The Register-Star reports that a public hearing will be held at the John L. Edwards elementary school in Hudson Jan. 20 for the state approved drafts of the city’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Draft General Environmental Impact Study. If passed by the Common Council the plan will redefine zoning for about half the total area of the city.

From Jamie Larson's report:

The issue that has raised the most conflict thus far resides on a rough and narrow dirt road that bisects the environmentally protected south bay between the waterfront and Route 9G.

The old causeway, which now belongs to the Holcim deep water port property was once a St. Lawrence Cement rail bed. The DGEIS calls for the causeway to be rehabilitated and used to truck road salt and gravel out of the port.

Opponents of this plan say the use of the causeway by heavy, polluting trucks would have a substantial negative impact on the historically abused marsh. They believe other alternatives, like cutting a road through the old L&B Furniture factory property would be less intrusive and allow for public traffic as well as the private truck traffic to and from the river.

Supporters of using the causeway, say purchasing the L&B property is too expensive, costing as much as $4 million, and while use of the causeway may not be ideal it will remove a substantial amount of traffic from the current truck route which runs through the most populated and economically impoverished section of the city.

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