GOSHEN—Orange County officials say they aren’t satisfied with the environmental review done by the village of Kiryas Joel to support its proposal to annex land in the town of Monroe. County Executive Steven Neuhaus says the final generic environmental impact statement approved by Kiryas Joel on Aug. 17 is inadequate and the “overall public interest” isn’t served by its plans to annex up to 507 acres in Monroe.
The boards of Monroe and Kiryas Joel are expected to vote on annexation by Sept. 8. Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Satmar Hasidic Jews say the village needs the additional land for its growing population. Some opponents in the surrounding suburbs fear more congestion. Water quality and quantity are among the county’s concerns.
The proposal is not just a simple municipal boundary change.
