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March 31, 2009

New Border Patrol barracks planned

<a href="mailto:draymo@pressrepublican.com">By DENISE RAYMO</a>

BURKE — The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol presence in northern Franklin County could more than double when a new barracks is built along Route 11.

And the staff of 22 could grow to 53 agents and support staff once it is operational.

But there is no time frame for construction or a date for opening, according to Border Patrol officials.



SITES IDENTIFIED

Two possible sites are under consideration for the 25,000-square-foot building: a grassy field at the intersection of Route 11 and Montgomery Road in the Town of Burke and an abandoned farm at the corner of Route 11 and Malone-Chateaugay Road (Franklin County Road 23) in the Town of Chateaugay.

One snag is that the Burke parcel was sold between the time on-site surveys and research for a draft environmental-impact statement was conducted and Friday, when the overall report was finished.

The full 237-page report is available for public viewing at the Chateaugay Library during regular business hours or online at www.northernborderNEPA.com.

Public comments will be accepted until April 28.



ECONOMIC IMPACT

Because negotiations are under way, Border Patrol officials at the Swanton, Vt., sector, which includes the Burke substation, said they cannot comment on plans for the new building.

But the initial plan states that the $6.25 million project would create about 52 construction jobs and pump $1.87 million in wages into the local economy.

Once the 33 new agents arrive, their average annual income of $40,000 should also increase the sales-tax revenue and business, in general, at retail and grocery stores.

Housing will also be needed by the families moving to the area, and it is estimated that 12 to 15 more students will attend local schools.



LAND-LOCKED

The existing Burke site was built for seven people, but it now houses 22, which makes it necessary to expand, officials say. Couple that with the 2006 presidential mandate that the Border Patrol hire 6,000 new officers to combat terrorism and protect national security along the nation’s borders, and the needs for more room are even more evident.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its Agent Rapid Response Program has increased the work force from 12,000 to 18,000 agents, and as many as 33 more people could be assigned to northern Franklin County.

Expansion is not possible at the current site because it stands on a one-acre, land-locked parcel.

Alternate sites were scouted, and two were studied further to determine their characteristics compared to the Border Patrol’s needs.



CHATEAUGAY

The Chateaugay property is the preferred parcel, situated 1.35 miles west of the Village of Chateaugay and 4.25 miles east of the existing barracks.

Only 22 of the 93 available acres would be developed and used. It includes the main building, garage and storage space, as well as a helicopter-landing pad.

The parcel is not zoned but has been used as pasture land and for growing crops.

There is a two-story abandoned house, a dairy barn and two silos on the property that would be torn down to make room for the barracks.



BURKE

The Burke property would use 10 acres of a 50-acre parcel and is situated a half-mile east of the existing site and 1.1 miles northeast of the Village of Burke.

It is a grassy lot, zoned as agricultural land, that was used for growing crops.

Three vacant buildings on the property would be razed.



E-mail Denise A. Raymo at:

draymo@pressrepublican.com

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