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Don’t be fooled

David Brittenham and Carolyn Summers, Neversink
Posted 7/26/22

To the editor:Robert Doherty’s letter about Kerilands (July 22, 2022) is either deliberately misleading, or grossly ill-informed, or both.Mr. Doherty seems to think that a modest retail store, …

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Don’t be fooled

Posted

To the editor:
Robert Doherty’s letter about Kerilands (July 22, 2022) is either deliberately misleading, or grossly ill-informed, or both.
Mr. Doherty seems to think that a modest retail store, located on a state highway in a mixed use area, would impact the Town of Neversink the same way as a massive resort development involving substantial infrastructure investments and serious environmental impacts. How are the two even remotely comparable? The Kerilands development will open the door to other massive developments in the Town. Tract housing, anyone?
Mr. Doherty endorses the developer’s transparent attempt at intimidation by threatening to build 297 residences “as of right.” Don’t be fooled by this threat. Much of the property is unbuildable. The building lot subdivision would require Town approval. The 297 residences would shrink to a much smaller number if the developer actually had to come up with a real proposal. Even at 297, it would affect the Town far less than what he really wants to do.
Mr. Doherty suggests that the developer could sell to another developer. The fact is that he could do that at any time, particularly after the Town has given up leverage by giving him the zoning amendments he wants. In fact, he could lose control of the property, if his pie-in-the-sky business model turns out not to hold water, and his partners take over.
This development would make the greatest change in the Town’s rural character and quality of life since the reservoirs were built. Unlike then, today we can choose our destiny.
The county level interests supporting the developer do not represent, or care about, the interests of Town residents. We look to our Town Board to place the interests of the Town and its residents foremost, above those of the special interests trying to shape the development approval process.

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