In 2005, Patterson Crossing, LLC submitted the Patterson Crossing Retail Center for SEQRA review in the Towns of Kent and Patterson in Putnam County.

As described in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the proposed development project encompasses some 90 acres of undeveloped, variable grade forest and meadowland. It proposes construction of variety of commercial retail buildings totaling nearly a half-million square feet, together with several thousand parking spaces and a series of septic tanks draining to a nearly 9-acre disposal field. Stormwater runoff from the proposed project site ultimately drains to both the Middle Branch and East Branch Reservoirs – two of ten reservoirs in the Croton Watershed system, which provides up to 30% of the City’s drinking water needs.

Patterson Crossing, as proposed, poses the risk of undue impact to the NYC Watershed. It will create dozens of acres of new impervious surfaces and an unprecedented 8.7-acre wastewater disposal field. The project will also involve a staggering amount of blasting and cut-and-fill in order to accommodate the oversized scale of buildings and parking on an unsuitable site. Runoff from all of these sources will threaten the utility and viability of adjacent wetland areas and watercourses, and ultimately the Middle Branch and East Branch Reservoir basins. In addition to inadequately analyzing the true effects of the project on topography, drainage, and vegetation, and the sufficiency of stormwater and wastewater control plans, the DEIS is also severely lacking in its discussion of alternatives.

In September 2006, Riverkeeper submitted comments on the DEIS, urging the Kent and Patterson planning boards to require significant revision of the project. The co-lead agencies are currently reviewing the DEIS and anticipate releasing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in October or November 2007.

What You Can Do: Be on the lookout! Review the FEIS and make sure the Town of Patterson Planning Board hears your concerns. SEQRA documents for Patterson Crossing should be posted on the planning board’s website at http://pattersonny.org.