by Jennifer Sipple
The Chevron-Texaco property in Glenham is about to be sold to a developer. The red brick buildings that glow in afternoon light and the aluminum warehouse-like structures scattered among them make up the former research facility at Old Glenham Road. But that is only part of the 150 acres. Fishkill Creek winds through the property, centering on a waterfall that thunders alongside the brick buildings. At the base of the falls and throughout the narrow gorge, fishermen can often be seen tossing their lines. Across the creek, along Washington Avenue lies a section of the property known as the “recreation area.” This 93-acre parcel runs up the base of Fishkill Ridge and is bordered on two sides by Beacon Hills and Hiddenbrooke. Decisions made by developers and the Town about this property will have a large impact on residents of both Beacon and Fishkill.
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Paul Petel of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says that there is still evidence of Volatile Organic Contaminant in the Texaco recreation area. Petel says that the contamination may have been caused in 1986 by a drum tipping over, and that the DEC will have the contaminated area excavated and then back-filled with fresh soil “in the very near future.” At the time this article was written, a public meeting to discuss the clean-up of the recreation area was scheduled to be held at the Glenham Firehouse on November 30. Spokespeople from Chevron-Texaco and from the DEC were to be in attendance.
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The Supervisor of the Town of Fishkill, Joan Pagones, has stated that the Board wants to acquire the recreation area in order to meet the demands of the Fishkill Master plan by making the land available to the public. However, the would-be developers are playing their cards close to their chests with regards to that portion of the Chevron-Texaco property. Those who would like to see all 93-acres of the rec. area become public green space may have cause for concern. For one thing, the developers may not hand over this property without a fight, for another, “open space” as it is termed in the Fishkill Master Plan includes buildings that are open to the public – space that’s not necessarily green or undeveloped. So, the fact that the Town wants the 93-acre parcel to serve as open space for public use does not guarantee that all of it will remain undeveloped.
North American Realty Advisory Services, a group of real estate consultants dealing in “environmentally impaired property,” is selling the 150 acres on behalf of Chevron-Texaco. The realty group, which often deals in Superfund sites, may be doing business with Chevron-Texaco because the Glenham property has a long history of contamination. [See Sidebar]
Robert Barclay, president of North American Realty, says that a potential developer has been in negotiations with Chevron over the past year. Barclay believes that the property will be sold by the end of 2005. Due to a confidentiality agreement that the Service has with its clients, the identity of the developer was not initially revealed.
However, a couple of weeks after Barclay was interviewed by the Beacon Dispatch for this article, a news piece entitled, “Builder Covets Texaco Parcel,” appeared in the Poughkeepsie Journal. In this article, the names of the developers were revealed: Reliance Realty Partners (also known as Reliance Property Group) and Gagne Development, both Connecticut-based firms. Joseph Gaudio of Reliance Realty in Stamford is quoted in the Journal as saying that the plan for the research facility is to have a combination of “residential, small retail, restaurants, boutique shops and offices.”
When asked to be interviewed for this article, Gaudio refrained from further comment until the sale is complete. However, Joan Pagones has met with the potential developers and thinks that they plan to demolish all seventeen facility buildings in order to build anew. Some Glenham residents hope that the developers will consider renovating the red brick buildings in order to preserve some of the structure’s history and character… and to maintain some peace.
Although Gaudio has stated intentions for the research buildings, plans for the mountainous 93 acres of the former recreation area are not yet clear. Currently, the area boasts a park with tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a picnic pavilion and more. It also offers the possibility of walking paths that could connect with the extensive trail network on Mt. Beacon.
According to Robert Barclay, if Fishkill wants any piece of the Chevron-Texaco property the board needs to negotiate with the developer after the property is sold. “I know Joan Pagones well,” says Barclay. “She has made it clear that the town wants a substantial portion of green space.” Pagones has told the Dispatch that if the town acquires the recreation area, it will once again become open to the public. She assures that all five members of the Town Board are “on the same page.”
Apparently, the Town Board had requested that Chevron-Texaco either gift or sell the 93 acres to Fishkill. “We’ve been trying to do business with Chevron, but they would probably rather sell the entire property as a package,” says Pagones, in an effort to explain why Chevron is now negotiating with a developer.
Nevertheless, Pagones states, “The ball is in our court.” The recreation area is currently zoned industrial. Pagones claims that once the property is purchased by the developer, she and the board will refuse to change the zoning of the recreation area in order to block residential development. If, after the Town refuses to rezone, the developers are still unwilling to give or sell the 93 acres to the Town of Fishkill, the Town Board will assert its power of eminent domain and condemn the property. Once the property is condemned, it becomes the possession of the town. Affirming the board’s intentions to protect the recreation area, Pagones says, “Our word is our bond.”
The recreation area is one of the last pieces of green property that the town would like to obtain. Pagones says that the town needs those 93 acres of mountainside property to remain open space in order to meet the criteria of Fishkill’s Master Plan. The Plan, which is on view at the Blodgett Library, calls for: 1/3 open space, 1/3 residential, 1/3 commercial. Again, residents should keep in mind that in the Master Plan, “open space” refers not only to green, undeveloped areas, but also to public buildings, such as churches and schools.
David Eberle, a former Democratic candidate for Town Council says Fishkill’s program of open-space is not aggressive enough. “We need [green] space in the valley, not just on the mountainside,” says Eberle. He also believes that the Town of Fishkill has a history of catering to developers. In reference to Pagones’ statement that the land will remain zoned industrial and will not be developed, Eberle says, “Many times, I’ve heard one thing and seen another.” He refers to developments such as Toll Brothers off of Route 9 and Holly Ridge on Brockway Road at Rte. 9D as examples of Fishkill’s negligence. On his website, TeamFishkill.com, Eberle provides documentation to support his accusation that clear-cutting for the Toll Brothers development has led to serious water run-off issues and has put Fishkill’s water supply at risk of pollution. Eberle also claims that an addition to Holly Ridge is slated to be built on a site contaminated with arsenic – the old Circle M lumber treating plant.
As for the Texaco property, Glenham residents can hope for the best, and once the property is sold, interested parties can attend any public hearings. Townspeople are invited to speak at such hearings, providing them with an opportunity to shape our ever-growing communities. That in mind, Beacon and Fishkill residents may want to take a closer look at the areas being developed in this region and after further analysis people may choose to speak out.
To stay informed about the Chevron-Texaco property as it enters the development stage, call 231-0505 or e-mail [email protected]
My compliments. What a wonderful way to connect the community. But, there is a responsibility to not circulate information which may have no basis in fact. Opinion should be clearly labeled as opinion. Which brings us to Dave Eberrle who is still running for office and apparently is now attempting to manipulate the Glenham comunity. What are his credentials? Can he cite anything but his own opinion for his statements that the Town of Fishkill has acted in a negligent manner? What about specific instances in which the Town has said one thing and did another? Accusations without a basis are nothing more than an exercies in empty demagoguery.
Posted by: Kenneth M. Stenger | March 26, 2006 at 02:51 PM