Ossining Roundabout Plan Needs Environmental Review: Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

What is the SEQRA Review process and why is it important?

We have heard several times in the last 4-6 weeks that the Ossining Village Board of Trustees has filed documents with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to become the lead Agency in the Roundabout construction process. The form, called Full Environmental Assessment Form, or FEAF for short, describes the Proposed Action (in this case construction of a Roundabout) and what possible impact on the environment it could have. Since Parks and Recreations as well as Historic Preservation is also under the DEC’s purview the form also has sections referring to any impacts that are Recreational or Historic in nature.

As I mentioned at the April 6th community meeting YouTube video, the Ossining Historic Preservation Commission (the HPC) does not think the answers that the Village Board and its Consultant provided adequately describe the Five Corners intersection. (Our bit about this is towards the end at 2:04:00).

The HPC responded to the Village FEAF with an in-depth review and concluded that the decision should be to adopt a POSITIVE DECLARATION, and go through a proper Environmental Impact study.

The HPC took a clear stand against a Roundabout early on and informed the VBOT of such starting in the fall of 2015 and again in January of 2016. Via letters and attending VBOT meetings the HPC brought facts to the fore when the Roundabout was discussed vis-à-vis a traditional intersection upgrade, but to no avail. The HPC, along with the Planning and Zoning Boards comprise of professionals in their fields with competence and experience and they should have been consulted and brought into the decision-making process from the very beginning. However, the VBOT did not find it necessary to involve its own advisory boards.

The result is an FEAF with omissions, errors and other misinformation that ultimately downplays the importance of both Market Square, which was completed in 1998 with grants and funds from Projects for Public Places, and The Downtown Ossining Historic District which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and locally landmarked in 2012.

The total sum of the Village Board’s recommendation not to have a Full Environmental Impact Study under the watchful eye of the DEC, and its decision to adopt a Negative Declaration (meaning the DEC does NOT need to get involved), ultimately implies that in the Board’s opinion there is no impact to speak of by losing Market Square and creating an enlarged intersection out of character with the historic fabric of Downtown.

Neither the HPC nor the Planning and Zoning boards have been named Involved Parties in the documents filed with the DEC by the Village Board, which diminishes their potential role in the process should the roundabout come to be. By not naming any Boards or Commissions as Involved Agencies, the Village does not have to follow recommendations from those Boards nor the HPC. However, the HPC is requesting that the Commissioner of the DEC, Basil Seggos, takes this up to review and grant the HPC status of Involved Agency, so that the Commission may have an equal say and so that its review and recommendations will be considered.

For those who dare dive into government regulations, here is a link to the SEQR Review Process

The HPC’s obligations and purviews are written into the Village code, 270-25 HADD

Kaja Gam

Kaja Gam Design and KG Home Construction

127 Main Street, Ossining NY 10562

Ossining Historic Preservation Commission