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eNEWS
eNEWS
2003
KNGG e-mail bulletins
appear here
THE LATEST
BULLETIN WILL ALWAYS APPEAR ON TOP
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DECEMBER 19, 2003 TO: All KNGG Members PLEASE RETURN YOUR END-YEAR ENVELOPE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Be sure to rejoin KNGG for 2004. Your contribution is tax deductible as allowed by law. We need your help to continue in our mission. Please be as generous as possible. JOHN FELT SAYS GOOD-BYE - TO SERVE ON 9/11 FLIGHT 93 ADVISORY COMMITTEE John Felt served only one year as an Alternate Member of the Town Planning Board, (The normal term being 2 years.) Thursday night’s meeting was his last. John said good-bye to fellow members with a short speech. He explained that his nephew’s widow and brother are active in creating a memorial to those who died when flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. John’s nephew was among the passengers on that flight which was brought down by terrorism. John has been asked to serve on “The Flight 93 Advisory Committee.” The committee will set up a global design competition for the memorial. John has resigned because he believes he will not have the time needed to serve the board. Mary Ellen Hearn requested that the Planning Board make a special resolution thanking John for his time on the board and for the extra efforts he has given in community service. John Felt is a retired town planner who has moved here from downstate. Ed Simonsen, Chairman, related how John, as a volunteer, had worked long hours on the updating and revision of the Kinderhook Town Code. He actually created the index. KNGG would like to thank John for all the help he has given the community in various ways. We wish John good luck on his new mission and we are confident that he will do well. PLANNING BOARD DISCUSSES SITE PLAN REVIEW AND DFEIS At Thursday night’s Town Planning Board Meeting the time frame for Widewaters’ site plan review and the DFEIS (Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement) was discussed. Although no exact time frame was agreed upon, it was decided to make a decision after studying the site plan review and the DFEIS at the Planning Board’s January meeting as to when the simultaneous Public Hearing for the site plan review and the DFEIS could be held. Marc Gerstman, special attorney of the Planning Board was not present. Kathleen Martin of his law firm sat in for him. It was advised that Jim Green, the Town’s Engineering Consultant, would be away from January 17, 2004 until February 17, 2004. Ed Simonsen indicated that this put the Town at a disadvantage. Marco Marzocchi, Widewaters representative objected that the Town should use this as an excuse to delay the process. He said that Jim Green is employed by a engineering firm and surely they could appoint a substitute in Jim’s absence. Marco claimed the Planning Board should be able to have a public hearing on the site plan review and DFEIS in January. Jerry Minot-Scheuerman and Richard Anderson both objected because they have had the DFEIS only one week to study and they were handed the site plan review for the first time that night. Marco answered, “Identical reduced site plans are included the (D)FEIS. And besides you’ve had them for a week.” Mary Ellen Hern objected, “I can’t work with those reduced plans with tiny writing. We need the full sized plan to work with.” Even Mike Leiser exclaimed, “It’s too premature (for a hearing).” Marco was reminded by Jerry Minot-Scheureman that he advised the board that he would bring the site plan review to the board in October. Here it is December and the board is seeing it for the first time. In a vote of seven to zero the Planning Board resolved to meet with their engineering council at their January meeting and would then determine when to have the hearing. The board felt they needed time to see that both the DFEIS and site plan review were complete before taking them to a hearing. Marco objected. John Felt asked Marco if the height of the lamp posts were indicated on the site plan. Marco said, “Yes, 30 feet.” John Felt exclaimed, “But we told you several times we wanted much lower poles, in the neighborhood of 20 feet and more of them. I suggest, Marco, that if you want the cooperation of this board, you present what is asked for.” The site plan review and the DFEIS are being examined along with each other. The hearing for both could be conducted in the same hearing or separately. It is important to understand that the DFEIS, although “received,” has not been “accepted” by the Planning Board. The material that Widewaters put into the DFEIS will be used by the Planning Board to make up the FEIS which is actually the Planning Board’s own document. If the board doesn’t like it, it goes back as many times as necessary till Widewaters gets it right. PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS MET WITH DOT Before the Planning Board had a chance to address the subject, Marco was on his feet questioning why he could not get the FOILed documents he requested. This refers to personal notes of the various people at the meeting. Ed Simonsen told him that there was some legal question as to why he couldn’t have copies of the requested documents. Once this is determined Marco could have them if it was so resolved. Marco went on to accuse the Planning Board secretary, Barbara Beaucage, of not advising him in her acknowledgement of his FOIL request of the date the documents would available. “How could I, I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. It hasn’t been resolved.” In her defense, Ed Simonsen told Marco that she should not be acknowledging FOIL requests. They should be going to the Town Clerk, Kimberly Pinkowski. In the future Marco should address all FOIL requests to her. Ed Simonsen related that Jerry Minot-Scheureman and he met with DOT members Howard McCullough and Rich Schell about three weeks ago at Jim Green’s office in Latham. Also present at the meeting were Jim Green, Town Engineer, Shelly Johnson, Town Traffic Engineer and Marc Gerstman, special Town attorney. Ed also said the DOT claimed that a roundabout at the questioned intersection is viable and “could work.” Provisions sighted by the DOT that need to be looked at included: 1.)“ The region” (DOT Poughkeepsie) did not follow all of DOT’s policies by involving (DOT) “Central” (Latham) on a proposed roundabout project. 2. ) The Dot representatives at the meeting feel a roundabout is a valid option and could work but the did not have the facts nor could they comment on any of the other options than the existing signalized intersection. 3.) There are significant problems with the roundabout complying with federal ADA (Disabled) standards. 4.) The DOT did not have enough information to comment on the potential impacts of the roundabout on nearby intersections such as Maple Lane South and US9 or Keegan Road and NY 9H. 5.) The maximum speed through the roundabout and ramps would be 15 to 20 mph. Reducing speed is the key as to how a roundabout works safely. Signage and enforcement are the only tools to reducing to reducing traffic speed from 55 mph. From north and south of the site. 6.) The DOT believes there exists comparable sites in NY (They cited one which had only 4 legs.) with functioning roundabouts in close proximity of a school. 7.) The ideal design would be to move the roundabout 15 to 20 feet to the east, thus making it round rather than oval. 8.) DOT members were not able to answer questions about snow removal. Town engineer Shelly Johnson’s question about the longevity capacity of the roundabout was not answered. Ed Simonsen said, “They (DOT) said that the capacity wouldn’t be much greater than today.” (KNGG wants to know if the DOT are referring to next year or ten years later or 20 years later.) Jerry Minot-Scheureman concluded that the roundabout experts at the DOT have a written policy which is, “bring in the expert early.” DECEMBER 16, 2003 NEW
LOCATION FOR MEETING RE LaFARGE CEMENT'S TIRE BURNING
In our last bulletin, we advised
that LaFarge Cement in Ravena has submitted papers
to the DEC for permission to
burn tires as a fuel. Ravena is across the river from
Stuyvesant. We in
Kinderhook have lovely views of the
Catskills from our back windows.
That's how close we
are!
An organizational meeting for people wishing to
take an active part in the tire burning
prevention has been planned
for Saturday morning in Stuyvesant at 11:00 AM. This is
being coordinated by Friends of Hudson and
Stuyvesant Neighbors. Since Kinderhook
is so close and would most likely suffer any
fallout, KNGG members have been asked to attend. Your president, Allen
Schaefer, will be
there.
This meeting is planned for those who wish to take
an active part in helping prevent tire
burning. In order to accommodate more people, the location mentioned
in the last bulletin
has been changed. However, because space is
limited, it will be necessary to reserve in
advance no later than noon
Friday. You can reserve at this KNGG@berk.com e-mail address. Please include the name
of each person wishing to attend and your telephone number.
Once done, we will e-mail the address and
directions to you.
DECEMBER 15, 2003 TO: ALL KNGG MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer CEMENT PLANT OPPOSITE
STUYVESANT PLANS TO BURN TIRES
Are you AWARE of LaFarge
Cement's plan to BURN TIRES AS FUEL?
The plant is in Ravena due west of Stuyvesant, just accross the river. Exactly what does this
mean
for Kinderhook? We are directly west of
Stuyvesant.
What does not fall on Stuyvesant, is bound to fall on
Kinderhook.
The LaFarge Cement Plant has
filed papers with the DEC to burn tires as a "beneficial use." This
is a dangerous prescedent that
could change all our lives, not to mention our health and property
values. Friends of Hudson have FOILed the DEC papers to see what they could
learn.
Sam Pratt
(Friends of Hudson) went to an informational meeting at the LaFarge plant
held about a month ago. Residents of Stuyvesant want to learn
what their options are, and what they should do to get into the
decision-making fold. Sam Pratt and several of the
residents are holding an organizational meeting this coming
Saturday, Dec. 20th at 11:00 AM at the home of Walter Matthews, 1234
Route 9J, Stuyvesant.
This ill advised
situation will have a direct effect on Kinderhook and as responsible citizens,
we need to get involved to see what our options are as well. We have been
invited to attend this organizational meeting and get involved.
Anyone wishing to attend is welcome to do so.
DECEMBER 13, 2003 TO: ALL KNGG
MEMBERS
WIDEWATERS SUBMITS
FEIS
Town Hall, Niverville,
December 11, 2003
The first draft of
Widewaters' FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for Widewaters Commons
was submitted to the Kinderhook Town Planning Board at their Thursday
night Workshop Meeting.
This document, which is about
as thick as a Manhattan phone directory and a half, should contain the DEIS and revisions, the SDEIS
and revisions and all the missing information from the DEIS and SDEIS. It
should also include written public comments, spoken public comments and
answers to them from the Planning Board as well as transcripts of the Public
Hearings. The FEIS, although written and submitted to the Planning Board by
Widewaters, will eventually become the Planning Board's own document reflecting
the Planning Board's feelings which will be submitted to the
DEC. (Department of Environmental
Conservation)
The Planning Board has 30 days to
examine the document and pass it back to Widewaters for corrections and
revisions, etc. The clock is running for KNGG as well and during this
period, KNGG will need to work very hard to examine every word and
report on all the flaws we find. For this reason we will need
traffic engineers and hydrologists on board with us. It's off to work
we go!
AND THE ENVELOPE
PLEASE!
This past Wednesday
evening, members of KNGG worked at stuffing envelopes for a mailing that
went out Thursday morning. The envelopes contain an appeal from
myself and the KNGG Board of Directors.
As you can see, from the above
item, we are at a very crucial time in our battle with
Widewaters. We need your support now, more than ever. We ask
you to renew your KNGG Membership for 2004 and please contribute as generously
as possible so we can get through this FEIS examination with flying
colors.
We made this easy for you!
Within the envelope is a simple form to fill out along with an envelope already
addressed to KNGG. All you need to do is fill in the form. Write a check.
Put them in the envelope. Seal it. Put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.
It's so simple to help KNGG.
Yours
sincerely,
Allen Schaefer,
President
P. S. Your contribution to
KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by law.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
RESIGNS
Walt Simonsmeier, Town of
Kinderhook Code Enforcement Officer resigned with effect from December 1, 2003.
Walt ran against Doug McGivney, Supervisor in the last election, November 4,
2003, and lost. For more details, see today's
Independent.
DECEMBER 10, 2003
TO: ALL KNGG MEMBERS
ANNUAL MEETING HELD MONDAY NIGHT
KNGG President, Allen Schaefer, opened the meeting by
introducing the Members of the Board of Directors.
Schaefer thanked all those who sent letters to the Planning Board about Widewaters' unacceptable big box architecture. He thanked all those that spoke at the recent ZBA hearing on Widewaters' request for a variance for their flat roof. He thanked those who wrote letters to the ZBA regarding Widewaters' unacceptable roof design. Schaefer reminded the
membership that the ZBA Hearing is still "open" and for this reason the ZBA
is still accepting letters of comment. He appealed, "Please write. It
is important that we don't let Widewaters Commons set a precedent for Kinderhook
architecture."
Schaefer continued, "Many thanks to architects Kate
Johns, Marilyn Kaplan, Al Knoll and planning consultant, Norman Mintz for
their written comments to the Planning Board about Widewaters'
elevations.
I wish to extend a special thanks to Marilyn
Kaplan for speaking up at the ZBA Hearing against Widewaters' big box
architecture and flat roof design and to Alvin Knoll for the drawings he
submitted to the ZBA proving that a traditional roof could be built on the
Widewaters' footprint without having to go up eight stories as Widewaters
claims."
"I thank all the wonderful community minded people who
participated by speaking up against the murky fog being created in
Kinderhook by Widewaters."
LELAND ON BOARD AS
SECRETARY
Deirdre Leland, retired Ichabod Crane School
teacher, and recently appointed columnist for the Chatham Courier was
nominated for the position of secretary on the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee consists of the President, Treasurer and
Secretary. President Schaefer commented, "I've known Deirdre Leland since we
formed KNGG. She is motivated and reliable and will be a
great asset to the Executive Committee, the Board and the
organization."
At the same time, Mark Litteken, Treasurer and Allen
Schaefer, President made known their desire to serve another one year
term. Nominations were solicited from the membership. There were
none. The Executive Committee of Schaefer, Litteken and Leland were
elected by the membership. The members of the Executive Committee
automatically become members of the Board of Directors.
For a complete list of the board members and advisory
board members, visit www.kngg.org . Go to ABOUT KNGG and click on
"Who Are We?"
BAKER BRIEFING
Jeff Baker spoke to the membership about recent
happenings at the Planning Board and the ZBA.
Most important is that "Widewaters is NOT a done deal in
Kinderhook." They need site plan approval by
the Planning Board. The Planning Board should not feel obligated
to approve the plan in fear of being sued because it is most unusual for a
judge to go against a specialized municipal body so long as it is felt the body
had done its investigation and has sufficient reason. The Planning Board
has enough reason to turn this project down.
Baker, in answering questions from the
membership, spoke of the requirement of bonds for the developer of up front
fees to cover possible future needs such as enlargement of the roundabout,
replacement of landscaping, etc.
As the site plan review begins, the next review for
completeness will be the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement). This
document must be perfect and reflect the Planning Board's own judgement.
The Planning Board can reject this document as often as needed until
Widewaters gets it right.
Time was spent on possibility of Widewaters applying
for a tax break and the necessity of their signing a document to the effect
that they won't. Baker said that it is feasible that Widewaters could
be paying only 1/2 their taxes in it's first year and that the taxes would
increase by 5% yearly till they are paying their full share. This must be
avoided.
Baker mentioned the openings on the Planning Board and
the ZBA. He emphasized the we as members of the community who have an
interest in how it looks should put in for these openings. "You cannot be
turned down simply because you are a member of KNGG. You are a member of
the community and have a right to your opinion. However, you would be
expected to look at each situation with an open mind and give fair
judgment."
Board member, Meg Moran spoke of her experiences on
the Planning Board and how enlightening they were. She also urged people
to become active in community work. Communities don't just happen.
They need to be worked for.
ROD BLACKBURN EXPLAINS PROPOSED PRESERVATION
LAW
Historian, author and resident, Rod Blackburn,
explained the new proposed Historic Preservation Law for the
Historic District of the Village of Kinderhook and how it would differ from
the previous law. Rod and his team have been working at this law every
month for the past ten years.
At the recent Village Trustees' Hearing on the new
law, most of the residents present were in favor of it and the letters read that
night favored the law ten to one. The trustees vote is not
certain. Rod asked every village resident to write Mayor Jim Dunham
and the Board of Trustees and let them know your position.
One more hearing is being scheduled and it is possible
that the trustees will vote on this shortly. It's important to get your
letters in as soon as possible.
KNGG supports the spirit and importance of the new zoning
code.
As soon as we know the date of the new hearing, we'll
let you know.
BAKER COMMENDED BY GROUP FOR OUTSTANDING
WORK
Immediately following Rod Blackburn's speech,
Allen Schaefer brought out Rod's recent book, "Dutch Colonial Homes in
America." Asking Rod to sign it, he then presented the book to Jeff
Baker in gratitude and appreciation of his outstanding work for
KNGG. Schaefer related how, through Jeff's work, his speaking at the
hearings, board meetings and the professional documents he submitted that
the organization gained the respect of local officials and many of the
residents. Thank you again, Jeff Baker.
NORMAN MINTZ DEMONSTRATES WITH SLIDES
Norman Mintz,
college instructor, consultant and pioneer of the Main Street
movement, and co-author of the book Cities Back From The Edge: New Life
For Downtown is a
member of the Trustees Council of the Preservation League of New York State
and serves on the board of The New York State Main Street
Alliance. Mintz has been a pioneering advocate in the revival of downtown
Hudson and the restoration of the Hudson Opera House. He resides in
Claverack, Columbia County.
Working with slides, Mintz demonstrated how the main street revitalization movement can work on Routes 9 and 9H to keep it from becoming another East Greenbush. The presentation was enlightening, especially the way he managed to tie it in with what KNGG is doing in Kinderhook. "Redefining Main Street," an article by Norman Mintz, can be seen on the KNGG Web site www.kngg.org Go to GOOD GROWTH and click on "Articles." BUT IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA! As Schaefer was asking for a
motion to adjourn the meeting, Board Member, Meg Moran, spoke up
thanking him for his work and dedication to KNGG. Representing the
Board of Directors, Ally Spivy presented Schaefer with a signed copy
of the book, "Home from Nowhere" by James Howard
Kunstler. One couldn't help but see that he was
moved.
MORE ABOUT OUR MONDAY NIGHT'S
SPEAKERS
Norman
Mintz is a college instructor, consultant and pioneer of the Main
Street movement, and is co-author of the book Cities Back From The Edge: New Life For
Downtown. He is a member of the Trustees Council of
the Preservation League of New York State and also serves on the board of
The New York State Main Street Alliance. He is a consultant for Public Spaces
and to the Bryant Park Redevelopment Corporation. Mr. Mintz has been a
pioneering advocate in the revival of downtown Hudson and the restoration of the
Hudson Opera House. He resides in Claverack, Columbia County.
"Redefining Main Street," an article by Norman Mintz, can be seen on the KNGG Website www.kngg.org Go to GOOD GROWTH and click on Articles. Roderic Blackburn has been a Kinderhook resident since 1967, Mr. Blackburn participated in the writing of Kinderhook’s Comprehensive Plan and the rewriting of Kinderhook Village's historic zoning law. He is a past president of the Columbia County Historical Society and assistant director of the Albany Institute of History and Art. Rod Blackburn is the author of several books on historical Columbia County and the Dutch influence in New York. He maintains art and antique galleries in Kinderhook and Hudson. His latest book, “Dutch Colonial Homes in America,” was published by Rizzoli. Jeff Baker
is an environmental attorney practicing with the law firm of Young Sommer, LLC.,
Albany. Besides KNGG, Jeff represents Friends of Hudson who have
been fighting to protect Greenport, Hudson, Catskill, The Hudson Valley,
Columbia County and all lands east and north east of Hudson from the
pollutants and snowball effects of the proposed St. Lawrence Cement
plant. Monday night Jeff will update us on Widewaters, the Planning Board
and the ZBA.
ALSO on the AGENDA:
Annual Election of Officers and Board of
Directors
A Brief Business Meeting
A Reception after the Meeting
ALL at the KNGG ANNUAL MEETING - MONDAY DECEMBER
8TH - 7:30 PM
The McNary Center
at St. Paul's Church, 6 Sylvester Street, Village of
Kinderhook
Your contribution works hard for KNGG and it's
tax DEDUCTIBLE AS ALLOWED BY LAW.
DECEMBER 1, 2003
TO: ALL KNGG
MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer SPECIAL GUESTS TO SPEAK AT KNGG ANNUAL MEETING
MONDAY DEC
8th
Roderic Blackburn, KNGG Advisor, historian and author of the
recent Rizzoli publication,
"Dutch Colonial Homes in America," will give a brief
summary of local preservation and KNGG'S role in it.
(Three Kinderhook homes are featured)
Norman Mintz is co-author of the book "Cities Back from the Edge: New
Life for Down Town." Mr. Mintz has traveled
throughout the USA to observe case studies similar to Widewaters.
The essence of his book
and lectures is the bringing of life back to Main Street.
Mr. Mintz will show his slides
to demonstrate his 30 min. lecture.
Jeff Baker, KNGG attorney, will brief us on what's happening on
the legal front and will
take questions from the
membership.
ALSO on the
AGENDA:
A short business meeting.
Election of officers.
After meeting Reception
Please join us. KNGG meetings are not only
informative, they're fun!
The KNGG Annual
Meeting - Monday December 8th - 7:30 PM
at the McNary Center, St Paul's Church, 6 Sylvester Street,
Village of Kinderhook
Sylvester Street is off Hudson Street just next to
Kinderhook Memorial Library
NEWS FROM THE TOWN ZBA
For organizational reasons, the January meeting of the Town
ZBA has been cancelled.
