By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON -- The village Board of Trustees has reviewed the findings of a State Environmental Quality Review of the 30 Riverside Drive property, and found that cleanup of the site and rehabilitation would pose no negative environmental impacts.

The board approved the negative SEQR declaration at their meeting Monday, March 19.

The lot, site of the former M.R. Bells service station, has been targeted by the village, town, county and DEC for rehabilitation as sort of keystone project in the larger movement to restore and enhance Canton’s Grasse River frontage.

The property, currently under a tax foreclosure action by the county, is suspected by the Department of Environmental Conservation to contain below-grade environmental contamination.

The two municipalities, with the village as the lead agency, have been negotiating an arrangement with the county and DEC over the last year. The agreement, once approved, would see the village assume ownership of the lot for $7,500, raze the structures there with a financial contribution from the town, and the DEC would then clean up any below-grade environmental issues.

Under the agreement, the village as owners of the lot, and the town, would be held harmless for any contamination found by the DEC, and the property would be cleared of any tax liability.

The lot would then be available for development.

Negotiations on the issue between the four parties have been ongoing and still continue. Thus far the town has agreed to contribute $23,695 towards the work required to clear the buildings off the lot and purchase of the land from the county.

The municipalities have capped the demolition costs at $30,000, and have received some estimates for the work.

An inspection last fall by Atlantic Testing of the above-grade structures at the former service station property has turned up a small amount of asbestos. The abatement and proper disposal of the substance during the proposed demolition is expected to add to the cost.

A project agreement between Canton town and village has been approved by both boards. Now, an agreement between the village and county is under consideration by the county for approval. Once accepted, the village will take title of the land and finalize a bid for the work there.