Preserve Tappan's historic beauty

Orange & Rockland has requested that the Planning Board public hearing scheduled for JUNE 10, 2009 be rescheduled to WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009.

 THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who came out on September 8th to the substation meeting held at Town Hall.  We were very pleased to see so many of you there.  The meeting began about 6:10 after Orange & Rockland made a brief presentation about the need for a new substation.  Many of the community were given opportunity to speak and ask questions.  Our speakers were well versed and showed that we have been researching, investigating alternatives, communicating with Army Corp of Engineers and other government agencies and that we are not just going to give up because of who they are.  By our intense questioning, we were able to draw out information proving that some of their printed information was inaccurate.   The regular Town Board meeting began about 8:00, at which time anyone who wished to continue the discussion with O&R could go into the court room area.  A few of us did, most notably a few of our more knowledgeable supporters in the field, who posed questions to O&R.  We left with more questions than answers. The main issue is still their claim that there is no alternative site available "to suit their needs."  We all know that that means the land is cheap.  Orange & Rockland is TENTATIVELY looking to come before the Planning Board on October 22nd.  THIS IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT! When a definite date has been set an email will go out.  Until such time, please continue to investigate information, talk to people in the field, send letters to the politicians and keep the word out there that we will not accept this in our community.  Orange & Rockland must find another site away from any residential area.   

• Did you know that for many years Orange and Rockland has been planning  to build a $8.8 million electrical substation on the Tappan/Palisades border, on the south side of Oak Tree Rd., 1,000 feet east of Rt. 303, across from the Joseph Clarke Rail Trail Park and on top of nearby residences?
• Orange and Rockland will, if approved by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Architecture and Community Appearance Board of Appeals, contract to purchase 14.5 acres of land and build this substation on only one acre. Because most of this land is wetlands, the substation has to be built closer to Oak Tree Road, on top of people’s homes, and will greet you as you drive by. If they are denied they will not purchase the land and hopefully look for another more suitable site.
• The proposed substation will be 43 feet, 4in. tall    and 147 feet, 6” wide; probably the second tallest structure in Orangetown other than the Blue Hill building in Pearl River. The proposed substation will be surrounded by a fence measuring 134 feet by 159 feet. This substation, estimated at $8.8 million, is proposed to be built right on Oak Tree Road across from the Joseph Clarke Rail Trail Park and on top of wetlands (the Sparkill Creek ) and a designated school bus stop with no sidewalk on Oak Tree Rd, and most importantly, a high pressure gas transmission pipeline owned by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co on the property. See the photograph of a similar substation built in May, 2007 in Tallman on Airmont Rd. Better yet, take a ride up there and see it for yourself. The address is 16 Airmont Rd., exit 14 off the NYS Thruway. This is similar to what the Tappan substation will look like.
• With very little notice (24 hours) about 30 or so people showed up to a Planning Board meeting on Wednesday night, May 28th. This was the second meeting on this subject. No one in the neighborhood knew about Planning Board meeting # 1 on March 12th. Very few people in the surrounding areas of Tappan and Palisades are even aware today of O&R's plans to build a major substation at this location or that the meeting was even taking place. Most had learned of this meeting from one neighbor and came out to voice their opposition to this proposal. Some of the major concerns were raised about the close proximity to the residences, safety, noise, the known flooding on Oak Tree Road in that area (we all know what happened last year when the road flooded and was impassable for 2 days), the electro magnetic field, the decrease in property value, changing the character of the community, open space, children's safety, and health risks associated with such high voltage lines near residences. We do not know the long term health risks associated with this.
• The new shopping center in Northvale, New Jersey (where Applebee’s is) and a large housing development being built at 199 Paris Ave in Northvale, NJ, (where the old bowling alley was) approximately( 146 units) are some of the reasons the demand for electricity has increased. Why not look further south from the proposed site leading into New Jersey? There are more appropriate sites for this substation in non-residential areas in Northvale and Norwood and Rockleigh, New Jersey. Just how much will this new super, major substation benefit Tappan and Palisades, when all of the new development is occurring in New Jersey? Do not let Tappan/Palisades and Orangetown take the brunt of this for something that clearly will benefit New Jersey.
• We already have an electrical substation in Sparkill, NY, approximately one mile away from this proposed substation. There are no substations in Rockleigh, Northvale, or Norwood, NJ.

You can help by attending town meetings and contacting County Legislators. Get the details here!