Town of Ulster backs Aaron's housing plan

By Paul Kirby, Freeman staff Daily Freeman February 24, 2006

LAKE KATRINE - Ulster Town Board members Thursday agreed to consider a property tax break for a developer seeking to build a 66-unit apartment complex for the frail elderly and other senior citizens.
By a 3-0 vote, the Town Board also supported the concept of The Birches at Chambers, the assisted-living complex proposed by Kingston developer Steve Aaron.
Democratic Supervisor Nick Woerner, who works for Aaron and is related to him by marriage, did not vote on the matter. Councilman Joel Brink, a Republican, was absent.
Councilman Rocco Secreto, a Democrat, favored both of the resolutions requested by Aaron, the managing partner of Birchez Associates of Kingston. Secreto said Aaron's adjacent project, the Chambers Court senior apartments, has been successful and wanted to throw his support behind the new proposal.

"My reason for voting on it is to help the seniors out and not drag this out," said Secreto, who added that waiting lists have grown too high not to act. "There is no reason to slow this project down and (Aaron) is waiting to get his funding going and there is a deadline for that."

Aaron asked the Town Board to support a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT, agreement for the project. The developer said he needed the board's support to apply for state tax credits.

Under the resolution adopted by the Town Board, town Assessor James Maloney will negotiate a tax agreement with Aaron. The Town Board would have final approval authority over the agreement.

Aaron negotiated a similar agreement for the Chambers Court project off Morton Boulevard.
The proposed project would be contained in four buildings on four acres adjoining the Chambers Court property. The project will need site plan approval by the town Planning Board and the Town Board.
"The demand (for housing) is overwhelming, and as all the projections have shown, in 10 years, it is going to be astronomical," said Councilman Craig Artist. "We have to start somewhere, and this developer has a proven track record with the project he has already done."
Artist said he was pleased that Aaron came in early with a concept plan.,
"I am glad he came at the very beginning and showed us the concept before they got to a finished plan, so that if there are any recommendations from our Planning Board or the community, they can be made," he said.

©Daily Freeman 2006

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