Here's the problem:

TLDR: 

1. According to the Town of Ossining's own Environmental Advisory Committee, building on an Ossining wetland that feeds the Sing Sing Kill would be harmful. 

2. The subdivision plan was approved by a former Planning Board under dubious circumstances with a conflict of interest and WITHOUT an official environmental impact study.

3. The current Planning Board believes their hands are tied to accept said subdivision approval and evaluate the proposed 68 Somerstown Road by Architectural Review Board standards only. 

4. I’m calling on neighbors like you to insist that we have transparency around an independent Environmental Impact Report. 

5. Signing this petition is one of the easiest ways you can do some good on Earth Day.

 

 

Longer version:

1.  3 acres of wetland exist on an Ossining property where there are currently two obvious ponds and one hidden pond, buried by illegal soil and rock dumping by the previous owner (who defrauded the current owner by selling the land in this condition). The entire area is wetland, with surrounding properties featuring an additional three ponds, and adjacent properties which are near constantly wet and marshy.

In a letter dated February 10, 2014, the Town of Ossining Environmental Advisory Committee, citing risk to the Sing Sing Kill watershed, wrote that “the committee has identified the wetlands on this property to be the key issue concerning the proposed subdivision and believes that this property is entirely wetlands. Any disturbance of this area may have a significant, negative impact on the environment and community.”

2. A Town of Ossining Planning Board from years ago granted approval for subdivision which completely papers over the pond (as the previous owners wanted, and paid for). Greg McWilliams (now deceased) both "professionally" certified the suitability of the land for building and then gave it the green light from his position on the Planning Board. However, the Town has said that this conflict of interest is not technically illegal, thus it is not grounds for reopening the subdivision approval.

3. The current Town Planning Board thus intends only to assess the site plan that is available to the Architectural Review Board within Planning, including house size, position, style, etc.

So despite the obvious illegally filled wetland status, the representatives of the Town of Ossining might approve this lot for building due to limitations of process. Please speak out and speak up with us so that wetlands are properly protected. There are already measures in progress at the state level to formalize better wetlands protection. Let’s see Ossining position itself on the right side of history!

4. Here’s where it gets tricky – the current Planning Board made site visits to the land last week to assess the true character of what is being proposed. They rightly assessed that it would be wrong to take down a mature 35” red maple and prodded the developer to willingly move the house on the plot away from the tree.

Developer refuses, disingenuously citing that he wishes to remain within the tiny envelope determined (on paper only) to present a 100’ wetlands buffer. However, we all know that the entire plot is wetland and that there is no actual buffer available. 

The reason the Developer wants the house where it is currently proposed is to retain the option of building a second house on the lot, which would be sited directly on top of the currently hidden pond.

5. All I'm asking for is a proper Environmental Impact study. I will gladly watch the developer construct his massive new house after an independent expert studies the soil and gives the community an accurate and detailed report of the potential impact this new construction will have, both on existing wildlife and surrounding properties at the site, as well as further downstream at Sing Sing Kill.

*The new Sustainable Ossining document states that “Unincorporated Ossining’s wetlands and waterways should be protected robustly.” 

*The National Wildlife Federation notes that “We’re losing our wetlands base not because of large projects but because of a multitude of small fills that aren’t being regulated properly.”

 

Please sign this petition if you support local government taking the initiative to protect land that is obviously wet (and is home to several essential bird, amphibian, and inspect species)

Please sign if you care to prevent corruption.

Please sign if you care that Ossining still has wetland when your children and grandchildren are grown.

Please sign if you care about honesty in representation.

Local government leaders, I support you, and I ask you to support this.