Minutes, Board of Education                                                                         March 31, 2008

A special meeting of the Board of Education was held in the cafetorium of the Cornwall Elementary School.

Members Present:  Brendan Coyne, Jeanne Lincoln, Greg Whalen, Larry Berger, David Moretto, Melanie Mulroy-Robinson, David Carnright, Richard Romano, and Barbara Manzari (arrived at 6:06 pm)

Members Absent:  None

Others Present:  Timothy J. Rehm, Superintendent of Schools; Harvey    Sotland, Asst. Superintendent for Business; Michael Brooks, Asst. Superintendent for Instruction.

The Board of Education meeting was called to order at 6.02 pm with a motion made by Jeanne Lincoln and seconded by Richard Romano. 

President Coyne opened the discussion with the Board of Education on the Legacy Ridge subdivision.  Public comment followed with those in attendance in the audience. 

Richard Romano moved with a second by Barbara Manzari:

WHEREAS, the Village of Woodbury Board of Trustees is considering a request to rezone three parcels of land and to approve Conservation Cluster Development Overlay District Regulations pertaining to a planned development known as "Legacy Ridge"; and,

WHEREAS, if approved, the change in zoning and conservation regulations will increase the unit capacity of the Legacy Ridge development from 155 units to 313 units; and,

WHEREAS, the units are planned to consist of four-bedroom, single-family dwellings that can be anticipated to bring additional students to the Cornwall Central School District; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of Planning of Orange County has expressed several reservations about the proposed changes in zoning and regulations, including, but not limited to, the impact on the Cornwall Central School District from the anticipated increase in student population and noted space limitations that already exist in the School District; and,

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Cornwall Central School District will and always has welcomed new students to the School District but is concerned about the financial and space impact of such a significant increase in student population that will occur if the changes in zoning and regulation are approved; and,

WHEREAS, it is of the opinion of the Cornwall Central School District that the potential impacts to the school system of the zoning change and related development have not been adequately studied, nor the prescribed “hard look” given to such potential impacts; and,

WHEREAS, failure to address potential impacts may have a detrimental effect on the educational environment for current and future students. 

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Cornwall Central School District hereby requests the Village of Woodbury Board of Trustees not to change its zoning for the Legacy Ridge development, thereby limiting the maximum number of houses to what the current zoning allows, 155.

                                          Yes:       9

                                          No:         0            Motion carried

The Board of Education had further discussion on the issue of utilizing an Article 78 in its efforts to prevent the proposed zoning change.  The Board discussed and President Coyne indicated that he would pursue a meeting with the Supervisor of the Town of Cornwall, Supervisor of the Town of New Windsor, and the Mayor of the Village of Cornwall.

(7:04 pm – Jeanne Lincoln had to leave the meeting for a prior family commitment)

At 7:28 pm a motion was made by Barbara Manzari and seconded by Greg Whalen to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was unanimously carried and President Coyne adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. Harvey Sotland

District Clerk