Nyack, August 26 — Nyack’s building inspector has issued a stop work order to Oak Hill Cemetery to halt further clear cutting of 19 trees that were supposed to be preserved. As specified in the Planning Board’s conditional site plan approval (see minutes), the trees were only to be removed with the approval of two Village Planning Board members. Ten of the the 19 trees remain.
Oakhill Cemetery has been clear cutting a portion of their property in order to expand their operations, and did not contact the Village as required in the approval. Nyack’s attorney, Walter Sevastian, outlined the village’s response to a group of angry residents and neighbors at the August 26 Village Board Meeting.
There will be an arraignment on September 23 at 9:30a at the Village Court.
Oak Hill Cemetery has a long checkered history. There was an incredible scandal there in the 1880′s. Read all about it here:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=990DE2DB1E31EE3ABC4E53DFB466838B699FDE
Unbelievable. A cemetery like that is a public institution with deep connections to the community. Why the management would disobey reasonable planning regulations aimed at preserving the character of the Village beggars belief. Throw the book at them.