Historic Hamlet of Cornwallville
potential impacts of Bosque Development
Cornwallville Residents for Rural Preservation (CRRP)
has collected and submitted to the Durham, NY Town Board, on December 11, 2021, over 271 petition signatures. These signatures represent support for the concerns of area residents with regard to the significant negative impacts the Bosque major housing development will impose on the historic hamlet (including but not limited to land, well water, traffic, wildlife, noise, odor and light, aesthetic and historic resources, and the community character of Cornwallville and the Durham Community as a whole.
Excerpts from Letters of Concern written by the
Cornwallville Community to the Durham Town Board
FULL TEXT CAN BE FOUND ON LINKS BELOW:
https://towncloud.io/go/durham-ny/agendas/108 https://towncloud.io/go/durham-ny/agendas/106
HISTORIC
"You’re aware that the proposed subdivision lies entirely within the Cornwallville Historic District, an historic district was designated more than 30 years ago by the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission. On October 13th, the Commission issued a written report on the impact the Bosque project will have on the Historic District. They found that the magnitude and scale of the project and the “large-lot housing subdivision” design was “out of character with the … Cornwallville Historic District” and “that the impact of the proposed Bosque subdivision on historic resources was, by its very nature, significant.” Yet, the Town Board chose to ignore the Commission’s report rather than try to determine whether the significant impact should be mitigated. Or whether this project was simply inappropriate for its location. That’s not a 'hard look.'"
"In Cornwallville we are fortunate to have an historic district, and that is one thing currently in place that we should all be proud of and grateful for. That commission is an important part of this discussion and cannot be disregarded."
TRAFFIC
"As pointed out by the traffic analysis done by Creighton Manning’s representative at the special meeting for SEQR review on August 31, if there are no sidewalks or bike paths, then the road itself is considered to be a public accessway. With all the use this road gets from residents who travel by foot, with baby strollers, on bicycles, or on horseback, the impact of the added traffic will not be “no, or small impact may occur” as the Town Board voted. With all the sharp turns, steep slopes, blind hillcrests and multiple hidden driveways, the amount of traffic produced by the proposed Bosque Development will most definitely be a moderate to large adverse impact. Even the Creighton Manning representative agrees and I quote from the minutes concerning section 13d: “...he feels the road is a sidewalk and this section would be highly impacted.” I repeat, HIGHLY IMPACTED. The Town Board already said in Section 13 that “YES” there would be an impact, so why the reluctance of saying that it may indeed have a “moderate or large impact”? An expert paid for by Bosque Developers LLC. will back you up here."
DURHAM HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
PATRICK CICCONE'S TERMINATION FROM DURHAM HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
"In light of the termination and abrupt dismissal of Patrick Ciccone on March 2, 2022, we feel it is now more important than ever that a full Environmental Impact Study be completed on the proposed Bosque Development.
We cannot begin to comprehend why Durham Town Supervisor Marriott would not renew the appointment of DHPC Chairperson Ciccone and dismissed such a highly regarded historic preservationist, author, and graduate of Columbia University who holds a master’s degree in Historic Preservation and has years of experience dealing with major historic projects in New York State.
As the Town of Durham does not have a planning board, the Durham Town Board should have been honored to have such a distinguished preservationist representing and assisting them with the first proposed major subdivision in the Historic Hamlet of Cornwallville. As long-time residents in Cornwallville, we are deeply appreciative of the many years of volunteer service Mr. Ciccone has provided to this town and its residents.
To add to our concern is the fact that Patrick Ciccone submitted a letter from the DHPC on October 13, 2021, expressing its findings on the Bosque project (on which all 6 members were in agreement) – and the Town Board totally ignored that letter.
On March 4, 2022, in the wake of Mr. Ciccone’s dismissal, three other members of DHPC resigned from the Commission. In that letter the DHPC members stated: “We are dismayed that the Town Board did not make any effort to understand the Commission’s unanimous findings regarding the proposed Bosque development and/or engage in dialogue that could have satisfied our concerns and paved the way for this project to move forward with consensus in the Cornwallville Historic District. The formal environmental review process—in which the Commission has a significant role—needed careful, patient fact-finding and a constructive and forthright exchange of ideas with a goal of getting to a workable solution for the developers, the Town Board and DHPC.”
​
Unfortunately, we believe that the disregard for the DHPC findings and the abrupt termination of Chairperson Ciccone reflects a desire on the part of the Town Board to eliminate any interference with its decision to push ahead on the proposed Bosque Project. Sadly, it may also have the effect of destroying the Town of Durham Historic Preservation Commission.
Once again, we are pleading with Supervisor Marriott and the Town Board members to address the concerns in this letter and require a full Environmental Impact Study on the proposed Major Bosque Subdivision."
​
​
WELL WATER/AQUIFER
"I have a photo here of 2 storage water tanks, possibly 500 gallons each, that were on the front lawn of the XXX house at XXX Cornwallville Road. I spoke with the owner and he was installing those tanks due to the water issues he was having at his house. I would say that the need to install two huge water tanks signifies more than a “significant” water issue. With this visual, maybe you’ll understand why the residents are so concerned about the aquifer.
As you know, many residents located around the major subdivision have different types of water problems and a number have had to drill or redrill their wells, in some cases as deep as 700 feet.
Here is a simple analogy from The American Ground Water Trust on “Water Quantity and What Can Diminish Supplies” that shows how wells in aquifers can be compared to drinking straws in a glass of water.
It states, “Wells in aquifers may be compared with drinking straws in a glass of water. The question may be asked: how many straws can be used before the glass runs dry? The answer depends on the size of the glass, how often it is refilled, how deep in the glass the straws are and how much is used by each straw. Too many wells, too much consumptive use, and extended dry conditions can impact aquifers.”
