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larkstown Planning Board has issued a negative SEQRA declaration and approved a preliminary site plan for a 37,495‑sq‑ft private religious school on 6.6 acres east of West Clarkstown Road, just south of New Hempstead Road. The project will replace two single‑family homes and requires no zoning variance; it now moves to the town’s Architectural Review Board for aesthetic review. The school’s plans were scaled back after community pushback, which highlighted concerns that county roads like West Clarkstown Road—known for accidents, winding turns, traffic load and poor maintenance—are being used for large developments despite zoning that protects local roads from non‑residential projects. The negative SEQRA means the board found no significant environmental impact and no detailed review is needed, limiting public input on environmental scoping.
Other projects on the road have faced similar outcomes. A proposed 146,880‑sq‑ft senior‑housing complex on 9.18 acres of R‑22 land received a negative SEQRA and is pending AHRB review. The former Camp Champion site, once a religious retreat, is now a 146‑acre property owned by Torn Ranch (TR‑HV LLC). Torn Ranch seeks a zoning amendment to create a “Health & Wellness Retreat” category in RR‑80 and RR‑160 zones, allowing expansions such as a second pool, greenhouse, tennis court, or guest cottage. The property, formerly the Table Rock Estate, already holds a “retreat” use under its certificate of occupancy. The proposed use would permit residential accommodations for trainees and staff, dining, exercise and wellness facilities, and would apply only to properties over 100 acres. Accessory uses would include pools, courts, trails, boathouses, gardens, and cottages up to 175% of the main building’s floor area. The next steps are a negative SEQRA declaration on the amendment and referral to Rockland County Planning for a General Municipal Law review.
The New York Boulders, which lease Clover Stadium from the Ramapo Local Development Corporation (RLDC) under a 20‑year contract ending in 2031, are extending the lease by ten years. In exchange, they will provide a $1.2 million interest‑free loan to install artificial turf, eliminating mowing, watering, fertilizing and pest‑control costs and enabling year‑round use. The annual fixed rent will rise from $175,000 to $225,000 during the extension. The Boulders will also share 60% of tournament field‑rental revenue with the RLDC, adding roughly $25,000 per year. RLDC’s income streams include a $1 per ticket share, $2 per parking fee, 20% of net merchandise sales, 10% of net food and beverage sales, 50% of naming‑rights revenue, and 50% of net suite rentals. The RLDC covers utilities, cleaning, and maintenance expenses.
