An informative meeting for all residents of Rockland County concerning the future of their property values / taxes / drinking water supply and how it relates to the over-development of the Patrick Farm Property.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND!

Whether you live in Ramapo or other Rockland town’s you will not want to miss an informative meeting of countywide professionals, activists and residents all poised to bring you up-to-date with the latest news affecting your quality of life and your most important investment, your home.
Unsustainable Overdevelopment =>
Loss in Natural Resources & Higher Taxes =>
Diminished Home Values & Reduced Quality of Life

This meeting will be one of the best investments in time that you can make to help ensure the future of our county as a place where people will want to live for generations to come.

• A county where fresh drinking water comes from a natural aquifer and not the Hudson River…
• A county where public school districts are vital and thrive…
• A county where people can still live among nature and choose to commute to the city…
• A county who prides itself on diversity and supports sustainable growth…
• A county that we can still afford to live in.

Don’t be mistaken… Rockland County is so small that the ripple effect of unsustainable development in one area has consequences that reach far and wide.

This is a place you chose to live … you made a sizable investment when you purchased your house … join ROSA in protecting our community, our water, and our home values.

Ignorance is not bliss … if we snooze we lose! See you on May 10th

MEETING AGENDA

• Introduction to ROSA and the Patrick Farm [~15 minutes ]
• Photos/Videos of the development in the Town of Ramapo [~10 minutes ]
• The Ratable Myth and The Ripple Effect of Declining Property Values by Jerry Fox, Real-estate Broker [~20 minutes]
• Overdevelopment Safety Concerns [~15 minutes]
• Update on the Legal Fight [~10 minutes]
• Next Steps [~5 minutes]
• Q&A Until Library Closes

It is apparent that ROSA’s advocacy is working, as the board did not do what was expected and vote last night. It is predicted that ROSA will continue to fight in court while simultaneously working with our legislators and representatives in Albany who are actively supporting our cause and listening to our concerns as we seek to curb the impacts of this project and help keep our community safe.

ROSA has made it clear that we will continue to litigate this project should the board accept the current proposal or any proposal that does not comply with what we believe are the substantive environmental, health and safety issues regarding this subdivision plan.

Now is the time to help ROSA. We can’t do it without the monetary support from our community. We are a not-for profit and rely on your tax deductible contributions. If you have not made a contribution already or you are in a position to make another please do it NOW before the end of the year so you can get your tax write-off. Mail checks to ROSA 4 Rockland, Inc. – PO Box 712 – Pomona, NY 10970. Click HERE to make a donation using your credit card.

The experts that presented non-refutable testimony this week and the legal team setting up our appeal and preparing for another lawsuit cost real dollars and in exchange ROSA has gotten and will continue to get real results.

On Tuesday, December 27th the Planning Board will meet publicly to further discuss any concerns pertaining to the Patrick Farm subdivision and will have an opportunity to question the builder and present any concerns. This meeting will take place at 8:30pm and the public is invited to attend but not issue any comment. At this meeting they will have an opportunity to vote or request further information to satisfy their concerns.

If you were not present at the public hearing now is your chance to write to the Planning Board and get your comments on the record. You have till December 21st at 5pm to submit your comments. Letters should be addressed to:

Town of Ramapo Planning Board
237 Route 59
Suffern, NY 10901

Please let your voices be heard. Check our website for documents that have recently been received from the town and public officials. We are in the process of uploading this information and will send out an email blast when the documents are uploaded.

–
Suzanne Mitchell
Director
ROSA
Ramapo Organized for Sustainability and a Safe Aquifer
rosa4rockland.org

We are still looking for financial support to pay for experts to come and testify at this public hearing. The preliminary site plans for this project were not approved at the last public hearing because we were able to bring planners who were able to make many credible points and we need that same expertise at Tuesday meeting. If you can make a(nother) tax-deductible donation to ROSA it would be put to good use.

As always please go to http://www.rosa4rockland.org/donate.

RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/ROSA4Ramapo and click on events to RSVP. If you don’t use facebook, you can reply back to this email.

We want to make sure everyone attends and asks the Planning not to approve this plan for specific reasons. There are many reasons why this project should not be approved and it is important that we have a large number of residents speak out against it but in a very organized manner.

Whether you can come or not come, please sign our latest petition.

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Ramapo, NY (October 23, 2011) – On Friday, October 21^st, the law firm of Tabner, Ryan and Keniry, representing the citizens Group, ROSA (Ramapo Organized for Sustainability and a Safe Aquifer), received Judge Thomas Walsh’s decision on ROSA’s Article 78 proceeding  against the Town of Ramapo and the developer of the historic Patrick Farm property, Scenic Development LLC. ROSA had petitioned the Court to vacate Ramapo’s decision to grant the developer preliminary subdivision approval, arguing that the town had ushered in the controversial development on the environmentally sensitive property in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The court denied ROSA’s petition. ROSA’s Director Suzanne Mitchell stated, “While disappointing, this lower court decision was not unanticipated and does not deter ROSA’s advocacy to ensure that this ill-conceived and dangerous project is reviewed with integrity.” ROSA has long maintained the Town has been unrealistic and reckless in its review of a development that includes nearly five hundred homes, most of them high density, multi-family units built on a property that sits atop an EPA designated sole source aquifer.

“When ROSA filed this first lawsuit, which will be one of many, we understood that an appeal to a higher court would likely be necessary.  We have been clear to all ROSA supporters from the beginning that there would be many battles throughout the process — and that we are in it for the long haul”, explained Mitchell. She went on to say, “Holding the Town of Ramapo accountable for its failure to seek an opinion on the project’s serious environmental issues by professionals other than those representing the developer is a major concern. We have already been addressing this by engaging in an ongoing dialogue with State and Federal agencies and requesting that they evaluate a number of important issues, the underreported wetlands among them. Additionally, since the recent storms, it is abundantly clear that the properties and roads surrounding the Patrick Farm already prone to flooding, is now a major concern that the Ramapo Planning Board has failed to address adequately.”

ROSA’s attorney, Tom Fallati said, “We were pleased that Judge Walsh rejected the defendants’ attempt to avoid a decision on the merits through a number of procedural roadblocks.  We also believe that Judge Walsh’s decision on the merits would have been different had he considered the expert affidavits that we presented.  We are confident that the appellate court will find, based on the entire record, that the Town of Ramapo acted arbitrarily in considering the Patrick Farm development project.” Mitchell elaborated further, “Evidence provided by our engineers explained how the unmapped wetlands would dramatically change the density and design of the development.  ROSA’s engineers also found serious and substantive flaws in the traffic study accepted by the Ramapo Planning Board.  We believe these facts provide for a strong appeal.”

The approvals necessary for Scenic to proceed are an ongoing issue, and ROSA says it fully intends to be active throughout the process in monitoring the work and reports presented by the developer and the Planning Board’s evaluation of these materials.  Deborah Munitz, ROSA board member, states, “When ROSA said it would pursue every avenue possible to mitigate the impacts caused by this inappropriate development, we meant it.  There is still ample opportunity to work out a better plan and solution for this property, so we are not deterred by this lower court ruling. This first court case is just the beginning of what will be our ongoing and forceful legal advocacy.  ROSA will ensure that the citizens of Ramapo, the Courts, and appropriate government agencies such as the Federal EPA, the NY State DEC, the Federal Army Corps of Engineers, and the County of Rockland are all actively engaged with this development.”

ROSA has gained their 501(c)3 status making all contributions to our organization  tax deductible. For all our past donors, we thank you very much for your continued support.

For those who are new to ROSA, or have considered or promised a donation to ROSA…

Now is the time to donate – please don’t wait – we need your support now. We are counting on you to support us and to share this great news with your friends and neighbors.

