08/06/2026
New City, NY - On Friday, July 31st, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation previously passed by both the NYS Senate and Assembly to establish a Community Preservation Act in the Town of Clarkstown. Supervisor George Hoehmann and the Town Council are thankful to Governor Hochul, NYS Assemblyman Pat Carroll, and NYS Senator Bill Weber for their assistance in passing this landmark legislation, serving as an essential tool to preserve open space, land, natural resources, historic landmarks, critical agriculture and water resources, and much more in the Town of Clarkstown. It will now be up to the voters of Clarkstown to ultimately approve the CPA through a public referendum.
The CPA allows the town to generate dedicated preservation funds through a one-time .75% fee on real estate closings. The town assessor’s office estimated the CPS would generate nearly $5 million a year in “lock boxed” funds for the Town to purchase land for qualifying purposes. This real estate transfer fee is an ideal way to generate conservation funding. Once a buyer of real property pays the fee at closing, no additional expense is ever accrued. Other methods such as massive bond issuances or the creation of a new conservation-taxing district would impose a permanent or near permanent annual tax on every property tax payer in the town. The Clarkstown Community Preservation Act avoids that while providing protected and guaranteed funding.
The Clarkstown Community Preservation Act mirrors what has been successfully used for decades in towns across New York State including on Long Island and Warwick, NY.
The voters of Clarkstown will now have the opportunity to take a monumental step forward in achieving the town’s long-term preservation goals.
Supervisor George Hoehmann stated, “The Town Board celebrates the signing of the Community Preservation Act by Governor Kathy Hochul. The enactment of this legislation marks a turning point for the Town of Clarkstown and moves us closer to obtaining a reliable mechanism to utilize for local conservation. Once again, I want to thank Senator Weber and Assemblyman Carroll for swiftly pushing this legislation through to the Governor’s desk. With the Community Preservation Act now signed into law, the next step is to give Clarkstown residents the opportunity to make their voices heard through a public referendum at a future date. This is an important chance for our town to decide whether to invest in protecting open space and upholding the unique character of the Clarkstown community.”
Senator Bill Weber stated, “I'm grateful to Governor Hochul for signing our Clarkstown Preservation Fund legislation (S10276) earlier than expected. Due to the passage and signing of this important legislation, it will appear on a future ballot, giving Clarkstown residents the chance to vote to preserve open space and protect the community's natural resources for many years to come. Many thanks to Supervisor George Hoehmann and the Town Board for partnering with me on this initiative."
Assemblyman Patrick Carroll stated, "As the Assemblyman representing Clarkstown and a former Councilman, protecting our environment continues to be one of my top priorities. I was proud to sponsor the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act in the Assembly, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
I’m thankful that Governor Hochul signed my bill into law, and now this issue is in the hands of the voters and residents of Clarkstown. There will be a referendum to either approve or reject the Clarkstown Community Preservation Fund. I encourage all Clarkstown residents to thoroughly consider this issue and to make their voice heard. All politics are local, and how our communities manage our land, our most valuable local resource, is an issue we should all be concerned with."
Councilman Jon Valentino stated, ”I am thrilled that Governor Hochul and the State of New York have heard Clarkstown residents loud and clear in their vocal support for the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act. The Governor's signing of this legislation into law reflects a watershed moment for our town, and fulfills our steadfast commitment to give residents a direct voice in the establishment of Community Preservation Funds.”
Councilman Mike Graziano stated, “Residents across Clarkstown want to see stronger dedication to preserving our natural resources that make our town what it is. With Governor Kathy Hochul's signing of the Community Preservation Act into law, we have reached a major breakthrough in that effort. The next step is to give our residents the opportunity to make the final decision. The Town Board will move forward with placing a referendum before the voters at a future date, allowing the community to decide whether to authorize the Community Preservation Act.”
Councilman Don Franchino stated, ”In just a few short months, the residents of Clarkstown have made it abundantly clear that protecting our open space and managing responsible growth are priorities for our community. The signing of the Community Preservation Act into law is a testament to what can be accomplished when residents work together with their local and state leaders toward a common goal.”
Councilman Bob Axelrod stated, “I am pleased to announce that Governor Hochul has signed the Community Preservation Act, which is an unequivocal victory for the people of Clarkstown. However, the most crucial decision still lies ahead: your vote in a public referendum, when it appears on a yet to be determined future ballot.
We have come very far in our efforts to protect open space, so I encourage every eligible voter to make an informed decision on the Community Preservation Act. This day would never have happened without the thousands of Clarkstown residents who signed the petition and made their voices heard.”
Chris Chapman, Project Manager, Orange County Land Trust stated, “Community Preservation Funds have enabled numerous municipalities across the state to protect their natural resources, waterways, working farms, and recreational areas. We have seen how these funds empower local residents to proactively protect their community’s most vital lands, and we look forward to seeing how this initiative will benefit Clarkstown."
