Options for Boyhaven property discussed
Closing date for sale of land to town is Dec. 31
MILTON, N.Y. » The town of Milton had its third public meeting Monday night for residents to learn more about the town’s purchase of the Boyhaven property and to offer feedback and input as to how they would like to see the property put to use.
Boyhaven, located between Route 29 and Middle Grove Road, is a roughly 300-acre parcel of undeveloped land that has been used for scouting and camping activities since 1924. According to Larry Woolbright, chairman of the town’s Planning Board and head of an informal steering committee, the Boyhaven property is the single largest undeveloped parcel of land in the town.
The town was chosen as the preferred buyer for the land this summer, after submitting a bid of $1 million, half of which was put forth by an anonymous donor. Aoolbright said the permissive referendum period had expired, allowing the town to move forward on its financing plans for the purchase.
The sale contract for the land calls for a closing date of Dec. 31, which is only possible if the town pays cash for the property. If officials decide to put up a bond for
the property, the closing would most likely not take place until sometime in January. But, Woolbright noted that Twin Rivers Council, the current owners of the property, are willing to delay the closing.
The state is also interested in buying a portion of the acreage, expanding the size of state forest surrounding the Boyhaven property. According to Woolbright, there are a few benefits to selling approximately 130 acres to the state. That property would go back on the town’s tax rolls, and the state would also purchase the land at its appraise value of roughly $4,500 per acre.
“We anticipate zero impact on town taxes and a possible cash flow into the town tax fund,” Woolbright said.
The meeting on Monday night was the most well-attended of the three public forums that have been held during the months of October and November, with residents from Milton, as well as nearby Ballston, in attendance.
During the question and answer period, residents applauded the town for its decision to purchase the property instead of allowing it to be bought by developers. One woman said her son, who is now in his 30s, was heartbroken at the prospect that the camp would be taken over by developers, and he was thrilled to learn that the town had won the bid for the property.
The next challenge for the town is deciding possible uses for the property, which was the main purpose of the informational meetings. Townspeople were given surveys to fill out, indicating how they would like to see the land be used. Options included activities such as crosscountry skiing, hiking and horseback-riding trails, camping facilities, picnic areas and wildlife habitats.
There are currently 39 structures on the property, ranging from outhouses and lean to’s, to a dining facility with a full-sized industrial kitchen and seating capacity of 250. The town plans to keep eight of the 39 structures, including a large bathroom facility, an 1830s farmhouse, the dining facility, a building that was used as the “health” center for scouts, a large maintenance and storage shed, and some camp cabins.
In addition to the structures, the property also contains two ponds with docks, for canoeing, swimming and fishing, a softball field and basketball court. Woolbright also stated that there is a recently installed septic system already in place on the property.
“This is a one-time opportunity for the town of Milton,” said John Munter, a longtime time resident and member of the informal steering committee.
The town plans on hosting more informational meetings to gather input as the project moves forward. John Bartow, another member of the informal steering committee, said that 2018 would be dedicated to planning, demolition and renovations, with a projected opening of the property to the town sometime in 2019.