Neighbors Sue To Block LEGOLAND New York Expansion Near Goshen

Concerned Citizens for the Hudson Valley, represented by Goshen attorney Michael Sussman, filed a 62 page petition in Orange County Supreme Court on November 20, 2025 asking a judge to annul a recently adopted town law and enjoin use of a new overlay zoning district that would allow a high density amusement park in the Town of Goshen. Five local families joined the petition, which seeks an injunction to block construction of the proposed LEGOLAND New York project.

The plaintiffs say the town planning board violated its own rules and fast tracked a rezoning that opened environmentally sensitive land to development. The complaint contends the town failed to provide adequate environmental, traffic and public health review before adopting the overlay zoning district, and it revisits arguments raised in earlier litigation against the park proposal.

Specific environmental and community concerns cited in the petition include impacts on water supply and private wells, the potential for increased flooding, displacement of wildlife and effects from nighttime lighting. Those issues carry direct local consequences, as many Goshen residents rely on private wells and live near the parcels targeted for the project. Traffic and public health reviews were central to the petitioners claims, reflecting worries about road capacity and emergency service access as tourism and visitor numbers increase.

Town officials and project attorneys countered that approvals followed a thorough public process and noted that prior suits challenging the project were dismissed. They expressed confidence the latest petition will be unsuccessful, asserting the legal approvals remain sound. The new filing, however, puts the proposed development back before a court and prolongs uncertainty about whether construction can proceed.

For Orange County residents the case underscores the tension between large scale development and protections for local water, wildlife and neighborhood quality of life. The litigation timeline will determine whether the overlay zoning remains usable for the project, and the court s decision could shape future land use and environmental review standards in Goshen.