Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Financial agreement with AvalonBay developer to move ahead.
Bloomingdale Council members seemed Tuesday to have exhausted all that they had wanted to say in regards to entering into a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the company formerly known as AvalonBay. When it came time to vote on the PILOT program with Bloomingdale Urban Renewal LLC at Tuesday's council meeting, no discussion was had by the members. Council members voted 4-2 in favor of the agreement with Republican Councilwoman Linda Shortman and Councilman Mark Conklin voting against the program, which will have the developer of a 174-unit luxury apartment complex on Union Avenue making payments of at least $550,000 per year to the borough as opposed to paying standard taxes. The payments will be divided in such a way that …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Council votes to introduce ordinance allowing for Payment in Lieu of Taxes program to move forward with luxury apartment complex developer.
In contrast to the hours of heated discussion and comments regarding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program Bloomingdale had considered entering into with Bloomingdale Urban Renewal, LLC (formerly known as AvalonBay) last year, the re-introduction of the ordinance for the agreement was approved rather quietly Tuesday. Bloomingdale Urban Renewal is building a 174-unit luxury apartment complex on Union Avenue. Little discussion was had at Tuesday night's council meeting on the agreement, which would grant the borough payments at the same time as taxes are typically paid for the next 30 years. The payments would be made at a minimum of $550,000 per year with the borough retaining 95 percent of the money; the county retaining 5 percent …
Monday, January 7, 2013
Bloomingdale Council expected to introduce ordinance for Payment in Lieu of Taxes program Tuesday.
With two new members, both Democrats, on the Bloomingdale Council, Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy is confident that a proposed Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program with AvalonBay will move forward after it is introduced by title at Tuesday night's reorganization meeting. The council will officially meet for the first time this year since new members were sworn in on Jan. 1. Included on the Tuesday meeting's agenda, in addition to dozens of appointments to various boards and committees, is the introduction of an ordinance for the borough to enter into the agreement with luxury apartment developer AvalonBay for a PILOT program. This is the second time the council will have voted on introducing an ordinance for the agreement, as the ordinance …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Bloomingdale Council majority may vote to repeal redevelopment zone ordinance that permits Payment in Lieu of Taxes program for AvalonBay.
In what Bloomingdale Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy has labeled as the council majority's "last shot against Bloomingdale," the Republican majority may vote Tuesday to repeal the ordinance that classifies the AvalonBay site as a redevelopment zone and allows a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to be offered for the luxury apartment developer. If the ordinance is repealed, a redevelopment zone would once again need to be approved before disucssion on entering into a PILOT agreement could be put back on the table for the under-construction development that is bringing 174 apartment rental units to the borough. "In their lame duck session, [the council majority] just can't bow out gracefully, as they must take one last shot against …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Jonathan Dunleavy said borough business needs to be addressed by Monday.
Conflict continues between the Bloomingdale Council's Republican majority members and Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy as the mayor plans to ask the borough attorney to seek a court order mandating the council members attend Monday's scheduled special meeting. "I am saddened, as a result of the council majority's inaction, that I must seek a court order to ensure I can properly execute the business of our borough," Dunleavy said. Should council members not attend, Dunleavy said, he is asking that the court order include a clause that would allow him and Democrat Councilmen Ray Yazdi and John D'Amato, who have indicated they will attend the meeting, to govern the borough and vote without a quorum. The special council meeting was scheduled after …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Linda Shortman said she will excuse herself from discussion on the AvalonBay PILOT program at future meetings.
Bloomingdale Councilwoman Linda Shortman said she walked out of Tuesday's borough council meeting during discussion on the proposed Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program for AvalonBay because she felt uncomfortable. The councilwoman, who left the meeting along with other Republican council members Jo-Ann Pituch and Mark Conklin, said she felt "harrassed and bullied" by Democrat Councilman Ray Yazdi as he questioned her knowledge of the PILOT program she voted against last month. But Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy said Wednesday that answering questions, like those that were asked of Shortman, is the job of an elected official. "It was an absolute disgrace that the majority chose to leave the room. They have been elected to govern the borough. …
Residents call their actions during discussion of PILOT program a 'disgrace' and 'irresponsible.'
Three of the Bloomingdale Council's Republican members walked out of Tuesday night's borough council meeting during discussion on the proposed AvalonBay Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. "What happened here tonight is disgraceful. We're no longer coherent," said resident and Planning Board Member Ed Simoni, who was observing from the audience. An ordinance to approve the PILOT program was rejected by the council last month, including by Democrat Councilman Ray Yazdi. Yazdi voted against the ordinance, along with the Republican council majority members, so that he would legally be able to bring the topic up again for discussion at future meetings. The PILOT program would give the developer of a luxury apartment complex on Union …
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Former councilwoman said PILOT should be used to attract commercial development to Bloomingdale.
- OPINION
-
Sunday, September 30, 2012
The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Jennifer Altfield. If you have a Letter to the Editor you would like to submit, send it to ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com Dear Editor and fellow residents: During my term on the Ordinance Committee, we felt that the re-zoning of Union Avenue and Main Street was the first step for the development of Bloomingdale. By doing this, it increases ratable revenues for Bloomingdale from any commercial development that would come from this plan. This zoning process took over six months of discussions, not only with the ordinance review, but also with all of the following: the planner, planning board attorney, municipal attorney, zoning official, sub-committee of the planning board, sub-committee of…
Sally Fane
9:19 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Ah Finally! more ›