To the Editor:
"A Property Battle Pitting Two Giants" (March 12) raises serious landowner rights issues. Although we may not find golfers at Deepdale Golf Club to be underdogs or sympathetic figures, the Village of North Hills seems to have overstepped or abused its powers.
The use of eminent-domain laws to convert a private course into a public one goes too far. Where does the power of eminent domain end? The expansion of the Long Island Expressway through Deepdale's land was a demonstrable public purpose, but a golf course? I am not a golfer, but this action by the Village of North Hills is putting them in the rough.
Steven A. Ludsin
East Hampton
To the Editor:
Rhetoric aside, one thing is certain: When a village owns a golf course, property taxes go up. It is disingenuous of North Hills officials not to acknowledge this fact.
Just ask Lake Success residents. Now that the county taxes homes based on market value, the added value of a home because of the availability of golf course membership has raised the appraisal of Lake Success homes significantly, thus incurring higher taxes. This even for those with no interest in golf.
Yes, the property is worth more when sold, but the owner is just getting back a portion of the taxes he paid in.
J. Braverman
Lake Success
©2006 New York Times Company
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