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.

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.

Sara Richards,