To the New Paltz Planning Board and Town Board: The unique character of New Paltz is in danger. Developers want to transform the gateway to the Town into a mega-development of chain store retail outlets and rental apartments that will make them rich at the expense of our town. We oppose the vast scope of this project: The project will have 20 acres of parking lots, buildings, roads and driveways, 965 parking spaces (Town Code requires 1,092). It will add 103,340 square feet of retail, a 120 bed 4 story hotel, a 10,000 square foot restaurant, 250 residential units (82 townhouses and 168 apartments up to 3 bedrooms). The entrance and exit will be from Route 299 with a new traffic stoplight between the pre-existing lights at Ohioville and the Thruway. This project will gridlock traffic on Rte. 299 which is already intolerable. It will mar the gateway to our town. It will impact school staffing levels. It will be a major beachhead for national chain stores looking to skim tourist dollars before they get downtown. None of this fits with the character of our town. It does not comply with zoning regulations. It is not in conformity with our Town\'s image, aesthetics, character, or values. This project will not benefit Town residents. It will only make New Paltz the same as every other strip-malled locale. We are at the Crossroads. We don\'t want this to happen to our town! [After you sign the petition, IPetition will ask you for a donation. This money goes to IPetition, not to our organization. You should only donate if you wish to give money to IPetition.]