Dear Hudson Planning Board Members, 2/10/24
Thank you for your service and hard work.
I am a 4th Ward City Council Member and I would like to express my opposition to the proposed Mill Street Lofts. As my voting record will show, I am not opposed to affordable housing, in fact, I am all for it. My opposition to this project is because it will deeply effect the environment, the infrastructure, the character of the neighborhood, and the people who reside in and enjoy the benefits of outdoor activities in that area.
*Residents of the neighborhood and other concerned citizens do not agree with the project plan as it is. None of the residents of Mill Street approve of this project.
*The project of 70 units with 56 parking spaces is disproportionate and out of character with it’s surroundings and would increase the density of the neighborhood by over 600%. A height variance was given so that it can be built as two four story buildings. The project was also given a variance with concern to the amount of open space surrounding the buildings to maximize it’s footprint.
*City of Hudson Affordable Housing Development Plan Nov 2021/Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress found the space to be good for single family or two family housing development (5 to 10). This would be more suitable for the area and the neighborhood.
*The project is in a flood plain. The water mitigation plan includes removing trees which house bats and back filling. Bats eat mosquitos. Mosquitos breed in still water (flood plain). Mosquito born illnesses are up in the U.S. These include: West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Zika, Malaria, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, LaCrosse Encephalitis, and St. Louis Encephalitis. Contributing factors to the rise in mosquito born illnesses are climate change, urban development, travel, and pesticide resistance.
*Parts of the first floors are below grade and will be susceptible to water infiltration.
*Traffic and parking will become problematic.
*During the September ‘24 meeting of the Planning Board it was mentioned that “Reducing the number of units would not be financially feasible and the group (Kearny) would have to go back to the drawing board”. I would like to see the city and the developer go back to the drawing board. Let’s not put the developer’s profit over people and the environment. This particular project does not work in the space chosen.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely
Jennifer Belton
4th Ward City Council Member
Hudson, NY