Hudson Valley locals object to LEGOLAND New York

A group of local people in Hudson Valley, New York are objecting to the sale of land owned by the Town of Goshen to LEGOLAND New York. Construction was approved for LEGOLAND New York in October, with the new theme park set to be built in Goshen, 60 miles north west of New York. Now, a group of local residents – with the campaign name Concerned Citizens for the Hudson Valley – has had a motion approved to prevent the Town of Goshen from selling town-owned land to Merlin Entertainments, the parent company that owns the LEGOLAND attractions. The Chronicle shares more details on the dispute between the two parties:

The order was entered Tuesday afternoon by the Appellate Division, Second Department, according to Michael Sussman, who is representing the Concerned Citizens.

The group contends that these public lands should not be sold before a referendum of town voters. The organization submitted more than enough valid signatures to force a binding referendum, but a Supreme Court Justice from Dutchess County ruled the petitions invalid, finding that they did not specifically state the reasons for opposition to the conveyance of the eight parcels. Concerned Citizens argues that the petitions do not need to include such reasons, and that their petitions precisely conform with state law.

The PR team at LEGOLAND New York are robust in the position that construction will go ahead, emphasising the positives that the new theme park will bring to the local area:

Phil Royle, the Head of Project and Community Relations for Legoland New York, told The Chronicle in a responding statement that the "sale of the lots will provide income to the Town of Goshen, will be added to the tax rolls, and Legoland New York will donate two wells that the Town of Goshen could use to address water concerns in the Arcadia Hills community. The sale of the town-owned lots does not affect the development of Legoland New York, and would not delay the Park from opening in 2020. We are referring all specific questions on the Court’s decision to the Town of Goshen."

LEGOLAND New York is expected to open in 2020.