Villanova: 'I Don't Wanna Oscawana Fire House'

As part of its January 25 meeting, the Putnam Valley Planning board held a "preliminary non-statutory public hearing for informational purposes only," on the proposed site for a new firehouse next to the Volunteer Ambulance Corps (VAC) on Oscawana Lake Road. In spite of the fact that funding is still not in place, this project has divided the community since its inception, and this hearing was no exception.

Residents of the Canopus Realty Corporation (CRC), a residential development directly adjacent to the proposed site, occupied several rows. Their concerns, voiced by CRC vice-president Heidi Metzger, centered on quality of-life issues. Others in attendance, including town resident and government watchdog Patty Villanova, argued whether a new firehouse is required at all.

Board president Michael Raimondi began the discussion by laying down the ground rules. "This is a nonstatutory meeting," he said, " intended to assist the board in understanding specific siterelated issues." He continued, saying, "This is a site plan discussion only . . . for information gathering . . . and no decisions will be made."

After a brief history of the project by Ed McCarthy and a project overview by Bob Mitchell, of Mitchell Associates, Architects, Mr. Raimondi called a five-minute break so that those wishing to address the board could sign up.

First to speak was Patty Villanova, who, on several occasions has expressed her belief that costs for a new firehouse will ultimately be borne by taxpayers. Reading from a written statement, she reiterated those beliefs again, along with her contention that if a new firehouse is built, the town will renovate the existing firehouse building as a new town hall, which would, she believes, be financed with taxpayer dollars.

Although Raimondi interrupted Villanova several times in an attempt to keep the discussion on-point and focused on site issues, Ms. Villanova refused to depart from her prepared remarks and accused Raimondi of infringing on her rights of free speech. The board allowed Villanova to complete her remarks, but engaged in their own caucus without listening to the balance of her statement. After Ms. Villanova sat down, Mr. Raimondi declared that her remarks "were not relevant" to the specific topic of the hearing. He then directed the board clerk to strike Villanova's remarks from the record.

Next to speak was CRC vice-president Heidi Metzger, whose questions and comments concerned site issues, and were frequently punctuated by applause from the audience. Her first concern was the impact a relocated siren would have on an autistic child living in the development. Other issues that she raised included stormwater runoff, potential well contamination, erosion control, light pollution, and possible depletion of the water table. Concluding her remarks, Metzger asked that these issues be addressed as part of the design process and subject to planning board review. After Ms. Metzger had completed her remarks, rather than addressing each issue as it was presented, the board suggested that architect Bob Mitchell gather all the relevant information for presentation.

Official response began with a reassurance from former fire department chief and board member Ed McCarthy that relocation of the siren has never been considered and that the existing siren will not be relocated to the new site. Mr. Mitchell then addressed each issue, attempting to provide assurance that they were unlikely to result in the dire scenarios presented. Mr. Raimondi underscored Mitchell's responses by acknowledging each issue's importance and pointing out that studies to determine specific answers will be performed as part of the design and approval process.

Prior to the public comment portion of the hearing, McCarthy described the proposed site and the department's rationale for seeking a new facility. The proposed site sits on 14 acres donated to the fire department several years ago, south of and directly adjacent to the VAC at 218 Oscawana Lake Road. If built, the new firehouse would share access with the VAC and also link their respective parking areas. Both access and parking would be subject to planning board approval.

The fire department has been working with Mitchell Architects for more than two years to design a new firehouse that will, in Mc- Carthy's words, "meet the needs of the next hundred years." It was stressed that at present the existing building can barely accommodate the apparatus it houses, and new vehicles are generally larger and only likely to increase in size. Also absent from the current facility are sufficient office space, training facilities, and other amenities for the volunteer fire fighters. McCarthy also emphasized that meeting rooms (in the proposed facility) would be available for community use and activities.