Relates to authorizing the city of Poughkeepsie to sell certain parklands to a private entity for a public benefit and economic development

BILL NUMBER:S5812A

Title of bill

An act in relation to authorizing the city of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess, to discontinue the use of certain lands as parklands and to sell and convey such lands, which are no longer needed for park purposes

Purpose

To allow for the sale of City parkland from a municipality to a private entity for a public benefit and economic development.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 authorizes the city of Poughkeepsie to sell specific lands, including the historic residence known as "Pelton Mansion".

Section 2 establishes that all proceeds from the sale of the property must be spent on improvements to parklands or for the acquisition of additional parklands.

Section 3 provides the metes and bounds for the property being alienated.

Section 4 ensures that federal and state regulations for acquisition and transfer of park lands are followed.

Section 5 ensures that if park lands dedicated to the city of Poughkeepsie are not of equal or greater fair market value, the city of Poughkeepsie shall dedicate the difference of the fair market value to the acquisition of new parklands or for capital improvements to existing park and recreational facilities.

Section 6 sets an immediate effective date.

Justification

The purpose of this legislation is to enable the city of Poughkeepsie to sell and convey certain parkland to a private entity for the purpose of economic development and betterment of existing parks In absence of the legislation, the City of Poughkeepsie would lack authority to convey the parcel. The subject property was purchased by the City of Poughkeepsie in 1911 and became the home of the Poughkeepsie Day Nursery shortly thereafter Since that time, the Poughkeepsie Day Nursery has occupied the premises under an arrangement with the City that included leases for periods that ranged from five years to ten years. Since 1912 to 2014, the nursery school occupied the sole structure which at no time was open to the public. There are no public amenities on the site except for one or two park benches. The only sign at the property is one at the entrance that identifies the premises at that of the "Poughkeepsie Day Nursery."

The City of Poughkeepsie has requested this legislation as it contends it is in desperate need to provide capital improvements to its parks that are much more utilized than this site. The City will invest the

proceeds from this sale into capital improvements at existing parks. The proposed sale will be an economic boost to the City and result in approximately 30 units of market rate housing.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.