The Town of Saugerties Zoning Board of Appeals last week affirmed a stop-work order for one of four of Joe Karolys’ properties that are being used as construction and demolition debris dumps. But that’s not enough to stop operations altogether at the four sites.
Apprehensive neighbors, afraid for their drinking water and exasperated by what they say is a loud and constant procession of debris-laden 18-wheelers, anxiously await an April 18 town Zoning Board of Appeals meeting that, they hope, will spur the shutdown of a local construction and demolition debris dumping operation.
A meeting Tuesday night at Woodstock Day School about a controversial quartet of dumps in Saugerties drew about 30 residents, many of whom voiced their concerns about potential harm to their drinking water from the site, and also the impact of the noise associated with the constant influx of trucks laden with construction and demolition debris.
A ruling by a state Supreme Court justice has halted the Town of Saugerties from enforcing stop-work orders issued by its building department to J. Karolys and Son, a local trucking and excavation company that’s now under scrutiny for disposal of construction debris on four properties in the town.
The dumping of construction materials will be the subject of an open public meeting this coming week.
A dump on Route 212 is causing strife between the owner, the town and the dump’s neighbors, who fear for their drinking water.