Back to Home Page Back to Press Page
MINING OPPONENTS RENEW CALL FOR ZONING RESTRICTION
Daily Freeman, Tuesday April 9, 2002 p. A3 By Ariel Zangla,
Correspondent
SAUGERTIES - Speakers at a public hearing Monday were unanimous in their call for the Town Board to readopt a zoning amendment that would prohibit mining in residential areas.
An amendment originally passed by the Town Board in October is being reconsidered in response to a lawsuit brought against the town (by) Shott Rock Inc., which claims the town did not give proper notice of the original hearings last year.
Gilbert Shott, the owner of the company, owns property off of Morse Road in the hamlet of Veteran. He had planned to mine a portion of that property, but would be prohibited from doing so by the amendment.
The amendment would prohibit mining in all residential areas, but would allow it in industrial zones by right and highway zones with a permit.
About 80 people attended Monday's hearing, but some chose not to speak. All those who came to the microphone urged the Town Board to protect the rights of citizens in Saugerties by passing the amendment again
. Speakers urged the board to consider the health and safety of current and future residents and the possible damage to the environment that could occur if mining were allowed in residential areas. They also asked the board to take into consideration the possible depreciation of property and home values around a mining area.
Speakers also spoke of potential impacts on traffic along state Route 212, saying heavy trucks would conflict with the 22 school bus runs that go past Morse Road each school day.
Members of the Rip Van Winkle Hiking Club also offered a brief visual presentation to demonstrate their opposition to mining in all residential areas. "All Saugerties residents deserve to live the dream that brought them to this area," one member said.
Other residents said they did not support the amendment as a way to specifically stop Shott, but as a way to address a problem in the zoning law.
"This is not about Shott Inc.," said resident Richard Kramer. "This is about
maintaining the environment we thought we were guaranteed by the zoning law."