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Doesn't Want Old Albany Paved but Does Want FEMA Funding for Alternatives
Dear Editor:
My family and I have lived on the corner of Old Albany Post Road and Upland Drive for more than 27 years. I have 2 acres that border Old Albany Post Road. Every day my family uses the Old Albany Post Road to get to where we need to be. Going through Upland Dr to Winston Lane is not an option. We spend time and money on materials to make Upland Drive passable after there have been rain storms.
Our neighbor, Jean Roy built the pond across the street before we moved here. He was a contractor and had machines to maintain the pond and the road. When he moved away the pond started to fill in with silt. The latest owner cut down trees, dumped them in the wetlands, built up the border of his property and the swamp with dirt so he could have a quad track. When the water runs down from the mountains, peoples' driveways, down the dirt road, it ends up in the wetland on the SW side of Old Albany Post Road just north of Upland Drive.
It builds up until it runs over its' banks, down 17 Old Albany Post Road's driveway, across Upland Drive, into my property and then further through and over the driveways to the people east of Upland Dr. Much of my property is wetlands.
Once, many years ago Roger Chirico took out a pipe from under the OAPR and replaced it with a larger one. I questioned him about it and told him it would flood my property. He told me his solution would be to cut down my trees to put underground pipes from the road to the brook on my property. When I told him I didn't want my trees cut, he left his pipe. In the past year, since everyone is concerned about the way water drains on private property, he has removed it.
I don't want the town to lose its' FEMA funding and I don't want to see Old Albany Post Road paved. I would like to see more responsible planning, routing water under the road into wetlands so the water isn't contaminated with gas, oil, transmission and brake fluid etc. Using the wetlands as a way to filter our drinking water and keeping it moving harmlessly into Cortlandt Lake, the Hudson River and eventually to the ocean.
Mr. & Mrs. Dee, you as Americans have every right to live wherever you chose. There are paved roads just a few feet away from your retirement home where rain would never have been an issue. You used your age and disability to point out how hazardous these living conditions are. I merely pointed out you had choices.
Your idea of progress, a dream of Old Albany Post Road being paved isn't my idea of progress.
Kathleen Kourie
Garrison
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