Different towns, different solutions
Afterwards, audience members divided up into small groups, each seated at a table on which was spread a large aerial map of one of Ulster County’s waterfront municipalities. People seated downstairs were instructed to map “connectors” and identify “catalyst projects” for the mapped area, while participants in the balcony examined maps marked with the projected sea rise through 2080 and were instructed to create a strategy for the most threatened assets.
Mark Wildonger, planner at Scenic Hudson, summed up the findings of each group. Regarding the topic of planning for sea-level rise, the Marlborough group identified its yacht club as the economic asset most at risk and suggested hardening the shoreline, while leaving the adjoining tidal wetland untouched. Noting the flood plain would double in size, the Highland group suggested retrofitting some buildings to make them more resilient to flooding.
The Saugerties group suggested the local government buy up the houses on the Esopus Creek that are endangered, rather than spending taxpayer money on attempting to flood-proof them. It also noted the need to build a new elevated roadway to replace the section of Route 9W that will be flooded.
All three groups working on Kingston said the most important asset at risk was the wastewater treatment facility. They suggested replacing the aging facility with a new plant in a different location, preferably closer to the AVR housing project slated to be built on the City of Kingston-Town of Ulster border along the Rondout. The facilities of Kingston Point Park would need to be re-created inland, and the two brownfields would need to be sealed off, so that their pollutants would not seep into the creek.
As the forum wound down, Rosenberg announced that Scenic Hudson was forming a sea-level-rise task force and asked how many audience members would want to join. A number of hands shot up. One had the sense that an important process had begun.
This doesn’t surprise me. The flooding down here in Ponckhockie during Hurricane Irene was worse that it ever had been before. Since a large part of the riverfront is undeveloped, I see no reason not to establish a wetlands approach/nature preserve to the shoreline. I applaud the new Mayor for moving on the comprehensive plan for the city. We certainly need one and as far as the waste treatment plant, perhaps moving closer to the AVR development might be an idea worth looking into.