Public Hearing Closed
The Public Hearing on the Wilmorite/Park Point New Paltz DEIS has been closed. The Town of New Paltz Planning Board, as lead agency, will still receive written comments on the DEIS until the close of business on Thursday, January 31, 2013. Comments may be submitted to the Planning Board Secretary by email at planzoneboard@townofnewpaltz.org or by mail to Town Hall, P.O. Box 550, New Paltz, NY 12561.
What is Park Point New Paltz?
- Park Point New Paltz is a proposed residential development that will provide safe, proximate housing for about 700 SUNY New Paltz students and up to 30 faculty or staff.
Why is it needed?
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To provide housing for SUNY New Paltz students who are unable to live on or near campus due to limited housing availability, as well as a small number of new faculty and staff who have similar difficulty finding proximate affordable accommodations.
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Currently, the campus can house just under half of New Paltz undergraduates. Completion of the Park Point project will mean that on-campus or adjacent housing is available for approximately 60% of the College’s undergraduates.
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The nearly 2,800 students and faculty who are currently traveling from surrounding communities are missing out on the campus and Village and Town experience while negatively impacting traffic congestion in New Paltz.
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Fewer than 1,000 of the College’s 3,600 commuter students reside in the Village or Town of New Paltz, with nearly 2,800 commuting from locations throughout Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties.
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The College has no intention of growing its undergraduate enrollment; this project is to address existing housing needs.
Who are the key participants?
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SUNY New Paltz Foundation, a separately incorporated not for profit affiliate of SUNY New Paltz created for the sole purpose of supporting the college’s mission.
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Goshawk, LLC, wholly owned by the SUNY New Paltz Foundation. Goshawk purchased and will lease to Wilmorite the property on which Park Point will be built. Use of affiliated corporations, such as Goshawk, LLC, to support the primary mission of SUNY institutions, is well recognized and utilized in the SUNY system to provide expertise that is not “resident” on campus and to provide a more efficient delivery of those services.
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Wilmorite, a real estate company with which Goshawk and the SUNY New Paltz Foundation have partnered to develop, finance, construct, and operate Park Point at New Paltz. Based in Rochester, NY. Wilmorite has extensive experience with off-campus student housing, including developments in Rochester and Syracuse.
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JAM of New Paltz, Inc is the property owner of 8 acres of the proposed site. It is the operating entity of the Moriello family for agricultural and related purposes. Goshawk purchased 42 acres of land for the proposed site from JAM.
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SUNY New Paltz is a beneficiary of the project. The development provides a critical resource for its students and faculty/staff by providing safe, high quality, proximate and affordable housing, which fills a need that is currently unavailable on campus or in the local community.
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The New Paltz Town Planning Board serves as the Lead Agency for the approval process for the project. It is responsible for ensuring that the development adheres to all relevant and applicable state and town laws, including the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process.
Where will Park Point be located?
- The proposed site is an approximately 50-acre parcel of land adjacent to the south edge of SUNY New Paltz’s campus, on the west side of NYS Route 32 (Manheim Blvd) less than one mile south of the intersection at Route 299 (Main St.).
What will the impact be?
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Wilmorite has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) in response to the town’s inquiries and as required by law. A few of the key findings:
Environmental impact
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Park Point will make it possible for about 700 existing students and up to 30 faculty and staff to walk or bike to campus instead of driving. This is expected to have the additional effect of reducing traffic congestion in town.
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Federally-regulated wetlands will be preserved and enhanced.
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Provides for a cluster design that maximizes the amount of open space associated with the project. Total site is 50 acres with about 23 acres that will be developed, leaving 27 acres unaffected.
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No evidence of endangered species or critical habitat was found on the site.
Financial Impact
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Construction will bring an estimated 215 jobs and $11.8 million in new earnings, plus an estimated $291,000 in building permit fees and planning board costs.
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Upon completion of the project, Wilmorite plans to hire nine individuals to provide site maintenance and oversight. These jobs will provide an estimated $407,000 in wages in the town and village annually.
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The annual economic impact, based on a 90% occupancy rate, is estimated at $7.8 million in new sales, 73 new jobs, and $2 million in new wages for New Paltz Town/Village, adding to the College’s current overall impact of $338 million in the Hudson Valley.
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Provides an increased tax base through a payment in lieu of taxes as opposed to the current tax exempt status (42 acres) and reduced assessment agricultural value tax status (8 acres) of the lands currently comprising the project.
Impact on Community Services
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The project is intended for college students and young adults, and would have a minimal, if any, impact on school district enrollment. Only 30 units will be occupied by new faculty and staff; few, if any, will have children.
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SUNY New Paltz Police will be the first responders to emergency situations at Park Point. There will also be an on-site security guard.
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A payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the Town of New Paltz will be made for fire, police, emergency and other services provided, however, minimal impact is anticipated.
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Construction of a wastewater treatment facility with capabilities for possible expansion for Town use. This will also allow the Village to conserve their existing system for development within the Village and support potential future development in the Town.
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Construction of a well water supply and treatment system with capabilities for possible expansion for Town use. This will allow the Village and Town to conserve water for other development.
