For Immediate Release: September 9, 2005
CANAL BOARD WITHDRAWS APPROVAL FOR 13 LAND TRANSACTIONS
Withdrawals Result of New Canal Corporation Direction
New York State Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello today announced that the Canal Corporation Board has rescinded 14 resolutions that had previously been approved for the sale or lease of Canal-owned lands. The withdrawals are evidence of the Canal Corporation’s new vision and direction and are necessary to ensure compliance with the Corporation’s land management policies and operating procedures.
The transactions approved in the previous resolutions, some dating back several years, have not progressed for various reasons. More than half of the resolutions are being withdrawn due to the applicant’s unwillingness to pay the established fair market value of the property.
“Withdrawal of these transactions is another example of how we are advancing the Governor’s new vision for the Canal Corporation,” Director Mantello said. “As we move forward, we will be reaching out to municipalities and canal stakeholders to identify how canal-owned lands can best be used to enhance and improve local communities and benefit the taxpayers of this State. We look forward to partnering with State agencies and communities all along the canal to promote and enhance the historic, natural and cultural assets of this treasured resource. I thank the Board for moving forward on this new initiative.”
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The proposed Greenway is designed to enhance regional collaboration and provide a mechanism for municipalities to decide what they want to see happen with canal lands in their communities.
By withdrawing these resolutions, the Corporation can now move forward to examine and review best use of the properties and work with municipalities to determine the ultimate disposition of these and other Canal-owned lands in their communities.
The Canal Corporation’s Real Property Management Policy, approved by the Board in June 2004, sets forth guidelines governing the progression of the Corporation’s real property transactions and provides for various review mechanisms to ensure that land owned by the Canal Corporation, or proposed to be acquired by the Canal Corporation, is put to best use, and consistent with the goals of the Canal Recreationway Plan and the Corporation.
Corporation staff has been reviewing pending transactions initiated prior to the June 2004 policy. The transactions withdrawn by the Board today are a result of that review process. A list of the land parcels impacted is as follows:
Also, as part of the Corporation’s new direction and in compliance with its land management policy, all transactions previously approved by the Board but not yet completed, where the estimated fair market value was established more than one year ago, will be reviewed by Corporation staff and if necessary, proposed to be withdrawn or amended by the Canal Board. The goal of this effort will be to ensure that the Corporation receives a fair market return for its land conveyances, while advancing the purposes of the Corporation and the interests of the State.
Additional controls are currently being developed to ensure local support for land transactions and projects prior to advancing an application for Board approval. In addition, the Corporation plans to establish a one-year sunset on all approvals to ensure that transactions are completed in a timely manner.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
The Canal Corporation and an interagency task force are currently conducting an outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The future management of canal lands will be subject to recommendations included in a report that will be presented to the Governor by December 2005.
For more information about news and events along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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