In regards to illegal dumping on the parcel of land

Dumping and town code 97: “All putrescible and non putrescible solid wastes, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, incinerator residue, street cleaning debris, dead animals, demolition and construction debris, tree stumps, tree branches and other wood debris products, abandoned vehicles, offal, agricultural, commercial and industrial wastes, hazardous and toxic waste and wastes from domestic and municipal sewer systems and treatment facilities, including sludge of any kind. [Amended 7-9-1991 by L.L. No. 13-1991]” . 

Residents' observations:

One resident who has been living there since 2009 writes: “It definitely is being used as a dump for yard waste and vegetation. We have seen Country Club Acres vehicles on a pretty regular basis at both the cut in next to our house and the one a little closer to LaCosta. It was strewn with litter of all sorts and even an abandoned vehicle.” 

One resident who used to ride his bike on the parcel of land (with the permission of Mr. Van Patten Senior) saw the following from the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s: an abandoned car, refrigerators, tires, concrete blocks, wheels and construction materials. The same resident indicated that Mr. Van Patten Senior allowed people to dump items on that land. 

Another resident who also used to ride his bike on the parcel of land (from after 2010 until 2016) saw: big chunks of cement, a Honda 1980’s car, 2 car fenders, a lot of old wire from the old telegraph from the late 1800’s, insulators, and dumping of brush from the golf course. 

After moving to this neighborhood in 2006, a resident saw many unmarked large trucks, coming and going on an access path located between Greensboro Blvd and La Costa Drive, (now closed off with an old metal gate), backing up, in broad daylight, of darker green or darker blue. This resident first thought that the land belonged to the town and that these trucks belonged to a sub-contractor of the town. This resident observed the activity of these trucks every year, spring and fall until 2021. This resident indicated that the trucks were fully loaded, uncovered, and carried limbs and debris. This resident thought it had to do with yard contracting clean-up or construction, and suspects that there could have been other products coming from the golf course, such as lawn care products (pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers.) In 2010 this resident reported the comings and goings of these trucks to the town, but added that the town did nothing about it. 

Investigation and response from the town:  Mr. Shoenborn, the Town of Clifton Park Director of Building and Development reported:

"I walked the entire property in question and did not find any substantial evidence on the surface of illegal dumping other than substantial “party” areas that left behind large amounts of empty beer containers, some tree debris and minimal amounts of metal that looked to be the remains of household furniture. That is not to say that over the years dumping did not take place. If any proposed project for that area in question gets approval, we will ensure that any found debris that is required to be removed is removed and will also pay close attention to any building sites to ensure compliance. Until the point we have more substantial evidence of dumping this complaint will be closed. Thank you for the information and please keep us informed if anything else comes to light."