Gardiner - It didn't take long for the major player in the melodrama
surrounding development of the Shawangunk Ridge to take the spotlight at a
public hearing on proposed zoning restrictions before the Town Board last
night.
John Bradley, the principal property owner whose Awosting Reserve
luxury home development would be drastically affected by the zoning
restrictions, sounded an initial conciliatory note.
He asked that for an interim period the board postpone "pushing"
development restrictions along the ridge and find a professional mediator
to resolve the yearslong impasse.
With mediation, he said, "you're not going to be happy, me and my
partners won't be happy," but that kind of effort could ultimately avoid
expensive litigation by both sides.
Bradley apologized for the plan put forth by developers he hired almost
two years ago that he's since disclaimed.
"I never envisioned 353 lots," he said, referring to the initial
development plan for his 2,600 acres of ridge land. "I'm not interested in
building McMansions."
But if both sides continue as they have, he predicted continued
litigation would cost the town "a lot of money" - a statement he took
pains to say was not meant as a threat.
Immediately after Bradley's statement, Matthew Bavoso, a lawyer
representing Awosting Reserve, addressed the board and accused it of
targeting Awosting and of "confiscatory taking of property without
compensation."
Councilman Bill Richards praised Bradley for his long and careful
stewardship of the ridge. "Lawyers are making a lot of money on this,"
Richards said, motioning toward Bavoso.
Richards said that while environmentalist opponents have focused on
Awosting, "monster developments are taking place on the other end of
town."
Richards agreed with Bradley that it was "time to sit down and talk,"
to solve the impasse "as rational human beings."
His statement drew scattered applause from among the crowd of about 60
residents. None of the other board members immediately commented.
