The Curious Role of Mt. Pleasant’s Industrial Development Agency
A recent investigative report by state Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) concluded: “While reasonable incentives are occasionally necessary to attract or retain business, the extent to which IDAs have been providing questionable benefits brings into question whose interests are being served by the system.”
Industrial Development Agencies are not subject to the many laws that regulate traditional agencies or private companies. Sometimes referred to as “shadow governments,” an IDA may favor the interests of business over the public interest. Members of the governing board of the Mount Pleasant IDA are not elected, but are appointed by the Town Board. The Mount Pleasant IDA has acquired assets in excess of $4 million, mostly from businesses that have been awarded tax breaks.
In 2018, the Town Board decided that the town needed a new Master Plan. However, it was the Mount Pleasant IDA, and not the town, that hired Cleary Associates to produce the plan. Unlike typical master plans, Mount Pleasant’s proposed Comprehensive Plan includes a seismic change in the zoning laws for the hamlets of Valhalla, Hawthorne and Thornwood called form-based zoning. A radical departure from traditional zoning, form-based zoning would streamline the approval process for developers by curtailing the oversight of our planning, zoning and architectural review boards. The proposed form-based zoning would also encourage increased population density via new apartment construction. Recently, the Mount Pleasant IDA has promoted the development of apartment buildings at 408 Elwood Ave. and 500 Commerce St.
Form-based zoning could significantly change the suburban character of our town and could negatively affect schools, traffic, safety, taxes, property values and our general quality of life. Public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan and form-based zoning will soon resume. We, the people, must be vigilant!
Ken Noonan
Valhalla
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