Sullivan County Hasidic Development Continues, Though Annexation Deemed Illegal

From the Times Herald Record

Sullivan County Supreme Court Judge Stephan Schick ruled that while developer Shalom Lamm's 396-home Hasidic development in Bloomingburg may continue, the annexation of the Town of Mamakating was illegal. Schick backed the Rural Community Coalition and the Town of Mamakating, stating that the annexation violated the state constitution because it had occurred without any vote from the residents of the area. However, since the housing development began in 2006, too much time has passed to stop the project and it will be allowed to continue.

Judge Schick writes

Having expected that a full build out of their project had been appropriately approved, it would now be improper for this court to judicially deny the developer defendants of the right to complete that project, therefore this court does not grant the town's request for a preliminary injunction and it remains for the town to decide what it now does with the territory under its jurisdiction, including refusing to enforce legislation it believes to be invalid.