Our oral arguments will be heard in State Supreme Court on August 12th located at 1 South Main Street New City, NY 10956. Our attorney’s and our hired experts have been working diligently for over six months to prepare for this day in court.

To win we must continue to pay our bills – it is that simple.

Without our stellar legal team and our experts, who have uncovered and clarified key elements in our case, we would not have the strong position we are in today. We have been very careful with our funds and do as much work as possible ourselves through our volunteer network. Needless to say,
some things we must pay for and this costs money.

Please send in your tax deductible contributions today via the donation page.

Or mail a check today to: ROSA – PO BOX 712 – Pomona, NY 10977

Thank you for your support,
Suzanne Mitchell, Director of ROSA

RAMAPO, NY, June 21, 2011: On the heels of ROSA’s two recently filed lawsuits against the Town of Ramapo and expert testimony which cast serious doubt as to the efficacy of what ROSA calls “the ill-conceived and inappropriate development plan for Patrick Farm”, this community-based nonprofit is gaining broadened support across the Lower Hudson Valley.  Over the past two weeks, ROSA’s outreach has included a sold-out fundraising event at the landmark Waterfall House in Grand View-on-Hudson (NY) as well as participation at “The Clearwater Festival” in Croton-on-Hudson (NY).

ROSA welcomed 150 new members to their organization on Sunday, June 12^th when they hosted a “Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting” fundraiser featuring the generously donated specialties of local chefs with the compliment of fine wine.  The tasting was accompanied by the performances of area musicians who contributed their time and talents.  Event guests had the opportunity to meet the leadership team of ROSA and discuss details of the organization’s efforts.

Suzanne Mitchell, ROSA’s director, stated, “The weekend’s fundraising was tremendously successful in giving a voice to those opposed to the proposed project and aligning them with ROSA.  ROSA’s strategy in securing experts in the fields of engineering, hydrology, wetlands management and planning is essential to stopping the planned, multi-family, high-density housing development currently slated for the environmentally-sensitive Patrick Farm property.  This strategy appears clearly supported by people from all parts of Rockland County.  We will continue to represent the interests of Ramapo and regional populous as well as work to protect drinking water, quality of life, community character, and ensure an appropriate outcome for Patrick Farm.”

Donations of wine, food and staffing are credited to Hudson House of Nyack, Drop By Gourmet, Liquorland, We Wait for Your, Airmont Eats, rävi continental cuisine, Culinary Concepts of Elsa,  Lariaia’s Cheese Shop and Olé Tapas Bar. Musicians included Arizona Rehab, whose bass player, David C. Gross of “144 Music and Arts”, was “excited to be able to perform to support ROSA’s efforts to protect our community.”  A trip to Lake Tahoe was raffled and two framed photographs of rural New York were also provided for raffle by the two-time “Visual Artist of the Year” and winner of the Rockland County Executives’ Award, photographer, Ken Karlewicz.  Onsite, Ken Karlewicz spoke in support of ROSA and about the disappearance of farms in Rockland County as well as the subsequent impact to the surrounding landscape.  He urged residents to continue to fight back and protect the Patrick Farm.

Along with thousands of environmental activists and music lovers, ROSA was on hand at the 2011 “Clearwater Festival” (June 18^th & 19^th).  This year’s festival theme was ‘generations’.  Performances featured well-known acts such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Dar Williams, the Indigo Girls, and Jackson Brown.  ROSA handed out printed material describing its advocacy and engaged with like-minded attendees by familiarizing them with the issues facing the Town of Ramapo, and those NY/NJ counties dependent upon drinking water that would be affected by the overdevelopment of the Patrick Farm.  ROSA again raffled off valuable donated gifts, including NY Yankee tickets and the trip to Lake Tahoe, in order to stress the organization’s dependence on donations to continue paying for the expertise necessary to protect the area’s shared water supply, the environment, and aspects of community character such as population density, view shed protection, traffic flow, road safety, property values, and historic preservation.

