• Cold Spring Continues Fjord Trail Debate

  • Sep 27 2024
  • Length: 7 mins
  • Podcast

Cold Spring Continues Fjord Trail Debate

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  • Mayor cites 'troubling departures' from agreements
    Mayor cites 'troubling departures' from talks
    When speaking about the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, "the size of my trust deficit only grows," Mayor Kathleen Foley said at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Cold Spring Village Board.
    The comment was part of a lengthy statement in which Foley outlined her concerns surrounding the 7.5-mile-long linear park from Cold Spring to Beacon following recent meetings with HHFT officials.
    Foley, Philipstown Supervisor John Van Tassel and Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward wrote the state parks department in April to outline their objections to having the trail start at Dockside Park, a move they said would create a tourist destination "in and of itself" and draw vehicular traffic to the village. Foley said on Wednesday that they never received a reply.
    She said that an Aug. 16 letter from HHFT Chair Chris Davis and Executive Director Amy Kacala did not accurately reflect the outcome of meetings she, Van Tassel and Winward had with HHFT officials on April 20 and May 11, saying it included "troubling departures" from what had been informally agreed upon.
    She said while one of HHFT's original and primary missions was to help manage and mitigate existing conditions in Cold Spring, the Aug. 16 letter states HHFT has "no responsibility for the mitigation of the impacts on the village of existing visitation."
    Foley said Kacala has stated that the trail is expected to become, "the epicenter of tourism in the Hudson Valley." Many Cold Spring residents believe the village already suffers from overtourism.
    A discussion about having Little Stony Point serve as a terminus for the trail and a "pause point" for review of the trail's development was replaced in the letter by "general references to the opening of the Breakneck Connector, Breakneck train station, and visitor center and parking at Dutchess Manor," Foley said, with a trail south from Little Stony Point to Cold Spring still identified as HHFT's preferred route.
    She quoted Kacala as having said at a meeting in September that Chris Davis had misunderstood the schedule and that there would be no pause in construction.
    The mayor also commented that the letter changes a 2030 timeline for construction at Breakneck and Dutchess Manor to a "nebulous and surprising 2026-27."
    In addition, she said a role for local boards in decision-making "has been watered down to the worrisome and undefined inclusion of 'local voices and interests' " in the letter.
    Former Philipstown Supervisor Bill Mazzuca, who had been invited to attend the May 11 meeting, wrote to Davis stating that the Aug. 16 letter included "discrepancies from what I understood to have been verbally agreed to."
    In early September, state Sen. Rob Rolison expressed concern about HHFT's plans, as did Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, who wrote to the governor, state parks and HHFT advocating the inclusion of local leaders in the trail's planning process, citing the "profound effect" a trail entrance at Dockside Park would have on local municipalities and calling for a pause so that "a more expansive review of the local impacts can be considered before proceeding."
    Foley said: "We've got one chance to get this development right; let's get it right the first time. A great visitor experience for someone from Buffalo or Watertown should not come at the detriment of the quality of life in Philipstown, Nelsonville and Cold Spring."
    Trustee Aaron Freimark said he was troubled that he had not been informed of the May 11 meeting and said there is a need for greater transparency and trust in the mayor's negotiations with HHFT.
    "It's a bit disingenuous to represent that you are unaware of what it is I'm doing," Foley responded. "You are copied or forwarded most communications, but you have to read the emails."
    She pointed out that she negotiates on behalf of the village on other issues including with Seastreak and federal agencies.
    "You have trust for me there, ...
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