjacent farm (Fury Brook) is on the State Registry of Historic Places and the Cold Springs Farm has applied for nomination. There is a great opportunity to link hiking trails to the land as well as walking/bike path from Sugar Loaf Hamlet, pass the municipal center then to the Village of Chester, which adds value and use of the land by the whole community.
The Preservation Collective was asked to assist in the discussion with the Town by the residents in the area. We first asked the town to consider alternatives to the current development plan including re-zoning, transfer/purchase of development rights, or state/federal preservation assistance.
See . http://thepreservationcollective.com/PDF/SaveChester.pdf
We also presented the town with ideas for alternative uses for the land in comparison to development. Our group put a great deal of time and effort into research and gathering public input in order to create a concept plan. We made a preliminary presentation/map of this proposal to the Board. In addition, we have made inquires into sponsorships and fundraising, all of which, we feel would benefit the board’s future discussions on this topic. Our proposals respect the open space, history, visual significance and scenic integrity of the site, as well as offer recreation for the community while preserving the view shed for us all to enjoy - unlike a residential subdivision of houses would have on this hillside.
Based on large public vote to save the land as Open Space for Public Use - the Town of Chester agreed to purchase the Broad View Estate land (formerly part of the Bairdlea Farm) for $4.4 million. The purchase preserved an easement to a groundwater well across the street in addition to gaining the wells already made at the site. In December, the owner is required to clean up dump material near the stream on the site. The town closed on the land in January 2005 with a 3.5% interest rate on the bond over 15 years.
The scenic view of this land from passerbies of Kings Highway has touched generations. Now the public will soon experience the beautiful panoramic views across the County when on the land.
Despite the fact that the impact to Chester taxpayers was not made clear to the public by town officials prior to the vote, it passed overwhelmingly. There was confusion as to the average cost per homeowner because it depends on their assessed value of their home (approx. 60% of market value) and then on the interest rate and the length of the bond plus the cost gets absorbed in the whole budget and will be offset by other revenue (i.e. sales tax). These numbers were not made final prior to the vote and an estimate was used in the budget. In addition, the town did not provide an analysis for those residents in the Warwick school district to show the alternative housing costs (school tax increases) vs. purchase. In the end, the town residents did not experience a significant tax increase as a result of this purchase as some anticipated.
For more information or if you have any questions, please call us at 469-1608 or email us at info@thepreservationcollective.com
The Chester Comprehensive Plan states that the town is under-serviced by between 43-230 acres of active and passive recreational needs. Based on build-out analysis, over 300 acres of additional recreational land should be acquired.
The town will conduct a master plan for Parks & Open Space over the next year to review current and future opportunities. The Preservation Collective supports this effort.
To add to the town’s future needs, it was announced recently that the Camp Monroe property (southern part of Chester) could be acquired as a condition of the subdivision approval process for a project titled Bellevale. More details to come at a later date.
Go to "What we're working on" to read more about The Preservation Collective's efforts to echo the concerns of local residents.