To the Editor:

My wife and I have lived in Campus Club Estates for almost seven years. We write this letter to express our opposition to the proposed Hiawatha Trails development rezoning to a Planned Unit Development district.

My wife and I are both earth scientists: She is a hydrologist and I am a geologist. While we share many concerns others have voiced about the proposed rezoning and development of Hiawatha Trails golf course, we would like to outline some specific environmental issues in light of Guilderland town Supervisor Peter Barber’s statement that this project is unlikely to be reviewed by the Conservation Advisory Council.

Our primary concern with the proposed project is the proximity of this project to two of the town of Guilderland’s water wells. These wells are part of the town’s drinking-water supply and are located by the intersection of Nott Road and Route 155 on the Department of Water and Wastewater Management property.

All surface runoff from the proposed development would flow down the hillslope shared by Route 155 directly toward the town wells. The marshy area just north of the well house indicates the intersection of groundwater with the surface. This intersection provides a direct link for surface runoff, including any contaminants that the water carries, to enter the groundwater system and our town water supply.

According to a project diagram submitted to the town, impervious material currently constitutes 1.4 percent of the site. The proposal increases the impervious material to 20.7 percent of the site. This radical increase in impervious surfaces (surfaces where rainwater or snowmelt is unable to drain into the ground) would dramatically increase the amount of runoff.  

Per Daniel Hershberg, managing partner of Hershberg and Hershberg, the proposed development would use porous asphalt to minimize runoff. Porous asphalt can be a double-edged sword, providing a direct path for water to filter into the groundwater system and mitigating runoff while simultaneously providing a direct path for contaminants (oil, fuel, salt, etc.) to filter into the groundwater.

Furthermore, without proper yearly maintenance, porous asphalt will have the same net effect on runoff as traditional asphalt. Annual maintenance is an expensive proposition; sand, soil, and salt can clog pores if not properly maintained, eliminating any runoff mitigation from the porous asphalt.

Snow removal in the winter also has an increased potential to damage the pavement when compared to regular pavement, adding to the potential maintenance costs and increasing the likelihood of this asphalt falling into disrepair.

Mr. Hershberg also stated that grade changes would be needed to keep the entire complex on the same grade. This has the potential to change drainage patterns on the site, potentially causing unforeseen consequences to the water table.  

With the proximity of the proposed rezoning and development to the town water wells, we feel strongly that it would be negligent to ignore potential environmental impacts of a rezone to PUD when making such a serious and irreversible decision.

In the absence of a town planner, we urge town officials to carefully evaluate the impact this proposal will have not only on neighbors of Hiawatha Trails such as ourselves but on the town of Guilderland now and in the future.

Brad Sporleder

Guilderland