Ramapo Fields LLC filed a lawsuit against the Village of Sloatsburg, New York, challenging the village’s decision to block vehicle passage through a 50‑foot‑wide strip that has served as the only access to a 48‑acre parcel for more than four decades. The filing, submitted to the Rockland County Supreme Court, claims the restriction renders the larger tract undevelopable and potentially worthless.
The strip, owned by Ramapo Fields but legally separate from the larger parcel, lies within the village’s Industrial Park zoning district. The village’s Zoning Board of Appeals ruled that allowing commercial trucks to cross the strip violated the district’s permitted uses, which exclude vehicular traffic on easements. Ramapo Fields argues that the strip’s sole purpose is to provide access, not to function as an independent commercial facility.
Earlier this year, Judge David Fried ruled in a separate case that Ramapo Fields held fee‑simple title to the 50‑foot strip and that neighboring easement holders were entitled to use it. The new lawsuit alleges that the village applied the zoning code selectively, permitting other landowners to route trucks across their properties while barring Ramapo Fields.
Ramapo Fields seeks a declaration that vehicular ingress and egress cannot be treated as a separate land use under the village code, a reversal of the board’s decision, and damages calculated on the loss of the parcel’s market value. The company estimates the loss at approximately ₹4.2 billion, citing appraisals before and after the restriction.
The court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 15, 2026, where both parties will present evidence on the strip’s legal status and the economic impact of the restriction. Ramapo Fields’ spokesperson, Anil Gupta, said the company hopes a favorable ruling will restore the parcel’s accessibility and value. Local trucking operator, Vinay Kumar, who has driven through the strip daily for 30 years, expressed relief that the case may finally end the uncertainty that has plagued the community.