ROSA’s mission is to represent the interests of area residents in their demand for safe, legal, sustainable, and well planned land use solutions for the Patrick Farm property that protect our shared water supply, the environment and the character of the community.  Since November 2010, ROSA has galvanized citizen volunteers, formed a nonprofit organization, retained Albany-based attorney William Keniry and filed Article 78 lawsuits that to date have prevented even one tree from being cut down on the Patrick Farm property.

WHO:  ROSA, Ramapo Organized for Sustainability and a Safe Aquifer

WEBSITE: www.rosa4rockland.org

EMAIL: info@rosa4rockland.org

PHONE:  646-470-ROSA (7672)

LINKS: www.clearwaterfestival.org

www.oletapassuffern.com

http://airmonteats.wordpress.com/

www.ravisny.com

www.hudsonhousenyack.com

www.laraiascheeseshop.com

www.dropbygourmet.com

http://liquorlandonline.com

ROSA’s mission is to represent the interests of area residents in their demand for safe, legal, sustainable, and well planned land use solutions for the Patrick Farm property that protect our shared water supply, the environment and the character of the community.

ROSA 4 Rockland Strengthens Support as Opposition Grows

Against High-Density Development of Patrick Farm

“Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival” at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY

ROSA will be joining other conservation exhibitors at this music and environmental festival and will have a booth onsite.  Come meet ROSA leadership and hear about ROSA’s efforts to stop the inappropriate development of the 208-acre forested and historic Patrick Farm and our efforts to protect your rights to clean drinking water and community character.  Learn why ROSA is insisting that the Town of Ramapo, which is entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of the entire community, properly evaluate and consider this project adhere to all local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival will feature a number of superb storytellers and family-oriented entertainers as well as juried crafts, the Green Living Expo, the Working Waterfront with small boat exhibits and rides, environmental education displays and exhibits, and the Circle of Song where audience participation is the focus.  Incredible musicians and performers are scheduled to appear on several stages.

Click here to link to Clearwater Festival website

Place:  Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson, NY (with additional parking and shuttle bus service from the Croton-Harmon train station).

Time:  Sunday, April 17^th from 10AM-4PM

Please come to the Suffern Library on Tuesday, May 31st to hold a “Meet ROSA/ROSA Update Meeting” starting at 7:00PM.

We have been very busy advocating for a solution to the Patrick Farm situation and continuing to pursue our legal battle to overturn the approval of the preliminary subdivision plan which includes the over-development that concerns us all.

Planned Updates 7:00-8:00PM – PLEASE bring your friends

• Brief recap of Patrick Farm situation and ROSA’s mission for newcomers.
• Update on the progress of our lawsuits (yes we filed another one!)
• Finding Statements of our certified experts (wetland expert; bio-diversity expert; traffic expert; and civil engineering experts, hydrologist)
• Our next steps
• How to spread the word
• Q/A and feedback session

Volunteer Orientation 8:00-8:30PM

We need your money and/or your time. No time, please donate. No money, please volunteer. Want to do both? We love you. We ask all ROSA volunteers to attend a brief volunteer orientation session before representing ROSA at public events to give you the knowledge and confidence as to how to address various questions. We will need volunteers throughout the rest of the year and don’t want to overburden any one volunteer, so please help out where and when you can.

ROSA is unlike any other group in our region. We began with an injunctive lawsuit (not a single tree can be legally cut down on Patrick Farm), we have a solid legal case, we hired the experts who have now proved the environmental issues related to this planned development and there is no denying we are being taken very seriously.

Now we need to get our message out to the public, because continuing down our strategic path requires a financial and volunteer commitment from our entire community. To get support from the community we recognize that we need to educate everyone on the issues and continue to keep everyone up to date on our progress.  So please bring your neighbors and friends in our area where they will have an opportunity to get educated first hand.