After months of debate and review by the Bethlehem Planning Board, and little in the way of compromise from either side, Carol Richards has withdrawn her subdivision application that could have ultimately added 25 acres forever-wild land to the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.
Richards proposed deed restricting nearly 25 acres of land against development and selling it to the Open Space Institute for $50,000, who would in turn transfer it to the state’s DEC and then bring Five Rivers into the Town of Bethlehem.
We got a letter from her attorney withdrawing the application, said Michael Morelli, the assistant director of economic development and planning.
The town Planning Board voted 5-to-1 on its version of the subdivision that included a 20-foot access along a proposed lot off of Fisher Boulevard instead of Richards’ proposed New Scotland Road access.
Richards’ attorneys said she would withdraw her application after the vote because of frustration over the matter.
The subdivision and land deal turned into a stalemate between Richards’ attorneys and town officials until it came to a head at the Tuesday, Nov. 18, planning board vote.
Board Chairman Howard Engel said at the time, `Neither side is willing to compromise.`
Some Bethlehem residents say they lost out on an opportunity to gain nearly 25 acres of recreational open space ` land that wouldn’t cost the town any money during a time of economic woe.
John Mariconti said he thinks the town wasn’t keeping people’s best interest in mind.
`If the planning board thinks they’re working for the greater good, they’re sadly mistaken,` said Mariconti. `I think if the majority of people in town knew was going on, they would have more to say.`
Planning board member Katherine McCarthy was the only member to vote against the board’s recommendation because of fears that Richards would withdraw her application, which she eventually did.
`That parkland resolution was the reason I voted against it because she might withdraw the deal,` McCarthy said of her vote. `I understand the point about the access, but I think it’s a nice chunk of land for the town.`
McCarthy said she still hopes some kind a new deal can be reached with Richards.
The main problem, according Richards’ lawyers, was the Fischer Boulevard access that the town and Open Space Institute (OSI) have asked for. Katie Stone, a spokes woman for OSI, said the New Scotland Road access that Richards wanted wasn’t acceptable as a public access point.
`That’s used by two families as a driveway with a deeded right of way,` Stone said. `It wasn’t sufficient to support the long-term vision for the property. Everyone at the Open Space Institute is pretty upset things are unraveling.`
Richards’ attorney, Terresa Bakner, has not returned multiple phone calls from Spotlight Newspapers, but told the planning board after its Nov. 18 vote that Richards `most likely will not move forward. She feels very strongly about this.`
`She believes that her request is reasonable,` Bakner added. `All the lots are double the size and some are triple, four or five times the size of the requirement.`
Bakner also noted `for the record` that Richards only asked $50,000 for the deed-restricted 24.63 acres of land, and that a nearby, unrestricted half-acre parcel sold for $105,000. At that value, Richards land would be worth over $5.17 million if sold without the deed restriction.
When informed of Richards’ withdrawn application, DEC Region 4 spokesman
Rick Georgeson said the agency is always looking to add acreage to state preserve and educational center.
`That’s part of our Open Spaces Comprehensive Plan,` Georgeson said. `That’s something we’re always looking to do ` to expand Five Rivers.`
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