| Author | Message | ||
     doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 505 Registered: 3-2003 |
Houses in area selling for $1million = assessed for $300,000 - 350,000 = 33% assessment ratio = need for revaluation. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 75 Registered: 10-2003 |
This may be a question for another thread but I will start it here. Mark, you may want to comment. An open question is the access by the community to the "wetland" space that the township purchased in the quarry. I understand that this is defined as part of the inventory of "open space" but there has been an expectation that there would be access even just for "nature walks." Do you know the status of this question? | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 76 Registered: 10-2003 |
On the Quarry open space: Has anyone been monitoring this space to determine if the construction has not violated its natural condition. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 873 Registered: 5-2001  |
Howard, Just to clarify...the Village did NOT PURCHASE the wetlands in the quarry. My understanding is that an easement will be granted at some point to allow people access to walk around that detention basin, but the land is protected from development by the DEP and is now owned by Pulte. The Village DID agree to pay at least $600,000 for the COAH obligation on the site and $600,000 for water pump improvements for the site. Perhaps someone else can answer if those wetlands are in fact being protected during construction. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 77 Registered: 10-2003 |
Maybe Mark can clarify the funding question. Side question: If Pulte retains ownership, then do they pay the property taxes and maintenance expenses for that site? | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 874 Registered: 5-2001 |
Howard, The question on property taxes for the detention basin is a good one. I refer you to the following document executed by the Village which clearly describes the funding question: http://www.preserveso.com/moa.htm | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 78 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks.. Do you know the status of the various provisions of the referenced agreement such as the transfer of title, etc. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 877 Registered: 5-2001 |
Howard, Per a post I made back in December (http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3133&post=185396#POST1853 96), Pulte now owns the deed for the property, after paying $6.1 million for the 30 acre site. | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2003 |
The public will indeed have access to the 10 acres once all construction is finished. Pulte is responsible for taxes while they own the properties; when the units are sold the new owners will have to pay their taxes like everybody else. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 79 Registered: 10-2003 |
Does anyone have any idea what is proposed and when it should occur - "My understanding is that an easement will be granted at some point to allow people access to walk around that detention basin." | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 878 Registered: 5-2001 |
Allan, Howard raises a good question...who pays the property taxes on the 10 acres of "Open Space" of the wetlands/detention basin? Howard - I believe the easement is simply a "legal easement" which allows the public to enter the site (which currently is a PRIVATE road) & utilize the walking path that will exist around the 10 acre detention basin. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4837 Registered: 5-2001 |
Probably the condo association, which is just a guess. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 80 Registered: 10-2003 |
Alan, will Pulte be liable for any property tax on the designated 10 acre wetland? Who is monitoring the wetland site and border for encroachment/damage? When do you think that area will be accessible to the public - 2005/2006/2007? | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 67 Registered: 4-2003 |
Howard: The owner of the quarry property (properties) is liable for the property taxes. I believe that currently the property is divided into open land (undeveloped) and lots on which units will be built. There is probably a slight difference as to the assessment rate on these two types of undeveloped land. But in any case taxes are assessed against the entire property. Eventually, as COO's (certificates of occupancy) are issued the individual properties will be taxed at equalized market rates. The wetlands will be taxed to the owner (Pulte or Townhouse Association or whomever) as undeveloped land. The easement issue should be resolved shortly. But it will probably be the end of constuction before the nature paths or whatever are truly opened to the public. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 81 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks for the update but left out answer to one of the questions: Who is monitoring the wetland site and border for encroachment/damage? | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 68 Registered: 4-2003 |
Howard: The Village Engineer's Office is responsible for monitoring the project. | ||
| soresident Citizen Username: Soresident Post Number: 126 Registered: 10-2001 |
Allan Rosen said in a post yesterday that "The public will indeed have access to the 10 acres once all construction is finished". Respectfully, that is not my recollection. Having sat through way too many months of planning board hearings, I in fact thought this was to be a gated community, that there would be no access unless you lived there or were invited to visit. There were many discussions of the wetlands, but I do not recall any discussion about a path to allow residents to walk around it. I do recall discussion about whether the roads in the development would be private, and if so who would be responsible to snowplow. In all fairness, even if residents cannot access this land, this may not be legally different than it was before. Although residents used to go into the quarry for dog walking, etc before development began, it has always been private property. Thus, when it is counted as "open space", that doesn't mean residents can enjoy it. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 899 Registered: 5-2001 |
Soresident - just to clarify, it will not be a gated community. You are right that public access to the wetlands/detention basin was never directly addressed. It was always implied it would not be public since the only way into the site is via a road which is not public. Allan & Mark have both said they expect an easement to be granted to allow the public access, but I do not think there is a mandatory requirement as part of any agreement that guarantees that will happen. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2003 |
Alan/Mark, would you please clarify. | ||
| newtoallthis Citizen Username: Newtoallthis Post Number: 95 Registered: 2-2003 |
Are there plans to put a sidewalk on Tillou between Wyoming and Mayhew Dr? I walk there everyday, as well as children who use the crosswalk at Wyoming. It's getting a bit tight sharing the street with dump trucks. |
