JOHNSTOWN — Fulton County legislators next Monday will consider approving an agreement with an Albany County engineering firm related to annexation of land needed for a proposed regional business park on Route 30A.
Awarding of the $100,000 contract to Sterling Environmental Engineering of Latham would be to prepare a draft/final Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS. It is needed for proposed annexation of land from the town of Mohawk in Montgomery County to the city of Johnstown in Fulton County.
The possible awarding of the contract by the Fulton County Board of Supervisors is contingent upon Montgomery County and city of Johnstown sgreeing to equal shares of the total cost.
“We’re certainly hopeful both will approve them so they can move it forward,” county Planning Director James Mraz said Friday.
Each county and the city of Johnstown would kick in shares of about $33,333 each.
Both counties are interested in creating the regional business park, which involves annexation of more than 260 acres of land now in the town of Mohawk into the city of Johnstown. The park, which would get water and sewer service from Johnstown, would be built near the Johnstown Industrial Park off Route 30A, on the border of Fulton and Montgomery counties. Officials in both counties say such a park may lure a large business to the area.
Annexation petitions were filed by two property owners in the town of Mohawk proposing their properties be annexed into the city of Johnstown, Property owners who have applied for the annexation are: Milltown Plaza Inc.; and Stephen Miller, Jarold Miller and James Miller.
Mraz this week presented the proposed agreement with Sterling Environmental to the board’s Economic Development/Environment Committee. The panel approved it and sent it to the full board for final approval.
Municipal Annexation Law requires a state environmental quality review of the proposed annexation must be done before petition action can move forward.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation last May 6 designated the town of Mohawk as SEQR lead agency. On July 14, the Mohawk Town Board adopted a resolution issuing a positive declaration, necessitating that a DEIS be prepared.
The town as lead agency determined that Fulton County, as project sponsor, should prepare and pay for the DEIS.
Mohawk Town Board members on Dec. 8 approved the scope for the DEIS.
Michael Anich covers
Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
