Residents urge board to pause Pumpkin Hill Road paving, citing stream and trees

Reverend Patricia Ackerman told the Hillsdale Town Board she and neighbors oppose paving Pumpkin Hill Road and asked the board to delay any approval until the town completes an environmental-impact study and a DEC water-protection site visit. "Please do not approve paving of the road until we have received all the necessary inputs and consulted the appropriate stakeholders," Ackerman said, noting a DEC-protected stream runs as close as five feet from the roadway and that historic stone walls and old-growth tree roots could be devastated by widening or paving.

Ackerman described low traffic counts she recorded over several days — "Saturday, there were 3. Sunday, there were 3. Monday, there was 1. Tuesday, up till 1PM, there were 0 cars today" — and argued that paving would increase vehicle speeds and runoff into nearby ponds and the water table. She asked the board to require buffer zones, swales and stormwater stabilization consistent with New York Environmental Conservation Law, Article 15, and to consult county and state conservation agencies before taking action.

Other residents supported a pause and broader planning. Amy Davidson told the board state CHIPS funding can be used to repair gravel roads and urged the board not to rush approval of paving four dirt roads in town. Several board members responded that the paving proposal is part of highway budget planning but acknowledged community concern and discussed options including delaying final approval to allow further outreach and research.

The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period; the board discussed notifying affected residents and noted that CHIPS-related expenditures can be amended through July, providing a window for additional review.