HUDSON — The Hudson Planning Board held a public hearing to gather comment on A. Colarusso’s & Sons’ haul application for a conditional use permit to build a paved, two-lane road through South Bay.
Attorney John Privitera of the law offices of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, representing Colarusso, discussed the proposed routes.
“This is an application for conditional use approval for the haul road improvement truck traffic and diversion project that will take Colarusso dump trucks off the city streets,” Privitera said. “The project is permitted for use under the city code. It’s clear that this project is good for the community and delivers environmental justice for the residents of the city when it’s completed.”
The current route to the dock goes exclusively through the city when it comes out of the driveway in the town of Greenport. That is the route for all of the dump trucks. The route back to the mine has to go through the city and around and comes back to the western entrance of the mine.
“What we’re proposing and have proposed for many years is the proposed truck route that diverts all of the traffic around the city to and from the dock,” Privitera said. “You can see the red line is the haul road that we proposed. It comes out of the western edge of the mine. It doesn’t go through any of the city streets until it reaches the entrance to the dock down on Front Street. All of it is completely diverted from the main part of the city.”
Privitera addressed emergency exemptions that the city might need in the event of flooding and blasting.
“We have stated that we need some emergency exemptions,” Privitera said. “A very short-term phenomenon we have asked when you consider conditions to the permit. Federal mine safety does not allow us to use a portion of the mine with trucks or when the haul road is flooded in portions that we proposed using this route while blasting to and from the dock. If any portion of the haul road flooded, we have to work around it depending on which portion of the haul road is flooded.”
Planning Board Chairwoman Theresa Joyner questioned Privitera about potential flood issues that might arise.
“The most likely place for it to flood is in the South Bay area,” Privitera said. “There are a couple of culverts that go between the causeway. The tide goes back and forth through those culverts. That area is probably the most susceptible area to flooding because of the way it moves. It’s not common, but that would block us off from the main chunk of the haul road if that portion flooded.”
Most of the concerns from the audience revolved around the environmental impacts of the proposal and protecting the integrity of the Hudson waterfront.
Donna Streitz of Hudson said more truck traffic along the routes present a danger to the community.
“Colarusso doesn’t want the planning board to look at actual truck numbers,” Streitz said. “They want you to limit their view to numbers considered by the Greenport planning board in 2017. Actual and proposed numbers should not be ignored. The bottom line is that annual truck trips from 2015 to 2019 have almost tripled over 15,000 a year, and we believe that Colarusso wants to double this amount to 30,000 per year, in the worst-case scenario, 70,000. What do 30,000 to 70,000 trucks look like? It means, on average one to two truck trips every five minutes making the dangerous crossing on Routes 9 and 9G, the Amtrak rail line and interfering with pedestrians at the waterfront.”
Mary Vaughn Williams of the Hudson Business Coalition addressed the effects the routes will have on the waterfront.
“Hudson waterfront is one of the crown jewels, and it serves as a recreational place,” she said. “We recognize the need for economic development, environmental conservation, social justice and respect for the traditions and the history of the community. If Colarusso receives approval for its conditional use permits, it will have adverse effects on the waterfronts. The waterfront is a place where people have countless private and public events every year.”
Virginia Martin said a similar situation occurred in Troy.
“What I’d like to talk about in the city of Troy is their zoning board soundly rejected an application for a variance that allowed a company to ship gravel on the Hudson River,” Martin said. “It was rejected because the city decided that space wasn’t appropriate for its use, the city decided it would use it for recreation, and because residents were concerned about gravel trucks causing air pollution.”
Several people spoke in favor of Colarusso’s proposed route plan.
“Colarusso has been here since 1912 and they’re amazing,” said Rodney Nissen of Hudson. “I understand both sides, and hopefully everyone can work together. I think you should approve it. I’m probably the only one that believes that, but you can have it both ways.”
Tara Nissen of Hudson said Colarusso has been a standout member of the community for more than a century and is one of the few industries remaining in the city.
“I’ve listened to a lot from both sides,” she said. “When people moved here, these same industry folks were here. You’re moving from a company that has been around since 1912. They aren’t outsiders. These are our community members. They have been here working for and with us, enhancing our community since I’ve been here. They have repeatedly given back to the community.”
Kevin Hailey of Hudson said the city can’t afford to lose another major industry, especially one that creates jobs and contributes to the economy.
“I remember when we had all these industries,” Hailey said. “They’ve been chased off and now they’re gone. You forced all the industry out. With the businesses that are here like Colarusso, they’ve been supplying people with jobs for hundreds of years, and we’re going to do that again. We shouldn’t chase off the jobs people don’t have. People are going to need these labor and truck-driving jobs.
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