Another Mohawk Commons in Rotterdam. Well that will finish off Rotterdam Square Mall. I mean the Rotterdam Mall is dying a slow death now anyway.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
ROTTERDAM Truckers lose Route 7 parking spots BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Truckers be warned: The days of parking legally along Route 7 are over. State Department of Transportation workers planted about two dozen no-parking signs along a nearly mile-long stretch over the Princetown and Rotterdam border. The signs were placed along the road this weekend after officials from both towns voiced concern over visibility and safety issues arising from tractor trailer trucks parked near the highway at the Interstate 88 interchange. Regional spokesman Peter Van Keuren said the signs will allow local police to ticket any trucker parking on the wide shoulder within the restricted area. He was unsure how effective the signs have been. "It's kind of early to tell," he said Wednesday. "We'll see over time." Rotterdam police were unsure whether any truckers have been ticketed and troopers at the barracks in Princetown hadn't noticed any rigs parked in the area recently. There were no trucks parked where the signs were placed on either Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Local authorities have contended the parked trucks were contributing to accidents that occurred along the highway this year and promised to strictly enforce any parking regulations instituted by the state. Police responded to fi ve accidents near the I-88 interchange between January and March. Workers as the nearby Quickway hadn't noticed any increase of rigs staying at the truck stop since the signs went up. They indicated the no-parking regulation could become a problem during busier times, such as Sunday and Monday, when their lot is usually filled to capacity. Austin Knowles, a trucker from Florida who had stopped at Quickway for his first time Wednesday morning, said he could understand why the state and towns wouldn't want rigs parked along the busy interchange. But he said the long, straight area with wide shoulders did present an ideal area to park for a rest, especially when there's no place else to go. Knowles said he circled around the bustling truck stop for a while when he first arrived because there were no parking spaces. He said it would have been easier to simply park along the shoulder for a quick rest. "It would have been nice to park out there, but I understand," he said. Larry Hargett, a driver from North Carolina, didn't understand why the state would purposely widen the roadway and then post no-parking signs. He said finding spaces to park can be problematic for truck drivers, especially considering the federally mandated periods of rest they must take each day. "When truck stops get full, the truck driver has got to stop somewhere," he said.
This is just another example of Rotterdam's inability to plan. Rotterdam has encouraged, welcomed and promoted businesses that require tractor trailers to deliver their goods. And for businesses to deliver theirs to their customers. Just look at Rotterdam....there is the Golub Corporation, Stock Building, the industrial park that is the home of Fedex, Railex, the Price Chopper Freezer and others who depend on over the road transport. Further into Rotterdam there is Hannaford, Walmart, Price Chopper market. And these are just to name a few. Then there are the restaurants/diners and other small businesses that depend on over the road transport for their supplies.
What were the planners of Rotterdam thinking? Did they not have a vision of what the future would bring? And what does Rotterdam offer these drivers. ONE truck stop at the I88 entrance/exit. Which can not possibly handle the influx of tractor trailers. So what is the only option left? Yup...the side of the road. Which now they are banned from. I am not saying that these trailers should be parking on the side of RT7. But what solution does Rotterdam have for them?
I'm not a proponent of a Flying J's...but ya know what? Rotterdam is in dyer need of one! In order to show support for our local businesses, and to ensure they can receive and deliver their goods to keep their businesses healthy during these hard economic times, and ultimately benefiting the tax base, the powers that be in Rotterdam, better come up with a better solution than just banning these trucks from doing their job.
The influx of these vehicles will only increase. Especially with the inevitable development of RT7. Is the town board, planning board, zoning board preparing for this? Cause ya know what? I would support a Flying J's. The past and present planning of this town has left us no choice but to allow one in to take care of this issue.
The powers that be created this mess due to lack of planning and vision for the future. Will they EVER get it right?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
This is just another example of Rotterdam's inability to plan. Rotterdam has encouraged, welcomed and promoted businesses that require tractor trailers to deliver their goods. And for businesses to deliver theirs to their customers. Just look at Rotterdam....there is the Golub Corporation, Stock Building, the industrial park that is the home of Fedex, Railex, the Price Chopper Freezer and others who depend on over the road transport. Further into Rotterdam there is Hannaford, Walmart, Price Chopper market. And these are just to name a few. Then there are the restaurants/diners and other small businesses that depend on over the road transport for their supplies.
