ON WIDEWATERS SDEIS
Daniel Mackay, Director of Public
Policy
The New York Preservation League
44 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
518 462-5658 (518) 462-5684 fax
dmackay@preservenys.org
Edwin R. Simonsen, Chair
Town of Kinderhook Planning Board
Niverville, New York 12130
September 14, 2003
RE: Public Comment Opportunity regarding the Proposed
Widewaters Commons Shopping Center, Town of Kinderhook
Chairman Simonsen, and members of the Town of
Kinderhook Planning Board:
I am writing to comment on the SDEIS for the
proposed Widewaters Commons Shopping Center in the Town of Kinderhook. The
Preservation League of New York State is the statewide non-profit
organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich
heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. Increasingly in
this age of sprawl and deteriorating architectural standards, we are asked
to comment on planning and zoning issues that appear
to negatively impact the distinct community character of both urban and
rural communities.
I have monitored the Widewaters Commons
proposal over the past year at the request of several local residents, and
toured the proposed site earlier this summer. At this time, I would like
to note several concerns the Preservation League holds about the proposal,
while also reserving the right to make further comment by the September
15th 2003 public comment deadline.
Most significantly, I must characterize the
"five-legged" roundabout proposed by NYS Department of Transportation
(DOT) for this intersection as experimental in nature and thus an unproven
tool for safely delivering traffic to, from, and by the proposed
Widewaters Commons. Roundabouts are a new tool in DOT’s engineering
toolbox and have met with some public concern as to their safety and
effectiveness as an engineering solution to intersections. To exacerbate the effective use of this new "solution" with a fifth
leg of an intersection would seem to merit greater consideration and proof
than is given this solution as proposed under Alternative 1 and 2 in the
SDEIS.
The challenges of engineering a solution to the
traffic challenges of this upgraded intersection underscore the risk of
irrevocably losing the opportunity to make the Rt. 9/Rt. 9H intersection
an attractive and model gateway to the community and historic core of
Kinderhook. Already, the road corridor along Rt. 9 has been degraded by
low-grade commercial sprawl, lackluster corporate architectural design,
all-too-prominent parking facilities, and ineffective landscaping. The
question before the Planning Commission is whether to
alleviate this condition, or exacerbate it. With effective design, this
gateway intersection could be reclaimed, and prove an attractive welcome
to an impressive corner of Columbia County.
The Widewaters Commons proposal, however, will
add a dominating site plan to this intersection, marring mountain views to
the west and inserting acres of parking and bland architecture in their
place. Prominence, visibility and traffic volume are all likely reasons
for The Widewaters Group to prioritize development of
their services on this site, but would residents of Kinderhook not prefer
an alternate location where the proposed development would directly abut
existing uses that are more compatible to the size, scale, and visual
impact of Widewaters Commons, rather than mar the Town’s first clear view
of the Catskills?
Finally, I must note that the architectural
renderings of the Commons reflect only minimal concessions and creativity
regarding the Town of Kinderhook’s Zoning and Design Standards. The
designs proposed here meet neither the spirit nor letter of the law, and
it is a continuing shame that corporate architecture – particularly that
of regionally-based corporations that purport true pride and continuing
investment in their home communities – fail to honor the communities they
site in with architectural designs that contribute to
community character rather than detract from it.
It is my hope that these comments and those of
others concerned for the impacts of the Widewaters Commons proposal are
given the full consideration of the Planning Board, such that the most
appropriate site and design are mandated for this proposal.
Sincerely,
Daniel Mackay, Director of
Public Policy
Preservation League of New York
State
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