Only four members were at tonight's meeting, three of
which were alternates.
Both the ZBA and the Planning Board are in need of
members. If you are interested,
please send a resume to the Town Board, P O Box P,
Niverville NY 12130. We believe there are openings for three plus a
chairman on the ZBA.
DECEMBER 1, 2003
KNGG ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
ELECTION and RECEPTION Monday - December 8th - 7:30 PM SPECIAL SPEAKERS: Jeff Baker, Environmental Attorney Norman Mintz, Author and Environmental Consultant The McNary Center - St Paul's Church - 6 Sylvester St. - Village of Kinderhook PLEASE
DON'T FORGET TO PUT KNGG
ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST!
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by
law. LATEST on
ROUNDABOUT:
LAW
ON CROSSWALKS GETS LITTLE RECOGNITION
(Register-Star October 10, 2003) By Taitia Shelow CHATHAM - Have you stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk lately? If the answer is no, you're not alone. But you also have broken the law. Since January 19, 2003, (the) New York state vehicle and traffic law has required that motorists "yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian walking in any part of a crosswalk in the same roadway, when a traffic signal is not present or not operating." Close to half of the 50 states in the United States have such laws, according to the New York governor's office. Local motorists traveling over the border into Massachusetts are well aware of the state's similar law. The New York Legislature passed this amendment to the previous crosswalk in July 2002, but it didn't take effect until earlier this year. The previous law only required motorists to yield the right-of-way when a pedestrian was on the same half of the roadway, or close enough on the opposite half to be in danger. The state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) made every effort to publicize the change, said Joseph Picchi, DMV spokesman. They issued press releases to the media, put inserts in mailings like registration renewals, and ran public service announcements on television. They also notified police departments of the change, he said. "The word is out. Sometimes not everyone is going to get the word, especially with a law whose scope is so narrow," said Peter Graves, a spokesman with state DOT. But despite the state's efforts to publicize the revision, most residents seem unaware of the change. In Chatham Village, where Main Street sees a lot pedestrian traffic in its unsignaled crosswalks, cars continue to whiz by pedestrians. Chatham Village Police Chief Kevin Boehme said his department is still giving out warnings as opposed to tickets for violations of the new crosswalk law. He, too believes most motorists are unaware of the change. "I don't think there was a lot put out as far as public awareness," he said. On a recent Friday afternoon, a high-traffic time for both pedestrians and cars, approximately two-thirds of the traffic on Main Street drove through a crosswalk without even slowing. However, at least three drivers stopped even when this reporter stood firmly on the sidewalk. And when Chatham resident Jane Wood and her son Matt accepted a request to cross a few times as an experiment, one car stopped to let them pass while several others zoomed by. Whether those who stopped knew the law or were simply being courteous, however, is unknown. No pedestrians approached by the Courier last week were aware of the law change. Chatham resident Mike Holden said he was aware of the law change, having seen the publicity service announcement on TV. But he went to his computer and looked it up on the Internet for confirmation recently when he was passed by a Chatham Village Police car while standing in the crosswalk. The police car did not stop, he said. Holden thinks it would be helpful to have signs announcing the law at crosswalks, like in Massachusetts towns. The topic of crosswalk signs has come up in the past few months at Chatham Village Board meetings. Village Trustees have wondered aloud whether they are responsible for putting up such signs. The main drags through Chatham Village are all state-maintained roads. DOT spokesman Graves said the crosswalk law does not require signs. They are available, however, if towns wish to purchase them at a cost of about $100-$150 a piece, he said. "It's not that we 're trying not to support anyone here...communities have discretion whether or not to place signs," Graves said. But Village Trustee Lael Locke, who has been researching the issue for Chatham Village believes it's just another example of state bureaucracy in action. "They pass laws and don't provide communities any way to implement them," Locke said. Locke added that she, too, would like to see signs put up, and feels it's unfair to ticket people if the law is largely unknown. "I do think people need to know there's a law in effect," she said. KNGG has reprinted the above article because we do not believe Widewaters' claims that traffic will come to a halt at the roundabout crosswalks for pedestrians where drivers would be concentrating on merging into or out of the circle, especially in the peak hours. We sincerely believe this unsignalized roundabout should not be installed at a busy school intersection. This is one reason why KNGG is asking the Board of Education to take a stronger stand on student and staff safety and against the location of the proposed Widewaters' site. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE, VISIT www.kngg.org GO TO "WIDEWATERS COMMONS" click on "School District" NOVEMBER 25, 2003 TO: All KNGG Members VILLAGE of KINDERHOOK PUBLIC HEARING on
NEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW and COMMISSION was held Tuesday night, November 25th, at the
McNary Center in the Village. Jim Dunham conducted the hearing.
Village Trustees Richard Phillips, Ruth Piwonka, Mike Urbatis and Cliff
Wexler, were also present. Trustee, Ruth Piwonka gave an overview of the
law and answered questions from the public.
About 10 people in all spoke; about 8 in favor and two with
questions. Mayor Dunham read 10 letters that were received into the
record. Out of 10 letters, only one was not in favor of the
new
Historic Preservation Law and
Commission.
The mayor explained that the Village Planning Board did not
have time to review the law prior to Tuesday's hearing. For this reason,
the hearing has been declared "open." This
means that letters of comment from the public are still being
accepted. The Planning Board is expected to discuss the law at its
December meeting. The Village Board of Trustees will discuss it further at
their December meeting. Another public hearing will be scheduled at that
time for approximately the 6th or 8th of January and the Board will vote on it
at its January meeting.
Please save the date:
Monday - December 8th - 7:30 PM - The McNary Center
KNGG ANNUAL MEETING,
ELECTION and RECEPTION - Special Guest
Speakers!
Your contribution to KNGG is
helpful and tax deductible as allowed by
law.
NOVEMBER 24, 2003 VILLAGE of KINDERHOOK HEARING for a
PROPOSED HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW
PUBLIC HEARING
For residents of the Historic District
and for those interested in the Historic Village of
Kinderhook
Tuesday - November 25th - 7:30 PM at the McNary Center, Sylvester St., Village of Kinderhook Below is a plea from historian Roderick Blackburn asking you to attend the Village hearing. This hearing is your opportunity to comment upon the
proposed new Historic Preservation Law before the Village Board decides on
adopting it. If adopted it will replace the existing zoning code having to
do with historic review of alterations or changes to the exterior of houses
in the historic district.
Rod Blackburn has asked that anyone who is unable to attend
this hearing to please send your comments about the new Historic Preservation
Law to him via e-mail. He will print and give them to the Village Clerk and
see that they are recorded as part of the record of the hearing.
The e-mail address
is blackburn@berk.com
* *
*
KNGG needs you to write letters to the press
regarding Widewaters BIG BOX architecture.
the ZBA DECLARED PUBLIC HEARING STILL "OPEN !" COMMENTS on WIDEWATERS ROOF PITCH VARIANCE are still being accepted! Write TODAY to Kinderhook Town ZBA, P O Box P, Niverville NY 12130 The Chatham Courier: courier@localnet.com The Independent: letters@indenews.com The Register-Star: editorial@registerstar.com
Widewaters wants a flat roof. The code says "NO." We must support the code. Otherwise precedence dictates that the next devotes wanting to put up "big box" flat roof structures will be allowed a variance also. Tell the ZBA this variance must be turned down to save Kinderhook's Route 9/9H Corridor from becoming an avenue of big boxes. It must be turned down to save the Town's rural traditional character. For details of ZBA Hearing, November 17th check www.kngg.org Click on "eNEWS" More Details on Architecture - See "Widewaters SDEIS" click on "Architecture" NOT SURE ABOUT ARCHITECTURE? Write to the press about the roundabout or water pollution or school bus safety or parking lot run off drain water or increase in traffic or loss of local businesses or air pollution or increase of traffic on local streets or light pollution or over-scale buildings or unsafe location or pedestrian crossings or loss of our country town character to suburbia WE MUST KEEP THESE ISSUES ALIVE! PLEASE WRITE! * * * Your contribution to KNGG is tax
deductible as allowed by law.
Please help KNGG to help
Kinderhook!
SAVE THE DATE . .
.
Monday December 8th - 7:30 PM - McNary
Center at St Paul's - Village of Kinderhook
The KNGG Annual Membership Meeting,
Election and Reception
VILLAGE of KINDERHOOK HEARING for a PROPOSED
HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW
PUBLIC HEARING
For residents of the Historic District
and for those interested in the Historic Village of
Kinderhook
Tuesday - November 25th - 7:30 PM at the McNary Center, Sylvester St., Village of Kinderhook Below is a plea from historian Roderick Blackburn asking you to attend the Village hearing. He also includes a summary of the new Historic
Preservation Law.
This hearing is your opportunity to comment upon the
proposed new Historic Preservation law before the Village Board decides on
adopting it. If adopted it will replace the existing zoning code having to
do with historic review of alterations or changes to the exterior of houses
in the historic district.
How do the
two differ and why the need for a new law? The need for the change has
resulted from some inadequacies in the present law. The existing 1972
law's guidelines are too broad, that is, vague, and are sometimes
difficult to apply to particular situations.
The Planning Board has had charge of these reviews and has, in the view of myself and others, not had adequate guidelines or experience to insure that all reviews result in the letter and/or spirit of the code being enforced. Some changes to buildings have been allowed which are not consistent with the village goal of preserving its historic heritage. These inadequacies are dealt with in the proposed new law by establishing reviews by a Historic Commission consisting of villagers who are knowledgeable about historic preservation. The new law is much clearer about the criteria for evaluating applications, criteria which will be based on sound principals of historic preservation. Applications for alterations or changes will receive more careful review. The Commission will have more detailed guidelines which will help both the applicant and the Commission understand and help each other reach decisions which are more consistent with preserving the historic buildings of the village . If there are significant changes in how applications are reviewed, how does the new ordinance differ from the present one in what gets reviewed? Not much. The current
law requires review of alterations or changes on the exterior part of a
building which is visible from the public way, usually the front and two
sides (or 4 sides if viewable from another street). The proposed law will
require review of all exterior parts of a building regardless if viewable
from a public way. This reflects the current preservation philosophy that
historic buildings are what should be preserved, not just the public's view
of them. It also reflects concern that adjacent neighbors have a right to
be protected from inappropriate changes on a neighbor's house which would
certainly be obvious from their own adjacent lots. Secondly, the current
law prohibits demolition of buildings older than 1850, the proposed law
would handle this on a case by case review of the multiple issues involved
in each case.
I have heard it asserted that the new law would prohibit an owner from doing what he wants in his own back yard (pools, walkways, garden ornaments, etc). The proposed ordinance will review only buildings or structures which are "historic", that is, 50 years old or older, for changes or alterations which are consistent with its style and construction. Even though the proposed law is more carefully drawn than the old one, it leaves a lot of latitude for what a resident can do on his property. The committee which drafted the proposed law did consider the idea of reviewing exterior house paint colors if an owner wished to change them from what existed. This was not recommended because of the complexity of administration, especially if 3 or 4 colors were to be combined on one house. The Commission, however, can be of advisory assistance to residents who would like to ask about appropriate historic colors. It is important that you, as a concerned resident of the village (and especially if one of the 100 home owners in the historic district), attend this meeting and voice your opinion of the proposed new law (sending a letter to Mayor James Dunham is also useful). The drafting committee has worked on this new ordinance for over 10 years. We have met monthly for most of that period. Do give them the consideration of your thoughts on how well it meets the needs of this, the loveliest of historic villages in the Hudson Valley. NOVEMBER 20, 2003 AT the PLANNING BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 20,
2003
WIDEWATERS Late
Thursday afternoon Marco
Marzocchi of Widewaters advised Planning Board Chairman, Ed Simonsen, to
remove Widewaters from the agenda. They would have no representation at
the meeting.
KNGG President Allen Schaefer presented the Planning
Board with copies of Al Knoll's letter and drawings presented Monday to the
ZBA. Ed Simonsen was most grateful. The letter and the drawings
prove that Widewaters building 4/4a can be built with a traditional look within
the code and that there is no need to build it eight stories as Widewaters
claimed was necessary.
A TOWN
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD In a letter to Supervisor Doug McGivney, Al
Knoll suggested that an architectural review board be created to assist the ZBA
and the Planning Board. Supervisor McGivney requested advise from both
boards. The ZBA voted in favor. The Planning Board believing it
to be a good idea, felt it premature and voted 7 to 0 to turn it down
suggesting the alternative of an architectural consultant being made available
to both boards in the way that various engineers and environmental specialists
are.
QUAIL RUN
SUBDIVISION Approval
of the Quail Run Subdivision was rescinded by a vote of 7 to 0 due to the
failure of the developer, Marcel St. Onge, to provide the Town with
the agreed bond to cover the road construction.
SPRAWL and SUBURBIA REPLACE UPSTATE'S GREEN ACRES This article can be found on the KNGG
website - www.kngg.org - Go to "Good Growth" and click
on "Articles."
KNGG needs operational funds. Won't you
help?
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by
law.
IN TODAY'S
INDEPENDENT Thank
you Robert Baksa for your views on Widewaters' proposed
architecture.
WE THANK THOSE WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PLANNING BOARD
and ZBA regarding Widewaters' architecture. The public is not aware of this
controversy. Please send or e-mail copies of your letters to the
Chatham Courier, courier@localnet.com - The Independent, letters@indenews.com - and the Register-Star, editorial@registerstar.com
TAKE ACTION TODAY: New online form lets you send a fax about the St. Lawrence Cement plant to Gov. Pataki Please take a moment today to visit the following address, at which you can fill out an online form that sends a fax to Governor Pataki about the massive, coal-fired St. Lawrence Cement proposal: http://www.stoptheplant.com The site was created by the Hudson Valley Preservation Coalition in conjunction with Environmental Advocates. Friends of Hudson has donated the domain name for the site. You can use the form letter at the site, or personalize the message, depending on how much time you want to spend. But please add your voice to this growing campaign to let the Governor know how large the opposition to SLC has grown. For more information, see the Friends of Hudson website. http://www.friendsofhudson.org ONE PICTURE IS A THOUSAND
WORDS
November 17, 2003 - Widewaters' hearing for a variance of a
flat roof
GO TO "ARTICLE 78" Click on
"Background." PLANNING BOARD
MEETS
THURSDAY - November 20th - 7:00 PM -
Town Hall, Niverville
Widewaters General Council Marco Marzocchi has
announced that he plans to present the Planning Board with the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Thursday night.
KNGG does not know how this can be possible
because Widewaters is nowhere finished mitigating several issues on this project
including water pollution, water hook-up to Valatie's water supply, light
pollution, noise pollution, soil percolution rates, the roundabout, issues of
the school district that have been brought to light because of KNGG's Kelly
Piester's advising the Board of Education of her concerns. Widewaters is a
long way off from satifying KNGG.
It must be remembered and understood,
especially by the Planning Board, that the FEIS is
their document that is to be submitted by the Planning Board in their name to the DEC (Department of Environmental
Conservation) and that it is their obligation to the residents to Kinderhook to
show that no issue has been left uninvestigated, unanswered or neglected in any
matter, way or form; that this project is safe in every possible way, including
the roundabout, water pollution, traffic, town character, preservation of
historic sites and numerous other important items.
There is no possible way that Widewaters could
have satisfied all these unanswered concerns at this time. Thursday night
will be most interesting theatre if nothing
else.
NOVEMBER 25, 2003 KNGG NEEDS YOUR HELP . .
.
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 17th - 7:00 PM - Town
Hall, Niverville
Please attend the ZBA Public Hearing for Widewaters roof
pitch.
We are not asking for you to speak, unless you want
to. We ask only that you be there to
support our efforts.
If you can write a letter to pass to the ZBA Monday night,
it would be of great help. For help:
Please see www.kngg.org - click on "Schedules" under "Other
Meetings & Events" or under "Current Issues," click on
"E-NEWS" or under "Comments on Widewaters" click on
"Architecture."
KNGG NEEDS YOUR HELP . .
.
KNGG needs people to serve on the Board of Directors.
The time frame is January 2004 till January 2005.
It is important that we fill these three
vacancies.
Please let us know if you are interested or if you
wish to
nominate someone that is. Please call or
e-mail.
NOVEMBER 14, 2003 OF SPECIAL NOTICE
I would like to thank those of you that took
time to come out to the meeting last night. You are
noticed. For a few of the members that are usually at these
meetings but not in attendance last night, your attendance at these meetings has
been valuable and we thank you also.
PLANNING BOARD TO WIDEWATERS,
"NO!"
At approximately 8:30 PM last night, the Planning
Board, by a special motion, turned their Workshop into a regular meeting.
At a Workshop, no decisions or determinations can be made. At a
regular meeting, they can.
The ZBA had asked the Planning Board for a recommendation on
Widewaters' application for a variance on roof pitch of their big
box buildings 4/4a for which the Public Hearing is Monday, November
17th. Widewaters had sent Planning Board members copies of affidavits
from Marzocchi and Widewaters' architect explaining why they believe the
variance is necessary. Inclusive in the packet are elevation drawings of
three examples of how the project would look the way Widewaters interprets the
Town Code. All three examples show eight story
buildings.
Marco Marzocchi was snowed in at his office
in DeWitt, NY. Widewaters was represented by John Hogan of LeBouf,
Lamb.
In a discussion of the Planning Board members before a
vote was taken, Ed Simonsen, Planning Board Chairman, said, "The Town Code
is not appropriate for a supermarket."
Don Gaylord said that the facade is acceptable. "I
recommend the variance be
accepted."
Charlie Shattenkirk asked Gaylord, "by what standard? We
should ask for the Reinbeck plans. Reinbeck meets all
standards. They stuck to their guns. Why can't
we?"
Gaylord gave no reply.
Jerry Minot-Scheuerman stated that even in the new plans
with an eight story roof, the Hannaford gable is still high
and obstructive. We should be given options that are upscale and
viable. They have given us an exaggeration.
Tim Ooms said, "Change it. It's not
acceptable"
Richard Anderson stated, "The options given are
not viable."
Ed Simonsen said, "Widewaters tried to disguise the flat
roof."
Marc Gerstman, Planning Board attorney said that the board
could choose to recommend approval, recommend disapproval or go with no
recommendation which would be interpreted as recommended.
Don Gaylord made a motion to recommend the
variance.
John Hoggan, Widewaters attorney, tried to interject opinion
but was told by the chair that it would be inappropriate as there is a motion on
the table.
Mike Leiser seconded.
The vote:
Ed Simonsen, NO.
Tim Ooms, YES.
Richard Anderson, NO.
Jerry Minot-Scheuerman, NO.
Charlie Shattenkirk, NO.
Mike Leiser, YES.
Don Gaylord, YES.
It's interesting that Tim Ooms found the drawings
unacceptable but voted in favor of the recommendation.
Another motion was made and
seconded to deny recommendation of the variance. The vote was
4 to 3 deny the
variance.
The vote:
Ed Simonsen,
YES
Richard Anderson,
YES
Mike Leiser, NO
Don Gaylord, NO
Tim Ooms, NO
Jerry Minot-Scheuerman,
Yes
Charles Shattenkirk,
YES
A discussion followed regarding Widewaters lack
of interest in addressing unanswered concerns. Correspondence from
the school district - "Heavy comments," says Charlie Shattenkirk referring
to the 2/14/03 letter written by Superintendent of Schools, Darlene
Jewel, regarding traffic. Charlie, a former civil engineer, suggested
that the questions are so well put, that they must have been written by a
traffic engineer. Several board members expressed dismay that Widewaters
had not replied to these question and others such as the water problems
addressed by KNGG in the DEIS comments and by the Columbia County Dept. of
Health.
Marc Gerstman stated, "Widewaters IS required to
respond."
Richard Andersen stated that the concerns of the school
district are most important as addressed in Darlene Jewel's letter of
2/11/03.
Charlie Shattenkirk brought up the water problems that
haven't been addressed:
1. A letter from the Columbia County Dept. of Health
asking Widewaters for proof in writing from Valatie why Widewaters could
not hook to the Valatie water supply. This was requested in February of
2002 and has not been addressed by the developer.
2. Pollutants in storm water run
off.
3. Relationship of the placement to the well so close
to the septic system.
4. Whole site plan could change depending of possible
relocation of septic system.
5. Roundabout needs more room. Not enough
space allotted.
Attorney John Hoggan argued that because Widewaters did
not offer other alternate drawings that the Planning Board felt were
more viable, was not legally correct to disapprove the
recommendation.
