If you drive down 5s, you will see a repair garage next to the knotty pine called Bobby's....this station sits right on top of the aquifer.....look out front the entire gravel area is full of oil....I'm sure lots of gas, antifreez etc leaks into the ground water....How does he get away with that ??? shouldnt someone look into this ??
Take steps to end all development near Schenectady aquifer
Joe Daviero’s Jan. 22 letter about high-density housing encroaching on the lands surrounding the Great Flats Aquifer resonates with strong sentiments from the past. Decades ago, a small but dedicated grass-roots group fought the Rotterdam Square Mall Goliath by calling for the purchase by Rotterdam of several hundred remaining acres to remain “forever wild,” thereby protecting our drinking water. That fight failed and the idea of a public investment fell on deaf ears. More recently the Rotterdam Town Board rezoned the aquifer overlay zone from a relatively benign use to greeddriven, high-density residential use. The rezoning was strongly opposed by the town’s own Conservation Advisory Council voicing most of the environmental protection axioms from the past. Assurances were given by developers that sewage, wastewater and storm water would be properly engineered. A town-designated engineering fi rm monitors the development and an intermunicipal board provides watershed oversight. Meanwhile, developers continue to get town approval to build on the overlay zone, and environmental protection arguments continue to get short shrift. Tanker trucks brimming with oil and other toxins ply unfettered on I-890, literally yards away from the city water wells; fuel-laden planes from Stratton Air Base fly, practicing low-level tactics directly over the heart of the aquifer; and chemical-laden freight cars go to and fro over old rail beds. The dice are rolled every day with potential dangers to our water supply. More protections, policing and greater jurisdictional authority is needed, as Daviero suggests. A statewide watershed protection bill getting attention in the Legislature (A8131, Jerome Gottfried) is designed to increase penalties for failure to comply with certain sanitation, health and environmental protections of New York’s precious water, and authorizes the attorney general to enjoin violators with fines and penalties. That will help, but Rotterdam and Schenectady County need to assure the public that the aquifer will be safe for generations to come by saying no to further development proposals, especially on the sensitive aquifer overlay zone. JAMES M. SCHAEFER Rotterdam
If the Town Board and Planning Commission were more knowledgeable about groundwater, storm water runoff, and how a high water table works they might understand how serious building on our aquifer really is.
The rezoning was strongly opposed by the town’s own Conservation Advisory Council voicing most of the environmental protection axioms from the past.
This is what I mean about committees. These people put much time and effort into these issues. They do all of the research, present their findings/facts and they are yet it appears that their findings are dismissed.
And yet the powers to be will take what the developers say and give them the green light. How can we change this?
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
And yet the powers to be will take what the developers say and give them the green light. How can we change this?
That's definitely the million dollar question!
I believe the aquifer to be Schenectady's greatest single resource. It is inevitable that it will eventually be compromised beyond salvage given the apparent reluctance to protect it properly. Every single approved encroachment is one step closer to realizing what so many other communities have found out the hard way. History will determine at who's feet the blame winds up when that time comes to pass.
Re Jan. 22 Joseph Daviero’s letter, “Who’s watching out for aquifer in Rotterdam?”: As Mr. Daviero points out, the latest overdevelopment of housing in the Rotterdam Square Mall area is unbelievable. Who would want to spend six figures for condos, where all you have is a mall and highway for a view? The dysfunctional Rotterdam Planning Commission was warned over two decades ago about Rotterdam Square Mall and its host of environmental and economic problems. The mall is losing tenants and dollars to sustain it. One example of this was the loss a year ago of the carousel inside the food court. [It was moved to a mall in Miami, where it opened earlier this month.] So much for the most important, precious commodity issue of our time other than oil — fresh water. Where is the outrage and common-sense approach as our fresh water has turned into a footnote, while ugly, unneeded, unaffordable housing marches forward without proper smart growth principles? Again, Schenectady County politicians have to wake up and start dealing with these and other land-use issues. Much-needed dollars are evident in the ever-growing, modern-day economy for our municipalities, but not at the risk of depleting our fresh water reserves. GERALD PLANTE Schenectady
Mr. Plante is correct. But how much talking can we do about this. NO ONE is listening! Well the developers are surely listening. They know that they have the upper hand. And they don't care about the water. They are just concerned with the money that they will make from their projects. And after they have lined their pockets, they will move out of the area and leave us taxpayers with the bill to fix it. History does repeat itself doesn't it?
