Mid Hudson Times Jun. 29 2016

TIMES MID Gardnertown Commons proposal prompts lawsuit HUDSON Vol. 28, No 26 3 JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 3 ONE DOLLAR Nukes glide The Class of 2016 Page 49 Page 3 SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR New Windsor fills City pool By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] Alleging an “abuse of discretion,” Town of Newburgh resident William Stillman is suing the town planning board over a proposed housing project off Gardnertown Road. “Developers seem to have the upper hand in the town,” said Stillman, whose property lies at the southeast corner of the project site. Stillman’s petition seeks to have a negative declaration - determining the Gardnertown Commons housing development will have no significant impact on the environment - rescinded by the town planning board. The suit claims the project has the potential “to significantly impact the environment” due to its density, and potential effects on traffic, wetlands and town services. “We asked them to rescind it at the public hearing but they declined,” Stillman said, referring to the planning board Tuesday. Long Island-based Farrell Building Company and property-owner Three Kidds Newburgh are also named in the lawsuit. Stillman and other neighbors spoke at a June 16 public hearing at town hall on the proposed 164-unit apartment complex planned on 19.77 acres near the intersection of Gardnertown Road and Continued on page 4 City of Newburgh firefighter Ray Mera watches as New Windsor water fills the City of Newburgh Pool. By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] Water exploded out of the hose making a big “whoosh” sound. By night’s end, 157,000 gallons of New Windsor water would completely fill the pool at the City of Newburgh Aquatic Center. “It’s a great thing,” said City of Newburgh Acting Fire Chief Terry Ahlers, who stood watching water flow from a five-inch hose into the pool at Delano Hitch Park on Friday night. “It’s a different kind of mutual aide.” In a generous neighborly gesture, the Town of New Windsor filled the public pool to the rim last week as the City of Newburgh continued to struggle with a water crisis due to PFOS contamination of its water supply. The city implemented stage-III water conservation measures restricting nonessential use of water following the discovery of the chemical in city water this spring. Among other uses, the restriction prevents the filling of public and private swimming pools. Fire crews from New Windsor and the City of Newburgh parked fire engines along Robinson Avenue about an hour before water began to flow on Friday. “We’re going to lay this hose all the way down to New Windsor,” said Ahlers, pointing to a long, yellow hose. WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM “It will stretch almost 4,000 feet.” The water was pumped in what Ahlers described as a “relay pump,” using multiple fire trucks to provide enough pressure to pump the water over a longer distance than usual. “Every time it gets to a fire truck, it will boost the pressure enough to get to the next fire truck,” Ahlers said. Three fire engines were used in the operation, he said. Town water was taken from a fire hydrant at Route 9W and John Street. Water was expected to pump at about 1,000 gallons per minute, said Quassaick Fire Department Chief Al Padilla. “The Continued on page 2