I’m a resident in Highland, NY, like many other fellow Highland residents, have noticed numerous developments proposed and approved in what seemed to be a very rushed and non-transparent manner in the town of Lloyd.

Our town supervisor Fred Pizzuto, when running for office, estimated if all of these projects were to go through, it would create a ten percent population increase, not to mention an enormous impact on our current infrastructure and services. While we recognize the value of development, we respectfully request the facts and support if some of these developments would actually benefit the community and “lower tax base” as the town board, the planning board and the developers claim. 

The vision statement of the latest Town of Lloyd Comprehensive Master Plan, last updated in 2013 highlights the need to remain focused on the environment and rural characteristics. “Preserve the rural, residential, and agricultural character of the community and the town’s rich tapestry of environmental resources while encouraging commercial development that enhances the tax base without detracting from historical settlement patterns and desired quality of life.” This discussion focuses on the tax aspect of these projects: “encouraging commercial development that enhances the tax base without detracting from historical settlement patterns and desired quality of life.”
A big question is, has the town board done an assessment of if the tax revenue received from the proposed developments could at the very least, offset the burden on town’s public services such as fire, police, emergency services? Companies and developers, just like me and you, should pay their share of taxes. 

Silver Gardens is one of the many recent proposed developments. Silver Gardens is proposed by Developer Richard Gerentine in a joint venture with RUPCO, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The project will provide low income individuals retirement apartment living. Numerous council members have claimed these types of developments would “enhance the tax base” yet the structure of the organization does not support these claims.