By Steve Israel
Times Herald-Record
Published: 6:39 PM - 12/12/13
Last updated: 9:32 PM - 12/12/13
BLOOMINGBURG – In a surprising victory for opponents of a 396 unit apparently Hasidic housing development and the private school that would serve it, the Bloomingburg Planning Board voted down the school Thursday night. The vote, before a cheering crowd of about 150 was 3-1, with chairman Russ Wood dissenting.
The move, at a meeting that was supposed to be procedural, was apparently a reaction to the fact that the development and school would be Hasidic – even though the developers have said the townhouses would be sold to anyone. That sentiment was reflected in signs with slogans like “Our children are not welcomed to enroll.”
“If you're representing that the development is open to all of us, why do you need another school for it,” said board member Andy Finnema, noting that Bloomingburg is served by seven schools in the Pine Bush district.
The vote came despite the fact that schools are apparently allowed by the zoning in this eastern Sullivan County village. It drew a threat of legal action from the projects' developer, Kenneth Nakdimen, a partner of Shalom Lamm, who is out of the country.
“They don't have a right to do this,” said Nakdimen. “They're opening themselves up to a lawsuit.”
Hours before the vote, Lamm said in an e mail, “Given this is an as-of right use, we do not anticipate any legal objections. Virtually all of the opposition is based on hate or the scandalous misrepresentation of facts by the project opponents.”
The opponents also won a smaller victory when the board, by the same 3-1 vote, shot down a proposal for a temporary clubhouse for the housing development.
While the votes drew cheers, many reacted like opposition leader Holly Roche. She knows the development, the Villages at Chestnut Ridge, is being built.
“Strike one for us,” she said, calling herself “guardedly optimistic.”
Still, most applauded the board they had once booed.
“I'm extremely happy. The board has demonstrated leadership,” said John Kahrs of Pine Bush.
The vote came as opposition to the project mounted.
Opponents just filed papers in a State Supreme Court asking for Bloomingburg Mayor Mark Berentsen's removal. Among other claims, the notice of petition says Berentsen violated municipal law when, a week after he and his parents bought land from the developer, he and the village board voted to accept the environmental review of the developer's project, the Villages at Chestnut Ridge. The petition also claims that Berentsen violated the law by signing a developer's agreement that specifically gave him access to the sewer and water system being built by the developer after Berentsen OK'd that agreement.
Berentsen said, “I strongly disagree with the allegations. My focus has always been and will continue to be for the residents of the village of Bloomingburg.”
Meanwhile, one of only two other board members, Joe Gotthardt, resigned, saying, “You can't run a government when nobody responds to the people's needs.”
On top of all of this, Bloomingburg – or what's left of its government - cancelled its Thursday night Village Board meeting without giving a reason. The board hasn't met since August.
But despite Thursday night's temporary win, project opponents said they face an uphill fight to stop the development, which has already been marketed.
“I'm relieved, but there are more battles on the horizon,” Marilyn Meyer.
e
sisrael@th-record.com e