What were the planners of Rotterdam thinking? Did they not have a vision of what the future would bring? And what does Rotterdam offer these drivers. ONE truck stop at the I88 entrance/exit. Which can not possibly handle the influx of tractor trailers. So what is the only option left? Yup...the side of the road. Which now they are banned from. I am not saying that these trailers should be parking on the side of RT7. But what solution does Rotterdam have for them?
I'm not a proponent of a Flying J's...but ya know what? Rotterdam is in dyer need of one! In order to show support for our local businesses, and to ensure they can receive and deliver their goods to keep their businesses healthy during these hard economic times, and ultimately benefiting the tax base, the powers that be in Rotterdam, better come up with a better solution than just banning these trucks from doing their job.
The influx of these vehicles will only increase. Especially with the inevitable development of RT7. Is the town board, planning board, zoning board preparing for this? Cause ya know what? I would support a Flying J's. The past and present planning of this town has left us no choice but to allow one in to take care of this issue.
The powers that be created this mess due to lack of planning and vision for the future. Will they EVER get it right?
I appreciate your argument, but I submit it’s flawed.
Let’s start with just a few of the underpinnings…the planning and zoning boards don’t do much but review and either approve/deny SPECIFIC projects. In other words, they don’t truly set policy but rather follow it. (Granted, they often make poor decisions in that regard and you’ll get no argument from me on that.)
I also think your case about the respective businesses is overstated. There are other industrial parks throughout the area and other large businesses too, along with plenty of smaller businesses that require goods. Rotterdam’s “predicament” is more a function of being adjacent to the interchange.
The question becomes should Rotterdam provide an area for trucks to park? That’s a planning question. Is that what you want your town to look like? THAT’S the real issue. If a company like Flying J’s perceives the need for a project like that, they submit plans which then get reviewed. That isn’t the same as saying the Town should accept or want that option. No one says the trucks HAVE to rest in Rotterdam. That’s beneficial to the truck stop companies and the truckers but not necessarily to the residents. Either way the trucks will bring us our goods.
As far as the signs prohibiting parking on the road, that’s a good thing. It’s a safety issue plain and simple.
I’m not necessarily against a Flying J’s either. But the question of whether it’s appropriate or not, desired or not, feasible or not, or whatever is a question that can’t (or shouldn’t) be answered outside the context of an adequate, updated Comprehensive Plan. Looking at things in isolation is what gets us in trouble.
I’m not necessarily against a Flying J’s either. But the question of whether it’s appropriate or not, desired or not, feasible or not, or whatever is a question that can’t (or shouldn’t) be answered outside the context of an adequate, updated Comprehensive Plan. Looking at things in isolation is what gets us in trouble.
That is the root of our problems here in Rotterdam......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Well, now that Flying J's owns the property by I88, our town code enforcer should contact them and ask (tell) them to mow the 'hay field' of a lawn.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
We received an email from Win Morrison, the real estate company that has listed some properties on Rt7. They were just updating us on the activity in our area. They stated that all of the major parcels of property on Duanesburg Rd that borders the NYS Thruway (I-90) and I-88 are being offered as a single parcel. I believe these property owners are 2 months into a 6 month signed contract with a developer.
They also stated that although MLS listings may be public knowledge, their real estate activity is confidential.
They were offering their services to us. Stating that even though commercial developments take time to come to fruition, a development strategy early in the cycle would be beneficial.
Well, as for us, we are tired of putting our lives on hold. So right after Thanksgiving, we are doing some major remodeling. We will probably not sign on with any real estate company. Not now anyway. If a developer wants or needs our land for their development, I'm sure they will contact us or Win Morrison directly. Until then, it is on with life!
This also comes with a warning! DO NOT BUY GAS FROM THE CITGO STATION / TRUCK STOP!!!!!
This station will be closing partially as the week goes (don't know, but I think Friendly's has already closed). Anyway, the ENTIRE STATION is going to be closed effective Sunday night (11PM?) because it's been sold and will be shut down for approximately 3 months. This is due to Pilot buying the station and they are going to be doing some remodeling / refurbishing. The employees of the store have already been notified. I know this only because I was at the right place at the right time. An employee of the store was in Stewarts on Burdeck Street and said to tell everybody you know not to buy gas from the Citgo. This is due to the fact that they will not be getting any more gas shipments and you'll be getting the dredges from the bottom of the tank, including whatever garbage comes up with it.
As far as I can see, this is not currently on the Times Union or the Gazette sites, so if it's there in the morning, I think we know where it came from. Anybody from these papers can feel free to reach me via sending me an e-mail or a private message with a number for me to call back...not that I have much more information.
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