Pyramid has proven that it has no other interests than its own

To the Editor:

I  am writing to voice my concerns regarding the Crossgates expansion that includes a Costco to be built on Western Avenue.

This project is very contentious for a host of reasons, but primarily because of environmental concerns and serious impacts and concerns raised by the Westmere neighborhood.

That being said, the town is currently reviewing the draft environmental impact statement for this project. There are serious environmental concerns that need to be addressed prior to building; however, last Thursday, Pyramid began clearing land where it proposes to build.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has been issuing updates daily regarding best practices and executive orders. One of those orders is Executive Order 202.6, which prohibits non-essential construction with the exception of an emergency.

The original order was dated March 18 and included all non-essential workers. First, this does not constitute an emergency. The clearing of land on a contentious site while still under review by the town of Guilderland is far from that, and would give the impression that Pyramid is hiding something. Second, it would appear that Pyramid is violating this order and I would want to know why.

What is also very disturbing is the fact that staff from the town posted a notice on the town’s website on Thursday, March 26, stating that Pyramid would begin clear-cutting the land beginning at 6:30 a.m. that morning. The notice was posted around 10:17 a.m., several hours after they commenced clearing and allowed it to continue without regard to the governor’s orders.

I would assume that whoever posted the notice had received an approval to do this. I would also think that if Pyramid gave notice to the town, it would have done so before Pyramid commenced clearing. I would also expect that, before the notice was posted, it was researched and found that it was not OK to begin this devastating clearing of land.

Given the contentious nature of this project, I would expect that there are checks and balances in place to avoid a violation such as this. I would also like to believe that this is more important when town employees are working from home without a supervisor close by and would expect them to check before acting.

This appears to be negligence on the part of the town’s planning department, which did not check beforehand. I would also think that department managers of the town would be aware of this order and would ensure that appropriate staff such as the town planner and building inspector would be aware of the governor’s executive orders so they could be enforced if necessary.

Not until it became a serious crisis did the town act.

I find it unconscionable for a large corporation to engage in these activities for the following reasons:

— The moratorium on clearing land in this area is allowed from Oct. 31 to April 1 each year so as not to disturb wildlife [northern long-eared bats] in the area. Why is Pyramid waiting until three to four days before the beginning of the moratorium to do this?

Cutting trees in winter when the ground is frozen is far easier than in the spring when the ground is soft. Why did Pyramid wait until now? Why did Pyramid wait until there was a pandemic and people would be home and not seeing what it was doing from a major roadway?

— Pyramid wants to expand its business in Guilderland. Why would you anger the town’s residents by engaging in contentious behavior while the project is under review?;

— Whether Pyramid is right or wrong, it has just proven that it has no other interests than its own and will literally take what it wants.

What matters here is the attitude of this corporation, thinking it can do what it wants, when it wants, and where it wants. This is poor business and further enrages the residents of this town. It speaks again to corporations doing what they want because they can.

I urge Guilderland’s town board and planning board to carefully review the state environmental quality review (SEQR) and responses to this project. You will be setting a precedent for corporations to walk all over this town if your review is not done thoughtfully with regard to the influence of this project.

I also urge you to allow the public to be heard, not just by letters or emails, but in person as well.  If there are concessions made because of the pandemic in other areas, there is absolutely no reason why they can’t be made in this instance. 

Robyn Gray

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.

Executive Order 202.6 was modified on March 28 “to clarify that construction which was an essential service not subject to the in-person work restrictions is modified to provide only certain construction is considered exempt from the in-person restrictions.” After March 27, the Empire State Development Corporation is to determine which construction projects are essential and thereby exempt from the in-person workforce prohibition. 

Pyramid did the clear-cutting for its Costco project on March 26.

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