Saugerties Village is designated in SASS documents as a Scenic Area of Statewide Significance. Saugerties Village completed its own Local Waterfront Revitalization Program which was approved in1985. The purpose of which was the future protection and restoration of the Village's natural, historic and scenic resources.
The Cantine Dam property (and future home of The Partition Street Project) falls within NYS DOS Division of Coastal Resources' definition of an abandoned site having natural, historic and scenic significance. However, the Partition Street Project developers have not been required to provide for public access to what is undeniably Saugerties Village's most important waterfront resource.
The owners [and developers] of this Village landmark are Tom Struzzieri (HITS), John Mullen and Congressman Maurice Hinchey. You would think, with a US Congressman as an owner, The Partition Street Project would adhere to the requirements of Saugerties Village's own LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Program).
However, to this point (11/07/09) in the Village Zoning Board approval and SEQRA process, the architects' plans are missing many of the mandated requirements for building along Saugerties' Esopus Creek banks.
In 2004, Ashokan Architects of Kingston New York designed the plans and provided the drawings for a beautiful project which resurfaced four years later (2008) as Tom Struzzieri announced plans (HITS boss plans hotel, catering hall, restaurant in Saugerties) for the catalyst which would be the Village's revitalization. But apparently after receiving $780,000 in EDC grants the original design was abandoned for the latest plans which restricts public access, obscures views of the dam and includes sprawling parking lots which will welcome visitors to the Village's Historic District.
Referring to enforcement of the Villages' Historic Review laws, Mayor Yerick passionately proclaimed [in a 2002 Daily Freeman article] that he would be "... hell-bent ... to get the thing implemented and executed so we can get some people to consider other people, their neighbors..." Apparently the laws he was referring to, only apply to the less favored because this past April (09) Mayor Yerick unilaterally dissolved the entire Historic Review board (Replacement of board draws fire in Saugerties) because the board wrote a letter to the Village Zoning Board stating their concern about the huge parking lots which are included in the newly revised Partition Street Project.
To date, the necessary drawings that would clarify the contour and accurate view of what Villagers could anticipate from the construction of The Partition Street has yet to be made public. The fact remains that this project, whether you support it as is, or with changes, represents a significant change to Saugerties Village's quality of life.
Please contact the Division of Coastal Resources (Hudson Valley Division)
or Director George Stafford to express your concern about Saugerties Village's refusal to require any meaningful public access and protection of our Esopus Creek waterfront at the proposed Partition Street Project.
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If you have problems using the above form, please go to http://www.dos.state.ny.us/about/contact.asp and select "Coastal Resources", fill the form with your comments and submit.
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Albany Office
Division of Coastal Resources
NYS Department of State
99 Washington Avenue, Suite 1010
Albany, NY 12231-0001
Telephone Number: 518-474-6000
Fax Number: 518-473-2464
3 comments:
Thanks, David, for taking the time to bring attention to the disturbing aspects of this project.
Why has Hinchey worked to secure funding for the preservation of historic waterfront sites in Poughkeepsie (the old Railway Bridge) while ignoring concerns of Saugerties Village citizens about the importance of preserving this historically scenic sight in his own backyard?
It seems the funding he has helped secure for the village water and sewer systems (though much appreciated) also serves to benefit his own privately held interest in the Partition Street Project.
I am not surprised at the blatant opportunism and lack of sensitivity to the greater good of the community by Struzzieri and the Mayor but I am shocked that Hinchey would be their partner in this.
Good blog, but maybe what was meant was the Planning Board and not the Zoning Board (the two get confused all the time). Struzzieri's project hasn't come up before the Zoning Board. In your phrase "meaningful public access" the key word is "meaningful", because they've pasted in the snow dump platform for public access, no doubt to satisfy the requirement. So as far as public access the question is, is there any criteria to define what constitutes adequate public access, and if so, does the snow dump meet the criteria or not? If it does, there's no legal leverage. I've heard a couple people are thinking of appealing to Hinchey on this score, and it would be interesting to hear what he has to say to his hometown heretofore solid base.
Is anyone aware of these forms on page of the dept on environmental conservation?
http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6222.html#joint
They may be useful.
the following is comment I sent to the link:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/about/contact.asp
Please review & reject application of the Saugerties Partition Street Project in NY...
Residents are concerned about:
1-the excessive amount & placement of parking, traffic problems that will ensue
2-lack of public access to the falls & waterfront
3-destruction of cliffs, fish spawning habitat historical site
4-monpolization of resources that will not ensure future development that will be good for villagers, historical preservation, pedestrians and natural resources.
Thank you,
Beth Loven
resident of 79 Dock Street, Saugerties
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