Amanda Purcell reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Hudson Planning Board turned down an invitation to attend the Aug. 22 Greenport Planning Board public hearing about the proposed A. Colarusso and Son haul road that would run through both towns. “Our understanding of SEQR (environmental review) process suggested we were supposed to have a more cooperative role in the process and Greenport has pretty much relegated us to the sidelines,” Hudson Planning Board Chairman Thomas DePietro said. DePietro, a WGXC volunteer programmer currently on hiatus as he is running for another office, said planning board members may attend, but not officially. “I think our presence on a board would validate their decision, and we don’t want to be in that position,” he said. Greenport Planning Chairman Ed Stiffler said, “Our invitation to Hudson was a courtesy as the project is in both municipalities.” Hudson resident Julie Metz, and one other resident are quoted criticizing Greenport's handling of the environmental issues surrounding the proposed road. “After hundreds of public comments and documents from Hudson showing negative economic, social and environmental impacts of the A. Colarusso Haul Road proposal, Greenport’s Planning Board chose to ignore all that evidence and issue a negative declaration,” Metz said. “The threshold of negative impacts under SEQRA is low. Even one negative impact should have warranted a full environmental review. Greenport’s action is a clear violation of SEQRA.” Read the full story in HudsonValley360.com.