Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Gravel and the River

On August 25, the Times Union reported that a fight was brewing over a plan before the City of Troy Zoning Board of Appeals to use an abandoned industrial site in South Troy, determined to be a brownfield, to load gravel and other materials on barges to be shipped down the Hudson River: "Troy's Scolite site reuse draws opposition." 

Photo: Will Waldron|Times Union
On Sunday, the Times Union reported that the ZBA had unanimously rejected the request for the needed zoning variance: "Board rejects Troy's plan to fill gravel barges on Hudson." The ZBA's reason for rejecting the proposal was simple. The site is located in the City's Waterfront Commercial District (WCD) zone, which allows it to be developed for "mixed use such as recreation, public green space, professional offices, multifamily residential, research and development office and some retail."

Would that things were as simple and straightforward here in Hudson.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CAROLE OSTERINK

2 comments:

  1. In Hudson things would be a lot simpler if public participation meant anything during development of the waterfront program.

    Instead, we have unclear policies and laws which were cobbled together by pompous officials playing at being expert managers.

    Let's not forget who's responsible for the city's troublesome zoning map, those who were warned that in future we'd be in the exact circumstance we're in today.

    Shouldn't certain people be recusing themselves by now from deciding the fate of the Colarusso proposal? Otherwise they'll use their votes to defend the sloppy and arrogant work of 2011.

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