Village of Montgomery considers annexation request

Posted 9/14/21

The Montgomery Town and Village Boards held a joint public hearing last Tuesday, to consider an annexation request that village officials hope will ultimately make the entrance to the village more …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Village of Montgomery considers annexation request

Posted

The Montgomery Town and Village Boards held a joint public hearing last Tuesday, to consider an annexation request that village officials hope will ultimately make the entrance to the village more aesthetically pleasing.

Michael Aiello Jr., owner of a 11.013-acre parcel on Dunn Road, near the Orange County Airport, submitted the petition. He is hoping to sell the property and has been negotiating with the owner of a property at the intersection of 211 and 416. Moving equipment from that parcel to the new property would improve the appearance of the gateway to the village.

Realtor R.J. Smith, representing the seller of the property, said the property would be more viable with municipal water service, rather than wells.

“We’re very concerned with the aesthetics,” said Town of Montgomery Supervisor Brian Maher.

Sylvie Rainaldi, a candidate for the Montgomery Town Board, asked for a brief history on the property.

“This is a comment session,” replied Village of Montgomery Mayor Steve Brescia, “not a Q & A.”

“It seems to me,” Rainaldi said, “an owner wanted to develop it in a certain way, and because they didn’t get their way, (from the town planning board) they are going to the village for an annexation.”

Brescia said he believes both the town and village boards are comfortable with the proposal.

Maher said he has met with the mayors of all three villages within the town to discuss annexation opportunities.

“We’ve had successful annexation efforts with the village of Maybrook and the village of Walden,” Maher said. “Now we’ll have one in the Village of Montgomery.”

Village Attorney Kevin Dowd said the village must act first on the application, since they are the lead agency for this project. They have 90 days in which to act. Both the town and village boards would need to vote on the application.

In addition, the village would need to determine what zoning district it would be in, and make sure any developments meet height restrictions due to proximity to Orange County airport.