Gerstman was right on top of it saying that the decision
certainly fell within the "legal framework" since the evaluation of alternatives
was not available.
Ed Simonsen stated that Marco claims he will present the
FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) at next weeks Planning Board
Meeting.
KNGG does not see how this possible when there are so
many issues not addressed as stated above.
LETTERS
Thank you Frank Rhyner for the great letter and all your
research on roundabouts which was published in Thursday's
Register-Star.
Letters for the opposition are beginning to appear
again. There are still some people out there that don't realize that these
over scale buildings are not suitable for Kinderhook and the dangers that
Widewaters will cause at the intersection. It's most important to keep
writing letters to the editor.
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 17th - 7:00 PM - TOWN HALL -
NIVERVILLE
Widewaters wants to "legally" break our code! (They
want a variance.)
COME TO TOWN HALL AND ROOT FOR KNGG AND KINDERHOOK'S
FUTURE LOOK!
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible to the extent
of the law. Won't you give today?
You can locate
this bulletin and many other KNGG interests on the web at www.kngg.org
You can NOW access KNGG through AOL, berk.com, Google and
Yahoo. Come visit us
soon!
NOVEMBER 12, 2003 KNGG IS NOW WORLD CLASS!
You can find KNGG NOW ON GOOGLE and YAHOO as
well as berk.com !!!
INFORMATION TO
HELP FORM YOUR SPEECH OR
WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR ZBA
One of the ways Widewaters is not conforming to the code is
the ROOF PITCH on buildings 4/4A. Widewaters has acknowledged this and is
asking the ZBA for a varience on ROOF PITCH.
The Kinderhook "New" Town Code requires that: Buildings should relate in scale. Design features should relate to the site and surrounding architecture. All commercial architecture is to be based on pre-1940 design of the "area." (The "area" as described by Planning Board Chairman, Ed Simonsen, includes the Towns of Kinderhook and Chatham.)No Mansard or flat top roofs. A particular roof pitch is required to the buildings so they reproduce architecture of pre-1940s Kinderhook. As an example of what could be done with the proposed Hannaford building, take a look the Red Hook Hannaford. There are no glass walls or skylight peaks visible from the parking area and no overstated architectural signature either. While the roof gable does exist, it is designed to blend in with the local area's architecture. The Kinderhook Hannaford building is signature architecture with a flat top roof. The building next to Hannaford has mansard roofing and both buildings are in violation of the code. Widewaters knows this. Why are they trying to force this poorly designed architecture on Kinderhook? Because it’s cheaper than following the code. Although Widewaters claims they cannot build to the code, KNGG believes that either their architects lack imagination and understanding of gables and dormers or Widewaters has instructed them to be unresponsive to our concerns for their economic reasons.KNGG believes that if a developer is unwilling to follow our town code and to invest in good architecture and site design, the developer should not be allowed to force his choice of mansard roofs and flat top roofs on Kinderhook. He should be told to return to the drawing boards and return to us only when his drawings are in complete compliance with our Comprehensive Plan and the "New" Town Code. The ZBA should turn this variance down. THIS IS A TEST! This is the first major project of this magnitude to be built under the "New" Code. Other developers are watching. If the project is allowed to be built as now proposed, other developers --- including Widewaters --- will expect the same treatment from the Planning Board in the future and the Route 9/9H Corridor will become an avenue of "big boxes," another East Greenbush.This project is emense for this rural town. It will be overpowering and dominate the own. Kinderhook should not be expected to lower its standards and change its Town character for the gains of any developer. Kinderhook deserves better. Kinderhook can have better if the ZBA require this developer to strictly comply with the code as it was intended. * * * S L C HEARINGS COMMENCE The adjudicatory hearings will focus on noise impacts and truck traffic. The hearings on TRAFFIC to be Nov. 12, 13, and 14. The hearings on NOISE to be Nov. 19, 20 and 21 and if needed, Nov. 24, 25 and 26. The hearings begin each morning at 9:00 AM at the Greenport Town Hall. Information: www.friendsofhudson.com Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible to the extent of the law. NOVEMBER 7, 2003 ZBA CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
Tonight's ZBA
meeting was relatively quiet. No Widewaters! However Widewaters did
get most of all documents into the ZBA in time for examination prior the Public
Hearing set for November 17th.
Just before
the meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM, John Piddock, Chairperson, announced his
resignation to be effective in January. It was also mentioned that there
will be 4 openings on the ZBA. Volunteers are needed.
We need
thinking people on that board. If you are interested, call the Town Clerk,
Kim Pinkowski, at 784-2233.
In addition, a nursery wants to take over 156 Fordham
Rd., which is zoned "agriculture/residential." They want to be
considered "agricultural." However a nursery is a retail commercial
venture and should be considered "commercial." KNGG believes that this
commercial establishment should not be allowed to diminish the
agricultural/residential neighborhood. Whether one is selling plants or
clothing, it's still a commercial enterprise.
The ZBA is
being asked to make a determination on how to classify "nursery."
ZBA PUBLIC HEARING ON WIDEWATERS' FLAT
ROOF
Widewaters is
claiming "hardship" and wants a
variance to put a flat roof on the Hannaford building and its adjacent
building as well. They managed to get most of their documentation to the
ZBA by today's deadline.
The Public Hearing is now officially set for November 17th
- Town Hall, Niverville 7:00 PM.
We will need
your support on this one. We need to fill that hall with our people.
You don't have to speak.
Just support
our speakers. You are most welcome to speak if you wish.
BOARD OF ED RECEPTION . . .
COOL
We attended the Board of Education meeting Tuesday
night with KNGG member and proud mother of two lovely children, Kelly
Piester. So far, Kelly has been the only parent that has shown up at
the Board of Education meetings to speak of her concerns about her
children's safety although a few other mothers did show up to give
support.
The board
offers the public a time to speak. According to the printed agenda,
there are suppose to be no comments by board members about what the speaker
says and the speaker is expected not to engage the board in any
conversation. In other words, don't question the
board. KNGG believes this is not an open forum and that
parents are not encouraged to speak.
Kelly spoke
well. She was polite and showed respect for the board and concern for her
children's safety with regard to the roundabout and the proposed mall's luring
of students after school. She mentioned that we have learned a lot
more recently about safety issues and suggested the board reopen their dialogue
with the Planning Board and pursue this important issue further.
Surprisingly
to me, after having read the agenda instructions, Edmond Brooks, President
of the Board, commented, in a most condescending tone, that the board had
written two times on this issue to the Planning Board and
considered its job fulfilled.
The Board of
Education, in Widewaters' pursuit of their application process, is considered by
the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) law to be an "interested
agency." KNGG is an "interested party." The Planning Board is the
"lead agency" because they will ultimately make the final determination.
SEQRA, in their hand book, describes an interested agency as "a public body
which does not have jurisdiction over a project, but wishes to participate in
the process because of its expertise or specific concern."
KNGG believes
that the Board of Education, as an "interested agency," has a responsibility
here which has not been fulfilled. The board is an expert in children's
safety and should have serious concerns in this matter. Any parent in this
school district has the right, not only to a detailed explanation but to
ask that the board's dialogue with the Planning Board be reopened.
KNGG believes
that the board should make a public statement about where it stands on this
issue because we assess this mall to be dangerous. It will
bring heavier traffic, a roundabout which has no traffic lights to safely let
students cross, and a continuous flow of traffic making it most difficult
and dangerous for the school busses to gear up to merge into the traffic,
not to mention problems that are reported to occur with children at malls after
school.
Furthermore, KNGG strongly believes that the morning rush
hour at this intersection is the heaviest of all. Everyone is commuting to
work on these roads at approximately the same hour. This is the hour when
school busses are coming and going to and from the school. Yet Widewaters has failed to provide a morning midweek rush hour traffic
count/analysis. They have provided it for the afternoon rush hour,
after which the school busses have returned to their garages for the
night.
In addition, having read the federal guidelines for
roundabouts, we see that roundabouts are considered safe only when the entrances
are of equal distances apart. The closer the entrances get to each other,
the more dangerous they become. Route 9 and 9H will merge at this
roundabout. It couldn't get much more
dangerous.
NOVEMBER 5, 2003 HOW WAS WIDEWATERS INVOLVED IN THIS
ELECTION?
WHY?
We have observed at Planning Board meetings, Public
Hearings, and the Ken Wenglers' "Circus" Town Board Meeting, that Ken
Wengler has been too chummy with Marco Marzocchi, Chief Counsel for
Widewaters. We noted that Ken Wengler and Mary Kramarchyk sat
with Marco at the October 15, 2002 Public Hearing on the DEIS. Throughout the
meeting they sat in the back laughing while the residents of Kinderhook
took the hearing seriously and spoke in earnest. Obviously none
of them had any interest in what the voters had to
say.
We began to wonder even more where the money was coming
from to pay for calls coming into the community disguised as survey calls
but were doing nothing but trying to pass out false information against
McGivney, Vecellio and Gilbert. How was the Republican "team" able to
pay thousands of dollars for expensive TV commercials and the flood of red
campaign signs?
In an article in today's Register-Star, Joe Prout and John
Mason (We are not sure which reporter was at Republican Headquarters awaiting
election returns.) reported, "Widewaters representative Marco Marzocchi called the
Kinderhook Republican Headquarters seeking election results, but called before
the votes were tallied. The company hopes to build a shopping center in
the town."
Why are the results so important to Widewaters that they
couldn't wait till the media got the news out? Just how much did
Widewaters have invested in this election? There are a lot of
questions that need answering here, questions the residents of Kinderhook
have a right to ask and get answered.
We do have one answer,
though.
If this election was meant to be a referendum on
Widewaters, Widewaters lost.
NOVEMBER 5,
2003
MORE NUMBERS NOW
IN ON KINDERHOOK
ELECTION
Late last
night it was reported to KNGG that Ken Wengler was a winner for
council. Evidentially more numbers are in and it is now reported that
Keith Stack is the winner instead of Wengler.
Today's election results come from The
Independent at www.indenews.com .
However, even
the Independent is reporting the numbers as "unofficial."
Here are the numbers for Kinderhook:
Candidates
are listed in order of the amount of votes received.
The winners
are shown in light blue. We are not sure when the numbers will be
official.
McGivney had
a good margin over Simonsmeier and that position looks stable.
SUPERVISOR:
Doug
McGivney (Democrat & Working Families Parties)
1665
Walt Simonsmeier (Republican, Conservative,
Independent)
1328
TOWN COUNCIL:
Keith
Stack (Republican, Conservative)
1596
Francis Vecellio (Democrat,
Independent, Working Families)
1554
Ken Wengler (Republican,
Conservative)
1422
Joe Gilbert (Democrat, Working
Families)
1347
TOWN CLERK:
Kim
Penkowski - (Democrat) unopposed
2138
TOWN JUSTICE:
Edward "Archie"
Williams - (Democrat) unopposed
2418
TOWN TAX COLLECTOR:
Lillian
Roginski - (Republican)
unopposed
1864
STOPPING SPRAWL FOCUS OF
WORKSHOP
By: Richard
Roth
POUGHKEEPSIE--Smart Growth, defined by the Encarta World English Dictionary as "economic
growth that consciously seeks to avoid wastefulness and damage to the
environment and communities," is the subject of a conference in Poughkeepsie on
Saturday, November 15.
Also seen on
the web - for full story, see indenews.com
NOVEMBER 3,
2003
TO: ALL KNGG MEMBERS
On TUESDAY - NOV. 4th
Please VOTE for GOOD GROWTH
!
NOVEMBER 1,
2003
The ELECTION and KNGG
The outcome of Tuesday's election will determine not only
what the future Kinderhook will look
like but how our quality of life will be
effected. The issue for KNGG is not just the small rural town's character
versus suburban sprawl, but whether or not additional traffic congestion on 9/9H
will drastically increase causing air pollution from idling cars and
trucks. Simonsmeier is already calling Routes
9/9H Kinderhook's "BUSINESS" CORRIDOR. That's
scary!
If you believe GOOD GROWTH is important, and I'm
sure you do, please get to the
polls this Tuesday, November 4th.
KNGG would like to
see officials elected who will promote GOOD
GROWTH.
Who could that be?
KNGG has weighed what the candidates have done and what
they tell us.
Walt Simonsmeier, Ken Wengler and Keith Stack are
strongly in favor of the Widewaters project as it now stands, roundabout and
all. They will prpbably misinterpret the Comprehensive Plan to
suit their agenda, as Widewaters had in their DEIS and SDEIS. At Planning Board
meetings and Public Hearings we see Ken Wengler consorting with Marco
Marzocchi and other Widewaters associates. Not good.
The Town Board should remain neutral and not show
partiality. Ken Wengler should not be seen prompting Marco at
Planning Board meetings as to what drawings to be show. The Widewaters
project should not be made a political issue. The determination
on the Widewaters project will be made by the Town Planning Board, not by the
Town Board. Political pressure should not be put on the Planning Board as
Ken Wengler and Mary Kramarchyk have tried.
Walt, Keith and Ken would most likely misinterpret our
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code to promote business they want to see in the
9/9H "BUSINESS" Corridor. (As
Walt refers to it.)
Doug McGivney and Joe Gilbert would like a
smaller Widewaters with NO roundabout and preferably in
a much safer location.
Frances Vecellio supports Widewaters but NO roundabout.
Although Frances supports the Widewaters proposal, I
sincerely believe he could be trusted to support the Town Code and Comprehensive
Plan.
Doug
McGivney, Francis
Vecellio and Joe Gilbert
will support the Comprehensive Plan and
Zoning Code in the way it was
intended. Not only will they
support these plans, but I believe if there should be any amendments, they would
be GOOD
GROWTH amendments. Doug McGivney has promoted and been
involved in open space land conservation in Kinderhook and saved much land for
farming and the Town Park.
Doug McGivney and Francis Vecellio have been endorsed by
The Register-Star. In the last election, McGivney won by very few votes
(7?). It's important for all of us to get out and vote this Tuesday, November
4th. Vote for GOOD GROWTH!
For more details, please see the October 15th edition of
KNGG eNEWS which has a report on
The League of Woman's Voters Debate featuring our
local candidates at North Pointe.
You can access past eNEWS
by visitng www.kngg.org . Under "Current Issues," click
on
E-NEWS - Move down to the October 15,
2003 bulletin.
A BUSY WEEK AHEAD:
Monday - November 3rd - Town Planning Board -
Niverville
Public Written Comment Period CLOSES on Widewaters'
architectural drawings.
Monday - November 3rd - 7:30 PM - Palmer Engine House -
Chatham Street. (Route
9)
VILLAGE OF KINDERHOOK ZBA PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DUTCH
INN
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4th - ELECTION
DAY!
Please go to the polls and vote for GOOD
GROWTH!
Tuesday - November 4th - 7:00 PM - Ichabod Crane
Middle School Library
Concerned parents to address the Board of Education on
Widewaters' safety issues
We invite you come to the meeting and support the
speakers.
Information: Kelly Piester -
758-1415 OCTOBER 30,
2003
We want to help you write a critical letter about
Widewaters Commons' architecture
and why it is not appropriate for Kinderhook
and/or how it is not conforming to code.
Sounds difficult? We've got just the help for
you!
We have just created a page on our web site loaded with
information to
help you with just this task.
It's all there! Even the paragraphs from the Town
Code that will help you to
back up what you are saying in your letter is on he web
site.
To take a look, go to the AOL server or to www.berk.com .
Once there, in the
search blank, type in
www.KNGG.org .
At the bottom of the INDEX column, click on
"Architecture."
Your letter is due at Town Hall this Monday, November
3rd. If you can't get
it there, call Allen at 758-8337. If you can have it
ready by Sunday afternoon,
we'll see that it gets there.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER
4TH
V O T E !
for CANDIDATES
that SUPPORT GOOD GROWTH!
What is Good Growth in
Kinderhook?
The Town Park
is GOOD GROWTH.
The COMPREHENSIVE PLAN is GOOD GROWTH.
New ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS in the Zoning
Code ARE GOOD GROWTH.
MORE Land CONSERVATION
for FARMING IS GOOD GROWTH.
THE
ROUTES 9/9H CORRIDOR STUDY COULD BE GOOD GROWTH .
. .
This is the TEAM record.
The TEAM that will CONTINUE TO PRESERVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN and ZONING CODE.
Go to the POLLS and cast you VOTE for
GOOD GROWTH! OCTOBER 28,
2003
ALL ELVES at KNGG BUSY BUILDING NEW WEB
SITE!
The old web site wasn't working well. It was almost
impossible to update. The new one is
doing much better. We've been testing for two
weeks and are ready for an unveiling!
The address is the same www.KNGG.org and it can be accessed via www.berk.com or via AOL.
Other servers such as Yahoo and Goggle are being
added. Please take a look. We find it
exciting!
VILLAGE of KINDERHOOK ZBA HEARING on the OLD
DUTCH INN
Monday - November 3rd - 7:30 PM - Village of
Kinderhook at
Palmer House Engine Company Fire House - 39 Chatham
Street (Route 9) Village of K'HOOK
At Issue:
Various zoning regulations for which exceptions are being
requested:
A. To locate a septic system at 44 Broad Street to
service the Old Dutch Inn
B. To operate a restaurant and 9 room
inn
Village residents are asked to voice their opinion on
variances for extensions to the
building and special use
permits.
As many people as possible should attend this hearing to
monitor the process
whether or not they live in the Village.
NOV 3rd PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD on
WIDEWATERS BIG BOX ARCHITECTURE . . . ENDS
"This structure is
nothing more than trying to put a bikini on an elephant," said Historical
Architect Marilyn Kaplan, addressing KNGG
membership at the quarterly meeting. Kinderhook deserves better!
Take a look at the
drawings. We have a set and they are also available for view at Town Hall,
the Valatie Library and Memorial Library in the Village of Kinderhook. The
code says "pre 1940" architecture is required. Have you ever seen a glass
wall (Hannaford Signature) on pre 1940's buildings in the Kinderhook area?
None of the examples given to Widewaters to incorporate in the drawings have
glass walls. Hannaford does not need a glass wall. The don't have
one in Red Hook. Think colonial, think Georgian, think Federal, think
Victorian, but don't think 1970's glass walls!
Your comments must be
delivered by Nov. 3rd to
Ed Simonsen,
Chairman,
Town of Kinderhook
Planning Board, P O Box P, Niverville NY 12130
BOARD of EDUCATION
MEETING
We've learned that the Board of Ed Many believe that the School Board hasn't looked
deeply enough into safety issues regarding
the Widewaters Mall. Roundabout or no roundabout, if the mall is built at
its present proposed location, there will
be additional traffic congestion at the Route 9, 9H, State Farm Rd.
intersection. This will not only effect school busses but students on foot
and student drivers as well as school staff. In addition the mall
will attract young teens which in itself can pose many problems for parents, the
school and local authorities.
If you or anyone you know
would like to join in and speak up for the children, please call Kelly Piester
at 758-1415. If you get the machine, be sure to leave a
message.
Tuesday - November 4th - 7:00 PM - Ichabod Crane
Middle School Library
ZBA PUBLIC HEARING - WIDEWATERS ROOF
PITCH
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 17th -7:00 PM - at a Place to
be Announced
Widewaters plans to build
big boxes in Kinderhook. They claim they cannot put
roofs on their big
boxes as required by code. So they want to put in the cheaper
flat tops
which are associated with
the big boxes.
Why was the code written
and what was intended? KNGG believes the code was written
to
prevent big box
"architecture" and has denied the developers flat roofs and mansard
roofs.
If Widewaters architects
were clever enough, they could come up with pleasing gabled roofs
that would distract from
the big box look. It's been done elsewhere such as Hannaford's supermarket
in Red Hook. It can be done here if either Widewaters or the ZBA has
the
will to do so.
The ZBA should not give a
variance on this issue because if it does, every developer coming
here in the future
including Widewaters will expect to get the same variance over and
over.
Why have a code if the
ZBA keeps over ruling it with exceptions? The code has its
reasons.
Let's stick to
them!
EVERYTHING ON THIS
eNEWS CAN BE LOCATED AT www.KNGG.org
CHECK IT
OUT! OCTOBER 17,
2003
NEW PARK OPENING DATE
CHANGED
At 3:30 Thursday afternoon, Town Hall announced that
the opening of the new Town park, "Volunteers' Park," has been changed to this
Saturday October 18th at 12:30
PM. This is one week earlier than previously announced.
All are invited to the ceremony. Free hot dogs and ice-cream and the
Ichabod Crane High School Band
too!
BE PROUD OF KNGG!
Did you know that KNGG had a record breaking attendance at
our October 7th Quarterly meeting?
Did you know that KNGG is the first environmental group in
Kinderhook to accomplish what we
have in protecting our environmental
and historic rights?
Did you realize if it weren't for KNGG, people would now be
pushing their carts down bleak Hannaford aisles at Widewaters
Commons?
If you don't have a lawn sign, why not help promote KNGG
now?
KNGG lawn signs are available:
Call Abbey Cash at 758-7588 or John Picket at
758-7520
Saturdays and Sundays - call Sue Chiafuello at
758-2944
It costs thousands to operate
KNGG.
Cost includes legal fees, engineering fees, office supplies
and copy fees, internet and web site fees, web site building, bulk
postage fees and FOIL Requests, etc.
KNGG needs your financial help. Won't you join your
neighbors in helping KNGG to help Kinderhook.
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by
the law.
KINDERHOOK! An endangered species? YOU
BET IT IS!
PARENTS GEARING UP TO SPEAK TO
BOARD OF ED
The Board of Education meets Tuesday, November 4th - 7PM in
the Middle School Library.
Parents, Grandparents, friends and neighbors are preparing
to speak about their concerns for safety and other impacts Widewaters Commons
will have on the School and its students.
For information and to sign up to
speak:
Call Sabine Murphy at 758-9793 or Kelly Piester at
758-1415
A Word From the President
We have received a few communications lately from a few
members that worry me. One or two have expressed they are only interested in not
having a Hannaford store in Kinderhook. Another said they were only
interested in no roundabout and yet another said they were only interested
in water contanimation.
What we must realize is that all of these things must be
checked out to the fullest extent and the Planning Board must be advised to
check out all missing details. If there is NO Widewaters Commons, there
will be NO Hannaford, NO roundabout or NO water pollution! KNGG
understands that it must seek detailed information on every aspect that might
put a stop to this project, not just onepart of it. Our goal is to stop
this devastating project any way in which we can find unacceptable
faults.
If the Dept. of Health is satisfied that Widewaters will
not pollute the aquifer, then would need to work on other issues such as
the roundabout. We will work on any issue that may stop this project and
its unacceptable impacts. For details, please see
below.
Allen Schaefer, President
At the Planning Board Last
Night
Marco Marzocchi of Widewaters returned to The Planning
Board with revised drawings, this time with dimensions. Marco wanted
approval of the plans to take to the ZBA for the roof variance. However,
the Planning Board found many missing items:
Following is an abbreviated list of missing items: Ratios
were not clear; size of clapboard siding needed and a footnote error on one
diagram. For the third meeting in a row, John Felt has asked for
clarification, details and clearer drawings of the Hannaford
canopy. This has not been provided and for the 3rd time has been
promised again. Many dimensions were missing and textures were not
shown. An ariel view of the project has beem asked for and
is now promised.
Gerard Minot-Scheureman moved that the revised drawings
have been received and are subject to further revisions. The motion was
seconded and passed 7 to 0.
Town engineer, Jim Green, hired especially for the
Widewaters project, found many engineering
faults:
The site plan is not complete.
Plans needed for the taking of lands by DOT in the event
the roundabout hits capacity and a second lane would be needed; necessity to
move State Farm Road; loading docks for buildings 2 & 3 are not shown;
location of dumpsters not shown; details of parking plans & handicap parking
needed; landscaping needed to cover reflections of car lights of glass which
could blind drivers on Route 9; No provisions for erosion control; where does
drainage from roundabout go?
WATER
In March, 2003, a new DEC plan went into effect. If
one or more acres of land is disturbed, a
special water quality test must be performed. As
the testing is now more strict, at this time Widewaters does not
qualify.
The Columbia County Department of Health has concerns about
the septic system due to the high percolation rate of the soil at the site which
KNGG engineers found as well.
LIGHTING PLAN
Incomplete. Must show lower intensity, more even, not
as bright, lighting of signage and lower poles to 25 feet. Marco objected
to lowering of poles but Planning Board members insisted that the poles at the
new Hannaford in Red Hook and at Stop & Shop in Reinbeck are only 25 feet
tall. This was all mentioned by Howard Brandston, our light designer, in
addition to other problems.
More information on the generator Hannaford plans to use at
peak hours year round to save money. Noise levels of generator
requested. This has been requested by Make Litteken in his SDEIS comments
to the Planning Board.
SHELLY JOHNSON
Town traffic consultant is asking
for:
Impact of roundabout on surrounding properties; details and
actual size; speed limits within and outside; conceptional plan of 2 lane
roundabout; include rights of way for possession of near by lands; impact of
roundabout on the site driveway; details of the northern most driveway's curb
cut as shown, tractor trailors cannot make the turn.
Most of things being asked for have been brought to the
attention of the Planning Board in various comments by
KNGG.
A review of the above comments by the Planning Board will
take place at their workshop on November 13th.
We do not understand how a "qualified professional"
developer could come into Kinderhook and expect to put up public buildings with
out these qualifications, many of which have been pointed out by non
professionals. OCTOBER 15,
2003
THE LEAGUE of WOMEN'S VOTERS'
DEBATE
held at North Pointe last night went more or less as
expected.
Five of the candidates wore business suits, shirt and tie
or dress pants, jacket and tie. Walt Simonsmeier wore a black tuxedo with
a gray stripe shirt and a shoestring tie.
The questions we chose to write about are questions we feel
to be most relevant to KNGG.
The transcript is taken from notes and some of it may be
paraphrased or abbreviated in part.
One of the questions asked was, "Will you support and
strengthen the Comprehensive Plan?"
Walt: I'll make it mandatory that all Planning Board
members and ZBA members get proper training. Routes 9 and 9H is our commercial
corridor space. (This answer is important because it tells us what the
corridor study means to him.)
Ken: I would like too require that all developers put up
bond money to mend a project that doesn't work. (Can we recover farmland
once top soil is lost to asphalt?)
Keith: We need a plan with an appealing design study
- more clear than the present zoning law.
Francis: Doug and I were elected on the strength that
we supported the Comprehensive Plan, which in its way calls
for a corridor study which we have initiated and it is now awaiting grant
approval before moving forward. I'm for "smart" zoning!
Joe: I was a member of the Town Planning Board.
I understand and go for the Comprehensive Plan. New growth
in this Town should be of historical design to blend with Town
character. I would like to encourage small businesses as opposed to the
large conglomerates or chains. I believe that Kinderhook is our town, not the
developer's.
Doug: I hope I didn't hear my opponent say Route 9/9H
is all commercial! There is residential and agricultural space along
Routes 9/9H as well. Not just commercial. I'm one of the supporters
of the Plan that worked on getting it passed. Yes I support it. The plan
should by law be reviewed after 5 years. If it proves to need
strengthening, I'll support that too. The CP is suggestive of a Corridor
Study for Routes 9 and 9H which is in the works. We recently obtained a
conservancy of 80 acres of open space up on Route 9 and a somewhat
smaller amount across from it. I believe in good growth for
Kinderhook.
The BIG SLC Question
Walt: I'm all for it! (He read a statement that
could have been written by SLC public relations.)
Ken: With modern technology, SLC can be built within
the standards. It's OK.
Keith: The new plant will be cleaner than the dirty
plant across the river. (Pure SLC rhetoric. Friends of Hudson's
engineers have proven this is not so and SLC in their DEIS have admitted to as
much. You're not up to date, Keith!)
Francis: I'm in favor of it. (Why? He's
in favor of promoting business in Columbia County. Good. Why not
promote business that won't destroy organic farming, the revitalization of
Hudson, views from Historic Olana which is our biggest tourist draw?
Promote more farming, save the farm land, promote more small business such as NY
Fabric Designers in Empire Homes and promote more tourism. Lindenwald
could be promoted to bring more tourism to Kinderhook. We need more hotel
rooms and a good restraint in Kinderhook, not pollutants that will be damaging
to our health and organic farms.)
Joe: - Has not had enough time to studu this
issue. From what he knos, he is "mostly opposed" because SLC has a bad
track record. He's unclear about SLC being able to have pollution credit
from another plant and is quite concerned about the entire
project.
Doug: The recent lessening of air quality protection
by the federal and state governments gives me
reason to doubt. But if it can be done with good
regulation and controls, I'm for it! (My comments of Francis's reply apply
here.)
WIDEWATERS COMMONS
Walt: I'm all for it!
Ken: I support it because it addresses the
Comprehensive Plan. (???) (This answer is important. It tells
us how he will interpret our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code if
elected.) I have no problem driving through
roundabouts.
Keith: I support Widewaters.
Joe: This roundabout is not the right thing for
Kinderhook. Otherwise it's OK if they follow strict guidelines on all
matters like design, water and septic, etc. The Planning Board must
make a determination based upon scientific facts, the Comprehensive Plan and the
Zoning Code.
Francis: I support the proposal. I like the new
sketches but NO roundabout! (A disappointing reply. I think he could
do better that this.)
Doug: A few years back, I had asked Hannaford to come
to Kinderhook. I'd like to see a Hannaford here but NO roundabout.
It's the location that's at fault.
IN CONCLUSION I SEE:
Walt Simonsmeier, Ken Wengler and Keith Stack as
strongly in favor of SLC and Widewaters and will misrepresent the Comprehensive
Plan, as Widewaters had in their DEIS.
Doug McGivney and Joe Gilbert would favor SLC but with
strict restrictions. They would welcome Widewaters with NO roundabout and
preferably in a safer location.
Frances Vecellio is strongly in favor of SLC. He
supports Widewaters but NO roundabout.
Walt, Keith and Ken would most likely misinterpret our
Comprehensive Plan and zoning code to promote the big business they want to see
in the 9/9H "business" corridor.
Although Frances supports Widewaters proposal, I believe he
could be trusted along with Doug and Joe to support the Comprehensive Plan and
zoning code in the way it was intended.
Joe Gilbert, although having served on the Planning Board,
is new to the Town Board and Town Government. However his answers and
comments were well thought out and
impressive. OCTOBER 14,
2003
DEBATE TONIGHT
Tuesday - October 14th - 7:00 PM at North
Pointe
presented by the League of Women Voters
COME AND LEARN WHAT THE
CANDIDATES PLAN for KINDERHOOK!
To help stir your immagination and creative ability - Here
are some sample
QUESTIONS for BOTH SETS OF CANDIDATES:
How it works: You must write your
questions on on special cards that will be handed out at
North Pointe tonight. Of course you can
make up your questions in advance and copy them on
to the form cards. They will be
collected and turned in before the debate begins.
1. What are three concrete things you would do to improve the Town of Kinderhook? 2. You will be responsible for the public funds. How will you invest these funds for the Town of Kinderhook? 3. How will you uphold and strengthen the Town Comprehensive Plan? 4. How will you make Town government more responsive and transparent? 5. How will you protect and support the agricultural component of our community? 6. What outreach to existing grants and community support programs do you plan to pursue? 7. What is your vision for Kinderhook's future? (This ought to give them something to talk about!) SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON COMMITTEE
It is most important for all parents and relatives of
students now attending or who will attend the Ichabod Crane School System
to join us in telling the Board of Education your concerns for the
safety of your children and other students because of the proposed
Widewaters strip mall.
Please join us in this most important
activity.
For information call Kelly Piester at
758-1415.
KNGG NEEDS YOUR HELP FINANCIALLY. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE
TO HELP US GO ON.
Contributions to KNGG are tax deductible to the extent of
the law.
Is Kinderhook and endangered
species?
YOU BET IT IS!
The following
article is printed with permission from the Home Town Advantage Bulletin, a free
e-mail newsletter published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. To
read back issues or join the mailing list, visit www.newrules.org/hta.
CONTROVERSIAL MALL WILL NOT
BOOST JOBS OR REVENUE, STUDY SAYS Developers of a massive shopping center in Leominster, Massachusetts, claim the project will create 869 new jobs and boost the city's property tax revenue by $400,000 annually. But a study by a nationally recognized land use economist has found that the development will destroy about as many jobs as it creates and provide the city with only $51,000 in additional revenue. To put that into perspective, if the new revenue were used to cut residential property taxes, each of the city's 17,000 households would save just $3 annually. The study, "The Fiscal and Economic Impact of a Proposed Shopping Center Project on the City of Leominster," was conducted by Dr. Thomas Muller, who has authored dozens of economic and fiscal impact studies of big box retail and other types of development. The study was commissioned by Leominster First, a grassroots group fighting the proposed 510,000-square-foot shopping center. The project is to include a Wal-Mart supercenter, a Lowe's, a department store such as Kohl's, and four chain restaurants. Muller concludes that, like much of the country, Leominster already has more retail than residents can support. Several big box stores were built in the late 1990s. There are ten Wal-Marts within a 25 mile radius. The new center would dramatically worsen the situation. Its projected annual sales of $185 million are equivalent to 77 percent of the local market's current sales in building materials, groceries, and general merchandise. The new restaurants would add 1,000 seats, increasing the city's dining capacity by one-third. Since neither population nor incomes are growing, according to Muller, sales at the new shopping center would come entirely at the expense of existing businesses. Competing stores within a 5-6 mile radius would lose $104 million in revenue. Those 5-6 miles further out would lose $72 million. Only 5 percent of the center's sales would come from outside the local market. Because of the development's impact on existing businesses, the 869 jobs created by the center will be offset by about the same number of job losses. "The net long-term employment impact of the proposed center will be minimal," Muller notes. "There may be a small employment net gain or net loss, depending on specific market conditions." The development's tax benefits are also overstated. Muller concludes the developer inflates the shopping center's value. He estimates property tax revenue at $312,000, not $400,000. Moreover, because the center will reduce sales at existing businesses, property values will decline in other parts of the city, reducing tax revenue by $156,000. Add the cost of providing city services to the new development, and the city can expect a net gain of just $51,000. The study mirrors dozens of other economic impact studies in recent years, which have also concluded that big box stores destroy about as many jobs and as much tax revenue as they create. Leominster First hopes the study will persuade the Planning Board to reject the project. The citizens group has been packing public meetings and organizing expert testimony against the development. -- Leominster First: http://home-town-advantage.c.tclk.net/maabt4Zaa0K80a5D2zUb/ OCTOBER 13,
2003
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION of the Ichabod Crane Central
School District
Members of the Board of Education:
Edmund Brooks, President
Gary Bagnato, Vice-President
Marcia Anderson
Robert Fullem
Remi Gaylord
Landra Haber
Ed Helfer
William Martin
William Murphy, M.D.
Darlene C. Jewell, Superintendent of Schools
Karen D. McGraw, Assistant
Superintendent
Neil T. Sanders, Business
Administrator
"Maintaining a safe and healthy
environment - We continue to implement new safety measures. Major
initiatives include: identification badges worn by staff; increased campus
lighting; new school zone safety signals for Martin Van Buren, the Primary
School and the High School." --taken from the inside cover of the ICCSD
Calendar and Handbook 2003-2004
NOTE: Nothing is said about how the Board is
planning to protect the safety of the children if the traffic lights at the
Route 9, 9H and State Farm Road are removed and replaced by an experimental roundabout to accommodate the
additional traffic congestion caused by the proposed
Widewaters Commons or what the Board's strategy will be when many kids
start to cross this intersection to get to the mall with no traffic lights to
protect them.
Remember what Jeff Baker said at Tuesday's meeting.
"Only the vehicles that are within the
roundabout have the right of way. Any vehicle entering the circle must
yield to traffic in the circle." Enter the school busses to make
their morning runs. With all the traffic coming north on Route 9 and 9H
entering the roundabout, the poor people at State Farm Rd. won't have a
chance. Also when 2 vehicles meet at the merge of Rt.9 and 9H, who has the
right of way to enter the circle first?
We've been thinking in terms of cars. What about all
those school buses? They will be considerably delayed and in all
probability will not return in time to make their next run. Will the board
be prepared to purchase additional busses and hire additional drivers so
Widewaters can build their project in an unsafe location? Note that
Widewaters did not include any traffic study of the morning rush
hour.
We at KNGG believe the Board of Education should have an
aggressive plan to protect the students from tragedies waiting to happen.
The Board of Education needs to take a
hard look at the Widewaters Mall. Will the Board of Education opt
to protect the children or will it opt to favor big business? Is this
indeed a board of education or a board of commerce?
The parents and grandparents of Kinderhook must inform the
Board at their meeting on November 4th of the dangers that the Board has not
foreseen. The Board must take an open stand against the mall in its
current proposed location.
Widewaters is pushing to end this process as soon as they
can. The November 4th meeting may be our only chance we have
to convince the board to
do the right thing, their job. Protect the
children!
At the KNGG
Quarterly meeting on October 7th, it was determined by parents and many others
that this safety factor should be a major concern of the Board of Education, not
only KNGG. A committee was formed to inform the Board of
dangerous impacts from the mall and experimental roundabout
to demand the Board act upon these impacts by taking a stand for
the safety of the students and the teachers.
The committee is organizing parents, educators and
other interested parties to speak to the school board about the
safety issue. SAFETY should be the most important issue for
the Board. Without safe students and teaching staff, we have no school
system.
The School Board meets Tuesday November 4th in the Middle
School Library at 7:00 PM.
Please join those that
care.
Call:
Abbey Cash 758-7588 if you wish to help organize this
special committee
or
if you wish to help by speaking to the Board.
We need more people to help with this movement.
Every parent has the right to speak up for their
children.
It's your right. NOW is the time to use
it!
Let's keep our children safe!
Let's tell it to the School Board in
person!
Let's write to the news papers!
Let's make sure
that the school board knows that student safety is a major concern in
the Widewaters issue.
Let's make sure the school board understands that we want
them to take an open stand against this project to protect the children of
Kinderhook.
The mission of this committee is to convince the Board to take an open stand against
Widewaters Commons.
Won't you join in and help? KINDERHOOK CANDIDATES DEBATE
On Tuesday,
October 14th, The League of Women Voters will sponsor the Kinderhook
Debate
at North Pointe at 7:00 PM
All Candidates running for office on November 4th have been
invited to participate.
DEMOCRATS:
Doug McGivney, for Town Supervisor (Currently
Supervisor)
Frances Vecellio, for Town Council (Currently
Councilman))
Joe Gilbert, for Town Council
REPUBLICANS:
Walt Simonsmeier, for Town Supervisor (Currently Code
Enforcement Officer)
Keith Stack, for Town Council
Ken Wengler, for Town Council (Currently temporary
Councilman)
The public is invited to submit
questions!
KNGG URGES YOU TO ATTEND.
THIS DEBATE COULD DETERMINE THE ELECTION and
THE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION WILL
DETERMINE "THE EAST
GREENBUSHING" OF ROUTES 9 AND 9H THROUGHOUT
KINDERHOOK.
PLEASE ATTEND and PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
to the LEAGUE.
SAVE KINDERHOOK! LISTEN! VOTE NOVEMBER
4th!
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4th. OCTOBER 10,
2003
TO: ALL KNGG MEMBERS
NEW PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO
BEGIN
Marco Marzocchi once more was in attendance at last
night's Planning Board Workshop. And once again he has submitted new
architectural design renderings for Widewaters. The Public Comment Period
on these renderings is set, to begin on October 18th ending November
3rd. An 11" X 17" brochure will be published by Widewaters with
copies of the latest renderings in them. These will be made available to
KNGG and the public for comment. Once the brochure is available, we urge you to make written
comment on this architecture, described recently as decorating a big box or
more like "putting a bikini on an
elephant." There will be no public hearing, only written comments
may be submitted. The comments must
be about the architecture as pictured in this new brochure which we have
not yet seen.
EDITORIAL on an EDITORIAL - The Push
Poll
Do you know what a "push poll"
is? If you don't, don't
feel bad. Until a week or so ago I didn't either. Not
until several KNGG members started complaining that they were
receiving calls from a pollster asking questions about the
Governor, then a few about local candidates did I find out . What
bothered us at KNGG is that the pollster asked, "Would you support a
Hannaford Supermarket in Kinderhook?" Just what does that question have to do with taking a
pre-election poll? Neither Hannaford nor Widewaters are up for
election. Read on.
Then came the loaded question. Not who would you
support but, instead the caller asked if the listener approved of
Supervisor Doug McGivney who they claim has been spending tax payer's
money on a Town Park rejected by the voters. Legitimate pollsters do not
give out slanted or any propaganda on issues. They should simply ask
who you plan to support.
Just to add more fuel (proof?) to the fire, in today's mail
I receive a green and white flyer (Gosh, where have we seen these colors
before?) It reads, "In 2000, the citizens of Kinderhook voted to reject a
$2.6 million dollar bond issue to build a new town park. Since that time,
Supervisor McGivney has spent nearly $500,000 to start building a park without
additional citizen input. McGivney ignored the will of the people and
without public input he began to build his
park." It is signed, Simonsmeier, Wengler & Stack, "Honest Open
Government." "The (poll) question (and the flyer) as phrased, is
bogus because the effort to create a Volunteers Park began in the previous
town administration and the current plan had the support of all but one
member of the Town Board. It seems that the whole project was quite
popular with politicians and the public until the current election cycle kicked
in." --- Today's Editorial in the Independent.
The editorial continues, "It should come as no surprise
that in local races, like national contests, money makes the difference.
The Institute of Money in State Politics found that in 85% of local and
state races, the candidate with the most money won.
So where is the money coming from for the Kinderhook push
poll? More important, what do the people paying for it expect in
return?"
I believe that the poll question, "Would you like a
Hannaford Supermarket in Kinderhook?" should give ample clues as to who may
be paying and what they may expect in return.
What does this have to do with GOOD GROWTH? It has a
lot. Putting a strip mall inclusive of a Hannaford market on 20
acres of Columbia County's most fertile farmland, causing the most
dangerous intersection in Kinderhook to become more dangerous and in very
close proximity of the School System is not GOOD
GROWTH!
So far KNGG has spent $31,000 in trying to put a stop
to this bad growth from taking seed in Kinderhook. We can't afford to
have these lies influencing the community, whether they are politically
motivated or not.
Furthermore the Volunteer Park itself is evidence of GOOD
GROWTH. Unlike the proposed Widewaters Commons, it has saved precious
land from being developed by giving our kids a healthy place to
exercise. It's much more healthy than hanging around the
mall.
--- Allen Schaefer, President
ALSO IN TODAY'S INDEPENDENT
On Page 19, "Plaza Isn't Worth Costs to Safety,
Environment", very good reasoning by KNGG member Lyrysa Smith. Thank you
Lyrysa Smith.
WE MISSED THE SEPTEMBER 23rd ISSUE OF THE
REGISTER-STAR
Inside was an interesting letter to the editor from Roger
Gans titled, "Reject the SDEIS."
We apologize to Roger for this over sight. A belated
thank you to Roger Gans.
A WORD OF ADVICE FROM SAM
PRATT
Sam Pratt, Director of Friends of Hudson and KNGG Advisor, attended
our quarterly meeting. Over a glass of cider, Sam advised me how important
it is to keep the letters to the papers coming in. He's noticed how well
we are doing, but we can't rest on our laurels, we must continue to write.
Please keep those letters coming!
When writing, please copy in KNGG@berk.com.
FREE SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act)
CLASS TO BE GIVEN
The State Department of State will give a free SEQRA
training class Monday October 20th,
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Greenport Town Hall.
Register by October 15th by calling Patrice Perry
at 828-3375.
DID YOU
KNOW THAT IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS KNGG HAS SPENT $31,000 on legal
fees, engineering fees, accounting fees, postage for mass mailings, office
supply and copying fees?
We have no large donors. We depend on your
financial support to continue. No one at KNGG is
on salary. We are all volunteers.
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible to the extent of the
law.
NEW DATE SET FOR VOLUNTEER (TOWN) PARK
OPENING
Ceremonies are to begin at 12:30 PM, Saturday October 25th
(Rain Date October 26th).
The Ichabod Crane High School Band will be on hand to
musically celebrate the occasion! Support GOOD GROWTH in Kinderhook!
Come on out to the park opening!
IN THE NEXTeNEWS -
The Board of
Education OCTOBER 8,
2003
QUARTERLY
MEETING BIG SUCCESS
When asked how he
felt last night's meeting was,
President Allen Schaefer replied, "Exciting and uplifting!"
The KNGG Quarterly meeting at the McNary Center
was educational and stimulating. "We more than accomplished
our goal for this meeting, which was to
get as many people out as possible to update everyone on the latest Widewaters' process. And to be sure
that everyone understands that the 'conceptional' approval of drawings by the
Planning Board and the 'conditional' acceptance of an application for a variance
by the ZBA is NOT an acceptance of this Widewaters'
project."
Board Members Present:
Allen Schaefer, President
Mark Litteken, Treasurer
Sara Richards
Alexandra Spivy
Advisory Board Members
Present:
Fayal Greene
Judy Grunberg
William Palmer
Ruth Piwonka
Sam Pratt
Historical
Architect Marilyn Kaplan spoke about Good Growth and how it could
apply to the Widewaters project. Basically everyone agreed that in the
perfect world, it shouldn't be built and if we had to accept it, it should be
built on an alternate location that would have less impact on the
traffic problem.
In concept, the drawings presented are still nothing but
"big boxes" with some icing to soften the starkness. Our code says that it
should look pre 1940, yet they are insisting on putting a glass wall from
roof peak to ground floor on the Hannaford, all of which is signature
architecture and also forbidden by the code. As Marilyn said, "It's
like putting a bikini on an elephant to hide that is an
elephant."
Our
Treasurer, Mark Litteken, reported that KNGG has spent $31,000
in the past 18 months on legal fees, engineering fees, office supplies,
Freedom Of Information Act fees, postal fees and an accounting fee
for income tax calculation. In conclusion, not one
person is a big donor. This amount was made up of donations of many
amounts. KNGG members made this
possible.
In
continuity, Board Member, Ally Spivey, told the membership that it is
most important to dig down in our pockets and give generously to keep the
momentum of KNGG moving. Ally suggested that if members don't have the
money to give, perhaps they could find someone who does . . . thus the creation
of fundraising. Although KNGG is planning a mailing in October, new ideas
for fundraising were requesred.
Ally commented on how important it is to get involved in
community work. "Get your name on lists to serve on the Planning Board,
the ZBA and get out to municipal meetings. Become informed!"
Ally serves on the Village of Kinderhook's ZBA.
Ally informed us that on October
14th the League of Women Voters is sponsoring a debate between Supervisor
Doug McGivney and Town Code Enforcement Officer Walt Simonsmeier, who are
both running for the office of supervisor in November. It will be at North
Pointe at 7:00 PM. Ally stressed this event to be extremely important to
all Kinderhook residents.
Also announced was
the KNGG Annual Meeting, Election and
Party will take place Monday, December 8th, 7:30 PM at a place to
be advised. Please mark your
calendars.
President, Allen Schaefer
praised the lawn sign
committee on organizing the design, production and distribution of
the signs. Special thanks was given to Larry and Abbey Cash, Sue
Chiafuello, Pat Harbron and John Picket. Although they are appear
almost everywhere in some areas, he stressed how important for visibility
reasons, to get more distributed through Valatie, Niverville and the
Township.
Board
Member, Sara Richards, spoke of the Board's experience in meeting with
Marco Marzocchi of Widewaters in Jeff Baker's office. After 2 1/2 hours
Marco, who is famous for promising the Planning Board to return with
certain researched information and never does, was given a written list of
suggestions written by our board. He was to have returned with answers but
never did.
The list:
(Moving the site to
another location was not an option Widewaters would give in
to.)
1. Lower the site by six feet or more to
reduce the visual impact of the buildings on the
Catskills.
2. Scale down the size. Put up buildings
4 and 4A only
3. Use multi-pane windows instead of plate
glass. Make use of bay-windows for show windows.
4. Break up solid mass walls to be like
individual buildings. Roof should match individual type
buildings.
5. Lower light pole heights
to be no higher than 6 ft higher than
tallest truck.
6. Park-like landscaping needed between two
most northerly buildings.
7. Landscaping in parking lot and next to
buildings.
8. Show cart corrals on
plan.
9. Show dumpsters on
plan.
10. Show perspective views of mountains on
elevations.
11. Rear 9 acres should have a conservation
easement.
12. What is the long term capacity of the roundabout? (15
yrs.)
13. What happens when there is a disabled vehicle in
the roundabout?
14. Interior of roundabout landscaping must be kept low so
any driver can see across.
15. Routes 9 and 9H merge as they enter the roundabout -
they need separation.
16. Show all driveways of existing businesses and homes
within the roundabout ramps on plans.
17. What is the impact on Four Brothers driveways and
parking lot?
18. All medians should be raised for safety, not
painted.
Schaefer
introduced Jeff Baker, "Without Jeff Baker working with KNGG, people
would now be pushing carts down bleak Hannaford's aisles, traffic would be heavy
and confused at the roundabout not to mention jams, accidents, water pollution,
noise pollution, light pollution and delayed school buses."
Baker
spoke for some time explaining the process, what's happened, what's
happened that is attributed to KNGG, where we stand and what may be
expected. He commented, "Do we have a chance at winning? Yes we
still have a chance. But everyone must help by continuing to write
letters, attend public hearings and speak up. And if we
can't keep them out, KNGG will be proud that it served the community by
demanding and getting more aesthetic buildings and safer traffic
conditions."
New
Business:
Abby Cash told us of her meeting with school
superintendent, Darlene Jewel. Abbey's questions were about child
safety if the mall were to go in and how the Board of Education planned to deal
with the impacts. How safe can our children be with no traffic
lights?
KNGG eNEWS will publish a transcript of Abbey's questions
and Ms Jewel's responses. A committee was formed by concerned mothers and
we'll get into more detail on that in the future.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM and everyone went to the
reception area where a lovely autumn display was set up with cider and donuts
from Golden Harvest Farms and candy corn and chocolate.
We thank Sara and Eric Richards for arranging
the food and Mary Langan for the decorative table display.
OCTOBER 6,
2004
IN TODAY'S REGISTER-STAR
Page one headline, "ZBA Volleys Part of Widewaters Plan to
Public."
This article is about Thursday's ZBA meeting which KNGG
eNEWS has covered in more depth.
However on page one is a photo showing
two facades of attached buildings 4/4A for which Widewaters conditionally
have an application for variance on the roof pitch with a
Public Hearing set conditionally for November 17th.
PARK OPENING RESCHEDULED
Due to heavy rains, the Town Park opening was
cancelled.
The Kinderhook Town Park opening -
Now scheduled for Saturday - October 25th - 12:30
Noontime
Rain Date Sunday - October 26th - 12:30
PM OCTOBER 4,
2003
SIGN REPLACEMENT POLICY
HAS YOUR LAWN SIGN BEEN LIFTED? KNGG wants to
replace it at no charge!
Just phone Abbey Cash: 758-8337 or on Sat./Sun Sue
Chiafullo at 758-2944.
If you don't have one, please call the same ladies
above. A donation of $5 per sign is requested.
RECENT PRESS
In Friday's
Independent (still available in the shops) - a
very good letter by Alvin Knoll, "Developer Weighs In On Widewaters"
on page 23. Thank you
Alvin.
In Friday's Register-Star - The Editorial on page A4,
"Widewaters' Troubles Are Often Homegrown"
deals not only with Widewaters showing up at Planning Board
meetings without materials and information promised for the board to review at
previous meetings, but "(Widewaters') Management should get to work on
those drawings, so the town can actually see what it is being asked to
host. There has been slow movement towards increased aesthetics, yet
Widewaters appears not to recognize the historically savvy demographic in the
area. Kinderhook residents love their town for a lot of reasons,
including its natural and architectural beauty.
"Widewaters executives seem to think residents should take
what the company dishes when it dishes it. Their attitude is fodder for a
small but vocal minority who want them gone altogether. Unfortunately
Widewaters is playing into opponents' hands with their lackadaisical
approach to the planning process."
KNGG doesn't believe the "minority" is so small, nor do we
believe it is a minority.
It is so very important, if you haven't done
so, to get KNGG application forms signed and in to us.
Application forms will be available at Tuesday Night's meeting (see
below) or you can get one by simply calling 758-2646 and leave a
message with your name and address. NUMBERS DO
COUNT!
You're not sure if you've
signed? Ask us. We'll have the list Tuesday
Night.
MORE ON ZBA DECISION
Thursday night the ZBA accepted Widewaters' application as
complete --- providing they submit more drawings and substantiated
figures as proof that adhering to the Zoning Code is a
"hardship."
As I look back at Thursday's ZBA meeting and I think of the
renderings shown to the ZBA by Widewaters, I have great doubt that any decision
on a variance for roof design can be made by looking at these drawings.
One could tell by the questions asked by members of the ZBA, that they were
confused and did not understand the drawings.
The drawings (on purpose?) do not give clear renderings of
the roof design. It is difficult to tell from the drawings exactly where
the walls end and the roof begins. Widewaters has left much to
the imagination of the viewer. This should not be left to the
immigration. It should be shown clear and precise. Widewaters had to
point out several times where the wall ended and the roof began. There
isn't even a drawing of the roof itself. Yet the ZBA Chairman, John
Piddock, pointed out to the board that the board should be looking at the roof
only. What roof? There is none to look at! Kinderhook should expect
and can get better drawings from this developer. WHY HAVEN'T
THEY ASKED FOR THEM?
TUESDAY'S KNGG MEETING DEEMED
IMPORTANT
We will be discussing more ways of getting involved in
stopping this mall and
How everyone can help out.
Our environmental attorney, Jeff Baker, will be on hand to
give us a briefing on
Where the project is with the Planning Board and the
ZBA.
Where KNGG now stands and
What's next.
And any questions you may have, Jeff will
answer.
Members of the KNGG Board of Directors will address the
membership.
We believe this meeting to be one of the most important
we've had to date.
KNGG Quarterly Meeting
Tuesday -
October 7th - 7:30 PM
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 6 Sylvester Street, Village of
Kinderhook
(Just around the corner from Memorial Library on Hudson
Street)
Be neighborly. Bring your neighbors, friends and
relatives! OCTOBER 3, 2003 TO: ALL KNGG MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer LAST NIGHT AT THE ZBA CIRCUS
In the third ring, as though trying to act like ring
masters, was Marco Marzocchi, chief counsel for Widewaters Group, and
Widewaters retained attorney, Bob Alessi. In the off centered, center
ring sat members of the ZBA. And in ring number one sat members of KNGG
with our attorney, Jeff Baker.
Send in the clowns!
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
At 9:30 Thursday morning KNGG was advised that Marc
Gold, attorney for the ZBA received a letter from Widewaters late
Wednesday afternoon expressing their desire to postpone last night's Public
Hearing. To update you I will quote from a letter sent via fax to Marc
Gold from KNGG attorney, Jeff Baker, in response to the new Widewaters
request that their application to be amended to include new renderings not ever
seen before and a postponement of the Public Hearing:
" While it is commendable that Widewaters is finally
submitting its design details, that alone is insufficient to consider the
application complete and schedule a public hearing. Based upon the
materials submitted by Widewaters in June, there are significant omissions in
Widewaters' application. First and foremost, there is dearth of
information on the relative costs of the various alternatives to be considered
by the ZBA. The only support submitted by Widewaters is a June 19, 2003
letter from QKP Design which provides conclusory numbers on the 'additional'
costs of 3 options without any supporting documentation or discussion as to how
those numbers were derived, thus depriving the ZBA and the public an opportunity
to evaluate the claims.
"Even more important is the absence of any design details
or illustrations of what the buildings would look like if constructed in
conformance with the zoning code. In its application, Widewaters repeatedly
claims that its requested variance would be better than the requirements in the
zoning code. However, without an architectural rendering of a conforming
design, it is impossible for the ZBA to make a determination concerning how
substantial the variance is, if it could be achieved by a lesser variation and
the impact of the variance upon the community and the integrity of the zoning
code. The ZBA should not schedule a public hearing on the application
until it is satisfied that it has all the information necessary to proceed with
the application.
"In addition to the foregoing basic requirements to comply
with the zoning code, the ZBA cannot proceed beyond holding a public hearing
until the SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act)process is completed by
the Lead Agency (The Town Planning Board). As you know, this project
is undergoing a coordinated review under SEQRA with the Planning Board acting as
Lead Agency. Under the SEQRA regulations, no involved agency, in this case
the ZBA, can make a decision on an application until at least 10 days have
passed after the Lead Agency has accepted a Final Environmental Impact
Statement. 6NYCRR Sec. 617.11(c). At this time the Planning Board has
directed Widewaters to add its revised design information to the Draft
Supplemental EIS and has extended the public comment for that issue.
Therefore it will still be some time before an FEIS (Final Impact Statement) is
accepted by the Planning Board and the ZBA is legally permitted to make a
decision. As a result of the need to incorporate SEQRA into the process,
the provisions of the Town Law Sec. 267-a requiring a decision on an appeal
within 62 days of the hearing do not apply until the SEQRA documents are
completed.
"In summary, the ZBA should not re-schedule the public
hearing until Widewaters has submitted all of the necessary supporting
materials, including renderings of the project without the variance. I
plan to be present at the meeting this evening and would appreciate the
opportunity to address the ZBA on these issues."
The above letter by Jeff Baker was presented to the
ZBA before tonight's meeting.
Marc Gold noted for the record that the letter he
received from Bob Alessi, on Wednesday afternoon presumably dated October 1st,
was actually dated August 14th!
Widewaters retained attorney, Bob Alessi and Marco
showed the ZBA how the plans have been changed and that the roof variance will
apply to only buildings 4 and 4A (The Hannaford Building and the attached
building.) He requested a public hearing for November
6th.
Richard Wetmore remarked, "There is so much confusion with
all these changes, and all that is missing, shouldn't there be a new application
and start from square one? He was told no. In looking at the layout
map, John Piddock, Chairman, asked, "What is that round circle
there?" Lots of laughs from KNGG members. He was questioning the
roundabout!
The Planning Board has not seen the new renderings or the
amended application.
The new proposed renderings will be shown to the Planning
Board and the ZBA will ask for a recommendation from the Planning Board for a
variance for a flat roof on buildings 4 and 4A only.
Marco said the sight line studies will be presented to the
Planning Board and that Widewaters will provide supplementary information to the
ZBA IF the hearing is
set. Why not NOW when the information is needed to
deem the application "complete." He also promised to provide drawings of
the same building having them apply to the zoning code with no flat or
mansard roof.
Jeff Baker, was allowed to make his comments (basically
what was in his letter) and stressed the fact if the ZBA goes ahead with what is
requested by Widewaters, it will be illegal. There was a rebuttal
from Bob Alessi, but unfortunately, Jeff was not allowed to answer Alessi's
accusations.
A motion was made by ZBA member Sean Egan to accept the
amended application and new renderings subject to Widewaters having all
supplementary information, code enforced drawings and a discussion of costs into the ZBA by their November
6th meeting. Kelly Nicoletta seconded the motion.
Before the vote was taken, Jeff was allowed to make comment
that the public must be given time to review the new renderings and other
information submitted by Widewaters.
The ZBA voted as follows:
Richard Wetmore - NO
Sean Egan - YES
Jim Waterhouse - YES (Alternate)
Kelly Nicoletta - YES
John Piddock - YES (Chairman)
The new public hearing on a variance for roof pitch is now
scheduled for November 17th provided Widewaters gets its called for information
in to the ZBA by November 6th.
Bob Alessi then promised Jeff Baker that copies of all
renderings and information submitted to the ZBA will also be sent to
him.
There will be a public comment period and people unable to
speak at the public hearing may send in comments to the ZBA. Dates for
this were not clear.
We are astonished that the ZBA let Widewaters get away
without requiring them to submit ALL information with the amended
application. As it stands, it's a rush job. SEQRA states that the
ZBA cannot make a determination until 10 days after the Planning Board accepts
the Final Impact Statement. That is somewhat far down the
line. The Planning Board hasn't even started the site-plan review. There
is no reason for the ZBA to accept an incomplete application on the promise
that it will be complete by November 6th. Widewaters is playing the "let's
confuse them game."
The BIG question is WHY!
Why did the ZBA, in effect, bend (BREAK?) the law to
accommodate Widewaters?
WE AT KNGG NEED YOUR FINANCIAL HELP TO CONTINUE THIS BATTLE
TO SAVE KINDERHOOK FROM BECOMING ANOTHER SPRAWL CITY LIKE EAST GREENBUSH.
Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent of the
law.
Thank you, Cheryl Gilbert, for your no-roundabout for
Kinderhook letter which appeared in the Chatham Courier
yesterday.
LAWN SIGNS LOOKING GREAT
In the Village of Kinderhook! We are weak in Valatie,
Niverville and the Township. We are in great need of visibility
in this area.
Wouldn't it be wonderful for Marco to see SAFETY YES! -
ROUNDABOUT NO!
lawn signs everywhere he drives through the Township and
Valatie on his way to the Town Hall in
Niverville!
That's the only area he sees when here. So
he thinks we are not as strong as we profess.
Let's show Marco that we mean business! WIDEWATERS -
NO!
Let's get our signs out to be seen!
VALATIE &
NIVERVILLE,
Let's show Marco we are stronger than the Hannaford
yes people!
TO OBTAIN YOUR SIGN:
Call Abbey Cash at 758-7588 or
Sue
Chiafullo 758-2944 - Saturday and
Sunday ONLY
OCTOBER 2, 2003
WIDEWATERS - TONIGHT'S ZBA HEARING OFF
AGENDA
It is no longer necessary for everyone to come out tonight. Anyone who wishes to come is more than welcome to join those of us who will be monitoring the situation in any event. In a letter to Marc Gold, ZBA attorney, Widewaters has
asked for tonight's Public Hearing of their
roof
variance application be "postponed" till the November 6th meeting of
the ZBA.
KNGG has a problem with
"postpone."
The ZBA will discuss how to
handle this "postponement" tonight.
We must be careful because we
know that Widewaters recently pulled a stunt with the Planning Board
advising the board they would have no representation that night. Therefore
the Planning Board's environmental attorney did not come in for the meeting and
Widewaters showed up, leaving the Planning Board no representation.
How convenient for them.
KNGG believes Widewaters
may have seen the writing on the wall and knew we would not let them
get away with having a Public Hearing without having the elevation renderings
available to the public so the public could comment at the hearing. (See
yesterday's Register-Star page 1.)
Also there are three different
sets of renderings out there, the ones they submitted with their application,
the ones conditionally approved by the Planning Board and the ones in their
SDEIS (Supplementary Draft Environmental Impact
Statement).
MORE NEWS AT IT COMES IN . .
.
KEEPING THE MOMENTUM UP!
KNGG is in need of contributions to cover expenses.
Please help out so we can
continue our work.
We are making history in
Kinderhook. We are the only group to have come so far on environmental
issues in this Town. Let's keep the momentum going! Your
contribution is tax deductible to the extent of the law. We'll be happy to
accept your check at Tuesday's meeting.
KNGG QUARTERLY MEETING OCTOBER
7th, 7:30 PM
the McNary Center at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church
6 Sylvester Street, Village of
Kinderhook
Sylvester Street is off Hudson
Street next to the library.
Public parking is available to
the left of the center.
On the
agenda:
Various Members of the KNGG
Board of Directors will address the membership.
KNGG environmental attorney,
Jeff Baker, will tell us what's happening with the Widewaters application, how
we stand and what's next?
In the "New Business" portion,
you may bring up new issues you feel need addressing.
This may well be our most
important meeting we've had so far.
WE URGE YOU TO
ATTEND!
Bring your neighbors and friends!
It's so important to our community.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
TO ROUNDABOUT OR NOT TO
ROUNDABOUT
Thank you Diane Whelton for your well thought
out article, "Say No to the
Traffic Circle, for Starters," which appeared on page A-4 of yesterday's
Register-Star.
Keep those articles and
letters to the editor coming:
If anyone has children, grandchildren, nieces
or nephews attending or about to attend the Ichabod Crane School System,
please write an open letter to the Kinderhook Board of Education to the editor
of our local papers. We must demand that the school board take a stand
before its too late on traffic safety issued caused by the proposed Widewaters
mall and the proposed roundabout that the school buses will be forced to
navigate.
THIS THURSDAY OCTOBER 2nd ZBA PUBLIC
HEARING
Widewaters will be at the ZBA,
having already applied for a variance in roof pitch for their strip mall box
buildings.
KNGG's position is that no
variance should be granted because Widewaters being the first large commercial
developer to propose a strip mall in Kinderhook should adhere to our Town Zoning
Code. If the variance is granted, then any developer coming in can expect
the same treatment. Also Widewaters is claiming hardship and they have not
presented any estimates in costs from a licensed architect to prove their cause,
nor have they submitted alternate renderings.
A Public Hearing on the roof
pitch variance will take place Thursday evening. KNGG finds this to be
illegal because:
1. The renderings
submitted to the ZBA have not been made available to the public for
comment.
2. Widewaters has
since had new conceptional renderings approved by the Town Planning Board which
neither the ZBA nor the public have seen.
3. Neither set of
renderings are the same as those Widewaters presented in the
SDEIS.
4. The Town
Planning Board refused Widewaters a recommendation to the ZBA for a variance on
roof pitch because the renderings submitted are not the renderings the Planning
Board approved.
We ask that KNGG Members come
to witness this fiasco Widewaters is planning at the ZBA. It is not
necessary for you to make comment unless you want to. Our
environmental attorney, Jeff Baker will be on hand to present KNGG's
comments.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th KNGG
QUARTERLY MEETING 7:30 PM
LOCATION:
The McNary Center of St.
Paul's Episcopal Church
No. 6 Sylvester Street off of
Hudson Street - Directly behind the Memorial Library
In the Village of
Kinderhook
Guest Speaker: Jeff
Baker, KNGG's environmental attorney
Jeff will give a breakdown of
where we stand and what's next with Widewaters.
The meeting is not restricted
to KNGG Members. Be neighborly, bring your
neighbors!
In future KNGG eNEWS bulletins, with
permission from The Home Town Advantage Bulletin, we will be publishing two
articles that recently appeared in their news letter.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2003
I suggest you pick up
the "Chatham Courier," on Thursdays
if only to read Clayt Van Alstyne's
"Commentary." I would suggest you
pick up this past Thursday's Chatham Courier if you are interested
in how Kinderhook could look in the future. We can learn some lessons
from three articles on how Chatham is protecting its look of the
future by saving its village
charm and especially from Clayt's column about Kinderhook and code
enforcement.
KNGG is concerned about
code enforcement because the code is important in the Widewaters
proposed project and in other situations where it is necessary for Kinderhook to
be able comply with the Comprehensive Plan - in other words, to keep
Kinderhook on the path to GOOD GROWTH.
Clayt Van Alstyne is a resident of Kinderhook
and former Kinderhook Supervisor. As a native and long time resident Clayt knows the area and the people. In
this past Thursday's issue (9/25/03) of The Chatham Courier he has
some interesting observations about the NOVEMBER ELECTION in Kinderhook
and its importance on how Kinderhook could look depending on this
election's outcome. By the way,
Clayt considers himself
independent, when it comes to
politics. This past Thursday's Courier
is still available at Bagel-time, the GU, in the dispenser if front of
Kinderhook Village Post Office, maybe in some of the local Stewarts Shops
and from the Courier.
OCTOBER
2nd
PUBLIC HEARING AT ZBA - Widewaters wants roof pitch variance
7:30 PM - Town Hall,
Niverville
OCTOBER
7th
KNGG QUARTERLY
MEETING
7:30 PM - At a Location To Be
Announced
Guest Speaker: Jeff Baker,
Attorney for KNGG
Your contribution to support KNGG's work is
tax deductible.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2003
WIDEWATERS GOES TO ZBA NEXT
THURSDAY
Public Hearing -
Thursday, October 2nd, 7:30 PM Town Hall Niverville
A Public Hearing will be held
-
So the public may comment
on architectural renderings they have never been given
the chance to
see.
KNGG needs you to come and
observe. There is no need for you to speak, unless you want
to
comment on the fact that
you've not been given the chance to study the renderings in order
to
comment on
them.
We need you to come and show
your support by being at this "hearing."
Our attorney, Jeff Baker, will
be there to represent KNGG and give comments.
SARAH
BIONDELLO WRITES:
"I have lived here for ten
years and my two children are growing up here. We chose a place
that
afforded us access to a unique, rural,
agricultural community. My daughter will be attending the Ichabod
Crane High School next year and I am very concerned about safety
issues due to the allure of the mall. We will have many adolescents at all hours of the day
crossing these roads (attempting use of a "roundabout" with no traffic lights) to get to the
mall.
I had hoped to raise my
children in the type of environment Kinderhook is NOW, not what it might be in
the future. If the mall is built at its proposed location, my family
will most likely relocate to another area that is as quiet and wonderful as
Kinderhook is today."
Thank you Sarah for a very
moving and eye opening letter. You can see the rest of Sarah's letter in today's
Independent page 14.
I think it's time for us all to rethink this
whole strip mall situation. We all have many reasons why
we feel as we do. But our most important reason (The
other reasons are important too.) should
be the safety of our children. It is time that all
parents rise up in unison and fight for the safety
and
the future of their
children.
THE BIG QUESTION IS -- WHERE IS THE
SCHOOL BOARD? Are they
playing ostrich with their heads in the sand hoping this issue will go
away? Certainly this project cannot be construed as healthy for this
school system. I'm afraid that if they don't take a strong and public
stand on this mall, they will be considered a disgrace to the educational system in this
country.
It is known that in several instances when
the local school board got involved, the developer was forced put his
mall elsewhere. The school
board should be standing up to protect the children of Kinderhook, not the
developer by remaining silent.
What can parents do to protect their
children's safety? Write open letters to the Kinderhook Board of Education
and send them to the various local papers.
The Chatham Courier
courier@localnet.com
The Independent
letters@indenews.com
The Register-Star
editorial@registerstar.com
Get involved. Attend the
school board meetings. They're open to the public. Demand that the
school board make the safety of our children top priority by coming out
against this mall and its
roundabout!
We pay a lot each year in
school taxes. There is no reason that we should have to send our
children
to a school located in an
unsafe location. Safety first!
Also on page 14 of the
Independent is the Editorial, "Ancram Shows the Way."
Three cheers to the people of
Ancram for adopting their new Scenic Corridor Overlay
Zone!!!
"Without the type of
intervention embodied in the new Ancram Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone law,
succeeding generations might have lost any chance to experience the same
pleasure and excitement we get from the view along Route
22."
KNGG QUARTERLY MEETING
- TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th - 7:30 PM
at a Place To Be
Advised:
The location should be firmed up by Monday so we can
advise you where.
GUEST
SPEAKER:
Jeff Baker, Attorney for
KNGG
Be Neighborly! Bring a
neighbor!
WE STILL NEED YOUR
CONTRIBUTION!
And it'll be tax
deductible, too.
To the extent of the
law.
COME TO THE NEW TOWN PARK
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY
This SUNDAY - 12:30 Noon at the
Park
SEPTEMBER 25, 2003
MORE ON THE CURRENT
SURVEY
We now understand that people
calling to do the survey are asking you
to answer questions about what
you think about certain state and local
candidate's qualifications.
However, one of the questions
is, "Do you support the 'Hannaford
Supermarket and shopping
plaza?"
Is someone is trying to make the
Widewaters strip mall proposal a political
issue? It sure looks like
it!
If you get the call, it's very
important that you ask:
1. With whom am I
speaking?
2. What company do
you represent?
3. Who are you
taking this survey for?
You know the rest!
Please let us know what happens.
THE OCTOBER QUARTERLY
MEETING
IT'S
IMPORTANT!
It's
informational! It's about
the proposed Widewaters Mall!
It's about what's happening at Planning Board meetings and
what it means.
It's about "conceptional
renderings" and what their approval means.
It's about Widewaters, the
Planning Board, the ZBA and KNGG.
It's about where we stand in
this process as an "interested party."
It's October 7th at 7:30 PM
at A Place To Be Announced!
Special Guest Speaker, Jeff
Baker, Attorney for KNGG
It's about being neighborly by
bringing a neighbor or friend. TOWN PARK GRAND OPENING
SUNDAY
The Town Park will have it's
Grand Opening this Sunday beginning
at 12:30 noon. Everyone is invited.
Come and find out all about our
new park. See for yourself
how GOOD GROWTH in Kinderhook can
give our children a recreation
area.
This has been the first summer
of operation of the park. The facilities
so far include two ball
parks. The finished ball field is for softball and
Little League Girls. The field soon to
be finished is for regular
baseball.
Evidently this field gets double billing
in that it may be used for soccer
in the future..
Also finished is a
pavilion, two basket ball courts and a playground
complete with swings and gym
sets for the kids.
This GOOD GROWTH
project, while preserving land for open space, is
giving the children of Kinderhook a place go and have a hard day's
play
and some good old fashioned exercise.
The park has been paid for in part with a grant, money
from the tobacco
settlement and "pay as you go" budgeting approved unanimously by
our
current Town Board. Just to prove that GOOD GROWTH doesn't have to
be
costly. Even with the park project,
the town tax rate was reduced by 4% last
year.
Show your support for
GOOD GROWTH in Kinderhook!
Come out to the Town
Park
Sunday at 12:30 noon for the
festivities.
Directions: From
that dangerous intersection where Route 9 meets Route 9H,
turn on to State Farm Road, continue past the school buildings
on the right.
You'll go around two bends. Shortly after the second bend, on
your right, you'll
see a small sign that reads "Town Park." (If you reach the stop sign,
you've
gone too far!) Turn right on to the road into the park. It's near
the water tower.
See you
there!
DO YOU HAVE A KNGG LAWN
SIGN?
Although we won't be selling
tickets at the door, as consultants,
Jeff Baker and our traffic engineers do charge a fee. KNGG needs to
pay that fee soon. Won't you help
out?
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible
to the extent of the law.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO SURVEY
CALLERS
The first report came in to tonight of another
telephone survey being done.
KNGG does not know who has instigated this
survey.
The female caller stated that they (No name of who
the caller represented)
were doing a "random
political survey in your area."
KNGG was told, "The questions started with
those about Governor Pataki and eventually got
to local politicians and the Widewaters project, although the caller referred
to it as 'the Hannaford
supermarket and shopping plaza' in her
question."
If you start getting this type of call, we
suggest:
1. Ask the caller who they
represent.
2. Ask the caller their
name.
3. Are the questions stacked? - In
other words, are the questions made
up to get the answers the client who is paying for
the survey would like?
Example: In a previous survey that
Widewaters had conducted, the caller asked
"Would you support a Hannaford Supermarket in
Kinderhook?"
Most people would say yes without knowing
the impacts and the issues.
The dishonesty comes in when the caller did
not reveal that the supermarket would
be part of a Widewaters strip mall at the busy and
dangerous intersection of Routes
9/9H and State Farm Road or the roundabout or safety
issues for the school system, etc.
Had the solicited known more than the average non
KNGG Member and answered,
"Yes, but not at that location." The
caller hung up abruptly and your, "Yes, but" in
all probability was counted as a "YES
period."
If you feel the questions are stacked, don't
answer. Just hang up.
If the persons that had answered, "Yes, but
---" had answered a plain "NO" or had just hung up,
the outcome for KNGG, had the survey been
legitimate, may have been better.
Until we know more, it's probably best to just hang
up. We'll keep you informed.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
PAGE ONE IN TUESDAY'S
INDEPENDENT
"Plaza Drawn
Anew"
An article about last Thursday's "conceptional"
approval of architectural renderings on the mall.
Also
Abbey Cash did it again! On
page 14, her 10 best reasons not to build the mall appears with
the
title, "Why the Plaza Won't Be Good." We've
been getting reports on this cleverly amusing piece
of literature. Don't miss it. This letter
is a gem!
WE THANK
EVERYONE
who have recently sent in a check in support of the
work we are doing. No one at KNGG is on any
sort of payroll. All funds go to consultants
and of promotion of KNGG's mission. KNGG is short of
funds. We are in need of funding to make it
possible to continue this struggle. If you haven't contributed lately,
please help out. Your contribution is tax deductible.
A SPECIAL INFORMATIVE EVENING about the WIDEWATERS PROJECT Special guest speaker: KNGG Attorney, Jeff Baker The KNGG October Quarterly Meeting Tuesday October 7th at 7:30 PM Place to be announced. BRING A NEIGHBOR or TWO! And if you forget - see - KNGG.org
Widewaters application
procedure:
IT'S NOT OVER . . . NOT YET!
COME TO THE
KNGG QUARTERLY MEETING OCT. 7th.
Hear what our environmental
attorney has to say about it.
Jeff Baker will be here to
answer our questions.
THE KNGG QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
- Tuesday October 7th - 7:30 PM - at a place to be
announced -
Introduce a neighbor to
KNGG! Bring one or two or more!
Find out what's happening with
the mall and the Planning Board and the ZBA.
Find out where we
stand.
Find out what's
next.
Tuesday October 7th
- Time 7:30 PM - at a place to be announced.
TO THE PLANNING
BOARD
With permission, below is a
copy of a letter sent to the Planning Board by
KNGG Member, Jayne Zinke,
maintaining that there are native residents as well
as those who have
relocated to Kinderhook that are against the Widewaters
application
being
approved.
September 13, 2003
Ed Simonsen, Chairman
P. O. Box P
Niverville, NY 12139 Dear Planning Board: I am a Columbia County native, born in Chatham, raised on an apple farm outside of Niverville, attended Niverville School, Martin HE. Glynn School, and Ichabod Crane Central School. My parents started golden Harvest Farms, where I worked for over twenty years. I am a lifelong resident of this beautiful, rural, peaceful, uncrowded area. Over the years, many positive changes have improved the Valatie-Kinderhook community, including an emphasis on our cultural and historical treasures. Our villages have become more viable and attractive to both locals and tourists. The proposed new shopping mall will deteriorate this progress by undermining small village businesses. The country charm will be traded for "mall mentality." PLEASE, Planning Board, do not let the interests of outside commercial developers and the plea for "shopping convenience" allow this proposed mall to be built. Do those who want another grocery store realize the far-reaching impact leading to traffic jams, crowds, safety issues, and population explosion? Is that what we want here? The future is in your hands. Thank you for your hard work and attention to this very important decision. Please preserve what is very special and unique about Northern Columbia County. Sincerely yours, Jayne Zinke
LOST in the CHATHAM
COURIER
We looked at "Letters to the
Editor" in last Thursday's Courier and saw nothing for
KNGG.
What we missed was "My
Opinion" on page 10.
If you missed Abbey Cash's
"Top 10 Reasons to Say "No" to Hannaford in the
Register-Star,
Take a look at last Thursday's
Courier - still on the stands.
Thank you Abbey. And our apologies for
the miss.
WE CONTINUE SHARING the
KNGG SDEIS COMMENTS
Prepared for KNGG and Presented to the Planning
Board by Jeff Baker
Below is the letter prepared by our traffic engineer
Vollmer Associates LLP.
It was included with Jeff Baker's
comments.
KNGG ATTORNEY, JEFF BAKER WILL
COMMENT
ON THIS THE KNGG TRAFFIC REPORT AND
OTHERS
AT THE KNGG QUARTERLY MEETING
-
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7th 7:30 PM
at a place to be
announced
Coming in early
December
The 2nd KNGG Annual
Meeting
Watch KNGG
eNEWS
for date, time and
place.
IS YOUR LAWN SIGN MISSING? If so, please tell us. KNGG@berk.com
BRING BACK THE
SIGNS!
SAFE FOR SIGNS? As the winds have subsided, it's
time to return your lawn signs to
to their rightful place on your front lawn.
We have received compliments from Friends of Hudson
on the placement and abundance
of our lawn signs!
THANK YOU
FOH!
On Wednesday morning Craig Smith, roving
reporter for Channel 13 in Albany placed a call
to the Friends of Hudson office in Hudson requesting
knowledge of any roundabout situations
in this area. Susan Falzone and Sue Bellinger
were knowledgeable of our problem in Kinderhook
and were happy to refer Craig Smith to KNGG.
Hence the camera crew in Kinderhook and
the showing of our short interview about our problem
with the roundabout on the Channel 13
6 O'clock News on Wednesday
night.
Thank you Friends of Hudson for your
referral!
IN FRIDAY'S
INDEPENDENT
Thank you, Cheryl Gilbert, for your letter on
page 19 titled "ROUNDABOUT WON'T BE AS CUTE
AS IT SOUNDS."
I urge everyone to read the letter on page 19
titled, "BIKE RIDER SUPPORTS PLAZA PLAN,"
by Bob Cramer (doesn't sign his name with his
title so people know who he really is. He is "president"
of "Kinderhook Residents in Support of
Hannaford Plaza.")
He criticizes the fact that most of KNGG's signs
appear in the Village of Kinderhook. Yes we should
get more signs out in Valatie, Niverville and
the Township, yet this is exactly where our signs
have been disappearing! And who's been up to
that?
He goes on to say, "The people of KNNG (Kinderhook
Neighbors for No Growth) simply
can't
accept . . . " I don't think name calling
will get anyone anywhere. This kind of rhetoric is uncalled
for.
I'm sure the Planning Board is interested in the
facts, not emotional outbursts.
Cramer boasts, "We've submitted over 1400 signed
petitions in favor of the project." Presuming
they
do have 1,400 supporters, we take note
that KRISHP was only able to muster up 4 letters to the
Planning Board in support of the Widewaters
SDEIS.
This letter needs a rebuttal reply. Who's up
to it?
IN TODAY'S REGISTER-STAR -
FRONT PAGE HEADLINE
"Board Eyes New-Look Market" An article about
Thursday's Planning Board Meeting.
Also on page A-4 "Letters to the Editor"
see
"Buy development rights" an eye-opener for
Kinderhook from a Red Hook resident and farmer.
WHAT'S IN
KNGG.ORG?
Quite a lot:
In "About Us," you'll find a list of KNGG
Officials and Advisors and "What We Believe." "Our History
also appears but is about to moved to its own sub
category.
Dunkin' Donuts and Sunoco have their own sub
category
As does Widewaters.
In "Widewaters," you'll find copies of our previous
flyers - more is coming.
In "Membership" under "Membership Levels" you will
find a application which can be downloaded.
In "Mission Statement," you'll find our mission
statement.
In "Municipal Meeting Times," you find all scheduled
meeting times of the Town Planning Board, Town
Board and Town ZBA. We are working on the
Villages at the moment.
In "Up and Coming Events" is a notice about the
October 2nd ZBA Public Hearing
In "Our Strategy," is Our
Strategy.
In "Good Growth, Smart Growth and New Urbanism" is a
good definition written for us by
historical architect, Marilyn
Kaplan.
AND . . . more is coming!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2003
TO: ALL MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer AT LAST NIGHT'S PLANNING BOARD
MEETING
Voting
members present at the September 18th Planning Board meeting were Chairman, Ed
Simonsen; Richard Anderson; Jim Egnasher. alternate; John Felt, alternate; Mike
Leiser; Gerald Minot-Shueuerman and Tim Ooms. Excused were Don Gaylord
and Mary Ellen Hern. Also present were Charlie Shattenkirk, alternate; Pat
Prendergast, Town Engineer; Marc Gerstman, special environmental attorney and
Marc Gold,Planning Board attorney.
CONCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL
APPROVAL
Widewaters brought in new elevation renderings with
improvements requested by planning board
members at
the previous workshop. They were presented by Mike O'Shea, architectural
esigner with QKP Designs.
I could see
an improvement in the Hannaford building. The gable end (triangle) of the atrium
had been changed from glass to clapboard. The improvement over last week's
renderings is that there is more clapboard and a little less glass. One of
the things I object to is the gable end under which
there is a
two story glass wall with glass entrances under a minimal five foot circular
canopy. The canopy and all that glass is too 21st Century for this area and
project. It is nothing more than branding.
Of all the
five buildings planned, the Hannaford one is the better looking because the
facade imitates a facade in the Village of Chatham. Although the signature
or brand architecture was less visible, it was still
apparent.
As far as
the other four buildings go, they are all very similar in design to each other,
having come out of a cookie cutter mold and look like a series or colony of bank
buildings put on the same site with no individuality. Each one of these
buildings should have been discussed individually and the same emphasis put on
each of them as on the Hannaford structure. This comment is inclusive of
the building attached to the Hannaford structure.
John Felt
and Richard Anderson called for the developer to submit samples of materials and
fixtures before approval. Marco Marzocchi, council for
Widewaters, disagreed saying it was not customary. Felt and Anderson
argued the point further stating that Stewart's brought in samples as did many
other applicants. John Felt argued that it is customary in NY
state for the developer to submit materials for approval. There was no
further discussion as the topic fell to the wayside and was
dismissed.
I believe
this is an important issue which should have been further investigated and
brought to a vote before approval is given. Unfortunately interested
parties such as KNGG or the public have no say at these important decision
making meetings.
After much
discussion, but without much direction to or demand of the developer from
the Planning Board, a resolution was called for "conceptional approval of the
architectural design." The resolution was subject to making modifications
and the submission of the descriptions and dimensions. A vote was
taken and
passed. No samples were
demanded.
Although the
conceptional approval of architectural design was approved by the Planning
Board, it is still subject to further SEQRA review which can be addressed in the
findings statement.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NEW
ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS
Next was a
discussion to reopen the SDEIS Comment Period to include the newly approved
architectural renderings only. Marco Marzocchi objected. He did not want
to reopen the Public Comment Period, even though as Marc Gerstman pointed out
that this matter was totally discussed with Widewaters' attorney and had agreed
upon. It had also been discussed at the workshop on September 11th.
Gerry
Minot-Scheuerman pointed out that since the renderings had
changed from what is in the SDEIS, the public should have the chance to comment
on them. Ed Simonsen pointed out that this Planning Board has always given the
public a chance to comment whenever possible. Tim Ooms emphatically
agreed. Marc Gerstman pointed out that the Planning Board has a right to protect
itself by requiring a an extension of the SDEIS Comment period on architectural
renderings only.
A vote was
taken and passed that the SDEIS Comment Period would be extended for fourteen
days for the public to comment on the conceptional architectural design. The
developer must give notice via the Register-Star. It wasn't clear,
but it is my understanding that the comment period will begin 15 days from the
date the public notice appears in the Register-Star and will close fourteen days
later. There will be no Public Hearing.
RECOMMENDATION TO
ZBA
Widewaters
has previously applied to the ZBA for a variance on roof pitch. Their submitted
application and narrative is based on their architectural renderings
in the SDEIS. Now Widewaters wanted the
Planning
Board to give the ZBA a recommendation for this application to be heard on
October 2nd. There were doubts heard from board
members.
Marc
Gerstman pointed out to the board that if they voted for a recommendation, it
would be for the renderings and a narrative previously submitted with
the application. Once again Marco protested
saying that
the Planning Board has just approved these new renderings. But Gerstman
pointed out that these are not the renderings submitted to the ZBA nor was there
any narrative for these plans.
Marco disagreed. Marc Gerstman
called upon Marc Gold, also the ZBA attorney, to present to
the
Planning Board the
application, narrative and renderings submitted by Widewaters to the
ZBA.
Gerstman
stood and held up the renderings for the board to see. "Are these the
renderings you just approved?," asked Gerstman. Everyone on the board
understanding the implication replied "no!"
Immediately, Mike Leiser moved
that the board deny the recommendation for the application to the
ZBA for a
variance. Marco said he would go to the ZBA with the new renderings anyways, and
tell the ZBA that these are the renderings approved by the Planning
Board.
I am not
sure what significance this has except that the ZBA should require Widewaters to
reapply for their variance based on the new renderings and require a new
narrative.
The site plan review issues
will be discussed at the next workshop.
The
Widewaters portion of the meeting ended at 11:05 PM. The Planning Board
stayed on as they had more business.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2003
Due to forcasted high
winds, strongly suggest you take in
your KNGG lawn signs along with anything that could
cause any
damage.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2003
CH. 13 Did Show KNGG Interview We have been advised that the
KNGG interview with Allen Schaefer was shown on the Channel
13
6 O'clock News. We had
been advised previously by Channel 13 that it was to be on the 5
O'clock
News. We are
sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
In Today's Register- Star Page
A-4 (9/18/03)
A very strong letter against
the strip mall and roundabout from architect Alvin Knoll supporting
his
comments
with with references to the Town Code. Thank you,
Alvin.
Yesterday's Register-Star Page
A-4 (9/17/03)
Two KNGG Members had their
letters published covering nearly 1/2 of the page. Unlike most
letters that get published as
"Letters to the Editor," these were published as "MY
VIEW."
The first one, by Abbey
Cash, is cleverly presented and titled, "TOP 10 LIST OF REASONS
TO
SAY NO TO
HANNAFORD."
The second one, by Sarah
Biondello, an in depth concern of a mother for her children is titled,
"FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, FIND
ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THE MALL."
Both letters present concerns
that are very real. Thank you Abbey and Sarah for sharing
your
concerns.
INFORMATION - WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
KNGG is interested in code
enforcement and we have been watching the fiasco with
Sunoco.
The Valatie (golf) Driving
Range on route 203 is in violation of the Town Code for roof
pitch
on a shed it recently
built. The Code Enforcement Officer, Walt Simonsmeier, has
granted
the driving range a
"temporary" Certificate of Occupancy.
On September
6th, the same Valatie Driving Range gave a fund raising picnic/party for current
Code Enforcement Officer, Walt Simonsmeier, who is running in the November
election for Town Supervisor. We see this as an obvious conflict of
interest.
Further, in
yesterday's Register-Star on page A-3, is a photo of John Piddock, with Walt
Simonsmeier, Keith Stack (running for Town Board) and Ken Wengler (also running
for Town Board) at the September 6th fundraiser.
John
Piddock, Chairman of the Town ZBA, was made president of Citizens for a Better
Kinderhook,
"a non
profit group of registered Independents, Democrats, Republicans and
Conservatives."
"The funds
raised (September 6th) will be used to support the election of candidates the
group has
endorsed for
town office: Walt Simonsmeier for Town Supervisor, Keith Stack and Ken Wengler
for Town
Council." These three candidates have previously come out in favor of
the Widewaters/Hannaford
project.
KNGG SIGNS ARE
MISSING
Yesterday,
we received reports of 15 missing KNGG lawn signs. The reports have come
in from various members who purchased the signs. The signs had been placed
in Niverville and the Township. If you have placed a sign that has been
removed/stolen, please let us know. We are keeping a record of all missing
signs.
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
I wish to thank everyone who
has been sending in contributions to help KNGG meet its
expenses.
Your help and understanding of
our need to raise more funds is greatly appreciated. Without
your
help, we cannot
continue.
Yours
truly,
Allen Schaefer, President
SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
TO: ALL MEMBERS
September 15 has come and gone. Like the rest
of us, KNGG attorney Jeff Baker, got his comments in to the Planning
Board. What is different about Jeff Baker's comments is that
they are KNGG's Comments inclusive of letters from other KNGG
supporters.
DOCUMENT ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB SITE
KNGG.ORG
GO TO WIDEWATERS SDEIS
COMMENTS
KNGG Comments by Jeff Baker CLICK ON "Comments of
Jeff Baker"
Volmer Associates (Traffic Engineers) CLICK ON
"Traffic Evaluation"
The New York State Preservation League CLICK ON "NY
Preservation League"
Howard Brandston (Renown lighting designer) CLICK ON
"Light Design Evaluation"
Marlyn Kaplan's Arcticectural Evaluation CLICK ON
"Architectural Evaluation"
Please remember that this hearing is costing us
dearly. Our only means of support to carry on this work is your
donations. Please be generous. We still have work to
do.
Respectfully yours,
Allen Schaefer, President
The abbreviation, LOS, refers to level of
service.
FHWA - Federal Highway Administration
SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
Schaefer Interview Edited
Allen Schaefer, President of KNGG, was interview today at his home in Kinderhook by a camera crew from Channel 13 5 O'clock News for a segment about roundabouts to be shown on Channel 13 today. The entire segment turned
out to be pro-roundabout because of a roundabout the airport officials want
to install at Albany Airport. They showed a design of the airport
roundabout which looked well designed because there were only four legs and they
are equal distance apart. Another design was of a roundabout that had only
three legs which were also equal distance apart from entering the
roundabout.
The factor in Kinderhook is
that this roundabout would be experimental because it has five legs. The
three and four leg roundabouts have been tried. Another important fact is
that the Kinderhook roundabout would be dangerous because of the way Route 9H
North merges at the roundabout into Route 9 North. We have problems now,
but with no traffic lights at this intersection, especially because of the close
proximity of the school system, Widewaters and Hannaford are asking for
trouble.
The Kinderhook roundabout is
not something the Town is demanding from the DOT. Nor is it something that
the DOT said must be put in because of current conditions. It is being
proposed by Widewaters just so they can build a strip mall at this dangerous
intersection. It is, claims Widewaters, suppose to mitigate the
additional traffic caused by the proposed Widewaters project, especially
with a Hannaford supermarket as an anchor.
The camera crew took photos of the "Safety,
YES!" "Roundabout NO!" Signs and went to the site to photograph the
layout, traffic etc. We can only believe that because the anchor's
introduction was pro-roundabout rather than neutral, that everyone shown
was pro-roundabout and pushing for their own projects, that the channel 13
news editorial staff did not want to show both sides of the story, possibly
because they didn't want offend a current or potential sponsor, Hannaford.
Therefore KNGG and Kinderhook's potential explosive controversy was not
heard.
Who's Hoarding KNGG
Signs?
We've been counting. .
.
It seems we've sold several
more signs than have been put out.
We even know of a few members
who purchased signs and . . . what? They didn't put them
out?!!!
WOW!
We'd appreciate it if you have your signs and
haven't gotten around to getting them out, to please put 'em out.
THIS IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT
FOR KNGG and KINDERHOOK.
It's easy! REALLY! Just slip the waterproof cardboard over
the wire frame. Find
the position where you want it.
And just press
down!
All kidding aside, please,
let's get the signs out!
They are causing people to
talk and more importantly, to ask questions.
It seem that once there are
one or two up,
others start appearing on the
same street.
Let's
keep the momentum going. Let's get the signs out to be
seen!
If you need signs, we sill
have some . . .
Just
call John Picket at 758-7520. John is happy to help you get your
sign.
Schaefer Interview Edited
Allen Schaefer, President of KNGG, was interview today at his home in Kinderhook by a camera crew from Channel 13 5 O'clock News for a segment about roundabouts to be shown on Channel 13 today. The entire segment turned
out to be pro-roundabout because of a roundabout the airport officials want
to install at Albany Airport. They showed a design of the airport
roundabout which looked well designed because there were only four legs and they
are equal distance apart. Another design was of a roundabout that had only
three legs which were also equal distance apart from entering the
roundabout.
The factor in Kinderhook is
that this roundabout would be experimental because it has five legs. The
three and four leg roundabouts have been tried. Another important fact is
that the Kinderhook roundabout would be dangerous because of the way Route 9H
North merges at the roundabout into Route 9 North. We have problems now,
but with no traffic lights at this intersection, especially because of the close
proximity of the school system, Widewaters and Hannaford are asking for
trouble.
The Kinderhook roundabout is
not something the Town is demanding from the DOT. Nor is it something that
the DOT said must be put in because of current conditions. It is being
proposed by Widewaters just so they can build a strip mall at this dangerous
intersection. It is, claims Widewaters, suppose to mitigate the
additional traffic caused by the proposed Widewaters project, especially
with a Hannaford supermarket as an anchor.
The camera crew took photos of the "Safety,
YES!" "Roundabout NO!" Signs and went to the site to photograph the
layout, traffic etc. We can only believe that because the anchor's
introduction was pro-roundabout rather than neutral, that everyone shown
was pro-roundabout and pushing for their own projects, that the channel 13
news editorial staff did not want to show both sides of the story, possibly
because they didn't want offend a current or potential sponsor, Hannaford.
Therefore KNGG and Kinderhook's potential explosive controversy was not
heard.
Who's Hoarding KNGG
Signs?
We've been counting. .
.
It seems we've sold several
more signs than have been put out.
We even know of a few members
who purchased signs and . . . what? They didn't put them
out?!!!
WOW!
We'd appreciate it if you have
your signs and haven't gotten around to getting them out,
to please put 'em
out.
THIS IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT
FOR KNGG and KINDERHOOK.
It's easy! REALLY! Just slip the waterproof cardboard over
the wire frame.
Find the position where you
want it.
And just press
down!
All kidding aside, please,
let's get the signs out!
They are causing people to
talk and more importantly, to ask questions.
It seem that once there are
one or two up,
others start appearing on the
same street.
Let's
keep the momentum going. Let's get the signs out to be
seen!
If you need signs, we sill
have some . . .
Just call John Picket at
758-7520. John is happy to help you get your
sign.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
13 News Interviews
Schaefer
Allen Schaefer has been
interviewed by Channel 13 News with regards to the issues about the
roundabout. The interview will be shown tonight on Channel 13 during the
Five
O'clock News.
SEPTEMBER 14,
2003
DEADLINE
KINDERHOOK
MONDAY -
SEPTEMBER 15 - 4:00 PM
for SUBMITTING Public Comments &
Letters
on the Widewaters
SDEIS
Any letters and written comments must
be delivered
before 4:00 PM
to
Kinderhook Town Hall,
Niverville
SOME LAWN SIGN
INGENUITY
FROM KNGG MEMBER LYRYSA
SMITH
> Allen,
> Perhaps suggest that some folks who live in apartments do what I did. I put > my two signs in the windows of my apartment, one side each facing out to the > street. I don't own the building, nor the lawn, of course, but I feel like I > do have the right to display the signs in my upstairs apartment window > facing the street. >
> I live in downtown Valatie, right
across from the fire station, next door to Callan Park,
> on New Street. There are
plenty of "Hannaford Yes" signs in Valatie, so thanks for calling
> for others to join me in the "Safety Yes" and
"Widewaters No" signs.
> Take care, > Lyrysa Smith SIGN TIP of the WEEK We have noticed that the staples are falling
out of some signs.
To keep your sign sturdy and up, we suggest applying a 2 inch strip of Scotch (or similar) super strength mailing tape to hold both sides together at the mid and bottom of each side. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS WITH PROPERTY Along Routes 9, 9H, 203, Maple Lane and Cty. Route 21and elsewhere to place signs on their property to give our cause HIGHER VISIBILITY. WE ALSO NEED MORE SIGNS IN VALATIE NIVERVILLE AND THE TOWNSHIP. Call: Abbey Cash 758-7588 - John Picket 758-7520 - Diane Whelton 758-6375 NEXT PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR OCTOBER 2nd Widewaters has applied to the ZBA for a variance on roof pitch. KNGG believes this is variance is only to make possible the building of this strip
mall as a box like structure to save the developer money.
The developer should come up with designs that are suitable for the Town, not just the signature architecture they have been submitting. The developer should stay
within the intent of the code.
The developer should be building to fit within the
Town's character as set forth in the code. We will be needing as many people as possible to turn out and speak on Oct. 2nd. Tell the ZBA that this is the biggest development ever to want to come to Kinderhook. If the ZBA gives in to Widewaters' whims, it will set a precedent for all other construction, eventually allowing Routes 9 and 9H in Kinderhook to look like East Greenbush. KNGG will need professional representation at this hearing. Professional representation costs $$$. KNGG needs your help with
these expenses.
Please help us to continue
this fight.
Your contribution to KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by law. SEPTEMBER 11,
2003 TO: ALL MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer KNGG IS STILL IN NEED OF FUNDS TO PAY
OUR LEGAL EXPENSES.
Your
contribution to KNGG is tax deductible as allowed by
law.
AT TONIGHT'S PLANNING BOARD MEETING:
Among other items on tonight's agenda was Widewaters'
Commons.
Mike O'Shea, designer (architect?) from QKP Design,
presented blow up photos of old buildings in the Kinderhook area on which
he says he based his designs for buildings 4 and 4-A. These buildings
include the Hannaford store and the adjacent building. One could see
some improvement over what has been previously presented.
However it was pointed out by several Planning Board
members that the Hannaford's atrium just doesn't work. And it won't work
because it is signature architecture. In Red Hook Hannaford's atrium
is built within the building and cannot bee seen from outside. 19th
century buildings don't have atriums.
Mary Ellen Hern commented that the Hannaford's atrium looks
like a Victorian green house and would fit beautifully on Alexandra Spivy's
property. I actually yelled out, "Are you kidding? It's too
big!" I'm glad Ally wasn't there to
hear that! The building is nothing more than boiler plate Hannaford
signature architecture.
One of the designers tried to compare it to the Lourve in
Paris and the Crystal Palace in London. But to nothing in
Kinderhook. Besides he was way off.
Facing buildings 4 and 4-A from within the parking lot
looking south, the very left half looks like a brick Stewarts or the Berkshire
Mall in Pittsfield, which I believe was built by Widewaters or possibly
Pyramid.
Don Gaylord liked the atrium. He liked the whole
building saying, "It's Ok. It's fine. A few people here shouldn't be
calling the shots!"
Richard Anderson called him on that exclaiming, "Tell
us Don. Tell us how a few people here are
calling the shots."
Charlie Shattenkirk said, "The whole thing is a
hodgepodge! Although there are improvements, it could be much
better. It is in need of a village concept. This has Hannaford's
signature on it."
The designers weren't interested. They had one
product to peddle. And were interested only in convincing the board to
take whats on the plate.
Ed Simonsen, Chairman, commented that these elevations are
outside SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) because they are
not in the SDEIS and the public should be able to comment on
them.
Marco, Council for Widewaters, said, "The public HAS had that chance. At the last hearing!
No more suplementals!"
Now we all know that we couldn't possibly have commented on
drawings that were just presented tonight at the last August 27th
hearing.
Mark Gerstman, Special Council for the Planning Board,
said, "The Board needs to protect its decision." He suggested the new
elevations be put up for public comment for one week.
Don Gaylord warned, "Be prepared to make changes based on
the public comments."
Marco did say that the site plans are
complete.
The Planning Board recommendation to the ZBA
on area variance for roof pitch for buildings 4 and 4-A
only:
Marco wants to show the ZBA elevation drawings that he
expects the Planning Board to agree upon at next Thursday's
meeting.
