Introduction to the Friends of Peekskill Hollow Road.

Several years ago an ad hog committee was formed consisting of residents of Peekskill Hollow Road to discuss the rebuilding of this Road from Adams Corners to Rt. 301. The federal government had set aside 11 million dollars in the form of a grand to renovate this project which the county referred to as the WANDERING COW PATH in dire need of reconstruction.
We were relative successful in putting a stop to this project through public meetings where the residents of PHR could voice their opinion. It became quite clear to the county public works committee that this project did not find any approval by the residents of PHR.
The county administrator Bondi and the county highway supervisor promised that the project was to be discontinued. A petition signed by about 450 people both in the towns of Kent and Putnam Valley was convincing enough to prove the point and cancel the project so we thought.

Meanwhile the county had no intention to give up their desire to redesign PHR and used as their argument that it was "safety" issue and that Oregon Corner needed restructuring as well.
The other objective as expressed in the grand was to provide an access road from Rt.301 to Peekskill. It was to alleviate the traffic from Rt.6 going through Carmel and Mahopac. The road was to be straightened out, widened, and flattened.
Because it was claimed by the county that this road was a serious safety hazard we did look into the accident rate and found that safety was not an issue and never was according to the sheriffs department which keeps track on issues of this sort.
It would mean that the resident of PHR would upon completion of this project be living on a highway like Rt 6 going through Carmel and Mahopac. Their property values would be adversely affected, so would be their safety, the noise level would increase, going to their next door neighbors would be a safety issue etc. etc.
We felt that the county had considered the will of the people and we thought the issue was closed.
To our surprise we found that this was not the case when we found that the county was presenting us through a public meeting plans in great detail of a renovation of PHR between Oregon Corners and Adams Corners.
The county had designed this all along making sure that it was done behind closed doors and made no information available.
The ad hog committee decided to check up on the plans, or the lack off and requested a FOIL, dealing with the goings on. (Freedom of information act) After a lengthy hemming and hawing we have received this information from DOT and found out that the plans are far from dormant and are alive and well.
The requested and received information is available in the public library as well as from the Putnam Valley Resident Coalition.
This organization has been very helpful and informative regarding the Putnam Town residents and especially those that are residing on PHR.
The first part deals with the Oregon Corners to Adams Corners part of Peekskill Hollow Road. The second part deals with the part from Adams Corners to Tompkins Corners and the last part deals from Tompkins Corners to Rt.301 and is exactly as was proposed in the original planning and a basis for the Federal grand of 11 million dolars.
At the moment the first part is been dealt with and is in the process of execution.
Several properties have already fallen in the category of eminent domain, meaning that the property owners are now faced with having part of their property being incorporated in the road project.

It is of the greatest importance that we the residents of PHR will be aware of these goings on and let it be known that we have to be involved. Any funding by the Feds requires that the public affected will be informed and be heard and approve. One can only approve when one is informed of course.