Currently, 10 acres of trees line the east side of the Route 304 Corridor between Hillside Avenue and Crooked Hill Road. Two acres of this area are wetlands that are critical to flood prevention in this part of town. The property is also part of a 100-year flood plain, and is adjacent to Muddy Creek. When this area floods, it shuts down roads and businesses and costs homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs.
Developers plan to cut down approximately 8 acres of trees and replace them with a commercial park, blacktop and buildings. Neighboring residents and businesses believe the trees are critical to the health of the environment in this area. R.U.S.H. is also concerned about what the proposed businesses - including 24-hour storage units - will do to the quality of life in the neighborhood and to Pearl River as a whole.
The development of the Hillside property, as it is currently proposed, will have a detrimental affect on the Muddy Creek, its floodplain and nearby properties.
This development will:
- increase the amount of runoff entering the Muddy Creek
- increase the velocity of runoff into the Muddy Creek
- degrade the quality of water entering the Muddy Creek
- increase the heat-island effect of properties adjacent to the site
- increase the sound of cars traveling at 55 MPH along Route 304
- increase the sound of MetroNorth trains traveling along the Pascack Valley Line
- increase visual pollution along the Route 304 corridor in Pearl River.
We have formed a group, Residents United to Save Hillside -- RUSH -- to demand a responsible development plan for this area. Join your neighbors who are working to find ways to see that this project is scaled back in a responsible manner. We have already made a difference. Please join us, there are several simple things you can do to help.
If you would like to help by making a donation, please click here:
This page was last updated: February 23, 2009
