Legislators, Opposing Groups, Spar Over Hill-Agor Farm
The battle over Hill-Agor Farm and its future raged on Thursday night, as Putnam County lawmakers considered pulling back a resolution it passed four years ago that was suppose to inch the farm closer to placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
The decision to rescind the resolution would just be another chapter in the fight between the two groups that continue to spar over the property’s proposed designation as a historic landmark in Mahopac. While history buffs want to see the land revitalized through grants that can happen only after placed on the national register, youth sport advocates are fearful access could be cut to Airport Park for hundreds of young athletes, which is on the same road as the farm.
The county would need to apply to get the property on the national historic register.
Legislator and Physical Services Chairman Carl Albano said because the county Legislature doesn’t intend to put it on the historic registry at this time due to how that could affect other operations on and near the farm. He added when the resolution was passed in 2011, he didn’t think the legislature collected enough information regarding the decision.
A vote to rescind the resolution will be next month at the full legislature meeting.
“This was done in 2011 without all the facts,” Albano said, noting lawmakers didn’t get input from the county attorney that have now given the indication that possible problems could arise from putting it on the historic register.
Albano said if the “outdated” resolution is thrown out, it could open up the possibility of new action taken by legislators with more updated parameters concerning the farm.
Legislator Joe Castellano said while he believes every legislator wants the property on the national registry, the past resolution is “flawed.”
But legislators Dini LoBue and Kevin Wright–both represent parts of Mahopac– disagreed.
Wright said to remove the resolution would be premature because lawmakers today are assuming past legislators didn’t do their due diligence years ago. He noted the vote to approve was unanimous and County Executive MaryEllen signed off on it.
He called it an “insult” to the past legislature to “wipe it off the books.”
“It’s not hurting anyone in the status quo,” Wright said. The application for the national register currently sits in the county clerk’s office.
Thomas Maxson of Highlands Preservation was shocked that the past resolution could be pulled back. He said being placed on the national register doesn’t put restrictions on the property. The only time restraints are attached concerning the property is if and when state and federal funding is pursued and attained.
He called Hill-Agor Farm one of the most important sites in the entire county.
“This seems to be a gigantic step backward and it seems to fly in the face of all our politicians that talked about three years ago when we were celebrating our bicentennial, how important our history is, how important it is to preserve our history,” Maxson said. “People are not going to be happy seeing this gigantic step backward.”
Mahopac resident and Carmel recreation committee chairman Robert Buckley said by putting the property on the registry, it could lead to negatively affecting the recreation activities that go on at Airport Park and potentially cut access off to the fields.
There was a proposed agreement between the town of Carmel and county officials to create a new access route to the athletic fields, but it fell through because the cost would be too high that no municipality wanted to pay.
“We absolutely need the access,” Buckley said. “And there is no other way so that is the real issue.”
