BILL NUMBER: S6421
SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act authorizing the city of Batavia to alienate certain parklands for
use as a municipal parking lot and to preserve the historic Brisbane
mansion
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Authorizes the city of Batavia to alienate certain parklands for use as
a municipal parking lot and to preserve the historic Brisbane mansion.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subject to the provisions of this act, the city of Batavia,
is hereby authorized, acting by and through its governing body, and upon
such terms and conditions as determined by, and in the sole discretion
of, such governing body, to: (a) alienate a municipal surface parking
lot adjacent to parkland; and (b) to discontinue an alienate the "Bris-
bane Mansion" adjacent to parkland. The original deed for the property
included the "Brisbane Mansion", adjacent parking lot and the park known
as "Austin Park".
Section 2. Whereas because the parking lot and "Brisbane Mansion" are
not recreational green space parkland, the city will not need to dedi-
cate lands of equal or greater fair market value in the City of Batavia.
Section 3. The lands authorized by section one of this act that are to
be discontinued as parklands are explained.
Section 4. In the event that the City of Batavia received any funding
support or assistance from the federal government for the purchase,
maintenance or improvement of the parklands set forth in section three
of this act, the discontinuance and alienation of such parkland author-
ized by the provisions of section three of this act shall not occur
until the City of Batavia has complied with any federal requirements
pertaining to the alienation or conversion of such parklands, including
satisfying the secretary of the interior that the alienation or conver-
sion complies with all conditions which the secretary of the interior
deems necessary to assure the substitution of other lands shall be
equivalent in fair market and usefulness to the lands being alienated or
converted.
Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Austin Park was deeded to the City of Batavia in 1917 by James Brisbane.
The original parcel included the Brisbane Mansion (now housing the Bata-
via Police Station) and adjacent land which is now Austin Park and a
free municipal surface parking lot. Austin Park and adjacent parking lot
are made up of 6.54 acres. The parcel containing the Brisbane Mansion is
another .96'acres. The portion of the park that is a Free Municipal
Parking lot is .65 of the parcels making up the parkland. The Brisbane
Mansion is an additional .96 acres. The parking lot is a Free Municipal
lot used by the City of Batavia. The Brisbane Mansion currently houses
the Batavia Police Station. The City of Batavia is building a new Police
Station which is set to open in the Fall of 2025 and the City intends to
make the building available for renovation and restoration with either a
boutique hotel or market rate apartments. Public parking and parking for
guests will continue to be available. The above-mentioned Brisbane
Mansion was erected in 1853, two additions were made to the building in
the mid 1900's. Additionally, there is an original bathroom building
built in the 1930's and a picnic pavilion built in 1975. There are no
archeological resources.
The City of Batavia wishes to alienate the parking lot so it can remain
a Free Municipal Parking lot serving the downtown business as well as
the park. The Brisbane Mansion will be sold and revitalized by a devel-
oper and put back on the tax rolls to become either market rate apart-
ments or a boutique hotel. The reuse of the Brisbane Mansion has the
potential to bring more people downtown and subsequently more people
using the park. The city currently does not have a hotel or motel
located downtown.
There will be no effect on the remaining parkland. The alienation will
define and preserve the boundary of existing green space in Austin Park,
the parking lot and the Brisbane Mansion.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately