(Photo by Doug Freese)
With the village planning board set to approve a special-use permit for local businessman Tom Struzzieri at its July 12 meeting, those opposed to approval have been writing letters of objection. One of the reasons the application should be denied, they claim, is that the change in use might negatively affect property values.
That doesn’t make sense to town tax assessor Frank Orlando, who also provides his services for the village. The assessor turns that question around. “How would looking at something deteriorating affect property values?” he asked.
Making substantial improvements to a property would add value to it, he explained. It would be assessed at a higher value and therefore pay more in property taxes.
It might take a while for that to happen, however. A provision in New York State law allows a commercial propertyowner who makes substantial improvements to request a reduced assessment from the local assessor. If he gets it, he doesn’t have to pay taxes on those capital improvements for ten years.
Orlando said Struzzieri has yet to apply for that exemption. Commercial propertyowners usually don’t request the exemption until they finish making those capital improvements.
Struzzieri recently opened the marina to members of the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce and other businessowners. Struzzieri and his staff were there to answer questions.
Marge Block, the town’s director of tourism and the village historian, said that event had a good turnout. Restoring and repurposing a historic building was a great thing, Block said. She predicted the project “will create a place that can be visited and enjoyed.”
“[Saugerties] is making its mark and people are making us a tourist destination,” Block said. Recently the celebrity Olsen twins have been in town riding out at HITS, Block added. “People are coming here, seeing what we have to offer and coming back. They come and spend their money, without putting any strain on our local services. This is a good thing.”
Block said boaters will now be able to come to Saugerties via the water and dock their craft here, “maybe stay in one of the local hotels or B&Bs, eat in our restaurants, and shop in our stores.” Before the improvements to Lynch’s, boaters looking for a place to dock along the Hudson River only had Kingston and Catskill. “We don’t want them to dock in Kingston or Catskill,” Block said. “We want them to dock here.”
“But,” Block added in conclusion, “it’s also important for Struzzieri to address all the concerns of local residents as well.”
It’s also important for the Saugerties Times to address the concerns of local residents.
I totally approve of his plans for the former Lynch property. This man has done nothing but good for this community let’s give him a break. Just looking at what has been done so far is pleasant to the eye. As I stated once before on face book This once was a restaurant without any problems stop all the nonsense.
I see no issues as long as there are written constraints regarding community concerns of noise, traffic,parking, head count.
Should I assume that the proper authorities will be supervising this ?
Who are these officials ?
Town tax assessor Frank Orlando:
“A provision in New York State law allows a COMMERCIAL property owner who makes substantial improvements to request a reduced assessment from the local assessor.”
Chester Hartwell:
Let’s not be confused here-the property is zoned R-1-W with a historic overlay. It is NOT zoned ‘commercial’.
Saugerties Village Zoning map (on the village website (bottom, center):
http://village.saugerties.ny.us/content/Generic/View/8:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/122.pdf
-ALL seem to agree that a commercial venture; restaurant/marina would be a good thing.
-Resident objections have focused on cars, traffic, and noise.istoric survey done when the floor was dug up and the parking had been scraped.
-The mayor’s statement in the Times that the docks had already been rebuilt is…confusing and questionable.
I look forward to this venture going forward with the proper restrictions.
-The property did not have a h
CORRECTED Y TYPO:
Town tax assessor Frank Orlando:
“A provision in New York State law allows a COMMERCIAL property owner who makes substantial improvements to request a reduced assessment from the local assessor.”
Chester Hartwell:
Let’s not be confused here-the property is zoned R-1-W with a historic overlay. It is NOT zoned ‘commercial’. Saying that it is, does not make it so.
Saugerties Village Zoning map (on the village website (bottom, center):
http://village.saugerties.ny.us/content/Generic/View/8:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/122.pdf
-The property did not have a historic survey done when the floor was dug up and the parking was scraped.
-ALL seem to agree that a commercial venture; restaurant/marina would be a good thing.
-Resident objections have focused on cars, traffic, and noise.
-The mayor’s statement in the Saugerties Times that the docks had already been rebuilt is…….confusing and questionable.
-Compliance and guidelines have been discussed, but not published.
I look forward to this venture going forward with the proper restrictions.