Draft Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Draft Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT VOLUME 1 Town of Shawangunk Ulster County, New York Prepared by: Kingdom Support Services, Inc. October 2008 Project Site Location Map USGS Quad Map—Napanoch, New York Watchtower Farms Improvements Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) APPLICANT INFORMATION Project Description The applicant proposes to construct a three-story multiple dwelling with 300 dwelling units and ancillary uses including a two-story parking garage with 400 spaces, three-story accessory office building, recreation building, technical equipment building, and proposed additions to the existing dining room, dry cleaning, and laundry facilities. Project Location The project site is in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, and it is located at 900 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589. Tax Map Identification Section 99.004, Block 1, Lot 11 (99.4-1-11) Lead Agency: Town of Shawangunk Planning Board 14 Central Avenue / P.O. Box 247 Wallkill, NY 12589 Tel: (845) 895-3356, Fax: (845) 895-2162 Contact: Kris Pedersen, Planning Board Chairwoman Project Sponsor: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. 900 Red Mills Road Wallkill, NY 12589, U.S.A Tel: (845) 744-6000, Fax: (845) 744-1990 Contact: David Kjos DEIS Preparer: Kingdom Support Services, Inc. 175 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201, U.S.A. Tel: (718) 560-4800, Fax: (718) 560-8827 Contact: Terroll Nebel Project Architect: Enrique Ford, R.A. 175 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201, U.S.A. Phone: (718) 560-4800, Fax: (718) 560-8827 Submittal Date: May 16, 2008 Lead Agency Acceptance Date: October 7, 2008 Public Hearing Date: November 5, 2008 Deadline for Receipt of Public Comments: November 21, 2008 (or 10 days following the close of the hearing, whichever is later). Watchtower Farms Improvements Applicant Information October 8, 2008 i Project Consultants Air Quality—Noise: B. Laing Associates Environmental Consulting 225 Main Street—Suite 205 Northport, New York 11768 Tel: (631) 261-7170, Fax (631) 261-7454 Attn: Michael Bontje Cultural Resources: Eugene J. Boesch Ph.D., R.P.A. 581 Long Pond Road Mahopac, New York 10541 Telephone/Fax: (845) 628-3826 Ecologist—Wetlands: John P. Chitty 1971 Oxnard Drive Downers Grove, IL 60516 Tel: (630) 852-0857 Geotechnical: Clough, Harbour and Associates, LLP III Winners Circle Albany, New York 12205 Tel: (518) 453-4500, Fax (518) 458-1735 Attn: Rebecca Filkins Stormwater Management—Surveyor: Richard Eldred, P.E., P.L.S. 2891 Route 22 Patterson, New York 12563 Tel: (845) 306-1000, Fax: (845) 306-3811 Transportation: John Collins Engineers, P.C. 11 Bradhurst Avenue Hawthorne, N.Y. 10532 Tel: (914) 347-7500, Fax (914) 347-7266 Attn: Philip J. Greeley Wastewater Resources: Joseph Dodd, P.E. 175 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 U.S.A. Tel: (718) 560-4800, Fax: (718) 560-8827 Watchtower Farms Improvements Applicant Information October 8, 2008 ii Watchtower Farms Improvements Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Table of Contents I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................I-1 I.A Brief Description of the Proposed Action.........................................................................I-1 I.B Listing of All Potential Environmental Impacts and Proposed Mitigation Measures ...........................................................................................................................I-3 I.B.1 Geology, Soils and Topography ...........................................................................I-3 I.B.1.a Potential Impacts.......................................................................................I-3 I.B.1.b Mitigation Measures .................................................................................I-3 I.B.2 Surface Water Resources (Drainage)....................................................................I-4 I.B.2.a Potential Impacts.......................................................................................I-5 I.B.2.b Mitigation Measures .................................................................................I-5 I.B.3 Ground Water Resources/Water Supply System ..................................................I-6 I.B.3.a Potential Impacts.......................................................................................I-6 I.B.3.b Mitigation Measures .................................................................................I-7 I.B.4 Wastewater/Sewage Disposal...............................................................................I-7 I.B.4.a Potential Impacts.......................................................................................I-7 I.B.4.b Mitigation Measures .................................................................................I-8 I.B.5 Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology ...........................................................................I-9 I.B.5.a Potential Impacts.......................................................................................I-9 I.B.5.b Mitigation Measures ...............................................................................I-12 I.B.6 Land Use and Zoning..........................................................................................I-15 I.B.6.a Potential Impacts.....................................................................................I-16 I.B.6.b Mitigation Measures ...............................................................................I-22 I.B.7 Transportation.....................................................................................................I-23 I.B.7.a Potential Impacts.....................................................................................I-23 I.B.7.b Mitigation Measures ...............................................................................I-24 I.B.8 Aesthetic Resources............................................................................................I-25 I.B.8.a Potential Impacts.....................................................................................I-26 I.B.8.b Mitigation Measures ...............................................................................I-27 I.B.9 Historic and Archaeological Resources..............................................................I-28 I.B.9.a Potential Impacts.....................................................................................I-28 I.B.9.b Mitigation Measures ...............................................................................I-29 I.B.10 Community Facilities and Services ....................................................................I-29 I.B.10.a Potential Impacts.................................................................................I-29 I.B.10.b Mitigation Measures............................................................................I-31 I.B.11 Noise and Air Resources.....................................................................................I-34 I.B.11.a Potential Impacts.................................................................................I-34 I.B.11.b Mitigation Measures............................................................................I-36 I.B.12 Agricultural Resources........................................................................................I-37 I.B.12.a Potential Impacts.................................................................................I-38 I.B.12.b Mitigation Measures............................................................................I-38 I.C Summary of Approvals and Permits Required ...............................................................I-38 Watchtower Farms Improvements Table of Contents October 8, 2008 Page TOC-1 I.D Summary of Alternatives ................................................................................................I-39 II DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION .............................................................. II-1 II.A Site Location and Description......................................................................................... II-1 II.A.1 Written and Graphic Site Location ..................................................................... II-1 II.A.2 Environmental Site Setting/History.................................................................... II-9 II.A.3 Easements, Rights-of-Way, Restrictions, and District Boundaries .................. II-14 II.A.4 Description of Existing Infrastructure .............................................................. II-19 II.A.5 Short- and Long-term Property Use.................................................................. II-21 II.B Description of the Proposed Action.............................................................................. II-22 II.B.1 Detailed Description of Proposed Action ......................................................... II-22 II.B.2 Proposed Utilities, Recreation, Open Space, Parking, and Driveways ......................................................................................................... II-25 II.B.3 Building Elevations of Proposed Development................................................ II-28 II.B.4 Zoning and Existing Land Uses........................................................................ II-35 II.B.5 Zoning Compliance........................................................................................... II-37 II.B.6 Ownership and Maintenance Responsibilities.................................................. II-44 II.B.7 Construction-related Activities and Environmental Safeguards......................
Recommended publications
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Ulster County, New York
    Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Ulster County, New York Prepared for Prepared for Ulster County Department of Emergency Communications/Emergency Management 238 Golden Hill Lane Kingston, NY 12401 Prepared Prepared by 201 Willowbrook Boulevard, Third Floor Wayne, New Jersey 07470-7005 February 2009 PLAN ADOPTION RESOLUTIONS In accordance with Part 201.6 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), Ulster County, New York, has developed this Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify hazards that threaten the County and ways to reduce future damages associated with these hazards. Following this page are the signed adoption resolutions of the County and all participating jurisdictions that have adopted this plan, authorizing municipal government staff to carry out the actions detailed herein. Signed resolutions of adoption by all participating jurisdictions shall be inserted following this page after FEMA has reviewed and determined that the Draft plan is approvable. Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan – Ulster County, New York Final – February 2009 i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Across the United States and around the world, natural disasters occur each day, as they have for thousands of years. As the world’s population and development have increased, so have the effects of these natural disasters. The time and money required to recover from these events often strain or exhaust local resources. The purpose of hazard mitigation planning is to identify policies, actions, and tools for implementation that will, over time, work to reduce risk and the potential for future losses. Hazard mitigation is best realized when community leaders, businesses, citizens, and other stakeholders join together an in effort to undertake a process of learning about hazards that can affect their area and use this knowledge to prioritize needs and develop a strategy for reducing damages.
