T
wo Residential Projects in Rockland County Advance Toward Approval

    New York Country Club Site

    The Village of New Hempstead Board of Trustees has determined that a proposal to redevelop the 150-acre New York Country Club site into a residential subdivision would have a significant adverse impact on the environment. The developer must now prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement under New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The plan calls for single-family homes on lots of only 10,000 square feet and an amendment to the Village's Zoning Code to create a new zoning district, 1R-10.

    The golf course property was sold in 2023 for $35 million. A previous owner had proposed a development plan with a mix of housing types under the Village's optimized cluster development program, but it never advanced. A public meeting on the Draft Scope will be held on May 28, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

    Blue Rill Day Camp Property

    The Village of Airmont has accepted a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Blue Rill Senior Estates development. The plan calls for a 105-unit senior housing development at the former Blue Rill Day Camp on Saddle River Road. Each unit would be about 2,000 square feet. The project is located in an area with zoning that allows for senior housing by Special Permit from the Village Board of Trustees.

    The day camp site was purchased in 2021 for $8 million and has been damaged by a fire. The site sits adjacent to the Town of Ramapo Saddle River pool, which closed in 2023. Several variances will be required for the project, including side setbacks, side yards, building coverage, and distance between detached buildings.

    New York Court Of Appeals Hears Challenge To Vacancy Studies In Rent Stabilization Implementation

    The New York Court of Appeals has heard an appeal by Hudson Valley Property Owners Association and a handful of Kingston landlords challenging Kingston's efforts to implement the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). The court will decide whether vacancy studies need to be perfect or if good faith efforts can pass legal muster.

    A decision is not expected for months, but legislation is pending that would make vacancy studies optional and expand opportunities for municipalities to opt into the ETPA. A finding for the landlord group would create a pathway for landlords to challenge vacancy studies by conducting their own competing studies or finding flaws in municipal results.

    Lynmark's Crowne Plaza Suffern Modernizes Rooms, Public Spaces, and Event Spaces

    The Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah has completed a multimillion-dollar capital improvement project designed to modernize and enhance guest experiences. The renovations include refreshing 229 guest rooms with modern amenities and redesigning public spaces, including the hotel's open-concept atrium and 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

    The property is part of the Suffern-based Lynmark Group, a development group with properties in New York, Alabama, Illinois, and the British West Indies. The renovation was about strengthening the company's commitment to the community and continuing to lead regional hospitality.