Waterfront Watch
Last month, A. Colarusso & Son submitted an application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to stabilize the shoreline and replace the bulkhead at what is sometimes known as the "deep water dock." Timothy O'Connor, of the South Bay Task Force, predicts that what is proposed would "permanently and profoundly alter a shore of the Hudson River in the City's South Bay." Today, on imby.com, he provides evidence that the land beneath the bulkhead Colarusso proposes to replace does not belong to them but instead belongs to the State of New York. He also makes an appeal to everyone to request an extension to the public comment period for the project, which is now scheduled to end on Friday, November 5: "Submit a public comment: The Colarusso bulkhead is State-owned."
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK
November 5 is Thursday. Friday is November 6.
ReplyDeleteAfter writing to the DEC this is the response I received:
ReplyDeleteHello
Please be advised that the public comment period for the Colarusso Waterfront Dock repair project, which is located along Front Street in the City of Hudson, has been extended until November 12, 2015 as requested. Once the comment period has expired, the Department will address all substantive comments that have been received. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Trish Gabriel
Environmental Analyst, Division of Environmental Permits
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
1130 North Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY 12306
P: 518-357-2445 | F: 518-357-2460 | trish.gabriel@dec.ny.gov
www.dec.ny.gov | cid:image002.gif@01D01928.215FD820 | cid:image001.gif@01D01927.D33C0790
Thanks for the heads up, Seth.
DeleteThat was graciously worded by Ms. Gabriel, and I believe she means what she says.
We now have the time to do this correctly, and so does the City.
For example, because the proposal is a conditional nonconforming use in the Core Riverfront Zoning District, the Planning Board will have to study and understand the whole proposal.
It was ridiculous, then, that the entire public comment period was to elapse between the Planning Board's monthly meetings.
The access road, from 9G is getting wider and wider. Is this just because the trucks will now avoid front street? Or are they making space for a conveyer belt from the pits to the river??
ReplyDeleteThis morning I watched a full gravel truck traveling down Front Street to unload at the Colarusso wharf.
DeleteThe "causeway road," which was invented in 2011, is the width of the Core Riverfront Zoning District through South Bay.
The width of the Zoning District there affords passage for one truck at a time, but as you point out, that's changing incrementally.
The width of the road is, as you also point out, the area where a conveyor system could be installed as a conditional use.
Widen the road, however incrementally, and you widen the Zoning District.
The Core Riverfront District has been widened in South Bay up to 12 feet in places, with the presumed acquiescence of the Mayor, the Common Council, the Planning Board, and the ZBA.
Welcome to Hudson.
The planned revetment along the river shore will likely provide mooring places for additional barges, which can be double-berthed.
DeleteBecause that will mean an increase of dock operations (which cannot proceed without a conditional use permit[s]), there's no reason not to also associate that plan with a conveyor system.
When the Broad Street crossing is closed, there will have to be a conveyor system.
This is what the Common Council planned in 2011 without public knowledge, and with Mr. Moore at the helm.
Not that residents didn't ask ...