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Support the Natural Resource Plan
Dear Editor:
It always helps to come clean as to which side you're on. Esquire calls me, among other things, an "over-zealous environmental nut". Well, whatever; I have never claimed to be on the side of developers. But then Esquire talks about how "environmentally conscience" (sic) he is, and in the next breath, scornfully dismisses our local wildlife - Red-tailed Hawks, Indigo Buntings, Snowy Egrets, Common Mergansers, Yellowshafted Flickers and Bald Eagles - as "parakeets and tweety-birds". Since his own words have belied his self-proclaimed environmental piety, there's no reason for me to do it. It also helps to come clean as to which side of the property line you're on. Esquire says Mr Cusick was on his property; Mr Cusick says he was photographing the bridge on the driveway leading into the subdivision, which is not Esquire's property. Since Mr Cusick's concerns are water-related, simple logic would uphold his explanation. But since there was no third party witness, we'll never know, will we? And since Mr Cusick is now treading more carefully, why don't we stop all the name-calling and get on with what ails Philipstown?
The Natural Resource Plan, drafted by one of the Comprehensive Plan's subcommittees, is one of the more important documents to emerge from the CP and could be a key factor in preserving our town. If you missed the May 9 PCNR, access www.pcnr.com and read about it. Among other things, it calls for the CAC to become a Conservation Board, which would give them actual power and prevent many houses from being built in wetlands or on steep slopes. It calls for the hiring of a Natural Resource Review Officer (or Environmental Code Enforcement Officer) who would issue violations to scofflaw builders and those who cavalierly fill in wetlands. It calls for the protection of ridgelines, which could help stop what is currently becoming a mega-mansion arms race.
The NRP is a concrete plan to address these problems, and the Town Board is currently reviewing it. Everyone who cares about this area - including those who don't want their taxes to rise even more because of all this building - should keep an eye on the NRP's progress and tell our TB members that they support it. (Town Hall: 265-5200.) A phone call is not difficult, and will not take a big chunk out of your busy day. Don't assume others will do this for you! Fighting a big developer is a piece of cake compared to the death-by-a-thousand cuts Philipstown is currently undergoing. It's going to take more than a handful of overzealous environmental nuts to preserve this unique and beautiful corner of the world.
Suzie Gilbert
Garrison
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