By Brandon T. Bisceglia
The Town of Orange will hold a special town meeting Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the High Plains Community Center gym to consider and act on the purchase of property known as 28 Salemme Lane from Orange Land Development Holdings, LLC.
The purchase is contingent on the receipt of a grant-in-aid in the amount of $6,143,250 from the state, which has offered to pay the $5,533,250 price based on a state-led appraisal, with the rest of the money set aside to cover the expenses the town would incur in making the transaction.
The land had formerly been reserved for a planned Metro North Railroad station, but the state has since scrapped that initiative. The agreement would, however, require the town to maintain an easement for the state for 25 years, in case it should revive plans to build a platform along the tracks.
The meeting is being held because the price exceeds the threshold set by the town charter to require a vote by the residents. At least 100 Orange residents must attend for the vote to take place.
The town meeting will immediately follow the Board of Selectmen meeting in the same location.