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Public Hearing - October 13, 2021
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Public Hearing on an application by the Albany Port District Commission October 13, 2021 at 4:30pm
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED PROJECT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELATING THERETO
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing pursuant to Section 859-a(2) of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York (the “Act”) will be held by the Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) on the 13th day of October, 2021 at 4:30 o’clock p.m., local time, in the Auditorium of the Town of Bethlehem Town Hall located at 445 Delaware Avenue in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York in connection with the following matters:
Albany Port District Commission, a State of New York public benefit corporation (the “APDC”), has submitted an application (the “Application”) to the Agency, a copy of which Application is on file at the office of the Agency, requesting that the Agency consider undertaking a project (the “Project”) for the benefit of the APDC, said Project consisting of the following: (A) (1) the acquisition of an interest in two (2) parcels of land containing in the aggregate approximately 81 acres located on Port Road South (tax map number 98.01-2-1) and East of River Road (NYS Rt. 144) south of Normans Kill and north of PSEG property (tax map number 98.00-2-10.23) in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York (collectively, the “Land”), (2) the construction on the Land of four (4) buildings containing in the aggregate approximately 560,000 square feet of space, a bridge, related parking and various infrastructure improvements (collectively, the “Facility”) and (3) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property (collectively, the “Equipment”) (the Land, the Facility, and the Equipment being collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Project Facility”), all of the foregoing to constitute an industrial/manufacturing facility to be owned by the APDC and operated by a joint venture third party operator as a wind tower manufacturing and shipping facility and any other directly and indirectly related activities; (B) the granting of certain potential “financial assistance” (within the meaning of Section 854(14) of the Act) with respect to the foregoing, including potential exemptions from certain sales and use taxes (the “Financial Assistance”); and (C) the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Project Facility to the APDC or such other person as may be designated by the APDC and agreed upon by the Agency.
The Agency is considering whether (A) to undertake the Project and (B) to provide certain exemptions from taxation with respect to the Project, including exemption from sales taxes relating to the acquisition, construction and installation of the Project Facility. If any portion of the Financial Assistance to be granted by the Agency with respect to the Project is not consistent with the Agency’s uniform tax exemption policy, the Agency will follow the procedures for deviation from such policy set forth in Section 874(4) of the Act prior to granting such portion of the Financial Assistance.
If the Agency determines to proceed with the Project, the Project Facility will be acquired, constructed and installed by the Agency and will be leased (with an obligation to purchase) or sold by the Agency to the APDC or its designee pursuant to a project agreement (the “Agreement”) requiring that the APDC or its designee make certain payments to the Agency.
The Agency has not yet made a determination pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law (the “SEQR Act”) regarding the potential environmental impact of the Project.
The Agency will at said time and place hear all persons with views on either the location and nature of the proposed Project, or the Financial Assistance being contemplated by the Agency in connection with the proposed Project. A copy of the Application filed by the APDC with the Agency with respect to the Project, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of the Project, is available for public inspection during business hours at the offices of the Agency. A transcript or summary report of the hearing will be made available to the members of the Agency.
Additional information can be obtained from, and written comments may be addressed to: Thomas P. Connolly, Esq., Executive Director, Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency, 445 Delaware Avenue, Town Hall, Delmar, New York 12054; Telephone: (518) 439-4955 ext. 1189.
Dated: September 28, 2021.
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
BY:_ s/Thomas P. Connolly
Executive Director