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Peekskill Hollow Road Widening Resolution Passed Without Adequate Review
To the Editor:
In Putnam Valley, Peekskill Hollow Road is slated for a major road widening project, despite vigorous and persistent public objection. While public comment and environmental impact are supposed to be part of the Design Plan, years of evasion culminated in a "Final Plan" received by the NYS DOT on June 16, 2008.
Among the more outrageous aspects of this road widening project is an April 1 resolution passed by the Putnam County Legislature accepting an environmental assessment form (EAF). This was done prior to the completion of the design plan. The EAF references a design plan that had not even been finished.
Our legislators clearly could not have reviewed the report before they declared that there was no environmental significance in the project. The road is on the Peekskill Hollow Creek, which supplies drinking water to the residents on the road, and to the City of Peekskill. It is a residential road with two camps, and two schools.
The public depends on its public officials to protect their health and safety. Declaring no environmental impact without reviewing the project was an error that can still be corrected. I would hope that our County Legislature will respond to public concern, and give this project the scrutiny that it deserves. Please review the SEQRA(state environmental quality review act) process before we end up with four lanes at Oregon Corners. More information can be found at www.Putnamvalleyresidents.com/
Dawn V. Powell, D.C.
Lake Peekskill
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