The long, multi-step process for the so-called Rakov annexation continues to proceed, with the Maybrook Village Board recently authorizing its attorney to draw up a draft negative environmental declaration. Once that document is voted on and approved, a joint public hearing can be scheduled with the Town of Montgomery Town Board on the actual annexation.

The 57.4-acre parcel is currently owned by the heirs of Dr. Daniel Rakov who hope to eventually sell the 57.4 acres to a residential developer. The land-locked parcel lies in the vicinity of Heard Ave. and Wiley St. 17.3 of those acres lie in the Town of Montgomery; the remaining contiguous acreage rest in Maybrook. Of the total acreage, almost half are existing wetlands, which will limit any residential development.

If the annexation is approved by both municipal boards, Maybrook would hold a public hearing for a zone change for the entire parcel to R-4 (residential). If the annexation and zone change are both approved, any further action would come from the village planning board, once a site plan for development is submitted.

Although no developer has yet purchased the land and no official plan for any development has been made, representatives of the Rakov family have created a “sample” development plan so that the village board, village engineer Sean Hoffman and village attorney Kelly Naughton could assess various issues with environmental impacts. At a previous meeting, Naughton had a few questions for the Rakov consultants but noted many of the environmental impacts were small or none-existent. She and Hoffman did, at the time, have a few impact questions, including placement of the emergency access road on the “sample” plan. Those questions were answered by the consultant at the village board’s recent meeting. But she and Hoffman had a few more, which the consultants plan to answer quickly.

“There is a question of how this meets with the goals for the village comprehensive plan,” Naughton said, pointing to some “fairly minor changes” that the consultants will have to make.