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The Economic Cost To The City – And All Of Us

ECONOMIC BASELINE CALCULATION — Public Service Cost

The proposed development, and the associated rezoning, are incompatible with the responsibilities and legal requirements that must guide the city council committee and planning commission in their decision — and the requested rezoning can only be denied on economic and legal grounds.

It is the responsibility of the city council to consider a development and a proposed rezoning not only for its legality, but for its impacts on the current residents of the city, the city overall and the interests of the city and its residents.

This development will COST the city money both in the short and long run: Increased public spending for services outweighs the anticipated revenue.

In fact, an increase in tax revenue of approx. $300.000 is outweight by in increase in spending needs for public services etc. of about $800.000.

 

Some basic math clearly shows that costs substantially outweigh revenue

Anticipated Revenue

Based on comparative data of similar developments in similar locations in Troy we approximate (generously) the anticipated tax revenue for the city with around $300,000.00

We assess the anticipated tax revenue for the school district (similarly generously) with $400.000,00.

(Numbers are based on approximated unit value calculations).

 

Increase in Cost Spending for Public Schools (TROY SCHOOL DISTRICT):

In the state of New York, an average of annually $22,366 are spent per pupil on the public education system [S4-8]. In Troy this number is closer to $28,000, but we will use the more conservative sate wide average.

A conservative estimate would be 40 new pupils entering the Troy School System — an estimate that is very conservative for 240 apartment units.

This leads to an increased cost spending of $894,640.

 

Anticipated Revenue Increase for Troy School District …………. Approx. 400,000

Approximate Cost Increase: Public Service — School ………….. Approx. $894,640

COST TO DISTRICT AS DIRECT RESULT FROM DEVELOPMENT:  APPROX. $498,640

 

This leads to a shortfall of $494,000.00 

 

Increase in Costs For City of Troy On the Example of Public Safety Alone:

Public Safety: Estimates for cost increases for the Fire and Police Services are hard to estimate. One way to estimate this is the per capita spending for police services. According to the 2020 proposed Budget, a total of $40,329,791 will be expended for safety services [S4-9]. This excludes overtime, extraordinary expenditures and other expenditures not listed in the general budget itemization. The population of Troy lies at 49,826 for 2017.

This results in a per capita spending of (rounded) $800. With 240 units, and an conservatively estimated 1.75 persons living in each unit, this leads to a total increase of cost of: 240x800x1.75 = $336,000.00

 

Approximate Revenue for City …………………………………….. Approx. $300,000

Approximate Cost Increase: Public Service — Safety ………….. Approx. $336,000

 

This leads to an conservatively anticipated increase in cost associated with the development of for public safety alone of $36,000/year.

This does not incorporate other increased public service costs, such as road maintenance, etc.

friends of the mahicantuck, Media Coverage, Meetings and Minutes, save1011, troy city council, troy city planning commission
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Developer Releases Plan, Council Schedules Hearing

The developer plans a 240 unit apartment complex that will destroy the entire land.

Screen Shot 2020 08 22 at 8.34.54 AM

Where there is now a pristine forest — the last of its kind in the entire City of Troy …

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… they gonna put yet another peak of ugliness — and it won’t even generate any tax revenue because OF COURSE they are going to ask for tax breaks and credits.

Screen Shot 2020 08 22 at 8.35.21 AM

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What You Can Do Right Now

There are several ways you can help protect this land!

1 — Volunteer! You can sign up [by filling out this form].

 

2 — SIGN THE PETITION – [here]

 

3 — Call or e-mail the members of the Troy City Council Planning Committee:

* WE RECOMMEND TO CONTACT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Here is a suggestion for what you might want to tell them:

Hi! My name is [NAME]. I am calling about the proposed development at 1011 2nd Avenue in Lansingburgh.

I am asking you to stop this development now. It will destroy an important cultural and historical site, the city’s last undeveloped forest along the Hudson river. It will also lastingly disrupt the Lansignburgh neighborhood and divert resources from the many vacent properties in the neighborhood that need more urgent development.

For all those reasons I urge you, in the meeting on August 27, to vote AGAINST the motion to refer this to the Planning Commission and STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM ADVANCING NOW!

And here is how to contact them:

Kim Ashe McPherson
355 6th Avenue
Troy, NY 12182
(518) 365-5536
kim.mcpherson@troyny.gov		 Anasha Cummings, Chair
16 Hutton Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 406-8636
Anasha.Cummings@troyny.gov
 Sue Steele
1610 Peoples Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 279-6122
sue.steele@troyny.gov		 Carmella Mantello, Coucil President
47 Roselawn Ave
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 281-6582

Carmella.Mantello@troyny.gov

4 — Collect petitions and inform others

You can let others know about what is happening, raise awareness about the effort and how to volunteer!
We particularly always need support in collecting petitions — you can sign up to do so via this form.

friends of the mahicantuck, How You Can Help, Meetings and Minutes, save1011, troy city council, troy city planning commission
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Timeline and Next Steps

May 21, 2020

On May 21, 2020 during a meeting of the Troy City Planning Commission, we were alerted to the potential development of a parcel of land along the Hudson River, located at 1011 2nd Ave in Troy, NY.

This land is well known in the community as a site of historical significance to the Schaghticoke First Nations, as well as the Munsee and Lenape Nations, Indigenous Peoples of the Mahicantuck River Valley. We understand that the land is currently owned by the Golub Properties of Watervliet, Inc, and currently under contract with a local developer.

After the meeting, several residents came together under leadership of Sachem HawkStorm of the Schaghticoke First Nations to protect the land and stop the development

By now, our coaltion includes several local organizations and partners that work on the regional and state levels.

August 28, 2020

After learning of the broad public opposition the developer, Kevin Vandenburgh, abandoned initial plans to seek a zoning variance for the land and instead seek a rezoning with the Troy City Council Planning Committee. This issue will be heard by the commission on August 28.

On August 28th, the Planning Committee will have to make a decision:

  • Will they realize the absurd inconsistencies between the proposed development and existing zoning code, public interest and potential for harm? Will they stop any further considerations of this proposal, as they should?
  • Or will they vote to advance this proposal and bring this issue in front of the full City Council?