DEIS
Dover Knolls DEIS Public Comment Period Ends
September 13, 2009
On June 30th, the public comment period ended for the Dover Knolls DEIS. Many constructive comments were entered into the public record both in writing and during the public hearings, including fiscal and hydrogeological reports from CRGD’s experts. Significantly, the comments of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation credited the work of CRGD’s water expert, noting that our water report was both “well prepared and accurate.”
Included here are Comments from the Dover Planning Board and the Town Planner, Graham Trelstad, AKRF. Trelstad continues to work with the Town Board and the developer as both teams consider alternatives that incorporate the substantial public comments from State, County and Federal Agencies, CT DEP, regional and national environmental groups, residents and neighbors.
Please see comments listed below for more detail.
Dover Knolls DEIS is Accepted; the Public Comment Period is open
May 18, 2009
On April 29, 2009, the Dover Town Board accepted as complete the Dover Knolls Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS.) Residents, local and regional government officials, board and committee members, Interested Parties, neighbors and organizations from surrounding towns in NY and CT, are strongly encouraged to attend and comment on the DEIS at one or both sessions to be held at the Dover Middle/High School: Saturday, May 30th at 9am and Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm. Written comments may be submitted through June 30th.
We in Dover, Dutchess County and New York State have only one chance to get this project right. Our concerns encompass but are not limited to ensuring that: 1) local taxes don’t increase because of costs associated with an imbalance of residential options, additional school construction or wastewater facility upgrades and maintenance; 2) the Aquifer is not compromised by an unsupportable number of new residences; 3) the Great Swamp, the second largest wetlands in New York State, is not irreversibly compromised by inadequate wetlands boundary protection or an inappropriate Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility; 4) residential and commercial/retail construction is concentrated around the train station and on the existing footprint of the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, thus minimizing traffic and impervious surfaces; 5) steep slopes are left untouched, thereby preserving our natural resources and the Appalachian Trail viewshed, and minimizing the effects of increased stormwater runoff.
There is indeed much to review, and the Coalition will continue to offer input during this critically important process.
– Please see DEIS, Accepted as Complete by the Dover Town Board
CRGD weighs in on Dover Town Board’s Completeness Review on the Preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement
February 22, 2009
CRGD President Carolyn Handler recently added to the Dover Town Board’s discussion and debate of the completeness of the Dover Knolls DEIS. The Coalition notes that the Town Board was under no legal obligation to make the document available to the public and appreciates the openness with which Supervisor Courtien has chosen to conduct the review.
In a letter dated February 11th, addressed to Supervisor Courtien and members of the Town Board, Handler begins with acknowledging this process:
“CRGD recognizes that the formal public comment period for the DEIS will not begin until the Town Board determines the DEIS to be substantively complete and thereafter schedules a public hearing to receive comments. We also note that the Town Board made the DEIS available to the public on the Town’s website not long after it was filed by the Applicant on Christmas Eve, having rightly concluded that given the complexity and size of the Proposed Project, the public should begin the process of familiarizing itself with the contents of the DEIS at the earliest juncture– even though, as we recognize, the DEIS is currently undergoing revision as a result of the Town Board’s own completeness review as lead agency.” Read more
Dover Town Board Continues to Review the Dover Knolls Preliminary DEIS for Completeness
February 22, 2009
A number of Town Board and special meetings have been held to review the Dover Knolls Preliminary DEIS for completeness. Working closely with input from Town Planner Graham Trelsted from AKRF, the Board is accepting comments as to omissions that would cause the DEIS to be declared incomplete. This is not a time for comments on DEIS, only as to what needs to be revised or submitted by the Applicant before the Town Board declares the DEIS complete and thereby begins the public review and comment period. CRGD did submit comments on February 11, 2009 which are a matter of public record and which are available here.
Some of the public discussions were reported by Harlem Valley Time reporter Jen Barry in her article published on January 30, 2009.
– Please go to the Harlem Valley TImes, “Dover Knolls prelim plan before Town Board”
