Two public hearings have been held so far. I have no answer yet to what and if a decision was made. If there was and not in favor for Angel's Gate they have the right to appeal.

 

Here are my findings.

 

Smithtown Town Hall
99 West Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 360-7620
http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/suffolk.cfm?&id=20

Date/Time Info: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 @ 2:00 PM
Subject: Public Hearing
Location: Town Hall
Description: A public hearing to be held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at Town Hall, 99 West Main Street, Smithtown, New York, to consider the following:

Proposed amendments to Chapter 322 (Zoning) of the Code of the Town of Smithtown. As it relates to animal hospital, veterinarian or kennel.

 

Date/Time Info: Thursday, June 15, 2006 @ 8:00 PM
Subject: Public Hearing
Location: Senior Citizen Center, 420 Middle Country Road Smithtown
Description: A public hearing will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. at the Eugene A. Cannataro Senior Citizen Center, 420 Middle Country Road Smithtown, NY to consider the following:

Amendments to Chapter 322 “Zoning Code” of the Code of the Town of Smithtown, as it relates to animal hospice, animal boarding and kennels.
 
http://www.smithtowninfo.com/events.cfm

 

Kenneth R Sword Jr

the real deal w/facts. (and I do appologize for my behavior as the neighbors have been forced to defend ourselves against unsubstanciated claims by AG and it is a personal,emotional situation).

 

First let me say that AG is doing a tremendous service to the community. With that being said, Animal Hospice is a new designation and  we asked our town to decide where it is applicable. The town councils job is to protect it's residents rights.

 

And keep in mind,the neighbors have rights too.    

 

1 - many older interviews in local papers mention numbers of animals in the home.. 90 in 2001,150 in 2003,230 in 2006. This is a residential zoned neighborbood.Her quotes in the papers in 2001 and 2006, "We are not getting bigger, we are getting better". She clearly makes misleading statements.

 

2 - this is a 250k/yr corporation. This can be substanciated as AG is a 501 c3 and their 990 tax forms are public domain due to the FOIL law. The proprietors do not work outside the home. This is what supports 100% of their costs including rent,taxes,cars,heat,fuel and animal care.  

 

3 - home businesses in our town stipulate that a home business should NOT appear any different than a residential home. In this case volunteers,visitors,buses,etc,etc, are contrary to these zoning laws.  

 

4 - AG and the town has in their posession a petition signed by 10 surrounding neighbors.

Hi Sonny;

I am glad you posted an apology for your behaviour. Thank you for that.

Many people have asked me why I have "bothered" to keep talking here. My answer is because I believe there are two sides to every story and I don't mind giving you a place to tell yours. I would rather let both sides speak than see any situation dissolve into more hatred and anger. That accomplishes nothing.

I think that once the emotions play out a little and temperaments calm down, it is only then that people can start to look for solutions other than fighting.

I was glad to see you post "First let me say that AG is doing a tremendous service to the community" -- and you are right, They are. And THAT is why thousands of people are signing their petition and why 200 people followed them to that June meeting.

But even in saying that, it does not make your concerns invalid. The anger makes people deaf to your concerns. Once you get past the anger, then people can hear you.

So, here's a funny question for you. Since you live right there, do you know if there is an area that is still within driving distance of the community, but with a more rural type setting? I ask because I don't live there, so I don't know.

Linda

I don't live in N.Y but where ever I lived I would want there to be a sandy in the mitst. as there are animals evey that people abuse and they have a right to live as we do. I think we as a free people need to step out and help instead of complaining to the city or state gov. about a beautiful place where animals can live out their lives withlots of love .How about the 10 people going over there and volunteering for 7days then complain. I don't think you will feel the same about shutting this place down besides it was there for too many years to start complaining now. If you just moved there in the last 12 years you shoul move not the animals. Please take no offence to this letter it is written with love not hate or anger.

ok.. my neighbors and I volunteer in other ways in the community. Please don not force feed it to us that it should be our responsibility just because we live on the block.

 

As far as it being there for so long, that is mostly fabrication and misrepresentation. In my previous post I gave numbers that can be verified. Around 2000, both owners quit their jobs to make this a full time endaevor. It is much bigger and therfore requiring a lot more help from outsiders than it did even a few years back.

 

If you were growing a business, and it outgrew your location, what do you do? Move it to a new location..

 

As far as complaining is concerned, the neighbors had complained over the last few years to both the town and AG with nothing but empty promises. It became unbarable 8 months ago and that is when we started pushing the town to review the situation and act in the taxpayer's best interest.