    [Show full text]
  • The Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan
    SHAWANGUNK MOUNTAINS SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN Cornfields at dusk, looking toward the mountains on Rt 208 near Birch Road in the Town of Shawangunk. SHAWANGUNK MOUNTAINS SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN October, 2005 3 Trapps Cliffs near the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center, US 44/NY 55 in the town of Gardiner. 4 Presented by the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway Steering Committee John Valk, Jr, Chairman ADVISORS: Supervisor, Town of Shawangunk David Church, Commissioner Brinton Baker, Vice Chair Orange County Planning Representative, Town of Rochester Alex Collins, Manager Don Wilen, Vice Chair Minnewaska State Park Preserve Supervisor, Town of New Paltz Virginia Craft, Planner Phil Jamison Ulster County Planning Department Representative, Town of Crawford Dennis Doyle, Director Iris Friedman Ulster County Planning Department Representative, Village of Ellenville Glenn Hoagland, Executive Director Carl Zatz Mohonk Preserve, Inc. Supervisor, Town of Gardiner Cara Lee, Director Vincent T. Martello Shawangunk Ridge Program of Supervisor, Town of Marbletown The Nature Conservancy Susan Cockburn Joyce M. Minard, President Supervisor, Town of Montgomery New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce Jason West Mayor, Village of New Paltz Russell Robbins, NYSDOT Senior Transportation Analyst Bob Gallagher Lisa Weiss, NYSDOT Supervisor, Town of Rosendale Scenic Byway Coordinator Tom Gale Representative, Town of Wawarsing PROJECT FISCAL SPONSOR The Mohonk Preserve, Inc. PROJECT MANAGER Al Wegener, Landscape Consultant New Paltz, NY (845)
    [Show full text]
  • 2. Location Street & Number City, Town Gardiner & Shawangunfe Vicinity of State New York Code 036 County Ulster Code HI 3
    NPS Form 10-900 0MB No. 1024-0018 (3-82) Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries complete applicable sections_____________ 1. Name ________________ historic and/or common ^^ aTX7fl n 01 2. Location street & number city, town Gardiner & Shawangunfe vicinity of state New York code 036 county Ulster code HI 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use ... district public X occupied - agriculture museum building(s) X private unoccupied * commercial park ... structure both work in progress educational X private residence site Public Acquisition Accessible entertainment religious object n/a in process X yes: restricted government scientific n/a being considered yes: unrestricted industrial transportation X multiple resource no military other: 4. Owner of Property name multiple ownership ,—B-ee continuation sheet street & number city, town vicinity of state 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Ulster County Clerk's Office street & number County Office Building, 244 Fair St. city, town Kingston state New York 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title see continuation sheet has this property been determined eligible? yes X no date federal state county local depository for survey records city, town state NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (3-82) Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Shawangunk Valley Multiple Continuation sheet Resource Area, UAfrk* Co. ; M--y. Item number 6 Page 1 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Watchtower Farms
    I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I.A Brief Description of the Proposed Action The applicant, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., proposes the Watchtower Farms Improvements project to construct a three-story, 300-dwelling-unit residential building and ancillary uses, including a two-story parking garage with 400 spaces; a three-story accessory office building with basement, recreation building, and technical equipment building; and proposed additions to the existing dining room, dry cleaning, and laundry. The proposed project is located in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, and would occur on a portion of its property located on parcel 99.004, block 1, lot 11 (99.4-1-11). The property consists of approximately 1,141 acres, is commonly known in the community as Watchtower Farms, and has primary frontage on Red Mills Road. The property is wholly owned by the applicant, and all activities conducted thereon support the applicant’s religious and charitable purposes. The project site refers to the southwest portion of the property bounded by Steen Road to the north. This proposed project is based on a review conducted by the applicant in an effort to modernize the facility and identify long-term needs. It is intended to care for the applicant’s organizational needs by improving the quality of life for residents, upgrading existing facilities, and providing for modest growth consistent with the zoning regulations and comprehensive plan of the Town of Shawangunk. It reflects the same stable pattern initiated in the early 1970s of integrating agricultural, office, residential, and printery activities, consistent with the property uses that have been in evidence for many decades.
    [Show full text]