Stop the Black Meadow Road Cluster Housing

The town should be doing everything it can to preserve remaining open space. Doing so is the responsible thing to do.

The only way the town could have approved this is if it would be beneficial to the town. Since no one on the board could give us one way this would be beneficial, it would be illegal to proceed with cluster housing over 3 acre lots as it is zoned for.

I’m licensed by the AFL-CIO across the US and Canada to install safe potable domestic water systems in all applications and wish to advise that this proposed development will create a domestic water purity hazard. I have 35 years of experience in all mechanical fields of piping which includes commercial, residential, industrial and institutional. Unless there’s a plan in place on how to deliver safe potable drinking water to the existing wells in the area, this proposal should not even be entertained. What happens and who will be held responsible when the system fails? The developers, BDR Group LLC ?? Or Baroda?? In addition this cluster development will detract from the Black Meadow valley and the Gateway and Glenmere Mansion. Nothing less than 5 acre zoning per single family dwelling with deed restrictions and or covenants should be implemented to preserve the integrity of all surrounding areas. This development proposal will undoubtedly pose an imminent public health hazard to water potability.

My daughter and I own the business/property located at 256 Black Meadow Road. The property is 68 acres of wetlands and flood plain along the Black Meadow Creek. Our nursery and greenhouses flood periodically as the result of heavy rains. In August 2011, Hurricane Irene dumped 10" of rain in a 24 hour period that resulted in 4' of water on our fields and in our greenhouses, destroying much of our plant inventory and damaging our greenhouses, mechanical systems, etc. a week later, Hurricane Lee bombarded us again. Building 29 homes on the hill across from our property is absolute insanity! Flooding will increase, septic effluent will seep into the aquifer polluting the watershed, endangered species on our property will suffer, the list goes on. This project cannot go forward!

NO WAY!

This cluster housing will also impact our current property values.

Stop the building

I live at 519 Black Meadow Road, the active 5 acre horse farm. I moved here from Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, 5 years ago, due to the agricultural/rural nature of the road. I want a quiet road with little traffic for safety in riding along the road and want to preserve the farm land on the hillside as you drive up Black Meadow Road. Keep the AGRICULTURE in mind --AR3 zoning is agricultural as well as residential. It is not zoning for 29 houses on 3/4 of an acre lots. Lindie Scorsone

Save CHESTER!!!!

I believe it will affect the area in a negative manner.

This exact same thing happened to me on Bakertown Rd in Monroe,Ny and it ruined the value of our home.

This petition can be submitted at any time so the 10 day rule is not in play. The right to petition is one of our 5 rirghts guaranteed in our First Amendment. So please keep it online until we get several hundred and please network with friends, family and neighbors. The Planning Board must also, by law, reopen the public hearing because several studies, also required by law, were not done to complete the record. I think our Planning Board Chairman jumped the gun just a little!!

No more cluster housing!

Guido Duerr

This property could be developed in keeping with the AR-3 on Black Meadow Road and be an asset to Chester. Instead it will destroy our last open hillside in Town and affect everyone's property values. As demand for housing increases, it's even more important that the scenic rural character of Chester be saved whenever possible. And trust me , it's possible!

As I sit here in disbelief as to what is happening to my town is saddening. I moved here for the open space and gorgeous views and nature, with this cluster housing that will forever change the face of Black Meadow rd in Chester NY. Allowing this will open the doors to future and unstoppable expansion. the town came up with a plan a vision for Chester what happened to that this cluster development is not the norm. Development is good irresponsible development with out the communitys best interest is a sellout.

When the property was purchased I would assume that they knew the limitations and drawback of the parcel. IE the deep steepness of the terrain, wetlands and impervious soil and the existence of the 3 acre zoning. These people are not doing us a favor by clustering the houses in a smaller area when most of the parcel was unbuildable to begin with. Cluster zoning works in areas that have sewer and water and good drainage available. This is not the case on this parcel. In many of our neighboring counties they use a ratio of square footage to the total parcel area of what can be impervious area. the drainage ponds proposed would most likely be filled to capacity as soon as they are dug due to the high water table. Also this water table contributes to a very large aquafer of potable water for the area. Twenty nine house hold septic systems in such a small area plus the run off from the roofs, driveways and roads will surly effect the aquifer along with the increased flooding of Black Meadow road. They can probably build a few houses on this parcel but definitely not what they are proposing. I think the board might be wise to consult with the EPA and the Orange County Board of Health before further considering this proposal.

RE: BARODA / SUBDIVISION When we were looking for a place to move our family we looked in many areas. When we happened on the Town of Chester website; what we read, and saw urged us to find a new home here for our family. (Quoted verbatim from the Town of Chester website) -The Town of Chester in many ways is defined by a rural landscape with high aesthetic value, which contains agricultural, recreational, natural and wildlife areas. The Town is actively engaged in efforts to preserve these areas and protect them from development. These natural resources contribute to the Town’s unique character. - It is our belief that allowing to build is not actively engaging in efforts to preserve and protect us from development. It is against what the town of Chester represents and does not stay true to the nature of the town. Baroda (builder) says that they plan to clump build the 29 homes in order to keep a large portion of the parcel preserved. What we are interested in preserving is the lifestyle promised when we moved into Chester, the lifestyle that our tax dollars afford us. In addition to de valuing our homes, we will have traffic and added pollution (light, noise, air). It will chase out protected animals that we want to keep in our area and change the face of the town we moved into. Bikers in training will stop coming down our roads, our children will not be free to ride either. The trucks and construction will be an eyesore for months / years to come. Aesthethic value will certainly be affected. We are not just fighting for our lifestyle that will inevitably change, we are fighting to keep Chester preserved for generations to come. Change is good when it betters and grows our community in a positive way. This “parcel” must be RETURNED TO SENDER.

There is not justification for the cluster housing for the property being developed on Black Meadow Road. The only one that benefits is the developer. Current zoning for this land is AR-3, 3 acre building lots. That is the only thing that should be allowed. Has the developer performed an analysis on the impact to local wells?

The existing zoning is there for a reason, please don't grant a variance or change it for the first developer that comes along. If the town allows that then why even have a zoning code in the first place?