PLEASE use this draft template and send letters TODAY, tomorrow, and Saturday to crockett@philipstown.com.
>>>DATE: Must be before Sunday May 15, 2022<<<
Dear Philipstown Planning Board,
I am a _____ >>>FILL IN: citizen of Philipstown, visitor to the Hudson Highlands Region, neighbor to the proposed HHR development<<<
I’m writing to express my opposition to the ill-conceived HHR development project, even in its latest 2022 iteration.
1-I’m opposed to supporting a “new” conservation easement that uses already-protected land (steep slopes) in its calculations.
2-I’m opposed to supporting any development in a rural area that does not actually cluster new construction. This proposed project spreads the homes on 1-acre parcels, like suburbia.
3-I’m opposed to creating new fragmentation of wildlife corridors in an area zoned for one dwelling per 10 acres (the current zoning protects wildlife corridors).
4-I’m opposed to the amount of new paved roads, earth-moving, new water run-off management, and vast sewage treatment areas that will all disrupt this beautiful forest in order to support the chains of new homes. Without a current and more detailed wildlife and habitat evaluation of all these disturbances, I an unconvinced this project will protect the species and habitats it claims to do.
5-I’m opposed to proceeding with a Conservation Subdivision that has not preliminarily engaged an authority designated to hold the easement.
6-I support requiring more documentation prior to approval of a conservation subdivision: Updated and more detailed impact statements / professional engagement for GIS technology for accurately evaluating the viewshed protection requirements / easement holder vetting by the Town Planning Board / Homeowners’ Association rules and accountability standards reviewed and pre-approved by outside authority.
In addition, I support the detailed concerns as described by letters to your board from the Hudson Highlands Land Trust. The HHLT is an important local authority on land use in our region, I urge your board to defer to their recommendations.
Sincerely,
>>>NAME, TOWN, STATE<<<