Our glass is already struggling to keep up with the water demand. Can you just imagine the impact it will have when another 13 straws are added to the glass? This is why it is so important that proper environmental studies and independent assessments are performed on the aquifer to assure residents that it can support an additional 12 homes and a residential barn with an event space.
More importantly, we have to consider that we have retirees and residents in Cornwallville who do not have the means to dig a second well, or pay for special treatment filters, or purchase huge water storage tanks. The town needs to look after all of our residents, not just the newcomer.
If we have too many wells with too much use and extended dry conditions, it will have more than a significant impact on the aquifer, and then all of our homes, including the Bosque homes and party venues, will suffer the consequences."
FOREST
"* The 95 acres are primarily wooded. Based on my discussions with a professional arborist, and reading extensively, it is clear that the amount of initial clearing necessary for a development of this size (including access road and driveways) would “puncture” the woodland, making it vulnerable to further tree destruction through wind tunneling effects (also known as edge effects). See https://science.visualstories.com/understanding-edge-effect-with-examples; and “Edge Effects of corridors” (attached as pdf). Trees that grow within the protection of a community of other trees are vulnerable on the edges of the clearing, and will likely topple in the next year or two, which in turn will take many more down with them. Any builder and wise homeowner will not take the risk of trees falling on their houses, and will take down more trees surrounding the new construction. Therefore, the stated number of acres lost (-11.16) (on table E.1. page 9 of 13) is likely grossly underestimated."
"The removal of far too much of the untouched 100 year old forest. At minimum, it is clear that more than the trees indicated in the Bosque plans (20%) will be removed for the 2400 foot unpaved road; then more for homes, septic stormwater runoffs and wells, and of course the common/area farm. There is no way to avoid or minimize the destruction of the forest that this project will cause since the identified demolition for the project will also disturb the roots of adjacent trees leading to further destruction of the forest purely by proximity."
"Well Water: You’ve been made aware that properties surrounding the proposed subdivision have experienced well problems – whether it’s a lack of water, or muddy water, or something else. You’ve received letters, people have spoken about it at Town Board meetings; you received a list of residents and the specific problems they have; you received a letter from Greenplan, our land use consultant, pointing to the potential impacts on groundwater and the potential for 13 new wells to interfere with existing wells in the area. Yet, Bosque has not dug even one sample well on their property, they’ve not conducted even one pump test. The DEC has protocols for this. Bosque relies only on computer modeling to say “no problem.” And you have not required them to do anything more. That’s not a “hard look.”"
​
"First off, I would like to make the Board Members aware of the issues with the aquifer on Cornwallville Road. For your reference, it is not uncommon on Cornwallville Road to find that wells are 600 to 700 feet deep. I have had problems, over the years, with a lack of water from the aquifer, low yielding gpm of 2, brown water and slimy film in the toilet or when let sit.
I am especially concerned that Bosque may be allowed to proceed with this major subdivision and impact the current environment even further. It is frightening to imagine that the Town Board may permit this developer permission to build 13 homes and a working farm in an area that does not appear to have an adequate water supply in the existing aquifer. Will Preston Jones (a.k.a. Bosque Development LLC.), the so-called HOA or the Town of Durham take full responsibility for the damages and redrilling of the current taxpayer wells on Cornwallville and Strong Road? Will an escrow account be set up to cover all expenses incurred by the damage caused by this major subdivision to the aquifer? Will the Town of Durham contract with an independent hydrologist, at the expense of Bosque to assess the current situation? Will the Town guarantee that the amount of water moving through the aquifer is adequate and the effect of pumping on the water level of other wells in the area can support an additional 13 homes and a working farm without lowering the water table to an unusable level?"
COMMUNITY AND CHARACTER
"The residents were drawn to the Hamlet for many reasons such as the area’s deep and rich history dating back to the first Cornwallville settlers which are buried in our local cemetery. The close contact to nature, fresh air, fresh well water (which is known to have its problems), the quality of life, the landscape, mountains, forests and beautiful scenic views are soon to be destroyed by the current plans by the major Bosque development, which is not meant to enhance or preserve the hamlet. Rather than threatens the Hamlet’s very existence.
Just as the residents of Cornwallville are an eclectic group of people, our homes are as diverse as the people that reside within them. We do not have cookie cutter homes. Instead, we have a mix of timeless homes that have maintained and enhanced the character, scale, value and charm of the existing historic residences and rural community character enjoyed and deeply appreciated by everyone who lives in Durham.
The proposed plans revolve around establishing an exclusive community in which the prospective homeowners will be enticed by a curated version of nature……. Curated nature is meant for a museum exhibit or urban park, not meant for our Hamlet where the concept belittles our quaint historic community."
LETTERS ON IMPACTS
"It hasn't ceased to amaze us that this Town Board has not found EVEN ONE MODERATE TO LARGE ADVERSE impact of this MAJOR SUBDIVISION on the Hamlet of Cornwallville. And this despite QUESTIONABLE PERK TESTS, WELL WATER PROBLEMS, STORM WATER RUNOFF PROBLEMS, NOISE PROBLEMS, LIGHT PROBLEMS, ODOR PROBLEMS, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS and last but not least, a report demonstrating the INCONSISTENT, INAPPROPRIATE and INCOMPATITBLE NATURE OF THIS SUBDIVISION WITH THE RURAL HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE Hamlet of Cornwallville. In the numerous reports and letters to the town Board, all the problems above have been discussed in great detail, and yet you have IGNORED them."
​
​
​
"Please let’s protect our fragile nature and historic resources with the proper planning for growth. The proper environmental review for the Bosque subdivision is critical. This is a huge subdivision that can forever alter what we most value about our area."