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Dover Knolls Project Timeline:
New York State Governor Mario Cuomo announces plans to close Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (HVPC) in Wingdale, along with 30 other Department of Mental Hygiene facilities throughout the state.
New York State Governor Cuomo announces plans to close Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (HVPC) in Wingdale, along with 30 other Department of Mental Hygiene facilities throughout the state.
The Harlem Valley Partnership is formed to deal with the economic impacts of losing a 75 million dollar payroll with the closure of HVPC and the downsizing of the Wassaic Developmental Center in Eastern Dutchess County. Possible redevelopment of the abandoned state properties is a priority.
John Rahenkamp Consultants, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA completes a Market Feasibility Report on the prospects for redevelopment of the HVPC and presents the report in a public meeting. The report is funded by state and county grant monies through the Harlem Valley Partnership.
New York State Office of Mental Health officially closes its operations at the HVPC. The Harlem Valley Secure Center for Juveniles and Department of Correction Housing remain on the site.
North American Realty Advisory Services of New York, NY complete a Reuse Concept and Marketing Action Program for the former HVPC. The plan is funded by state and county monies through the Harlem Valley Partnership.
The HVPC Reuse Plan is prepared by the Harlem Valley Partnership and Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, pulling data from the previous studies.
A state-mandated HVPC Task Force, consisting of representatives of the town, county and state, conducts public meetings on the reuse plan and submits a summary report to the NYS Office of Mental Health.
The Town of Dover adopts a new zoning code which includes a Mixed-Use Overlay for the former HVPC property stating, “This overlay district is the most appropriate area of the town for intensive mixed-use development. The provisions of this overlay district are intended to streamline permitting and allow greater use flexibility”.
Parts of the former HVPC are included into the Dutchess County Empire Zone, which provides incentives for development in depressed areas, at the request of the Town. The incentives have a ten-year life span and are tied directly to job creation.
The Harlem Valley Partnership markets the two state facilities in eastern Dutchess County. Some of the groups that express serious interest in the former HVPC are National Energy from Connecticut, Kings College, a MAC users group, the Frobel Organization from Taiwan, the World Cricket League, and TP Enterprises of New York City. The clean-up of the property remains a major hurdle for purchase.
Mr. Alvin Benjamin, principal of The Benjamin Companies is invited to the HVPC property where he is given a tour of the site and the surrounding area by representatives from the Town of Dover and the Harlem Valley Partnership.
Town representatives visit the two state facilities purchased and redeveloped by The Benjamin Companies in Long Island - Long Island Developmental Center and Central Islip Psychiatric Center.
A meeting is held at the Dover Town Hall between representatives of The Benjamin Companies, some town board members, the town attorney, county legislator, and county planner to review a draft redevelopment plan for the HVPC, based on the 1996 HVPC Reuse Plan. The draft plan includes an 18-hole golf course, approximately 1500+ housing units, a village center and includes additional acreage of the neighboring Dykeman parcel.
Representatives from The Benjamin Companies meet with various community members associated with the Harlem Valley Golf Association, Our Lady of Solace, Metro-North, OCFS, DOC and neighbors to discuss the future plans for the site.
Dover Knolls Development Co. II, LLC enters into a contract to purchase 83 acres from Beth Dykeman, an adjoining parcel to the site.
New York State sells the HVPC to Dover Knolls Development Co. II, LLC, one of the Benjamin Companies. The sale is for 850 acres and includes 83 buildings totaling 2.15 million square feet of space. The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and Department of Corrections (DOC) continue to lease space on site.
Dover Knolls Development begins renovation of the Manor House for an office on site, using all local labor.
A meeting is held at Dover Town Hall between representatives of Dover Knolls Development and the town to discuss the process for the redevelopment project.
Representatives of Dover Knolls Development and their consultants attend pre-application meetings with town officials and their consultants. Both sides agree to a collaborative process and hire Dr. Michael Klemens to begin the environmental review of herpetological species, plants, and birds which will take place over the spring, summer and fall seasons of 2004. An archeological review also takes place.
OCFS closes the juvenile detention center and leaves the site.
Dover Knolls Development allows not-for-profits (school, town, highway, recreation) to go through items left behind by OCFS and take what they can use (desks, cabinets, chairs, lockers, mops, fans, etc).
Vandals burn down the gate house for the dam for the reservoir on the mountain, a total loss.
The complete renovation of the Manor House, its grounds, new driveway and furnishings is finalized for just under 1 million dollars. The project includes a History Room showcasing the past activities on the site as well as the many stages of construction of the state facility and historical views of the surrounding area.
Both sides continue to meet to review Dr. Klemens’ findings. Dover Knolls Development accepts the maximum buffers suggested by Dr. Klemens throughout the site and modifies the draft master plan accordingly.
Dover Knolls Development produces a CD, highlighting the beauty and recreational opportunities on the site and the surrounding area to use for marketing property to certain retailers.
Dover Knolls Development consultants and the town consultants meet to review the Master Plan. Dover Knolls prepares to submit an application to the town.
The Knolls of Dover application is submitted. The proposed Master Plan includes a new Village Center, approximately 1400 housing units and an upgrade of the existing nine-hole golf course.
