GOSHEN - Leaders of the three municipalities in which the former Camp LaGuardia property lies seem to have made up their minds as to what proposal they would like to see come to fruition for use of the former New York City homeless shelter, while legislators continue to search for more information from the top two developers and ponder new alternatives.

Town of Chester Supervisor Steven Neuhaus said he was speaking for all three municipalities during Wednesday’s County Legislature Physical Services Committee meeting in stating that Mountco Construction has the best proposal for the property, and offers one with the least amount of deviation from all three municipal zoning regulations.

“Their record of building and doing these projects around the Hudson Valley shows they can get it done, and get it back on the tax rolls, which is what the county and the three municipalities want,” said Neuhaus.  “We have a long road ahead of us but I think their proposal is the shortest route.”

Neuhaus noted neither their proposal, which includes 800-plus apartments and a satellite location for Mount Saint Mary College, nor the one from Aristotelian University, which is 70 percent college-oriented and 30 percent housing, is “anywhere near perfect,” and will require much negotiation.

Committee members heard both proposals again during the meeting, and spent an hour with each developer in executive session discussing contract agreements and site plan changes.

Legislator Daniel Depew said whoever they choose the decision will be what’s best for the taxpayers of the county. 

“What they are asking us to do is hold mortgage for them while they go out and speculate on our property and ask municipalities to change zoning so they can maximize their profitability, and I think that if you were to purchase a house or a piece of property, you would have to pay in full, and that’s just what our taxpayers would expect of us.  We are not a bank.”

Legislator Alan Seidman suggested creating a Local Development Corporation and selling the property through that.  Chairman Michael Paduch said it could be an option.

“Frankly, that’s what New York City did.  They took it out of the hands of the city council, and put an economic development corporation together to sell us the property.  It’s something that we’d never thought about before.  For us to make the right decision, I think that’s important information for us to have.”