Originally developed during the Greenport Planning Board's 2006-2007 review of the Widewaters project, this website was posted in the interest of making project information accessible to many. When Greenport approved the project, our attention turned to other pressing matters.
But in April 2008, when Widewaters applied to the county Industrial Development Agency for financial assistance, our website once again sprang to life, answering the need for public information.
Excellent news: On April 29th, the IDA soundly rejected Widewaters' request for tax exemptions. This followed calls by the Register Star, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and the Greenport Town Board—as well as at least 35 letter-writing citizens—to do just that, and to compel Widewaters to "play by the same rules" as other businesses in the county.
The IDA left the door open for Widewaters to come back, as is its right, with another request after tenants (other than WalMart) have signed on the dotted line. See the Register Star's coverage of the meeting.
And so it remains to be seen what the future holds for Greenport Commons.
For your review: Widewaters IDA application and associated documentation
This public notice appeared in the April 3, 2008 Register Star:
COLUMBIA COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGPLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a special meeting of the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (the “IDA”), to be held on April 10, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. at 610 State Street, Hudson, New York 12534, whereby the IDA will consider an application for financial assistance presented by Widewater Greenport Company, LLC, and take whatever actions the Board deems appropriate in connection with such application.
Dated: April 1, 2008
/s/ Bruce Bohnsack
Bruce Bohnsack, Chairman
Is there not a more worthy, locally owned and locally based business that might benefit from our county's assistance?
If you are outraged by this, then send your comments to the local papers:
Register-Star editorial@registerstar.com
The Independent letters@indenews.com
New: Press Coverage, post-IDA
New: Letters to Editors, post-IDA
The Columbia Hudson Partnership's excellent website includes information about the IDA and the Partnership's other programs, as well as a wealth of information about our county. Take a look.
From the early days (2006-2007, pre-IDA application)...
Greenport's Planning Board has spoken.
Members of the Greenport Neighbors Action Team, which worked diligently to improve Widewaters’ proposed Greenport project, are all very disappointed by the Planning Board's negative declaration.
The Planning Board has asserted that the project will not have any significant negative impacts.
From the first time “Widewaters” was mentioned at a Planning Board meeting, less than a year ago, it appeared to be a “done deal,” arrived at by people who thought no one was watching.
Greenport Neighbors wonders if any of the materials supplied by anyone other than the developer were actually read by the entire board.
So Widewaters ("Greenport Commons") is indeed coming to Greenport. But that's no reason for the people to be silent.
Continue to send your comments to the local papers:
Register-Star editorial@registerstar.com
The Independent letters@indenews.com
The independent critique of Widewaters' traffic data is here
Examine a critique of the Widewaters-generated traffic report that comes to a very, very different conclusion about the potential impact of this proposal.
Brian Ketcham Engineering was contracted for this critique by the Greenport Neighbors Action Team. You can view Ketcham's curriculum vitae here.
There was broad agreement that Widewaters should have completed an EIS.
The full SEQRA process, with all its protective disclosures for the community, would have been called into play only the developer had been required to complete an Environmental Impact Statement. Instead, the Greenport Planning Board let the developer off the hook with only an Environmental Assessment Form (EAF).
More than 100 individuals signed a petition saying Widewaters should have completed a full EIS. Click here to read the petition they signed.
Beyond that, more than 30 other residents of Greenport signed a similar petition.
New York State's definition of "environment," available here, is:
Environment means the physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, noise, resources of agricultural, archeological, historic or aesthetic significance, existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth, existing community or neighborhood character, and human health.
Check out the feature article on the Widewaters proposal in Hill Country Observer.
Take a look at The Independent's Widewaters Mall Readers' Forum.
There, readers can have their say about this project. Read the postings and then add your own two cents.
During this process, members of the public spoke up, loud and clear.
- See letters written to the newspapers
- See the testimony presented at, and comments recorded from, Dec 26th's public hearing...
The County had its say in December...
Read the Columbia County Planning Board's seven-page recommendation to the Greenport Planning Board.
About that public hearing on Dec 26th:
This is the legal (public) notice announcing the hearing, which actually began at 7:40 or 7:45 pm, that appeared in the Register Star of December 20th:
PUBLIC HEARING
Please take notice the Planning Board of the Town of Greenport will hold a public hearing pursuant to Town Law on the construction of a Retail Plaza on Rt9, adjacent to Dawnwood Senior Complex, by the Widewaters Group. This proposal would construct on a 128.2 acre parcel three large anchor stores of 103,000 sq ft, 203 818 sq ft and 89,000 sq ft. Along Rt9, the remainder will be comprised of small to midsize retail space, restaurants and a gas station. Each will have their own parking area.
Said hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at or near 8:15 pm in the Moose Hall on Town Hall Drive. At this time all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard. By order of the Planning Board. Madeline DeCintio, Sec.
rsltl2/20#8943
Read some of the written testimony presented to the Planning Board at the hearing.
Read some of the press coverage following the hearing:
Times Union 12/29/06: Plaza plans divide Greenport
Independent 12/29/06: Mega-mall draws fans, foes
Register Star 12/28/06: Editorial: The deep end of Widewaters
Register Star 12/27/06: Crowd: Widewaters must do SEQRA review