MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

APRIL 15, 1997 2:30 P.M.

PRESENT: Chair Carsky, Legs: LaMotte,

Latimer and Delfino.

ALSO PRESENT: Comm. Oliva, Mr. Mulligan, Mr.

Burroughs, Mr. Yoegel, Ms. Thomas

Mr. Ochacher, Ms. LeLash,

ITEMS DISCUSSED:

Chair Carsky called the meeting to order at 2:40 P.M. On motion of Leg. LaMotte, seconded by Chair Carsky, the minutes of April 8 were approved 3-0.

Chair Carsky asked the members to look at Eco-Policies - which should be in everyone’s mailbox.

Chair Carsky updated the Committee on ISTEA that was published in Updating the Region. It tells you how New York and New Jersey are pulling out all the stops to keep ISTEA funding.

Mr. Ochacher is here to update the Committee on Items 8 and 9 regarding parcels that municipalities receive through taxes and who is responsible if clean-up is involved.

Mr. Ochacher stated that it was passed out the Senate and is on the floor, however, the problem will be with the Assembly. The trial lawyers association is against this. The big problem will be in the Assembly. The Board should do a resolution and pass it on to our delegation in Albany, showing our support for this item.

This is Bill No. 1 for Suffolk County and they are going full throttle on it. Leg. Latimer asked what Mr. Brodsky’s position was on this bill. Mr. Ochacher did not know. It was passed on to the Real Property Tax Committee.

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Leg. Latimer stated that his concern was that if there is an Assembly fault line before we go any further. Leg. Latimer would like to know where we stand before we go any further.

Chair Carsky asked Mr. Ochacher if he knew anything about Citizen’s suits.

Chair Carsky thanked Mr. Ochacher for coming. The rest of the meeting will be given over to Commr. Oliva to discuss Hudson Hills.

Commr. Oliva stated that we are going into Year 3 on Hudson Hills. We are at the stage where we sent to you a draft Environmental Statement. Two years ago, the County Executive want the full 200 acres, but the Town was did not want to loose all the property taxes. The Administration only wants this parcel for a golf course and if it did not meet the Environmental Impact Statement, we would not be buying it. We will be getting to the point of circulating the Environmental Impact shortly to the Town and then have two public hearings - one in New Castle and one in New Rochelle. After the hearing we will have to keep it open for 10 days. After that, they listen and come back to the Board with a Final EIS and then come to the Board. Cornish and Silva are the Architects that the County has hired to design the project.

IBM is who we have the contract to buy the property from. The property has been subdivided and the property will be rezoned to build 14 homes. 88 acres of the 154 acres is was originally used as an 18 course golf course. There is an additional 20.3 acre site that the Town would like the County to purchase for the access road. There was also an agreement not to touch the wetlands. There will be an alternation to the Wetlands in the 100 foot buffer. There is also an existing cemetery and pump station for the Town of New Castle on the property.

Leg. LaMotte asked if this was a final hole placement and Commr. Oliva stated yes. Leg. LaMotte brought up a Scottish Links Course

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and Leg. Latimer felt that would not be well-received as a County course.

Leg. Latimer revealed that his company deals with IBM, but that does not preclude him from discussing this item or voting on it. This particular piece of property was originally a golf course and even though we are moving things around, its not as bad as starting from scratch. The Commr. stated that she hopes the Board will like what mitigation they do. Golf Courses need a lot of care and feeding but they will be a great use of open space. The County has been monitoring the water on the site for quire a while, and it has come up clean.

Mr. Burroughs discusses the woodlands area on the site. They discuss this with the architect and ask what can be saved and which way to plot the fairway to minimize tree removal.

Chair Carsky suggested that this should be a time for the Committee of the Whole and develop a final time frame for this project. The Planning Department when through quite a bit to get to this point. IBM has done quite a bit at this point too and we should know where the Board is going with this.

Distribute in May, final back in June and it would still take two or three more months and may not be ready before the Fall. It is Planning’s feeling for the Board to make a decision by the end of the year.

Chair Carsky thanked the Commr. for coming and the meeting adjourned at 3:50 P.M.