Brighton Town Supervisor William Moehle announced yesterday that the town has purchased approximately 72 acres of parkland located on Elmwood Avenue extending to Westfall Road.
This new purchase, when added to the Town’s existing park system, will give Brighton approximately 500 acres of total parkland.
“This land will serve as an important link for residents to walk and ride their bicycles to and from Town Hall, Buckland Park and the town’s developing trail system”, Moehle said during a Tuesday press conference.
The purchase of this parkland was a collaborative effort among the Town of Brighton, the Estate of Max Farash and Wegman Companies Inc. The transaction was made possible by the use of incentive zoning by the Town and Wegman Companies.
In this case, the primary incentive was Wegman Companies providing the opportunity for the Town to purchase 72 acres of the approx. 81 acres of land by spending only $650,000, which Moehle said was well below its market and assessed value.
Moehle said the money was available in Town reserve funds, and the purchase of the property would not increase Town taxes.
Wegman Companies will retain approximately 9 acres of land that they purchased from the Farash Estate, on which they will construct a 96 unit, two-story, senior and dementia care facility to be known as Emeritus of Brighton. That project will be fully taxable, and Moehle said its construction is expected to increase tax revenues for the town and the Brighton Central School District.
The land was identified for purchase as part of the Open Space Acquisition Plan, developed by the Town and residents of Brighton and approved by referendum 10 years ago.
“Our plan is generally to leave the land in its present, largely undisturbed condition, and to construct a trail through the land, connecting Elmwood Avenue, and the neighborhoods near Town Hall, with Westfall Road, and Buckland Park," Moehle said.
The trail will be bicycle and pedestrian friendly, and Moehle said a boardwalk will be built over the marshy land. Construction will begin on the trail in 2013.
Brighton Town Supervisor William Moehle announced yesterday that the town has purchased approximately 72 acres of parkland located on Elmwood Avenue extending to Westfall Road.
This new purchase, when added to the Town’s existing park system, will give Brighton approximately 500 acres of total parkland.
“This land will serve as an important link for residents to walk and ride their bicycles to and from Town Hall, Buckland Park and the town’s developing trail system”, Moehle said during a Tuesday press conference.
The purchase of this parkland was a collaborative effort among the Town of Brighton, the Estate of Max Farash and Wegman Companies Inc. The transaction was made possible by the use of incentive zoning by the Town and Wegman Companies.
In this case, the primary incentive was Wegman Companies providing the opportunity for the Town to purchase 72 acres of the approx. 81 acres of land by spending only $650,000, which Moehle said was well below its market and assessed value.
Moehle said the money was available in Town reserve funds, and the purchase of the property would not increase Town taxes.
Wegman Companies will retain approximately 9 acres of land that they purchased from the Farash Estate, on which they will construct a 96 unit, two-story, senior and dementia care facility to be known as Emeritus of Brighton. That project will be fully taxable, and Moehle said its construction is expected to increase tax revenues for the town and the Brighton Central School District.
The land was identified for purchase as part of the Open Space Acquisition Plan, developed by the Town and residents of Brighton and approved by referendum 10 years ago.
“Our plan is generally to leave the land in its present, largely undisturbed condition, and to construct a trail through the land, connecting Elmwood Avenue, and the neighborhoods near Town Hall, with Westfall Road, and Buckland Park," Moehle said.
The trail will be bicycle and pedestrian friendly, and Moehle said a boardwalk will be built over the marshy land. Construction will begin on the trail in 2013.
