Land bank funding approved; redevelopment, brownfield cleanup and pilot homes discussed

The committee voted to authorize an agreement providing financial support to the Sullivan County Land Bank Corporation, a county official said, with one committee member abstaining because of a land-bank role.

The land bank presentation outlined ongoing redevelopment projects including the Broadway redevelopment (the Strong/KeyBank building), where RUPCO now owns the KeyBank building and the sale enables HUD Hope VI grant draws through the Village of Monticello. The land bank said brownfield cleanup is required after the discovery of an old dry cleaner in the Strong Building basement; the county is coordinating environmental remediation steps.

Nut graf: The committee approved annual administrative funding for the Land Bank and discussed several multi-year remediation and redevelopment projects that depend on state and federal environmental reviews and grant funding.

Important details: the committee considered a request for $100,000 in administrative support to the land bank (presentation noted as annual). The Broadway project has closed from the land bank to RUPCO, which allows HUD Hope VI-related draws to be processed in the Village of Monticello's name. Monticello Manor (the former hospital on High Street) has brownfield remediation underway; the county must complete a bat study (per EPA guidance referenced by staff) before demolition can begin. The land bank reported five properties demolished this year using various funds, five properties returned to the tax rolls through sales, and a pilot program to construct four single-family homes (two in the village of Liberty and two in the village of Monticello) intended for buyers at or below 120% of area median income.

The land bank speaker noted that some redevelopment steps are awaiting federal environmental review under NEPA and ongoing brownfield remediation by private contractors (Kearney Group listed as proceeding with cleanup). The presenter encouraged municipalities countywide to request land bank assistance: “We are available to help in any municipality in Sullivan County,” the planning staff member said.

On the resolution to authorize agreement with the Sullivan County Land Bank Corporation for financial support, a committee member moved the resolution (mover: Catherine Scott), the motion was seconded by Terry Blosser Bernardo, and the vote passed with one abstention: “Resip with Matt abstaining,” the chair noted; Matt McPhillips abstained because of his role on the land bank. The meeting transcript records the motion and the abstention but does not provide a full roll-call tally.

Ending: Staff said more detailed land bank discussion will occur when an invited individual who missed the meeting for medical reasons can attend; staff also asked for quarterly or semiannual reporting on grant applications applied for versus awards received.