Dear Philipstown Planning Board, 

The Open Space Development code that was adopted by the Town Board in 2011 is an important planning document for protecting the natural beauty, natural resources and wildlife of our region. The first applicant under this code is the Hudson Highlands Reserve applying for permission to develop 25 new homes and an equestrian facility for 40 horses. We urge the Planning Board to reject the HHR application for the following reasons:

-The findings of the EIS make it clear the current proposal will disrupt wildlife to such an extent the aims of the conservation easement cannot be met, especially with respect to the proposed fragmentation of the conserved areas.

-The measure of current wildlife populations have not yet been sufficiently established to create a baseline.

-The measure of the negative effects of the horse population and its maintenance with respect to wildlife, waterways, traffic, noise have not been sufficiently established.

-The protection of views of nature from Breakneck Ridge, New York State's most popular hiking trail have not been established.

-Alternate access into the development if the DOT does not approve Route 9 access has not been established.

-Rules and accountability for the HHR management such as pollutants on site, governance, etc,.. have not been sufficiently established. 

-Accountability, measuring standards, monitoring terms and frequency have not been sufficiently established for the conservation easement, the equestrian facility, or the housing development.

-Professional references and credentials for the developer and the architect for a project of this size and complexity have not been established. 

In addition, we especially support the detailed concerns of the easement itself, listed in the June 18, 2019 letter from the HHLT to the Philipstown Planning Board.  See https://www.hhlt.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/HHLT-Comments-on-HHR-DEIS.pdf

We recommend the Planning Board consider requiring the applicant to obtain preliminary approval from the NYDOT for the new road access onto Route 9, and requiring the applicant to obtain confirmed participation of an independent agency to monitor the proposed easement prior to further consideration of this application.

Sincerely,

Concerned Citizens for Philipstown, NY