Ramapo, NY – A top town administrator overstepped his authority by signing documents allowing families to live in 16 yeshiva-owned homes on Grandview Avenue, despite dozens of fire and safety violations, according to a lawsuit.
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Ramapo officials today denied that people were permitted to live in unsafe housing, as charged by the lawyers for the four villages that successfully challenged the town’s approval of an environmental review before construction of 60 units within 12 multiple-family buildings.
The villages’ lawyers maintained that Alan Simon, the town building and zoning administrator, likely acted illegally and overstepped his authority by signing the certificates of use in March 2009 that allowed 16 families to live in the Mosdos Chofetz Chaim project called Kiryas Radin outside New Hempstead.
Attorney Michael D. Zarin of White Plains said the certificates placed “the occupants in danger” and on Monday he has asked a state Supreme Court judge hearing the case to empty the buildings.
Simon said today that when he signed the certificates he was not aware of any safety and fire violations involving the 16 units. He said he signed based on an order from state Supreme Court Justice Francis Nicolai to allow occupancy if there were no fire and safety concerns.
While Nicolai upheld the town’s adult student housing zone, he found the yeshiva and Ramapo failed to conduct a proper environmental review before construction of units outside New Hempstead.
Chofetz Chaim yeshiva officials then moved in the 16 families last year in violation of the Nicolai’s injunction. The yeshiva recently put down a $75,000 surety bond ordered by Nicolai to block an eviction of the 16 families.
I don’t understand. If there is any question of safety, why don’t they evict these families immediately until all the units are inspected and permits issued legally.
I don’t think it has anything todo with safety – there was a big behind the scenes shtick going on and now its coming back to haunt them
The land was purchased from the Federal Government. There was some question if the localities had any jurisdiction over the project, including zoning, building codes, etc. There was an earlier court case on that. Did you ever notice how close to the road the buildings are? This whole thing has been one favor after another to get the thing built and occupied. This is a huge chillul HaShem. The whole thing could have bee done differently. Some people think the rules don’t apply to them. Wake up. This is galus.
#1 & #2 , Please read behind the lines. Who is worried about the so called safety, the tenants who are at risk? Obviously there is no true risk. Somehow, it’s the same neighbors who don’t want the place & people to exist, are now worried about their safety. Come on, use your brains!
sounds like some people i are upset they will be missing out on tax revenue.