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Town board moves forward with referendum to consider purchase of Maguire Hyundai site for parks and rec uses
Summary
Advisory board members reported the town plans a November referendum asking voters to authorize up to $10 million to acquire the Maguire Hyundai property; the town is studying possible parks, recreation and senior services uses and comparing the option to other potential sites.
Town staff and advisory board chairs told the group that the town will place a referendum on the November ballot to authorize up to $10 million to acquire the former Maguire Hyundai property for public use, with the parks and recreation and senior services programs assessing possible building uses.
A town official told the chairs meeting that ‘‘there's going to be a referendum in November for the town to take is it up to 10,000,000?'' and that the property—85 acres with a large existing building and paved areas—has potential to house community recreation, senior services and other town programs. The consultant LaBella has provided preliminary cost estimates and options for programming the site; advisory chairs said the town intends to use the parks master plan and public survey results to guide decisions.
Board members noted the referral would require public outreach and that other financing and grant options are under review. The group discussed that acquiring an existing large building could be less expensive than buying raw land and building anew, but that adaptation costs and bond rates will affect the final numbers. Multiple participants emphasized the project will proceed only if voters approve the November referendum; several members said additional public engagement will occur before final design or budget commitments.
Separately, members discussed related tax incentives and incentives‑for‑investment programs; the meeting included an exchange about New York State Real Property Tax Law §485‑b (commonly referred to as 485‑b), a local tax abatement mechanism that had been used previously to encourage storefront revitalization but requires local opt‑in decisions.
Ending: The town will continue outreach and finalize the referendum language; advisory board chairs said they expect more public detail and an eventual vote on the November ballot. No final site program or bond approval is complete until the referendum outcome and subsequent town board decisions.
