The first step in what could be a long approval process for a dinosaur-themed park in the Town of Montgomery was taken last week, when the town board approved the sale of the property.
It was a two-step process. The town board agreed to purchase the property at the intersection of Route 17K and Barron Road from the County of Orange, and then promptly sell to Orange County Dinosaur Park LLC, which hopes to develop the property. In both cases, the sale price was $2.035 million.
Supervisor Ron Feller said fair market value was determined by a county appraisal.
“Before all the contracts are signed, sealed and delivered, the developer will be going before our planning board,” Feller said. The Department of Transportation will be doing a highway study. There will be a SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process. The Army Corps of Engineers will be there. There will be a wetland analysis. They’re going through the whole nine yards.”
The plan, as developed by Neil Gold of Dino Park LLC, will include 60 life-size animatronic dinosaurs and serve many educational purposes. It will also have six playgrounds, an age-graded fossil dig site, a primordial splash park, a “T-Rexpress” train, small dinosaur rides, an amphitheater and more. Dino Park LLC had previously sought approval for proposed sites in Monroe and the Town of Wallkill.
In 2021, Gold and his team received a CFA Empire Development and Market New York grant for $1.7 million, but haven’t found the right site to build until now. The area they’re hoping to build on is 139.7 acres, but the park would only encompass 35 acres. The wetlands in the area would be preserved with a 100-foot buffer.
Town Attorney William Frank said the contract between the town and the developer is subject to a permissive referendum, meaning that while the resolution does not go before the voters, a petition signed by at least five percent of the town’s registered voters could force the matter to a public vote.
“The contract will not be closed and the transaction will not be closed if the developer does not obtain all the necessary approvals,” Frank said.
Feller wanted to stress that no public funding will be used in this transaction.
In addition to that, the developer is not electing to pursue a PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) program, Feller said, referring to tax breaks that sometimes are used to attract development. “So I talked to (the Valley Central School District). They’re very happy about that. The developer is willing to have a community agreement that he’ll give back to the community. So I think it’s a win win situation,” said Feller.
The buy-and-sell resolution passed unanimously, but did face objections from former Town Supervisor Susan Cockburn, who complained that the public had not had the opportunity to ask questions or make comments about the proposed project.
“I think it’s been pretty transparent,” Feller replied. He reminded her that there will be a public hearing when the project is presented to the town’s planning board.
No date for that presentation has been announced.