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Peekskill Not On Par With Cortlandt Golf Club Plans

CORTLANDT, N.Y. -- Peekskill officials are teed off with their Cortlandt counterparts for purportedly not keeping them up to speed with proposed plans of the Hollow Brook Golf Club they contend could be harmful to a nearby water source for 25,000 of its residents.

City Mayor Mary Foster and Councilwoman Drew Claxton appeared before the Cortlandt Planning Board last week to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of environmental review being required of the Golf Club for a swimming pool, bridal suite and other amenities being sought for members.

"We don't really like to come and stick our nose in other people's business. We don't want to get into each other's turf. What I'm asking for is fair treatment," Foster said. "I'm asking for a fair share of information and Peekskill's concerns being seriously taken into consideration."

"What we are asking is that you treat our watershed with the seriousness that it deserves," Claxton said. "This is a critical environmental area."

Foster and Claxton were joined by Cortlandt resident Andrew Fischer in raising concerns about the chemicals that will be used in the pool and additional development on the property and how it could affect the nearby Hollow Brook.

"You are here to protect the environment for the taxpayers of this town," Fischer told the planning board. "This board's intent 80 years ago was no further development on this property. Period. End of story."

Bill Sattler, an engineering representative for Hollow Brook Golf Club, said he would gladly submit an in-depth environmental form to calm fears.

"It would take considerable forces beyond nature for this water (from the pool) to enter the Hollow Brook," Sattler said. "We're not out to be environmentally unfriendly. We want everyone to sleep well, not just tonight, but years from now."

Meanwhile, Town Attorney Thomas Wood refuted assertions from Foster that Peekskill had not been adequately informed by Cortlandt, noting notice of last week's public hearing was sent to city officials a month ago.

"The Town of Cortlandt has provided all records that have been requested," Wood said. "I think your innuendo that the city hasn't been providing information is somewhat erroneous."

"One would think there would be more open dialogue and we'd have more than a week's notice," Foster remarked. "That's not quite the spirit of cooperation if we're jointly trying to protect environmental issues."

The planning board opted to adjourn the public hearing until Oct. 4 to research certain issues that surfaced, including whether the town board should be the entity approving the application and not the planning board. 

Do you think Peekskill has valid arguments? Are you concerned about the quality of water in the Hollow Brook? Let us know below or on Facebook. 

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