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Town board weighs buying land, tapping aqueducts and aquifers to secure water supply
Summary
At a Plattekill town meeting, residents and the board discussed long-term water options including applying for DEC funds to buy a parcel with a productive well, tapping a local aqueduct or aquifer, and concerns that new water access would spur development; the board then closed public comment and entered executive session on personnel.
Plattekill’s town board spent its public meeting reviewing options to secure future water supplies, from buying land with a productive well to tapping nearby aqueducts and aquifers, and then moved into executive session on personnel matters.
The Chair said one option is for adjacent towns to jointly pursue funding from the DEC to acquire a property on Port 455 that contains a productive well. A resident suggested that a joint application for DEC funds could procure that land as “a water source for the future,” noting it is not an immediate need but could serve growing residential areas.
The discussion touched on multiple supply ideas. "We also have an aqueduct that runs through Plattekill," Michael Limbo said, proposing that the town consider tapping the aqueduct near Huckleberry rather than relying on purchased wells or other suppliers. The Chair noted there are other private properties with abundant water and said the board is evaluating those possibilities as well, including a natural aquifer in the southern part of town that historically supplied water near Old Reservoir Road.
The Chair provided details about one parcel under consideration, saying it totals 112 acres spanning both sides of a road, includes a lake area tied to headwaters of Black Creek, and drains toward Chatham Lake. The Chair said Newburgh currently does not hold interest in the parcel and stressed that while acquiring open-space water sources could be valuable, towns may not be able to afford long-term maintenance and insurance for such properties.
Several speakers emphasized trade-offs. A resident warned that "once you tap into the water supply, a lot of people move into this area," and the Chair responded that the board favors controlled, "smart" development rather than unchecked growth.
On scheduling and legal timing, the Chair said a temporary law has already been extended and is expected to run until 2025; the board anticipates receiving comments from county planning and holding a public hearing in the fall as part of completing a permanent ordinance.
The meeting ended public comment when the board moved to close input at 7:45 a.m. The Chair then moved to enter an executive session at 7:46 p.m. to discuss personnel matters; both motions were seconded and approved by voice vote.
