Shenendehowa land sale goes to voters, again

The land, which is undeveloped, is off Maxwell Road, adjacent to Shatekon and Arongen elementary schools.

CLIFTON PARK — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the Shenendehowa Central School District can sell off a 37-acre parcel of land to the town.

The land, located off Maxwell Road, adjacent to Shatekon Elementary School, was the subject of an April referendum in which residents overwhelmingly rejected a district proposal to sell the property to BBL Construction for about $2 million. The acreage proposed for sale has increased since April — from 34 to 37.59 acres — due to an extra 3.59 acres of land that would have been retained by the school district as a buffer, had the sale to BBL been approved.

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The school district has decided to include the buffer area in the sale to the town, which plans to turn the land into a town park. Under the agreement between the district and the town — and provided voters agree — the land must be preserved for public use and cannot be transferred, sold, or otherwise conveyed for non-public (commercial use).

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gowana Middle School gymnasium. Residents are also being asked to approve a $22 million capital project for the school district.

Eligible voters are U.S. citizens at least 18 years old who have been Shenendehowa district residents for at least 30 days. No pre-registration is required, but official photo identification is required at the polls.