New City, NY – This afternoon Supervisor George Hoehmann, Assemblyman Pat Carroll, and Senator Bill Weber announced the state legislature has passed the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act. The Clarkstown Community Preservation Act is the strongest available tool for the Town of Clarkstown to conserve and preserve open space, land, natural resources, historic landmarks, critical agriculture and water resources and much more.
The CPA allows the town to establish preservation funds, funded by a one-time .75% fee on real estate closings, if approved by voters in the general election. The town assessor’s office estimated the CPS would generate nearly $5 million a year in “lock boxed” funds for the Town to purchase land. The officials have requested Governor Hochul quickly approve the legislation in order to allow town voters to decide whether to enact the CPA during this November’s election.
This method of funding conservation and preservation is the most ideal way. Once a buyer of real property pays the fee at closing no additional expense is ever accrued. Other methods such as a massive bond issuance or new conservation-taxing district would impose a permanent or near permanent annual tax on every property tax payer in the town.The Clarkstown Community Preservation Act avoids that while providing protected and guaranteed funding.
The Act mirrors what has been successfully used for decades in towns across New York State including on Long Island and Warwick, NY.
Town and State officials were joined by Clarkstown’s Greenway Commission Members and non-profit leaders today at Bear Swamp Preserve in Valley Cottage to announce the passage of the legislation and discuss its importance to Clarkstown’s long-term preservation goals. Supervisor Hoehmann thanked Senator Weber and Assemblyman Carroll for their leadership in Albany and their support of Clarkstown’s efforts to secure this critical conservation tool.
Supervisor George Hoehmann stated, “The passage of the Community Preservation Act by the New York State Legislature marks an important milestone for the Town of Clarkstown. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our state legislators for their partnership in working with the Town to advance this legislation in an expedited fashion. Their dedication ensured that this critical measure moved efficiently through the legislative process and is one step closer to becoming a reality for our community. I also extend a special thank you to the Town’s Greenway Commission for its foresight in recommending that the Town Board pursue this legislation. Their vision was instrumental in bringing us to this point. I now call on Governor Hochul to sign this legislation into law so that we can move forward with a public referendum and give residents the final decision to protect open space in our town.”
Senator Bill Weber stated, “I was pleased to stand with the Town of Clarkstown today as we call on the Governor to sign the Clarkstown Preservation legislation we successfully passed in both the Senate and Assembly earlier this month. We would like to see her sign it before the August deadline so a referendum can be placed on this year‘s ballot in November, letting the voters of Clarkstown make the final decision for themselves.”
Assemblyman Patrick Carroll said, “As a former Town Councilman and resident of Clarkstown I know the importance of protecting and preserving open space, which is why I’m proud to have passed legislation through the State Assembly that authorizes the Town of Clarkstown to establish a Community Preservation Fund for the purposes of preserving open space. This law, if signed by Governor Hochul and approved by voters in a referendum, would allow the Town to create such a fund solely for eligible preservation purposes such as protecting drinking water, enhancing recreational opportunities, and preserving parkland and historic sites. Rather than burdening current taxpayers, it enacts a one-time fee on purchasers moving into the town.”
Councilman Jon Valentino stated,”Nearly a thousand residents have signed the petition supporting the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act, sending a clear message that environmental conservation and the preservation of our community’s natural resources are top priorities for Clarkstown families I respectfully encourage Governor Hochul to stand with our neighbors and sign the Community Preservation Act and PDR. Clarkstown residents want and deserve the right to conserve and preserve our land and natural resources.”
Councilman Mike Graziano stated, “The Town Board has heard residents across the town asking for more active preservation of our natural resources. This bill allows voters to choose. If the governor signs this legislation a referendum will be added to the ballot asking voters if they want to authorize the Community Preservation Act to protect our community. The residents of our town will all have the final say if this program is implemented. Thank you again to the Greenway Commission for providing their expertise, and I encourage all residents to sign the petition to ensure that they have the final say in enacting the Community Preservation Act.”
Councilman Don Franchino stated, “A collective effort between residents and their elected representatives is what ensures our community’s priorities are reflected in government action. The passage of the Community Preservation Act is the result of that partnership, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped move this initiative forward. This legislation will give our residents the opportunity to have a direct voice in protecting the unique character that makes Clarkstown an exceptional place to live.”
Councilman Bob Axelrod stated, “Passing this bill in the state legislature could not have been possible without the countless residents who have demanded the protection of open space and natural resources. We have made great strides over just the past few months, but our work here is far from over. The petition remains active, so if you have a moment, please sign the petition on the Town website or social media. The petition will be sent to Governor Hochul urging her to sign the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act.”
Carli Fraccarolli, Government Relations Manager for Scenic Hudson, said, “We applaud Supervisor Hoehmann, Senator Weber, and Assemblyman Carroll for their leadership in the passage of the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act. This legislation would empower the Town to generate local funds that would be directly invested in the protection of the natural and historic resources that define their community. Scenic Hudson will continue our advocacy to ensure this critical conservation finance mechanism for Clarkstown is signed into law by the Governor.”
Chris Chapman, Project Manager, Orange County Land Trust stated, “West Branch Conservation Association was founded on the mission of protecting the headwaters of the Hackensack River. This program can play a direct role in safeguarding the quality of water that ultimately flows into the Hackensack, a vital drinking water source that crosses the New York–New Jersey border and serves approximately 800,000 residents in 47 municipalities and cities.
The Orange County Land Trust’s work builds upon the foundation established by West Branch over many years, helping to preserve water quality and support natural filtration systems that benefit residents far beyond the Town of Clarkstown and Rockland County. By protecting these critical lands, we are investing in the long-term health of an essential regional water resource.”