1. BSRB Has Opened its New Main Office in Goshen! On October 12, 2009, Blustein, Shapiro, Rich & Barone, LLP, moved into our beautiful new office at 10 Mattews Street in Goshen, New York. Our new space features larger public areas, conference rooms and attorney offices than our Middletown location, ample parking, and a state-of-the-art education center for workshops and seminars. Here's a photo of our new building:
Visitors are welcome!
2. Gardiner S. Barone Prevails in Appeal
- BSRB partner Gardiner S. "Tad" Barone recently prevailed on an appeal heard before the Second Department's Appellate Division in the matter of Pleasant Hill Developers, Inc. v. Foxwood Enterprises, LLC (case no. 2008-07425, dated September 22, 2009). Mr. Barone successfully argued that our client, Pleasant Hill Developers, Inc., suffered damages when Foxwood Enterprises, LLC failed to meet its contractual obligation to obtain approval for a six lot subdivision as a condition of the sale of the property in question to Pleasant Hill. Instead, Foxwood Enterprises was able to obtain approval only for a four lot subdivision. Click here to read a copy of the appeals court's decision.
3. Richard J. Shapiro to Teach Continuing Education Course
- BSRB partner Richard J. Shapiro will be part of a teaching panel for a continuing education program titled "A Time to Plan -- Unparalled Opportunites." The program, which is being co-sponsored by The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, will be presented on September 21, 2009, and repeated on October 22, 2009, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Orange County Chamber of Commerce Business Center, 30 Scott's Corners Drive, Montgomery, New York. Continuing education credits will be provided for CPAs, attorneys and Certified Finanical Planners. You may register for the program here. Click here to learn more about Mr. Shapiro
- BSRB partner Jay R. Myrow successfully obtained a judgment overturning a Town of Wawayanda Zoning Board of Appeals decision in Mid-Hudson II Holding Co., Inc. v. Town of Wawayanda ZBA (Supreme Court, Orange County). Our client was denied a variance to allow for the construction of a residence on a lot that did not have road frontage on a public road. The Court agreed that Town Law §280-a allowed for access to the property over a private road because the lot had been created by a subdivision map filed in 1929 that created "paper streets" that would give access to a public road when developed. The Court sent the matter back to the ZBA for a decision that will allow our client to develop his property as permitted under the Town Zoning Law.
- In Haupt v. Village of Harriman ZBA (Supreme Court, Orange County), the owner of an auto repair shop was served by the Village Building Inspector with violations of the Village Zoning Law, claiming that he unlawfully expanded his business without proper approvals from the Planning Board. The business was located in a commercial zone but was deemed "grandfathered" because it predated the adoption of the Zoning Law. However, the owner had rented a portion of the repair shop to another auto repair business. With two businesses operating on the premises, the volume of business increased dramatically. BSRB partner Jay R. Myrow successfully argued the building inspector's position and the court ruled that the owner had unlawfully expanded his "grandfathered" use of the property. The matter was sent back to the Village Justice Court for further proceedings on the violations.
