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Says Majority Of Residents Want E. Mtn. Rd. N. To Remain Unpaved
(printed at the request of the author)
Dear Mr. [Philipstown] Supervisor and Members of the Town Board:
Last week’s newspaper carried a story which surprised many residents of Philipstown, the Town Board’s decision, made on Wednesday, September 12, 2001, to pave the entire 3.5 mile length of East Mountain Road North. That road, together with the adjacent 2.5 miles of East Mountain Road South, constitute a 6 mile unbroken stretch of particularly scenic dirt road running through and adjacent to a variety of protected open spaces and recreational facilities.
The issue of paving the roads on East Mountain is highly controversial. For this reason, many residents were taken by surprise by the Town Board’s decision to act on this matter in the "quiet" way that it did, at a weekly workshop meeting, whose agenda contained no reference to paving nor to the bond issue, [but only] a "discussion" of work to be done. According to the DEC letter on the subject, the only recommended "work" was clean-up and more frequent clean-out of catch basins, not paving.
The notice appeared in the paper on the very same day as the meeting, the inadequacy of this practice compounded by the very tragic events of which we are all painfully aware. As our County Executive said of the disaster: "This takes precedence over any other matter."
In response to the Town Board’s action, the overwhelming majority of residents of the unpaved portion of East Mountain Road North have signed a declaration expressing their preference that their road remain unpaved. In view of this, you are hereby requested to set aside your decision, and to schedule public hearings on the subject, noticed well in advance. It is planned that the declaration and this request will be presented to you in person at your next meeting on Wednesday, September 26. This request is a matter of urgency for the following reasons:
a) the mid-October completion dated reported in the newspaper,
b) the fear that substantial resurfacing work will be initiated immediately,
c) the knowledge that substantial widening work has already been initiated,
d) the absence of any DEC permit applications that may be necessary,
e) the dramatic change in your approach to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which will preclude any public comment on negative impacts. Until now, the Town consistently prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each and every initial paving activity. In the case of East Mountain Road North, Councilman Merante has confirmed to me that none would be prepared.
I trust and expect that, upon judicious reflection, the Town Board will set aside its decision of September 12 in favor of an open procedure that gives due regard and weight to the wishes and opinions of all the residents on the affected road, to the purposes and policies of SEQRA, and to the often-stated Board policy that no roads would be paved except as part of a comprehensive plan.
Richard M. Szypula
Philipstown
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