Threats to the Ridge Actions that should be taken to save the Ridge About the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition Media coverage about the Shawangunk Ridge Learn more about the environment of the Shawangunk Ridge Conservation efforts on the Shawangunk Ridge Recreation on the Shawangunk Ridge Maps of the Shawangunk Ridge Links to supporters and affiliated sites Search this site for information Contact information for the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition Return to our home page

Town's plan for airport might not fly
Times Herald-Record
by Victor Whitman
February 22, 2006

Wurtsboro - Mamakating's plan to buy the Wurtsboro airport might be grounded.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the airport is off limits until 2016 for development, potentially messing up the town's plan to preserve most of the land forever while allowing some residential construction.

"Two years down the tubes and we are back at square one," Supervisor Charlie Penna said yesterday.

The FAA "is strict in not allowing residential development on federally obligated airports," said Otto Suriani, the FAA's Eastern Division acting director, in a letter to the town dated Feb. 16.

Long Island developer Shalom Lamm, who plans to buy the airport this summer for $4.5 million, is working on a deal to build 48 upscale homes on roughly 80 of the 419 acres and sell most of the property back to the town. The town would buy it through an FAA grant, state and private funds, then lease all its property back to Lamm, who would run the airport.

Lamm said yesterday that he was optimistic that the FAA will release about 100 acres for residential development and his deal with the town will go through.

"They have the power to be flexible," he said.

Penna said that the FAA told him during a meeting in Long Island on Feb. 8 that a deal might be worked out, but that negotiations could take a long time.

The future of the airport, located on Route 209 just north of Wurtsboro, has been a hot-button issue for years, with the town and residents seeking to preserve it as an airport. The land, which is flat and near the highway, would be worth millions to developers. The FAA's hold on the airport land ends in 10 years and it then could be closed.

Penna noted that Lamm or any other developer could wind up sitting on the property for a decade and then ripping up the runways and building warehouses.

"It is not worth anything as an airport," Penna said. "Our plan is to preserve 300 acres forever."