Press Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons
(845) 246-4431
Saugerties, July 16, 2001

    Over 700 Saugerties residents have signed a petition protesting the town's consideration of a large-scale mining operation in a residentially zoned area of Saugerties, and many plan to attend the July 17th meeting of the Saugerties Planning Board to demand that the town reject the mining application.

     Mining is prohibited "by right" in residential areas. The town's Zoning Law stipulates that the Planning Board may issue the mining operation a "special use permit" only if the applicant meets a specific set of criteria, including proving that the project is in harmony with the residential area, does not negatively impact property values, does not conflict with the normal traffic of the neighborhood and does not constitute an intensive commercial use. This project, unquestionably, does not meet those criteria.

    "How in the world could the town think that a 28-year mining operation that includes blasting a 140' deep crater, using 136,000 gallons of water a day, and moving up to one truck every five minutes in and out of a single country road would not change the nature of our residential community," said Brian Donoghue, one of the leaders of CARES, a citizens group formed to oppose the mining. "It's crazy. Do the mining promoters really think the people of Saugerties are so stupid that we're going to stand by quietly and let this happen? No way!"

   "We want the town to uphold the zoning law, it's that simple," said Pat Fitzimmons, Chairman of CARES. "Saugerties residents are fighting mad, and we are determined to stop this mine."

    The Saugerties Planning Board will meet on July 17th at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Market Street. The mining application is on the agenda.