Clarkstown to neighbors: share your plans

Clarkstown officials say neighboring towns aren't sharing information quickly enough with them about major development plans along their borders.

Clarkstown must file Freedom of Information requests with its neighbors to receive detailed information on projects proposed there, while the same information is automatically given to the Rockland County Planning Department.

Town officials found out about what they call a "procedural deficiency" through their experience in fighting the Pascack Ridge subdivision in Ramapo, Anellotech's plant expansion in Pearl River and a slaughterhouse proposal in New Square, they said.

"We should be able to get the same information in a timely manner because ... what happens on our borders affects us," town Supervisor Alex Gromack said. "We need to have traffic studies, air-quality studies, environmental studies."

Councilwoman Shirley Lasker said having quick access to those studies is critical because Clarkstown's environmental efforts could be in vain if its neighbors give in to overdevelopment.

"We are a small county and all the towns and villages should be united in their efforts to protect our environment and our natural resources, which are limited," Lasker said. "We must not, and we cannot, allow any one town or village to adversely affect the entire county."

Gromack said he spoke to state representatives about the need for changing state law. Meanwhile, he wants Rockland County municipalities to enter into an agreement to require applicants to send their project materials to adjacent town and villages, in addition to the county Planning Department.

The town of Ramapo would be in favor of any changes to further inform the public of what local governments are doing, said Town Attorney Michael Klein, although he hadn't reviewed the details of Clarkstown's proposal,

The Pascack Ridge subdivision is proposed for a 21.5-acre site between Spring Valley and Nanuet along North Pascack Road. Two of the site's property owners are seeking a zone change to build more than 210 apartments.

Anellotech, a technology-based startup at the Pfizer campus in Pearl River, wants to add an 84-foot testing unit that would produce benzene, xylene and toluene. Some neighbors fear the unit could emit dangerous chemicals.

In New Square, village-based Adir Poultry had proposed a 26,500-square-foot slaughterhouse that triggered objections from neighbors.

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