Dover Knolls Development hosts a Holiday Open House at the Manor House. Over 300 hundred visitors come to view the renovation, the History Room and the draft Master Plan.
A special town board meeting is held at the Dover High School Auditorium. It is the first opportunity Dover Knolls Development has to meet the full Town Board and make a public presentation of its draft Master Plan. At the start of the meeting, the developer receives a copy of a memo from Joel Russell, the Dover Town Planner that advises the Town Board to reject the Knolls of Dover application.
Dover Knolls Development requests another meeting with the Town Board to discuss the Joel Russell memo.
The Town Board offers March 8, 2005 for a second meeting and Dover Knolls accepts.
The Town Board cancels the March 8 meeting and informs Dover Knolls Development that it is going to hold a public meeting on March 16 for Dutchess County Planner John Clarke to present the Town’s vision for the property.
The Town Board holds a public meeting to discuss the Dover Knolls project. Dover Knolls representatives are unable to attend. Dr. Klemens presents his environmental findings, Joel Russell discusses planning techniques and John Clarke presents a plan for the property that includes more golf and more housing than exists in the Knolls of Dover application.
The Dover Knolls Development consultants and the town consultants meet to discuss the differences and/or compromises between the Knolls of Dover application and the John Clarke sketch plan.
Work is done to revise the application and Dover Knolls Development requests a public meeting.
The Dover Knolls Development consultants and the town consultants meet to discuss the second application and the request for a public meeting.
Dover Knolls Development submits its second application for the Knolls of Dover to the Town Clerk.
Dover Knolls Development hosts its own public meeting on the Knolls of Dover application at the Dover High School Cafeteria. Approximately 250 people attend.
Dover Knolls Development hosts the second annual Holiday Open House.
The Knolls of Dover application is accepted by the Dover Town Board at a special board meeting. The meeting lasts four hours as the issue of including the Dykeman property in the MC Overlay is debated. It is finally agreed that Dover Knolls Development will withdraw the zoning amendment application for the Dykeman property with the condition that the property will be included with former state facility property in the SEQRA review. The board also announces its desire to be Lead Agency for the SEQRA review.
The Dover Town Board Planner Joel Russell requests some minor additional information be added to the Knolls of Dover application and the board requests 35 copies of the application for circulation to involved and interested parties for Lead Agency designation.
The Dover Town Board accepts Lead Agency for the Dover Knolls project after receiving three responses from outside agencies (Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and NYSDEC) at their regular town board meeting. A special board meeting is scheduled for April 6 to set scoping sessions.
The Dover Town Board gives the Dover Knolls project a positive declaration and set scoping sessions for Saturday, April 29th from 9-11:00 AM and Monday, May 1st from 6:30-8:30PM.
A Saturday morning and Monday evening scoping sessions are held at the Dover High School.
The Dover Town Board adopts the final scope for the Knolls of Dover project. The scope outlines what needs to be included in the DEIS (draft environmental impact study). It also contains a requirement to hire a “new urbanism” expert to design a PADS (Primary Alternative Development Scenario) that must be studied at the same level of detail as the proposed plan and a requirement to hire a firm for economic analysis of the residential and retail components of the plans.
Dover Knolls Development hires Torti Gallas and Partners of Maryland to assist in the creation of the PADS and Economic Research Associates of New York City for the economic analysis.
The Dover Town Board repeals a section of the Dover Zoning Code that relates to the baseline impacts of a redevelopment project at the former HVPC property.
The Dover Town Board holds a Special Technical Workshop for town consultants and Dover Knolls consultants to discuss the PADS for the Dover Knolls project.
The Dover Town Board holds a Special Technical Workshop for town consultants and Dover Knolls consultants to discuss the PADS for the Dover Knolls project. Several versions of the plan are reviewed.
The Dover Town Board holds a Special Technical Workshop for town consultants and Dover Knolls consultants to discuss the PADS for the Dover Knolls project. Several versions of the plan are reviewed.
The Dover Town Board holds a Special Technical Workshop for town consultants and Dover Knolls consultants to discuss the PADS for the Dover Knolls project. The current revision of the PADS appears to have the Town Board support and Dover Knolls Development announces their plan to begin preparation of the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement), including the study of the PADS mandated in the Final Scope. Any additional comments on the jointly prepared PADS are requested in ten days so that Torti Gallas and Partners can send out a final version by January 22, 2007. Dover Knolls suggests the need for a public informational meeting to update the community on the work to date. The meeting is strongly rejected by the Town Board.
Torti Gallas mails out a final version of the PADS.
Dover Knolls receives an eight-page letter of Town comments that rejects the current alternative plan (PADS) that had been jointly designed and instead focuses on the PADS in the Final Scope.
Dover Knolls sends letter to the town stating that the town document of February 2, 2007 conflicted sharply with the general consensus Dover Knolls was led to believe, and Dover Knolls requests entering into a Memorandum of Understanding which will act as a binding good faith agreement.
Town Board sends letter to Dover Knolls requesting Dover Knolls create a PADS consistent with the Final Scope as required by SEQR, and ignores the request of the Memorandum of Understanding.
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