Orange County, NY - Legislators Reject Kiryas Joel Water Tank Plan

Orange County, NY - Law makers voted down a request from the Village of Kiryas Joel to build two 34 feet high water towers on the undeveloped Gonzaga property in the Blooming Grove area, a piece of land owned by Orange County and set aside for a future county park.

Kiryas Joel officials claimed that the towers are needed to supplement the rising fire suppression and water pressure needs of the village.

Village representative Ari Felberman urged legislators to consider the needs of the town residents, and to approve the towers. He said the “towers are needed to provide drinking water and fire for village residents and the women’s services center.”
Another advocate for the building of the towers, Robert Lawrence, went as far as calling those who opposed the project “anti-Semites,” claiming that any reason for their opposition to the towers was simply religious.

Several legislators responded to his comments later in the meeting, calling them unnecessary and completely inappropriate.
The request was voted down by a margin of 18 to 2, with one abstention.