Judge Nixes Van Cortlandt Water Treatment Plant

New York City cannot build a water-treatment plant in Van Cortlandt Park without approval from the State Legislature, the state’s highest court ruled Feb. 8.

"Legislative approval is required when there is a substantial intrusion on parkland for non-park purposes," Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye wrote for the Court of Appeals, "regardless of whether the parkland is ultimately to be restored."

The Legislature almost never alienates parks for other purposes unless the legislators who represent the site give their consent. Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Guy J. Velella both oppose the water project, leaving park advocates confident that it is dead at this location.

In a revealing statement about his attitudes toward parkland, Mayor Giuliani said "The decision was incomprehensible. It is going to say in the future, don’t make things parkland, because it removes your options."

--Dave Lutz Reprinted with permission from www.urbanoutdoors.org