Thursday, October 3, 2019

The Prevailing Vision for Columbia County: More Gas, More Food to Go

Last night, the Livingston Town Board voted to grant site plan approval to the Global Partners plan to build a giant gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Routes 9, 9H, 23, and 82. Dan Udell was there to document the proceedings. His video can be viewed here.

Livingston Planning Board (the only woman at the table is the secretary)
COPYRIGHT 2019 CAROLE OSTERINK

7 comments:

  1. Oh no. Didn't the town board listen to anything or read any of the documents re water tables and environmental concerns?

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  2. The interesting thing is that the long time county residents who serve on these various boards are the ones with the least regard for the landscape and our quality of life. They don't understand that Columbia County could quickly turn into the same kind of sprawling mess we see in southern Dutchess and Orange counties (or New Jersey or Long Island.)

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    1. Perhaps they equate the new business with the economic opportunity they never saw rather than the sprawling mess we all ran screaming from.

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  3. No Vision by those in charge - yet again.

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  4. One of the big problems with this kind of development is that it spawns more of the same. If that thing gets built, somebody is going to want to located in proximity to it, etc...

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  5. Yes indeed, I grew up in North Jersey in a small town surrounded by dairy farms and woodlands. Today every square inch has been "developed."

    Words like "development" and "growth" are used to condition our thinking into believing that degredation and exploitation of our environment is a positive thing. It is not, what is positive is sustainability, managing and improving existing sites more effectively. Removing blacktop wherever possible and planting trees trees in its place is something these planning boards should focus on, rather than encouraging more exploitation. It is time to start planning for a sustainable future.

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    1. Sadly, you're so right.

      Several planning boards in the area are entrenched with the same players every election cycle. Change can only happen when everyone gets involved in their towns and vote in every election, hopefully electing enlightened candidates. New, willing faces are hard to come by. I notice familiar names of business people on the board. They carry a lot of clout among old timers who come out in droves on election day.

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