Concerns About Proposed Asphalt Plant on Route 28

OPINION BY ULSTER STRONG Concerns About Proposed Asphalt Plant on Route 28 The proposed hot asphalt mix plant on Route 28 in the Town of Kingston has several concerning aspects. The site would lay beside the busy Route 28 highway in a former quarry, in plain view for everyone to see, smell and hear. It would also be beside several local retail businesses, possibly degrading their operations. Typically, hot asphalt plants are smelly and dirty. In the application, the developers state that the operations will have “diesel exhaust” and “particulate” from an “open-air” process.

Ulster Strong doesn't dispute the applicant’s contention of a need and opportunity of providing a variety of highway-oriented services and solutions to the area, as well as added jobs and new tax revenues. It's that the location beside Route 28 is clearly at odds with the bigger picture. An asphalt operation such as this would not just be a temporary inconvenience (e.g. such as during its construction), but an ongoing negative distraction and hazard. This is clearly at odds with the long range vision of Route 28 being a scenic ‘Gateway to The Catskills”.

Unless the applicants can clearly show ways to mitigate the noted concerns about visual, smell and particulate pollution and traffic, Ulster Strong thinks this project would find a better home elsewhere. #townofkingston #asphaltplant #catskillstatepark