Cortlandt Buys 100 acres on the Hudson River from Con Ed

The Town of Cortlandt's purchase of 100 acres from Consolidated Edison, Inc. for $2.75 million was completed Thursday.

This purchase ends the “Stop the Buzz’ project that was proposed by a private company for a 50 ft high electric converter that residents objected to because it would have emitted a continuous, loud, buzzing sound.

Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi said the process took more than a year.

"Public Hearings had been held by the Town Board, public notice given and the Town Board and I unanimously voted over a year ago to buy this property in the hamlet of Verplanck, Town of Cortlandt," she said in a statement.

The tract is adjacent to the Hudson River and already is the location of a sports field and a small beach area. It also has a body of water -- a naturally filled in old quarry. Cortlandt officials expect it to be a special addition to the Town’s inventory of land for public use.

Puglisis said there are many ideas that she and the Town Board are considering for future use including:

 Additional sports fields

 A walking/jogging/bicycle trail path

 A dog park

 Enhancing the beach area along the river

 Consolidating our DES operations headquarters to the northern corner of this property

 And suggestions are welcomed from the community.

"This is an exciting day for our Cortlandt residents," she said. "We are now adding to our properties we own along the Hudson River for public use. (Steamboat Dock, Cortlandt Waterfront Park, Boat docks for small watercraft and one for the Cortlandt Community Rowing Association (crew), our Veteran’s Memorial and the flags and historical panels at the Overlook, as well as a lovely nature preserve)."

Special thank yous to our many volunteer task force members and to our town attorney, Thomas Wood, who helped us, achieve this goal, she said.

PHOTO: at closing/contributed