Letter to the editor
Winston Farm development plan — a better alternative
I imagine the rain water that came down recently, making its way into aquifers, wells and the roots of trees. I also picture the impervious hard surfaces the development of Winston Farm (WF) will result in. These hard surfaces will increase runoff from rain storms and take water from our trees, aquifers and wells. This phenomenon is happening all over the country where natural habitats are being replaced by parking lots.
The development plan presented in the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS — August, 2024) has sections on potential mitigation measures to reduce the damage done by the loss of trees and natural habitats. The word mitigate is very telling. It admits to the potential damage that may occur but don’t worry, these measures will lessen its impact. How much damage will occur to the WF environment, even with the “mitigation” strategies? No one is quite sure. At the August 14, 2024 Saugerties Town Board meeting, community members were told that the success or failure of the development plan might not be known for ten years. We know now, the development plan will irreparably change our WF treasure.
There is a simpler solution to the development plan and the mitigation dilemma. Leave WF alone to enrich our lives. No mitigation needed to counteract the transformation done by thousands of asphalt-covered parking spaces.There is an alternative plan for WF presented by Permaculture expert, Andrew Faust, “Winston Farm/An Alternative Vision: A Community Farm & Forest Preserve.” This plan was presented to the Saugerties Town Board at its September 18 meeting. The character of our community is hanging in the balance.
People come to Saugerties not for a boutique hotel, but for its beauty, the autumn leaves, the fresh air, and the Hudson River, not to be stuck in traffic with thousands of additional cars and their exhaust.
There is a better way to honor the WF gift we have had for hundreds of years. We turn our back on our motto “Climate Smart Saugerties” by going ahead with the development plan. Disrupting the lives of thousands of animals and plants and their habitat and then covering-over the damage with asphalt cannot be considered environmentally conscious and smart. However, there must be a way to provide both a return on investment for the current owners of Winston Farm (after all they did purchase the property) and the goal of preserving what we have for future generations. We must find a way forward, together, that respects the owners of Winston Farm and preserves this natural treasure. People will be watching to see how we resolve this dilemma. Both sides can succeed. That success will serve as an example to all who come to enjoy Winston Farm (as it is) and the Town of Saugerties as a community that respects all its citizens and its natural heritage.
Marc Brodkin
Janell Orourke
Sue Kavanagh
Vincent Evans
Saugerties
