The Poughkeepsie Town Board will receive 40 acres of open land from Dallas Drive residents Harold and Carole Buchner, who own 56 acres stretching between the town’s 2nd and 6th wards.
The land, the former Girl Scout property located across from Cedar Valley Road, will be used to help protect wildlife species and plants, according to the Town Board. The Buchners are proposing creating a walking path around the perimeter of the property, and a five-foot-wide easement to the town, which will be located where a nearby private road will be, is also being considered for greater emergency service accessibility. A small parking area fitting approximately two vehicles is also included in the plans.
“We’ll have a nature preserve with limited parking,” said Supervisor Pat Myers (D).
In addition to a nature preserve, councilman Todd Tancredi (R-6th Ward) said the land has to be subdivided by the planning board before the town can possess it. He said he looks forward to the benefit of the land donation.
“We want to keep it pristine to help restore wildlife and plant species,” he said.
Harold Buchner and his Poughkeepsie-based attorney, Richard Cantor, appeared in front of the Town Board on March 19 to urge board members to keep the parcel as open space.
Approximately five years ago, Harold Buchner hoped to build 39 homes along the 56-acre property; he had been in discussions with the town planning department. Talks were made with the Town Board about making a donation, but the recent gift exceeded expectations.
“There was talk of him (Mr. Buchner) possibly making a donation, but no one thought it would be 40 acres being given to the town,” said Tancredi.
Tancredi said he did not know the actual monetary value of the land.
The Buchners were on vacation this week and unavailable for contact.
The site was donated to the Girl Scouts of Dutchess County in 1963 and was eventually returned to IBM before the Buchners purchased it in 2000.
“I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful things you’re doing,” said Dominic Seminara (R-2nd Ward), addressing the Buchners.
Before the land can be deeded over to the town to possess, the family must have the land subdivided from the entire 56-acre plot through the Planning Board. According to Tancredi, the actual donation process began a year-and-a-half ago.
Citizens Advisory Committee at full capacity
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) appointed Doreen Tignanelli and Gurpreet Dhaliwal as its latest members to the now full-capacity, seven-member group. Longtime member Richard Fein, who represented the 6th Ward as CAC member, announced his resignation, opening up a spot for Tignanelli.
Tignanelli’s position will expire on Dec 31, 2008. Dhaliwal’s position will expire on Dec. 31, 2009.