Warwick Town Board schedules three public hearings for next week

Warwick - Three public hearings are on tap for next Thursday, Aug. 11, beginning at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Here’s a synopsis: A public hearing to review the 2010 MS4 annual report. The report details efforts to educate the public including developers and contractors on how to conserve water and avoid introducing pollutants into the watershed. For example, in February 2010, the town enacted zoning to include low impact development and better site design practices to control storm water. And an ARRA-funded drainage improvement project reduced runoff flows into Greenwood Lake. The town partners with the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District in Middletown. A public hearing to consider the purchase of development rights in the property of Warwick Valley Stables and Equestrian Center (SBL 30-1-30.22). The center sits on 40 acres of land just two miles away from Warwick’s historic downtown. Perhaps best known for its large yellow barn and oval track that surrounds a horseshoe shaped pond, it is a privately owned and operated riding facility. A public hearing to amend the zoning map of the Town of Warwick pertaining to SBL 46-1-9.1, 9.2,16,19 & 20 collectively lands of NY State. Known as the Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, it is on the list of seven prisons to be closed reportedly to save taxpayers $72 million in 2011-12 and $112 million in 2012-13. Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton believes the 772-acre site off Kings Highway would be a good industrial park given its proximity to Route 17. The town is eligible to receive economic development funding from the state to redevelop the site that currently is tax-exempt.