The Town of Milo is moving forward with eminent domain proceedings tied to the ongoing legal dispute over a proposed housing development near Penn Yan.
During a recent town board meeting, Supervisor Leslie Church read aloud a lengthy document outlining the town’s intent to proceed under New York’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law before the board approved a resolution to continue the process.
Town officials cited the preservation of prime farmland, consistent with Milo’s comprehensive plan, as a key justification for pursuing the action.
The dispute dates back to January 2025, when the Town of Milo denied a proposal from the Finger Lakes Economic Development Center to annex approximately 72 acres on Old Route 14A into the Village of Penn Yan for future housing development.
The FLEDC appealed the denial the following month. Milo later filed an Article 78 proceeding challenging the village’s environmental review process. In October 2025, Yates County Supreme Court Judge Art Williams ruled against the town, prompting Milo to file an appeal in November.
According to attorneys specializing in eminent domain law, cases involving litigation can take between 12 and 18 months to resolve.
Town officials previously said Milo had already spent at least $91,000 on legal fees related to the dispute as of December 2025. The FLEDC has stated it is responsible for covering legal costs incurred by the Village of Penn Yan in the matter.