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
The aquifer water supplies many people who live in Rotterdam, City of Schenectady, Niskayuna, and Scotia and it doesn't seem like any of the administrations really care only the residents of the towns that drink the water. Is bringing in more tax revenue really worth the lose of our water supply?
Watershed board keeping a watchful eye on Sch’dy aquifer
In response to the Jan. 22 letter, “Who’s watching out for aquifer in Rotterdam?”: We would like to respond on behalf of Schenectady County’s Intermunicipal Watershed Board. The watershed board is operated by the county in close cooperation with the supervisors of the towns of Glenville, Rotterdam, Niskayuna and the mayors of Scotia and Schenectady. It is assisted by a technical advisory committee comprised of key engineering and planning staff from each municipality and a groundwater planner. The watershed board reviews all proposed projects and developments that are located within the aquifer protection zone. Specific to the apartment complex referenced in the letter, the watershed board provided extensive review on the project, participated in meetings with the town of Rotterdam and issued comments that were addressed by the applicant. The project is located in Aquifer Protection Zone II, which allows for residential development that meets stringent requirements for protection of the aquifer. The watershed board aggressively protects the county’s excellent water resources. The board was successful in stopping the burying of road debris from the Route 7 project near the Schenectady and Rotterdam well fields. In an effort to further protect the aquifer, the board and Schenectady County recently issued land use violations, one of which resulted in a penalty of over $60,000. To further deter violations of the public health law and to protect the county’s drinking water resources, the watershed board has been working closely with Sen. Hugh Farley to introduce legislation to increase penalties for violations of the public health law that govern our aquifer protection efforts. Schenectady County certainly recognizes the importance of the aquifer. Every project in the aquifer protection zone is carefully reviewed to protect this great asset. JASON PELTON Schenectady The writer serves as groundwater planner for Schenectady County.
The above article is just being written to make people think that someone is watching our water supply. If this was true then why did the friends of the aquifer have to go to battle to protect the water supply every time the town wanted to build something on it. Where was the watershed board when Marotta was dumping oil, cars, and other harmful objects over the aquifer land and action was only taken when the residents of Rotterdam brought up the abuses at board meetings. The watershed board is just another feel good operation run by government to make us believe that they're protecting our water supply.
Re Jan. 27 letter by James M. Schaefer, “Take steps to end all development near Schenectady aquifer”: I read with great interest Mr. Schaefer’s opinion. I agree. Please, no more development near our aquifer. Please protect our precious water, our aquifer overlay zone. NADINE PUTORTI Rotterdam
The question is not who is protecting the aquifer, but who has the money and power to enforce the protection laws? Back in the 1980s, when a diverse group of lay and professional people banded together to fight Wilmorite, a family-owned powerhouse of mall builders, it became a 12-year battle of wits between lawyers, judges, politics on all levels and money. Wilmorite won! Rotterdam Square Mall was built to their specs — larger than the permit issued, with the overseer chosen and paid for by them. Wilmorite claimed its malls had a 20-year life, so it’s not surprising they found a buyer after 18-plus years. Are environmental commitments passed on with ownership? Who’s minding the store now? Monies extracted from Wilmorite in our battle did finance the forming of the Intermunicipal Watershed Board — complete with rules that have been revised, updated and carried out in a wet-noodle fashion. There are no reports on the condition of the Wilmorite-built gabions [wire mesh rectangular containers filled with stones] that form the flood retention berm off Campbell Road — which suffered one massive washout and ensuing flood before extensive rebuilding. Out of sight is the corrugated metal water retention wall that follows a major gas line off River Road. Rags are stuffed in its many holes like fingers in a d**e! And, yes, that is the area where they are now building Long Pond — an upscale 192-apartment complex — after several years of hearings and revisions. They — like Edison Apartments, Putnam Woods’ 52 condos and the Offi ce Max, BJ’s complex, plus Burger King — pump their sewage into the holding station under the Kmart parking lot built by Wilmorite for 74 stores. But they built 101 stores, and added more. Yes, it has exploded and backed up to the lower level — Burger King and the foot of Putnam Road. The builder and backer of all these sewage-generating projects label us “junk scientists” who practice “voodoo science.” It has been a long battle, but fortunately, I’m in my 80s and use the same batteries as that little pink bunny! MARJORIE L. SCHMID Rotterdam
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