What do you think? I would like to hear what Duanesburg residents think about the County plan to put a patrol substation on the corner of 7 and 20. The town had planned a Veteran’s Memorial for that site once it was cleaned up. Comment freely!!
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What a horrible place for a substation. That lot is way too small. How will they get in and out? Where will they park? Where will their septic go? I thought the Metroplex was going to gift it back to the Town for a veterans park.
As a resident of the town, I feel that it is critical that we have a substation for the safety and well beiing of our community. Location is also critical. Needs to be localized in the community so that there is proper and safe ingress and egress. Unfortunately, the Checkmarks property does not offer this. The substation location should be located in a much safer location such as Town Hall. What better place is there? It is where our Courts are located, Town Official Offices and it’s a location that most all residents know where it’s located which is another essential item that does not seem to have been taken into consideration.
I am not condoning the County Legislature for their hard work and efforts, but I am thanking them. I am asking that they consider all factors before determining a final location and the final determination should be completed with the cooperation and involvement of Town Officials and our tax paying residents.
Great Idea! We need their presence back in town. Their location at the point would send the message to the speeders/noisemakers to keep it down! Besides, at the point, they could use their “radar” to cover both 20 and 7 from the same location. Being a sub-station, we’re only talking a few cars so parking shouldn’t be a problem maybe even help with our sewer quest!
It would be terrific to have a patrol substation in town. But I have to question the location, both from a safety perspective and the lot itself. I’d be interested to see the actual plan for how that very small and irregularly shaped lot could be developed to accomodate this kind of use. On the surface, this seems like a square peg in a round hole.
Certainly Town Hall seems to be the ideal location for a substation.
We think that a patrol substation on the corner of would send a very strong message and if safety concerns can be addressed satisfactorily, it would be a great idea. We think a well-kept property maintained by the County would be preferable to another park that needs to be maintained at Town taxpayer expense. The Veteran’s Memorial is a wonderful idea, but could it be located at one of the other existing parks?
We need a visual presence someplace for law enforcement in our area. It this is large enough, great or near the town hall.
I will qualify my comments by stating that I believe that public safety is a fundamental responsibility of government. I support community policing and the location of a Sheriff’s department sub-station in our town to provide timely responses by law enforcement to emergency situations.
I am encouraged to learn that the state will be demolishing the dilapidated structure located at the intersection of Routes 7 & 20 and remediating the environmental issues that beset the parcel. These actions are long overdue.
I am concerned, however, about the proposed plan to locate a substation on the 0.14 acre triangular shaped site and by the reported lack of communication between those in county government, the Duanesburg town board and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s department about the latest proposed property use
The plan to raze the building and remove the contaminated soil was discussed in the past between Town Supervisor Merrihew and Metroplex Chairman Gillen. Because of the small irregular shaped lot size, the required setbacks, and the desire for visibility at the intersection, the proposed use for a substation at that location seems to me to be inappropriate and ill-advised.
Last year, our Supervisor and Board Members had prepared architectural and engineering plans for an expansion to the town hall to accommodate a Sheriff’s department substation. These plans were developed with inputs from then Sheriff Buffardi and those in county government whose views were solicited by our town officials (approximately 18 months ago). The resulting cost estimates, however, rendered the project impractical without financial support to be provided by county government.
The town hall location, nearly 1 mile west on Route 7, provides greater acreage for construction of the facility and the additional parking required. The collocation would provide for enhanced security of town officials and the public during Town Court sessions and at town board public meetings. The location will provide for safer ingress/egress and will allow for future modification to the already congested Route 7 & 20 intersection as increasing traffic volume dictates.
The issue of project funding must be addressed.
With Schenectady County residents paying
county property taxes that rank in the top 10 in
the entire nation, I do not approve of an increase
in taxes. The source of funding must come from
federal and/or state grants and cuts in
discretionary county spending. Is the commitment of our elected officials steadfast enough to reduce spending in other areas of the county budget to pay for the construction?
I am suspect of the timing of this announcement, in the days leading up to elections for both District 4 County Legislature and for Schenectady County Sheriff. I am reminded of a past election year announcement about an expansion to the Duanesburg branch of the Schenectady County library; a promise that was never delivered upon.
A decision regarding the location of a Sheriff’s Department substation should consider the views, preferences, and current and future needs of the community that it serves.
Way to go Brad. It is good to see someone who is on top of things in our county. The citizens of Duanesburg need someone like you to watch out for them.
You talk about Postage Stamps; this is the most ridicules idea ever. Yes, we need a presence of the Sheriffs Dept. in Duanesburg, but the citizens of the town and the Sheriffs Dept. deserve better then that. And for all you folks that think there presence on the Check Mark point is great, if we could have them in the Town Hall where they belong would be presence enough. We have to get them here first for there presence to be felt. I am all for the Town Hall idea as anyone in there right mind would be.
If the purpose of the substation is for the county sheriff to better serve the people of both Princetown and Duanesburg in emergency situations, wouldn’t it make sense to locate the proposed building in a location that benefits both municipalities?
As a taxpayer I would much prefer to have a veteran’s park located there or even a gazebo and clock tower much like what Voorheesville has. The center of our town is visually unappealing and not inviting to businesses looking to locate here. Knocking down Check Mark’s should be viewed as a starting point for a beautification project.
As for suggested locations for a substation, why not look at the recently construction Duanesburg Physical Therapy building on Rt. 7. There is space available for rent and it doesn’t require building a new structure or increasing taxes.
One final thought, who will the neighbors complain to when they are routinely awakened by the lights and sirens that will follow the substation traffic?
The substation is a great idea. It had been my understanding that Metroplex would cleanup the CheckMarks property and the adjacent property (grey house). Using both lots, the space may be adequate for the substation. Perhaps this would also accomodate a driveway passing between 7 & 20 as was hoped for back in 1999 – next to the post office.
Fortunately there are no questions about the building coming down. What an eyesore! Of course we still have the vacant General Store and the Skydive building. Whatever we do with the intersection I hope we don’t create another eyesore for the hamlet.
My concern with the location is safety. It is a hazardous intersection and having cars enter and exit from this location concerns me. Hopefully any change to the intersection does not eliminate the one way right turn slot when heading East on Rt. 20 and turning right onto Rt.7.
I look at three options:
1. Green Space – well maintained lawns and garden. Possibly have an appropriately sized and well maintained Town Bulletin board. Using this option creates no vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
2. Veterans Memorial – as a veteran I do favor this option. However I am concerned if we create the memorial that we may have vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
3. Police Barracks – It would be nice to have the Sheriff patrol be able to be dispatched locally. Placing the barracks here would let everyone know exactly when the officers are on patrol. I would prefer them in a less conspicuous location. Will there be a large billboard that states Sheriff’s Office? Possibly a radio tower? Hopefully neither. There will be a constant stream of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. I do not favor this option.
This is a high traffic intersection. The Real Estate office has just had a major beatification project and the Doctors office will be remodeled soon. Let’s not replace one eyesore with what could quickly become another eyesore. Of course we could have an ‘eyesore award’ with competition from the vacant General Store the Skydive building and the Check Marks replacement.