Town board approves sale of Bonnie Castle Recreation Center, cites SEQRA negative declaration

The Town of Alexandria board voted unanimously to authorize a contract of sale for the Bonnie Castle Recreation Center, a parcel the town identifies as approximately 272.39 acres, after a presentation of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) findings.

Town counsel summarized the environmental review and the sale terms during the meeting, saying, “The contract of sale indicates that the purchase price is $760,000.” The board was presented with a 2019 Phase 1 environmental report that flagged several concerns — including above-ground fuel tanks, multiple drums and containers of unknown contents, possible asbestos in ceiling and floor tiles, and a nearby open spill at an adjacent gas station — but counsel said those issues were characterized as low or potential risk for the current action of conveying title.

Board members approved a negative declaration under SEQRA on the basis that the proposed action is limited to the sale and transfer of title and does not authorize future development. The contract was described in the record as non-contingent and to be sold in "as-is" condition; the sale is subject to a permissive referendum. Counsel recommended running the 30-day referendum clock from the meeting date and noted the contract prohibits closing before Sept. 17 to allow that period to elapse.

The resolution authorizes the town supervisor to execute all documents necessary to complete the sale and to provide any existing environmental reports, including the cited Phase 1 report, to the buyer’s attorney.