Westchester Villages Can Sue to Block Apartment Construction

August 31, 2007

LVT Number: #19850

Four villages within the Town of Ramapo sued the town, challenging a law that permitted the construction of multifamily apartment buildings. The villages claimed that the apartment buildings would change the character of their single-family neighborhoods. Orthodox Jewish residents supported the construction as necessary to meet the housing needs of local yeshivas. The law, Local Law No. 9, would permit adult student-housing facilities at four locations next to the villages of Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, Pomona, and Wesley Hills.

Four villages within the Town of Ramapo sued the town, challenging a law that permitted the construction of multifamily apartment buildings. The villages claimed that the apartment buildings would change the character of their single-family neighborhoods. Orthodox Jewish residents supported the construction as necessary to meet the housing needs of local yeshivas. The law, Local Law No. 9, would permit adult student-housing facilities at four locations next to the villages of Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, Pomona, and Wesley Hills. The town claimed that the villages had no standing to challenge the law. The court ruled for the town and dismissed the claims. The villages appealed and won. Town Law Section 264(4) didn't bar the villages of standing to oppose the construction.

Village of Chestnut Ridge v. Town of Ramapo: NYLJ, 8/17/07, p. 38, col. 3 (App. Div. 2 Dept.; Spolzino, JP, Ritter, Covello, Balkin, JJ)

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