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Seeking to Preserve Moffatt Road's Rural Character
To the Editor:
Many Philipstown residents are aware of the controversy about and opposition to a major highway department project to widen Moffatt Road in the Village of Nelsonville. This costly and unnecessary project would destroy the rural character of Moffatt Road, a road whose traffic density is generally no more than five vehicles per hour, with perhaps twice that number during peak "rush" hours. In fact, many people run, jog or walk Moffatt Road because of its beauty and lack of vehicular traffic.
Recently we've become aware of a rumor that the group of residents on Moffatt Road opposed to the project were responsible for the road's closure last year and are seeking to have it permanently closed, diverting traffic to Healey Road. This is utterly inaccurate and false. The closing of the road originated with the complaints of one homeowner on Moffatt Road who experiences water run-off problems during heavy rainstorms. The highway department closed the road, made repairs and re-opened the road.
We, the Friends of Moffatt Road, seek to preserve Moffatt - and Healy- Roads precisely as they have existed for decades. Prior to this inappropriate plan to undertake a major construction project altering forever the special character of Moffatt Road, no issues were ever raised to our knowledge regarding safety, traffic flow or diversion, access by school buses or fire equipment.
We, like many citizens in Philipstown, oppose the "suburbanization" of our roadways and our community. Moreover we object to the growing tax burden to finance such projects that ironically corrode the special character of this community.
Frances and Bill O'Neill
Nelsonville
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