Senior housing trumps vacant lot One parcel gets a Harriman address; another wants the same BY KATHY KAHN

Senior housing trumps vacant lot
One parcel gets a Harriman address; another wants the same
BY KATHY KAHN

Mayor Steve Welle of the village of Harriman is a patient but no-nonsense kind of guy. When brothers Stuart and Jeff Weinberger approached the mayor and board of trustees and asked to annex their parcel into Harriman to develop it for senior housing, Welle was thrilled.

The town of Monroe, where the Weinbergers parcel was located, didn’t share Harriman’s enthusiasm. Though many spoke in favor of the annexation at a combined village and town public hearing back in 2004, the town of Monroe decided to fight for its turf.

Three years later, both the village and the Weinbergers have cause to celebrate. On July 10, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that the village of Harriman’s senior housing needs outweighed the town of Monroe’s need to keep an empty lot empty.

According to the decision handed down July 10, the court found the benefit of Harriman’s senior apartment complex proposal counted more than Monroe’s possible future commercial development: “The town’s concern for the loss of commercial tax rateables for the subject property is outweighed by the benefit that will inure to the community from much-needed senior-citizen housing.”

Jeff Weinberger said Calibur Builders of New City, the brothers’ company, would present preliminary plans to Harriman’s village Planning Board as soon as possible. “The quicker we can get shovel to ground, the sooner this housing will be available to Harriman seniors and others who need it.”

While savoring one victory, Welle and his trustees are already facing another potential annexation tussle. This time, it is over 132 acres owned by Rutherford Chemical. More than half of the land lies within Harriman’s borders; approximately 50 acres are in the adjoining municipality, the newly created village of Woodbury, formerly the town of Woodbury.

When Rutherford, owner of the former Nepera Chemical Co. in Harriman, decided to outsource its pyridine-making operations, it closed its manufacturing doors, taking a significant portion of Harriman’s revenue with it. The plant ceased operations over a year ago and has been on the market since.

Rutherford petitioned Harriman to annex into the village. It’s dejà vu for Harriman, which may now faces a potential fight with the village of Woodbury. The Woodbury portion of Nepera’s property has remained vacant and unused since the chemical company started operations in 1942.

Charles Decker, who remains on site at Nepera as director of environmental health, safety and security, says, “Asking to annex into Harriman is a natural for our company. We have our corporate identity here and always have considered ourselves part of the community. It just makes good sense because it should be located in one municipality. When looking at annexation, we chose the place we have called ‘home’ for fifty years. It will be much more desirable for the future owner to deal with one board in one jurisdiction.” Further, said Decker, the portion of the land in Woodbury is comprised “mostly of the Ramapo River and a criss-cross of railroad tracks.” While it is zoned for commercial use, Decker says little of the portion of Rutherford’s that lies within Woodbury’s borders is usable.

The village of Woodbury’s new Mayor Stephanie Berean-Weeks joined town of Woodbury Supervisor John Burke and several Woodbury residents at a joint public hearing held in Harriman at the end of June. The public comment portion closed July 9. “There is much to consider before we make a decision,” said Berean-Weeks. “We have to have an environmental review and work out a process under county rules and regulations … but we plan to work cooperatively with Harriman.”

Burke was more forceful in his assessment: “The land Rutherford wants to annex into Harriman is zoned for commercial use. Harriman wants to change the use and create a mix of residential and commercial. We will fight this annexation tooth and nail.”

Welle hopes cooperation will prevail between all. The site has significant contamination issues due to neglect by previous owners that must be mitigated no matter who is in charge.

“We want to know what the impacts might be. We will do what’s in the best interest of the public,” said Berean-Weeks.

“I hope we can work together here,” said Welle. “When Nepera left, it took a substantial chunk of the village’s commercial rateables and jobs along with it. We’d like to see something positive come from the property, and its owners feel it is easier to market the entire parcel if it is all in one municipality.” It will also give Harriman lead agency status when it comes to the site’s significant cleanup challenges.

Whatever the outcome, the 132 acres owned by Rutherford is up for sale.

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