Proposed Village of Woodridge Annexation Raises Significant Concerns
Dear Friends and Neighbors
On March 17th, at the Fallsburg Senior Center, 12 Laurel Ave., South Fallsburg, there will be a joint public hearing between the Village of Woodridge and the Fallsburg Town Board to discuss the annexation of Fallsburg land into Woodridge.
A proposal has been submitted by property owner Sam Charach to annex a large parcel of land from the Town of Fallsburg into the Village of Woodridge for a residential development estimated at approximately 130 homes.
Annexation requests require careful scrutiny because they permanently change municipal boundaries, tax revenues, and regulatory oversight. In this case, the proposal raises several important questions regarding housing claims, infrastructure demand, fiscal impacts, and regional groundwater resources. Understanding these issues is critical for both residents and local officials before any decision is made.
The “Workforce Housing” Claim Lacks Enforcement
The annexation narrative repeatedly describes the project as “workforce housing.”
However, the proposal does not include any of the mechanisms normally required to ensure that housing remains affordable or reserved for local workers. Missing elements include: No affordability restrictions, No income eligibility requirements, No deed restrictions, No regulatory oversight and No long-term housing program enforcement.
Without these protections, the homes could legally become seasonal housing or short-term rental properties, a pattern that has already occurred in many recent developments in the Fallsburg area. As a result, the claim of workforce housing currently appears to be a description rather than a binding commitment.
Population Estimates May Understate the Real Impact
The proposal estimates six residents per home, suggesting a total population of approximately 780 residents. However, the development application does not disclose several critical details that determine the true population density, including: Number of bedrooms per home, Square footage of the homes, Maximum occupancy limits and Unit layout and design. These factors directly affect: Water demand, Wastewater generation, Traffic levels, School district impacts, Emergency service needs
Without this information, infrastructure demand cannot be accurately calculated.
For example, if homes contain four or five bedrooms and average occupancy reaches eight to ten residents, the population could approach 1,100–1,200 residents, significantly increasing water demand and infrastructure pressure.
Water Supply Concerns in a Shared Aquifer System
Water supply is one of the most significant issues raised by the proposal. The June 5, 2025 Groundwater Availability Assessment prepared by Keystone Engineering indicates that much of the region relies on fractured bedrock aquifers. In these systems: Groundwater moves through fractures in the rock, Aquifers are interconnected rather than isolated and Pumping in one location can affect wells hundreds or even thousands of feet away.
If the development relies on high-capacity wells, heavy pumping could potentially influence: Nearby residential wells, Municipal water systems and Streams and wetlands connected to the groundwater system. A development of approximately 130 homes could require 60,000 to 80,000 gallons of water per day on average, with peak demand potentially exceeding 175,000 gallons per day during summer months. Without detailed hydrogeologic studies, it is difficult to determine how such pumping could affect surrounding groundwater resources.
Potential Impacts on the Mountaindale Water Area
The proposed development is located near communities that rely on both private wells and municipal water infrastructure associated with the Mountaindale area. Because aquifers cross municipal boundaries, pumping from wells serving the development could potentially affect groundwater conditions beyond the project site.
Possible concerns include: Reduced yield in nearby private wells, Increased pumping demand on municipal wells and Long-term competition for groundwater resources.
These risks highlight the need for a comprehensive hydrogeologic study and pump testing before approving development of this scale.
Wastewater Infrastructure Questions
A development of 130 homes would also require substantial wastewater treatment capacity. Large residential projects in rural areas often rely on private wastewater treatment facilities, sometimes called package plants. While these systems can function effectively when properly designed and maintained, problems can arise if: Population estimates are inaccurate, Treatment capacity is exceeded and Maintenance responsibilities become unclear.
In some cases across Sullivan County, failing private systems have ultimately required intervention by local governments. The annexation proposal does not clearly address the long-term oversight and responsibility for wastewater infrastructure.
Economic Benefit Claims Are Speculative
The annexation narrative suggests the development could generate $8–10 million in annual household spending. However, the analysis does not provide supporting market data and does not evaluate whether local businesses can realistically capture that spending.
The Village of Woodridge has relatively limited year-round commercial infrastructure, and many businesses in the region operate seasonally. Without a detailed market analysis, the projected economic benefits remain largely speculative.
Fiscal Impact Analysis Is Incomplete
The proposal highlights potential tax revenue for the Village of Woodridge, but it does not evaluate the full fiscal picture. Population growth can create additional public costs, including: Infrastructure expansion, Road maintenance, Emergency services, Water and sewer development and School district impacts.
A complete fiscal impact analysis normally compares new revenue against long-term public costs, which has not been fully addressed in the annexation narrative.
Loss of Tax Base for the Town of Fallsburg
If annexation occurs, the property would no longer be part of the Town of Fallsburg’s tax base. Instead, the tax revenue generated by the development would be directed primarily to the Village of Woodridge.
This raises an important policy question:
What benefit does Fallsburg receive in exchange for transferring land and long-term tax value to another municipality?
Regional Environmental Impacts Do Not Stop at Municipal Boundaries
Even if the land were annexed into Woodridge, environmental impacts would not be limited to the village. Groundwater systems, traffic patterns, and infrastructure pressures affect the entire region. Aquifers, in particular, extend across municipal boundaries and serve residents throughout the area.
For this reason, developments of this scale typically require comprehensive environmental review under New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), including detailed analysis of water supply, wastewater treatment, and cumulative development impacts.
The Need for Careful Review
Before any annexation decision is made, several key issues should be addressed transparently, including:
• Verification of the workforce housing claim
• Accurate population and occupancy assumptions
• Comprehensive hydrogeologic analysis of groundwater supply
• Detailed wastewater treatment plans
• Full fiscal impact analysis
Annexation decisions are long-term policy choices that shape the future of local communities.
For the residents of Fallsburg, this proposal raises important questions about sustainable development, protection of shared water resources, and the responsible use of municipal boundaries in planning decisions.
Fallsburg's Future is a community network of concerned Fallsburg residents established in January 2016. Its Mission is to help guide the urban development of the town of Fallsburg and its five hamlets, to promote its sustainable economic development, protect the fragile beauty of its natural habitats and enhance the opportunities and quality of life for all its residents and visitors. We hope to curb the suburban sprawl that is threatening to overwhelm the town’s physical infrastructure and destroy the natural beauty that the area depends on for its future development. See us on Facebook and our website Fallsburgsfuture.com.