Leyland, Village to discuss contract for road dedication

Developer to move forward with subdivision for library land Warwick — Leyland Alliance, the developer of Warwick Grove who donated 2.2 acres of land for a new library, will go to the Planning Board in January and begin the subdivision process. That will open the door for the library to begin its building process. The village will help that door open a bit as well, as it will sit down with the developer to discuss road maintenance years before the development is completely built. In order for the library to get started with the state Education Department, it must take possession of the land, and that land must be reached by a public street. The Village Board discussed taking the road, McFarland Drive, before the subdivision is complete - something not usually done - but not precedent-setting either. At Ridgefield Meadows, the village accepted dedication of Sheffield Drive before it was complete. Mayor Michael Newhard said it was a safety issue. Some residents told the Village Board they do not want them to take control of McFarland Drive because it is only being done as a special favor to the library. “This road dedication sets a dangerous precedent,” said resident Paul Shust. “You are doing one builder and a few people a favor. Southern Lane kids had to walk down to get school buses. We had to go to the post office to pick up our mail. You are doing certain people favors. It’s not the Village Board’s job.” Roads that are not village roads are not accessed by school buses or mail carriers. The village doesn’t maintain them or plow them. The village’s engineer, Michael Murphy, said the village gave the developer a punch list of 21 items back in July. For the most part, everything has been done, he said. “The developer has been diligently doing the work,” Murphy said. “There are a few things left, some not necessary prior to the dedication.” McFarland Road is off Forester Avenue near Creekside. It runs three-quarters of a mile and is 22 feet wide. Murphy said the base pavement is in good shape. The library, of course, wants to go ahead with the subdivision so it can begin the long process of building a library. But before a shovel is put into the ground, the library board must go to the public for a referendum. If the public approves, the process can go further. Proposed is a 27,000 square foot, state-of-the-art library. Estimates earlier this year were between $7.5 million and $8.5 million. In addition to the subdivision, Newhard said the village would talk to the developer and come to a maintenance agreement with Leyland. The Village Board would have to decide whether to take over the entire length of the road or just the part to the library. “It is important that the library get their piece of land and I trust Mr. Lou Marquet (of Leyland Alliance) but things could change,” said Trustee George McManus. “It is important to get the documents. It’s very important we are one thousand percent protected so the village is not liable. The most important thing is we are fully protected.” The village has a $4 million bond from the developer on the property. The entrance road paving is the last entry on the bond so even if the bond decreases as work is completed, paving the entrance road would remain. Bob Krahulik, a Warwick resident and local attorney, said he wants the village to move forward with this for the library’s sake. “We should make exceptions for public institutions,” Krahulik said. “If we don’t make concessions, the community loses and it may cost the community more money in the long run.”