As many of your readers know, our Onteora Lake is endangered by a proposed concrete and steel manufacturing facility next door.
The parcel #850 on Route 28 — next to the lake and the Bluestone Wild Forest surrounding it — may soon be developed into a noisy industrial site unless our Kingston Planning Board, which indicated it may allow the project, is pressured to do the full environmental impact study.
This fact sheet compiled by Woodstock Land Conservancy shows where future studies are needed: www.woodstocklandconservancy.org/images/FINAL_850_Route_28_LLC_FACT_SHEET.pdf
Should this project happen — with the resulting non-stop noise of construction and manufacture, as well as the permanent increase in truck traffic on Route 28 — it will end our peaceful time around Onteora Lake. And in our busy lives such natural outlet is a necessity.
We often paddle on the lake. We see swimmers, hikers, fishermen, people in kayaks, canoes and on paddle boards, folks who run or just sit by the lake and savor the beauty. We see campers, young lovers, mushroom seekers and dog walkers. The place is so important for so many.
We also see the wildlife. Black bears, deer, fishers, minks, porcupines, beavers, snakes and turtles, great blue herons, eagles, Canada geese and loons. This lake and the surrounding wild forest nourish them all.
And, while we understand entrepreneurs who manufacture heavy construction elements must find a suitable land to proceed with their plans, this parcel right by the lake is inappropriate. This is an area where the DEC and the Open Space Institute have spent considerable time and money investing in the health of the community and set it aside for recreation and conservation with great success.
To allow this development is not in the interest of the citizens of Kingston and surrounding communities. These citizens — who created many local land conservancies and strongly support efforts to protect Catskill State Park, the Shawangunk Range and our rail trails — have clearly indicated that access to nature is of great importance to them.
We need our heavy industry and the infrastructure which serves us all but must consider where such enterprises could thrive without destroying the land, water and air next door. Our country’s history is replete with examples of wise stewardship in this regard. And we need our contacts with nature to maintain our physical, mental and spiritual well being.
Let your opinion known to Kingston Planning Board. Do not wait.
Yva Momatiuk
Hurley
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