|
|
|
|
|
WIDEWATER DEIS COMMENTS on
WIDEWATERS DEIS
TO: Ed Simonsen, Chairman and Members of the Kinderhook Town Planning Board FROM: Allen Schaefer, President, Kinderhook Neighbors for Good Growth November 14, 2002 RE: Widewaters DEIS This document (DEIS) is most unprofessional and inadequate. I am not able to cover all the issues, but I will touch on a few. The document is not in tune with the Comprehensive Plan. I resent the attitude of Widewaters in the way they use the Comprehensive Plan for their benefit and misrepresent it in the DEIS. I quote from page 57 of the Comprehensive Plan: Scenic Resources Several scenic resources are found within the Town of Kinderhook. These include natural features such as lakes and wetlands, open spaces, and agricultural fields as seen from public rights-of-way as well as scenic vistas of the Catskill, Berkshire and Taghanic Mountains. The Rudikoff Study identified areas such as working farms and fields, roadways, and vistas on hills, mountains, lakes and streams as important contributors to the scenic quality of Kinderhook. Commercial areas and signs in general, were identified as needing improvement to enhance the visual quality of development throughout the town. This report also identified the gateways into the Town along Route 9 and 9H as 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. The Visual Preference Slide Survey documented how people feel about various scenes. The written portion of the survey also confirmed people’s strong positive feelings and desire to protect them. What does this mean? It is very simple. The Widewaters project is not meant for this site. This site is a virtual viewshed and should be protected. Not only is it the entrance to the Town but it is on the northern most traveled entrance to Columbia County. The above quoted paragraphs should be included in the DEIS if it is to have any credibility. Historic sites near the proposed Widewaters project are not addressed. For instance the Quackenboss Tavern and the historical barn directly across Route 9 just north of State Farm Road are not discussed. This property is sited "historical" by the New York State Education Department as "a place where a historic meeting took place in 1753." Impact on historical sites is an important issue and should be addressed. With the new interest in Lindenwald, more visitors will be coming to Kinderhook and they expect to find other historic sites. These visitors will stay in our hotels and bed and breakfasts and eat in our restaurants. This will greatly enhance out economy. This site and other sites of its kind must be preserved. This brings to me of the issue that is closely related. Alternative sites are supposed to be addressed in the DEIS. Widewaters mentions that they investigated alternate sites but found them unsatisfactory. Widewaters did not name the alternate sites they speak of nor do they offer any reasons why they turned them down. Alternative sites should be looked at more seriously. It is insane to build a project of the magnitude of this Widewaters project at this proposed location. We have read strong comments from the DOT against this site because of the heavy traffic that the intersection of 9/9H and State Farm Road will incur and cannot handle. A letter from both the DEC and the County Health Department warn us of possible water pollution because the soil percolation rate is poor. The site is in a poor location for the large septic systems that Widewaters will need to install. The aquifer under the proposed site supplies water to the Ichabod Crane School system and to homes along Maple Lane South, Old Post Road, Bishop Nelson Road, Fordham Road and back as far as Grandview Estates. This is a dangerous situation and a chance of depriving these homes of water is unwarranted. All this points to the fact that Widewaters should choose an alternate site. Apparently from what is seen in the DEIS, this has not been investigated seriously not thoroughly. The chosen site is unsuitable foe what they want to build. There are many items that have not been looked at in detail and should be reconciled before the DEIS is submitted to the DEC. I sincerely hope that the Planning Board will take the time to consider all the issues at hand, especially those for which they have received scientific studies from the Town as well as Kinderhook Neighbors for Good Growth. Sincerely yours, Allen Schaefer
* * *
|
