PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING CITY OF TROY COUNCIL MEETING TO PROTECT 5,000 YEARS OF INDIGENOUS HISTORY, LAST HUDSON RIVER FOREST IN CITY OF TROY

Please submit comments and attend the public hearing and vote of Troy’s City Council. 

When: Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m.
(Troyny.gov: Meeting Dates and Agenda)

Where: Troy City Hall, 433 River St, Troy, NY 12180

How: 

• Public speakers are limited to 3 minutes of testimony. 
• You may submit comments by email to the Troy City Council (citycouncil@troyny.gov) and City Clerk Maria De Bonis (maria.debonis@troyny.gov) up to 3pm of the day of the meeting. 

A community gathering and prayer walk led by Indigenous Women to City Hall will take place prior to the meeting. 

More information at: http://www.friendsofthemahicantuck.org/just-say-no-contact-troy/ 

The City of Troy’s Common Council is considering an environmental determination of significance for a luxury apartment development that would lead to the destruction of a 5,000 year old Indigenous cultural-historical site of the Mahican people, the indigenous inhabitants of the region. The site sits along the Hudson River in the last patch of untouched forest ecosystem on Troy’s waterfront.

The “Second Avenue Apartments” project at 1101 2nd Avenue has been proposed for a Hudson River wooded waterfront property of approximately 11 acres, including 10 acres in the City of Troy and one acre in the neighboring Town of Schaghticoke. The developer envisions building three 4-story multi-unit buildings with underground parking garages, totaling approximately 240 housing units. To allow for that kind of high-density development, the city would need to approve a zoning amendment for the parcel. 

The project has the potential for significant negative impacts on the environment, archeology,history and community character. The impacted residents have urged its council members for years to issue a positive declaration and prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement for up to a 90-days for public scoping and meeting and prepare a draft  Environmental Impact Statement.

At the upcoming council meeting, the public is encouraged to speak during the public comment period about the project regarding the following: 

• The project will have major negative impacts on the environment and community.  Speak about the negative impacts that this project will have on you, your family and neighbors. 
• Troy’s must prioritize its role as a steward of a site of significance for the Mahican people. The site may be 5,000 years old and has been recognized as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Rezoning the property would be inconsistent with Troy’s 2018 Realize Troy Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan was an expression of the community’s vision for the city. The community did not envision dense multi-unit housing on Troy’s northern waterfront, as Scenic Hudson has pointed out many times to the City Council and planning commission. At a minimum, the City is required to amend its Comprehensive Plan if it intends to change the zoning in a way that is contrary to the plan.
• Troy must protect its own zoning law, and not set a dangerous precedent that could render Troy’s code moot. According to Troy’s own zoning code, the proposed new zoning would allow for no more than 80 units for this project - even though 230-240 units are proposed.

Your attendance is critical on May 5.  

At this time, the meeting will require in-person comments although the City of Troy is considering virtual statements using Zoom as well.  Sign up to receive updates on any changes to this meeting from the Friends of the Mahicantuck: https://forms.gle/mJBy1EXrvwviBKwk8 

For more information on the upcoming public hearing and to learn more about this proposal, visit: http://www.friendsofthemahicantuck.org/just-say-no-contact-troy/