Kristen Reynders, the owner of Hitmans Towing, appeared in Knox Town Court with her lawyer, father, and several supporters. Her lawyer requested the trial be heard by a jury, scheduled for July.

BERNE — One of the neighbors and potential bidders for a foreclosed property near a state preserve is the town’s building inspector, who was recently accused of trying to devalue an adjoining parcel.

An out-of-town property owner claims Tim Lippert is obstructing improvements to his Beaver Road property for possible personal interests.

The area along Route 156 is called "mixed-use" zoning, where residential and commercial uses are allowed. The law is set up with planning board oversight, with the aim to sustain the historic qualities of the district.

Realtor Robert Smith says his niece bought property in Knox, where she has a towing business in the second district, only after the zoning administrator said they would be clear of the town's law.

The land is currently zoned Residential R15 and Residential R40, and would need to be re-zoned to Planned Unit Development — which can exceed zoned density requirements — in order for the project to go forward.

Knox's first official business district is one step closer to reality as the planning board finalized a map, stretching the length of the hamlet along Route 156.

Kristen Reynders, owner of the towing business, said she was issued an appearance ticket for operating a business in a residential property.

Throughout the year, the town's close supervisor race was run amid designs to zone areas in the town for businesses and a long wait for postal services to return to the hamlet.

Assemblyman Peter Lopez had a calming effect on a neighbor dispute over potential stormwater diversion in Westerlo.