Letter to the Editor, Daily Freeman

Letter sent to the Daily Freeman in response to "Access to the River," a Sept. 17, 2008 editorial.

To the Editor:

We applaud your recent editorial suggesting that Kingston's planning board give additional consideration to the Landing project before granting approval ("Access to the River," Sept. 17).

You rightly point out that a number of key issues require clarification before moving ahead. Foremost, the city should have an ironclad agreement about the construction of public amenities, especially access to the site's Hudson River shoreline. Citizens shouldn't have to wait another 20 years to enjoy the riverfront.

To this we add concern over the adequacy of Kingston's sewage treatment plant. As visitors to the Rondout can attest, even without the Landing's 1,628 units the plant has significant odor problems. Significantly more housing only will make matters worse. Contemplated mitigation—capital improvements, eliminating storm-water infiltration—will be costly. The city must enter into a binding agreement with the developer regarding what work needs to be done and who will pay for it. As for the latter, it should not be Kingston taxpayers.

You also note the project's unique and sensitive location, writing "a good case can be made that the project will overcrowd Kingston's northern shoreline from a number of perspectives." Scenic Hudson and Friends of Kingston Waterfront made this case in our comments and submissions to the planning board. Our concerns have been echoed by the Department of State's Coastal Division, which has yet to sign off on the development. We recently provided the planning board with a proposal calling for 600 to 900 units.

Near the beginning of this process, we cautioned the planning board that it has only one chance to get this right. That chance is now.

Warren P. Reiss, General Counsel, Scenic Hudson

The original editorial is available at the Daily Freeman's Web site.