Mark Gerstman told Marco that the Planning Board needs a
narrative by next week as to why Widewaters went to the ZBA. Marco was in
agreement.
And so the world turns.
SAFETY FIRST! LET'S GET THOSE LAWN SIGNS
UP!
Call Abbey Cash 758-7588 or John
Picket 758-7520 SEPTEMBER 11,
2003
TO: ALL MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer D DAY
is
MONDAY SEPTEMBER
15th
Deadline Day for
Public Comments on the SDEIS
Letters and
public comments on the SDEIS will be
accepted September 15th until 4:00 PM at Town
Hall.
Please mail letters
to:
Ed Simonsen,
Chairman
Kinderhook Town Planning
Board
P O Box
P
Niverville NY
12130
LAWN SIGNS ARE GIVING US VISIBILITY
They are making people
curious.
More people are asking
questions,
like what's going on
here?
Planning Board members
and
Town officials are now taking
notice.
The more signs we have out there, more
people
will start thinking.
It's already happening. .
.
Let's get it to happen
more!
Need a sign?
Call Abbey Cash 758-7588 or John Picket
758-7520
A report on tonight's Planning Board Workshop
will appear in tomorrow's eNEWS. SEPTEMBER 9,
2003 ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT
TILL
SEPTEMBER 15th DEADLINE
ON PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Be sure to get your letter
to
Ed Simonsen,
Chairman
Town of Kinderhook Planning
Board
P O Box
P
Niverville NY 12130
also
Please be sure to copy in Letters to
the Editor
The Chatham
Courier
The Independent
The
Register-Star
We need help in funding to pay our
environmental
attorney and our traffic
engineers.
Please send your check to the above
address.
Contributions to KNGG are tax
deductible to the extent of law.
Do
you believe that the Widewaters mall will change the character
of
Kinderhook
forever?
Do you believe that if this mall is built, it will set a precedent for all
of
Routes 9/9H from Rensselaer to
Ghent and Stuyvesant Falls
- of which most land is now up
for grabs?
Do
you believe that if Widewaters gets their way that in 3 to 5 years
Kinderhook could look like East
Greenbush?
Do
you believe that black topping 20 acres of Columbia County's most
prime
farmland can be devastating and
cannot be restored?
Do
you believe that the site for this mall is the gateway to Kinderhook and
Columbia County?
Do
you believe the Catskill Mountain views should be
preserved?
Do
you believe that the ramifications of the proposed
roundabout
could have damaging effects on this
community?
Do
you believe that our children should have more and better safety
protection in front of our
school system than just a cross walk without traffic
signals?
IF YOU BELIEVE,
DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S TOO LATE . .
.
JOIN
NOW WITH KNGG . . .
1. Write your comments to
the Planning Board.
2. Write to the press
listed above.
3. Join 225 of your
neighbors in contributing to KNGG.
4. Show that you care, put
your KNGG lawn sign up TODAY!
Call Abbey Cash at 758-7588 or John
Picket at 758-7520 for your sign.
More lawn signs are popping up in Valatie and the Township.
They are looking good and not so
lonely - but we need to see
more.
We are now seeing signs along Bishop
Nelson Rd, Fordham Rd,
Maple Lane
and State Farm Rd. - Lets get more signs out today.
LET'S SHOW THE POWERS THAT BE THAT
THIS
MALL AND WHAT IT BRINGS WILL
BE INTOLERABLE!
UP and COMING
EVENTS
Thursday - September 11 - 7:00 PM -
Town Planning Board
Workshop
Kinderhook Town Hall,
Niverville
Widewaters is expected to be on
agenda
Thursday - September 18 - 7:00 PM - Town
Planning Board Meeting
Kinderhook Town Hall
Niverville
Widewaters is expected to be on
agenda
Thursday - October 2nd - 7:30 PM - Zoning
Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Kinderhook Town Hall,
Niverville
PUBLIC HEARING
WIDEWATERS HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE
ON ARCHITECTURE
NOT TO BE
MISSED! SEPTEMBER 8,
2003
ONLY SEVEN DAYS LEFT TO GET
YOUR LETTERS IN!
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS SEPTEMBER
15th.
Write your comments
to:
Ed Simonsen,
Chairman
Town of Kinderhook Planning
Board
P O Box
P
Niverville NY
12130
SIGN TIP of the DAY
We
have noticed that the staples are
falling out of some signs.
To keep your sign sturdy and up, we
suggest applying a 2 inch strip of
Scotch (or similar) super strength
mailing tape
to hold both sides together at the mid
and bottom of each side.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS WITH
PROPERTY
Along Routes 9, 9H, 203 and Cty. Route
21
to place signs on their property to
give our cause
HIGHER
VISIBILITY.
WE ALSO NEED MORE SIGNS IN
VALATIE
NIVERVILLE AND THE
TOWNSHIP.
Call:
Abbey Cash 758-7588 - John Picket 758-7520 - Diane Whelton
758-6375
NEXT PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR
OCTOBER 2nd
Widewaters has applied to the ZBA
for a variance on roof pitch.
KNGG believes this is variance is only
to make possible the building of this mall
as a box like structure to save the
developer some money.
The
developer should come up with designs that are suitable
for
the Town. The developer should stay within the intent of
the
code. The developer should be building to fit within the
Town's
character as set forth in the code.
We will be needing as many
people as possible
to turn out and speak on Oct.
2nd.
Tell the ZBA that this is the
biggest development ever to want to come to Kinderhook.
If the ZBA gives in to Widewaters'
whims, it will set a precedent for all other construction,
eventually allowing Routes 9 and
9H in Kinderhook to look like East Greenbush.
KNGG will need professional
representation at this hearing.
Professional representation
costs.
KNGG needs your help with
costs.
Your contribution to KNGG is tax
deductible to the extent of
the law. SEPTEMBER 7,
2003
The signs that are out there are
getting good response.
New people are e-mailing us. In
one week we got 10 new members!
Members that will write to the
Planning Board, too.
JUST THINK WHAT THE RESPONSE COULD
BE,
IF WE ALL PUT OUT A
SIGN!
NEED MORE
SIGNS?
PUBLIC HEARING SPEECH
3
The following speech was given at the
August 27th Public Hearing by
KNGG Board of Directors Member, Sara
Richards.
Good Evening- I am Sara Richards and I am a resident of the Village of Kinderhook. I have reviewed the SDEIS submitted by Widewaters and while it is an improvement over the DEIS that was prepared last year, there are many areas where the plan is deficient. I want to focus on one area in particular-that of the lack of consistency with the comprehensive plan. First, I want to thank all of you (Planning Board Members) for the work you have put into this project. As a member of the ZBA of the Village of Kinderhook, I appreciate first hand the time and energy and emotional turmoil that go into decisions, and we've never had to face a project as big as Widewaters Commons. It is critical that this board fully consider all of the impacts of this project and force the developer to mitigate all impacts. This is our Town, and you are the ones who are charged with ensuring that this project adheres to the provisions of SEQRA and the zoning laws. It is the developer who has to adjust the project where necessary to abide by our laws. It is not the Town's role to cater to the desires of the developer. Right now, we are creating the blueprint for future commercial development along the 9/9H corridor. Whatever we do here will set the standard for all development that will follow in the future. We need to be sure that if this project, the largest in Kinderhook's history, gets built, that it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and is the best shopping plaza this county has ever seen. The parcel of property where Widewaters Commons is proposed to be located is zoned commercial. The SDEIS repeatedly states that the "goal" of the Town is to have the type of development Widewaters is proposing at this site. While it may be true that some would like to see additional commercial development along the 9H corridor, Kinderhook's Vision as set forth on page 11 of the Comprehensive Plan, is to "preserve and maintain the Town of Kinderhook's unique historic, agricultural, and rural character…and ensure that the design and architecture of commercial development reflects the Town's heritage….while maintaining the ambiance of a small rural town with a uniqueness that is Kinderhook." The design of the plaza does not do this. It appears to be a standard, off the shelf development plan that mimics plazas just like this throughout the country. These standardized plans are designed to save the developer money and homogenize development so that a plaza in Kinderhook looks like a plaza in Syracuse, which looks like a plaza in Ohio, etc. Kinderhook deserves better. Page 41 of the Comprehensive plan sets forth the types of commercial development that is desired in Kinderhook. It states, "desired businesses are those that produce goods, white collar jobs, light to medium manufacturing, and tourism related businesses…something other than minimum wage jobs, businesses committed to the community, and small cottage industries." I question whether a fast food restaurant and the other businesses planned are consistent with this goal. Page 42 of the Plan sets forth the results of a workshop where officials, residents, landowners and business owners were invited to develop a long range vision statement for the town. Each vision statement developed has as a goal the preservation of the Town's historic, scenic, and agricultural lands. In addition, each one mentions the goal of preserving the sense of community that exists in Kinderhook. As the SDEIS notes on page on page 130, "to the extent that the views at the site are valued by members of the public, the development of the project could be considered an unavoidable adverse impact." On page 57 of the Comprehensive Plan, however, it is noted that the gateways into the town along route 9 and 9H are important aesthetic areas. These entryways help define the town's borders, contribute to the image of Kinderhook, and make a statement about the Town to visitors." We need to think very carefully about what statement we want to make….is Kinderhook someplace special that needs to be treated as such, or is it just a bunch of land for sale, upon which the same type of homogenous development that exists elsewhere can be built without regard to the historic nature of our beautiful town? I submit that this is a special community and the plans for this plaza should reflect that fact. The plans presented by Widewaters in the SDEIS show two "blocks" of retail development perpendicular to 9H with parking spaces for 484 cars between these stores. This sea of pavement is going to be visible as one navigates the roundabout proposed at the 9/9H intersection. This is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. On pages 85 and 88, the Comprehensive Plan states that the Town should ensure that parking lots are behind buildings or screened from roads, not just adjacent land uses. No parking should be allowed between the building and the road." While some bushes and landscaping seem to be proposed for the site, the developer has not attempted to locate the parking in such a way that it is less visible from the road. Our views of the Catskills will forever be changed by having a sea of pavement and cars in the foreground. The type of design depicted in the SDEIS is not special in any way. This plaza will look like plazas in communities old and new across the country. This is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. On page 89,the following standards are specified: Prohibit trademarked architecture which identifies a specific company by building design features. Structures shall be compatible with traditional structures in the area in architecture, design, massing, materials and details. Architectural design shall be in keeping with the small-town architectural character of the Town. Avoid large expanses of undifferentiated facades and long plain wall sections. Follow the roof details and pitch of traditional structures in the town. The specifications are set forth. As you know, Widewaters has applied for a variance from these standards. Page 112 of the SDEIS states that the proposed use for this site is consistent with other land uses in the area and therefore alternatives were not considered. This type of development is not consistent with the small locally owned businesses in the vicinity. Four Brothers Pizza, Van Allen Automotive, and the Kinderhook Diner are not the same types of uses as a national chain fast food restaurant or other chain retail stores. On page 104 of the Comprehensive Plan, the following goal is set forth: "to set up an atmosphere that welcomes new business while at the same time expecting them to perform at Town standards to ensure that new development is in keeping with the rural character of Kinderhook. On page 105 of the Comprehensive Plan, it states "given the regional competition of malls and stores, and the population base in Kinderhook, small, specialty or niche businesses may be appropriate. It is appropriate to understand the strengths and opportunities for businesses in a main street or downtown location versus commercial development in B-1 districts and work towards attracting appropriate development. Prevent strip highway development. Do not allow commercial zones to stretch along all lengths of Route 9 and 9H." A lot of work went into this Comprehensive Plan. If it is to mean anything, we have to uphold its provisions, particularly for the first major development that comes to this Town since its enactment. If we relax our standards now, what does that say to the future developers who come before this Board? It would clearly send a message that it is the developers, not the Towns elected and appointed officials, who are running the show. We can't afford to let that happen. I have lived in Kinderhook for 10 years. I moved to this area because I value the unique qualities Kinderhook has to offer. I love the fact that I can walk to the local post office, the bagel shop, 2 small locally owned gift shops, and a bookstore where the owners host story hours complete with crafts and homemade cookies. I love the fact that I own a share in a Community Supported Agriculture and can get fresh organic vegetables each week and talk to the farmer who grew and harvested them. I love the fact that my milk is delivered to my home each week in glass bottles by a local farmer who worked for several years to build his own processing plant to process the milk from his own cows. I'm sure many people in this room have similar things that they love about this Town. These are the things that make Kinderhook special. These are the things that define a community. Large chain stores do not make a community. Fast food restaurants just like those in every suburb across the country do not make a community. Suburban sprawl does not make a community; indeed, it is the antithesis of community. I have nothing against Hannaford, nor against Widewaters. But I want to keep Kinderhook the special place that it is. If Widewaters wants to build a shopping plaza in Kinderhook it should respect the unique character that defines us and do everything it can to make this plaza fit into the community. Instead, it appears to be merely paving the way for more chain stores, big box development just like that in East Greenbush or Greenport, or in thousands of other towns across the Country. Kinderhook deserves better, and once we let our standards slide, there is no turning back. We need to make sure that
Widewaters Commons sets a high standard for the other development that is sure
to follow. The Town of Kinderhook has worked hard to adopt a comprehensive plan
and revised zoning laws to ensure that any development adheres to certain
standards. Let's not relax those standards right off the bat for the largest
commercial development this Town has ever seen.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2003 WE MUST STOP THIS
MALL!
IF IT GETS IN,
IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF
THE
EAST GREENBUSHING
OF ROUTE US 9 and NY 9H
PLEASE
ATTEND
the PUBLIC
HEARING
this THURSDAY - AUGUST
27th
7:00 PM at North
Pointe
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
EVENT FOR
KNGG
Please check in early
to sign up if you plan to speak
or cede your time for someone who needs more time to
speak.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE
to TELL THE PLANNING BOARD and
TOWN OFFICIALS THAT YOU
BELIEVE THIS MALL
WILL BE UNSAFE for THIS LOCATION, THAT IT IS OVER SCALE FOR
K'HOOK AND
YOU DON'T WANT
KINDERHOOK
to BECOME
ANOTHER EAST
GREENBUSH
whose
citizens are now fighting to turn it around.
KINDERHOOK
is NOW a DESTINATION.
East Greenbush is
not.
This is a very important
event.
Please come out with your
support.
PUBLIC HEARING
REGULATIONS:
Sign up to speak at the door
from 6:15 PM
You may cede your time to
someone else - but you must sign up
You will be allowed 5 minutes
to address the Planning Board
KNGG Representatives will be
available to answer
questions SEPTEMBER 4,
2003 TO: ALL MEMBERS
FROM: Allen Schaefer SAFETY
YES!
ROUNDABOUT NO!
and
WIDEWATERS
NO!
These KNGG signs are beginning to appear all over
town!
We need more help in Valatie, Niverville and in the
Township.
If you don't have your mall protest sigh yet, please
call:
Sue Chiafullo at 758-2944
or
John Picket at 758-7520
Either of these volunteers will be happy to help you get
your sign.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR KNGG - PUT OUT YOUR LAWN
TODAY!
Thank you for your support by coming out to the Public
Hearing last week.
Our turnout was good and our speakers were
great!
Now we need to pay our attorney, not only for the time he
spent coming here to Kinderhook and speaking,
but for the time he spent on research before speaking.
Having Jeff Baker as our official spokes person makes
KNGG's claims credible in the eyes of the
Planning Board, the Town Officials and the press.
It's important that we pay our bills so Jeff and other
research people, such as our traffic
engineer can continue their work for
us.
WON'T YOU HELP IN THIS WORTHY CAUSE
TODAY?
Please send your tax deductible check to the above
address.
KINDERHOOK,
an ENDANGERED
SPECIES?
ESPECIALLY with WIDEWATERS
AROUND,
IT
IS!
COMING SOON:
Copies of some speaches heard at the Public Hearing August
27th AUGUST 3,
2003
TO: ALL KNGG
MEMBERS
A Report on the August 27th Planning Board Widewaters SDEIS Public Hearing Prepared by KNGG Board Member,
Alexandra Anderson Spivy.
Over 100 people attended the Widewaters SDEIS public hearing at North Pointe. Ed Simonsen, Town Planning Board Chairman, introduced the Planning Board members and other "interested parties" who were at the meeting. These included the writer of the SDEIS, Barbara Beal, for Widewaters. 45 speakers signed up to give
testimony. About 10 of those who reserved time ceded their 5 minutes
to others. Curiously, Ed Simonsen did not really require that the
speakers identify themselves.
Frank Rhiner spoke first and addressed
the utter lack of any consideration for bicycliists, including students on
bikes because of the project's clos proximity to the school system, within the Widewaters SDEIS.
John Picket expressed his
dismay at the proposal’s lack of attention to the impact of the proposed
5-leg roundabout on Senior drivers and
adolescent drivers who abound at the site, since many kids drive themselves
to school.
Jock Spivy read the lighting analysis of the SDEIS
prepared by lighting designer Howard Brandston, an expert,
enrolled by KNGG. Alexandra Alnderson Spivy
addressed the inadequate consideration of the scenic vista the mall
will destroy.
KNGG Board Member,Sara Richards,
criticized the SDEIS for its contraventions of the Comprehensive Plan,
especially the many sections relating to scale, architectural style, congestion, and
appropriate retail businesses.
Larry and Abbey Cash also
spoke up about the lack of analysis of safety and of the impact of
increased traffic on Route 9 and on the Village of Kinderhook.
Jane Zinke of Valatie
expressed her opposition to the project on grounds of the destruction of
community character.
KNGG Treasurer, Mark Littekin,
read a statement from KNGG President Allen Schaefer, who couldn't attend due to
a compassionate medical emergency.
Later Mark spoke himself,
noting that proposed mall fails to comply with scale, architectural
standards, and design standards. He also stressed the lack of analysis of
noise pollution and traffic impact in
the SDEIS, citing the
impossibility of making left turns from Maple Lane and Rapp Road on to
Route 9. Mark also brought
up
lighting spill, hours of operation and length of time of
construction.
Architect Alvin Knoll
critiqued the architecural proposals in the SDEIS and showed them to be
both inadaquate and contradictory to the Comprehesive
Plan.
Sheryl Gilbert, who had visited a group of other Hannaford stores in Putnam and Duchess County, labeled the project, "a generic urban box mall," and presented photographs proving that the plans provided by Hannaford are in fact off the shelf facades – cookie-cutter commercial" identical to one in Pawling, NY. She also presented photographs of the Hannaford’s in Red Hook, which is hidden behind a substantial berm and uses clapboard siding. Other KNGG members
expressed serious concern about the traffic impacts of the project on
streets such as Hudson Street in the Village of
Kinderhook and upon the historic buildings within the
village.
KNGG attorney, Jeff Baker, stressed the Planning Board’s legal obligation to painstakingly study the SDEIS and urged them not to waste this opportunity to influence the future infrastructure of the town. He pointed out 3 omissions: 1. No
traffic anaylisis of morning peak traffic;
2. No driveway capacity
analysis;
3. Inadaquate
design details of roundabout (No lights,etc.shown in design of roundabout.)
Since actual architectural
plans exist, the developer's request for roof line variance is illegal
because the adverse impact is impossible to determine at
this point. Jeff also.pointed out that newest round of drawings presented
by Widewaters to the Planning Board during the week of August 28th are
outside the SDEIS and SEQRA and therefore may not legally be
considered.
Clark Whelton described what had happened when malls came to Weathersfield, Connecticut as the results of bad planning. Diane Whelton spoke against the traffic roundabout and cited examples of other Widewaters developments, notably in Ithica, where the company may have acted in bad faith. Marcia Anderson,
(who lives on Mile Hill Road) a 57 year resident, said, "The roundabout is
utterly inadequate and the project is
wroing."
Sabine Murphy expressed alarm about the safety of children getting to school on bikes and in general. McCagg Road resident, Frank Moses, expressed his opposition to the project. Two people from Chatham spoke against the mall, urging the Planning Board to uphold the Comprehensive Plan. Speakers in opposition to the Widewaters strip mall outnumbered pro-mall speakers about 6 to 1. There were 6 or 7 speakers in favor, including Debbie Lane of Valatie, who wanted better shopping and presented additional petition signatures to the Board. Mr. Robert Cramer spoke at length for the mall and urged people to trust DOT and the Planning Board. Daved Esher said he was in favor because it would reduce his taxes. Most pro speakers did not speak substantively to the SDEIS. The Public Comment Period is open till Sept 15th. This means that letters from the public are being accepted until September 15th. AUGUST 22, 2003 IS
THE EARLIEST eNEWS DATE AVAILABLE.
FOR EARLIER
INFORMATION, WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT "ABOUT US" ON THIS WEB SITE.
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