The discovery of lead contamination at an abandoned shooting range along the Amawalk Reservoir in Somers derailed developer John Harkins’ plans in the early 2000s to begin building 23 luxury homes by the source of drinking water for thousands of residents.
More than a decade later, Harkins remains committed to the Granite Pointe project that his company, Suelain Realty, Inc., proposed in 1993.
As Harkins pushes to win approval from the Somers Planning Board, a new offensive by citizen activists has Harkins’ company in hot water with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which has threatened to terminate the company’s pact with the state under its Brownfield Cleanup Program.
Harkins is counting on the state’s generous brownfield tax-credit program to help finance the long-delayed cleanup on three Granite Pointe building lots.
The citizens have also questioned the role played by town attorney Roland Baroni, whose firm, Stephens, Baroni, Reilly & Lewis LLP, provides legal advice to the planning board, and, until contacted by Tax Watch Wednesday, touted Toll Brothers, a residential builder, as one of its clients on the firm’s website.
Harkins told Tax Watch that Toll Brothers was among the companies considering purchasing building lots, once he has his approvals in hand. He estimated the lots will fetch as much as $300,000 each…..