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1999-02-04 ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1999 Town of Wappinger Planning Board Wappingers Fls. NY 12590 RECEIVED FEB 08 1999 SUi"'t;nlJlbUr"r . OF"! TOWN OF WAPPIN~kR Attn..: Planning Board Members On February 1, 1999 you had a hearing for a special use permit to build an ammunition factory and an indoor and outdoor firing range. We did not attend the meeting because we did not hear about it until the next day. Although the proposed structure will practically be in our backyard, we were not notified because there is a thin strip of County owned land (the old rail bed) between our land and the proposed facility. We want to go on record as opposing the facility for the following reasons: 1. An ammunition factory could be very dangerous. Although, I am sure all safety measures will be met, accidents do happen.(as has been proved by accidents at the Chelsea Fireworks factory) There are several soccer fields close to the proposed facility which often have many children in attendance. Suppose an accident does occur can it be guaranteed that no flying debris will reach the soccer fields? Can it be guaranteed that flying debris will not hit any homes or residents that are on Smith Crossing Road? 2. Planes flying into or out of the Dutchess County airport frequently fly straight over our house. This means that the flight path will also go over this new proposed facility. Again, although planes do not crash on a regular basis, an accident could happen and a plane could crash into the ammunition factory. 3. The facility will have an indoor and outdoor firing range. Although, the company has said that the outdoor firing range will be quiet, I'm afraid that we don't believe them. We have been hunters for several years. Guns are noisy. How can they have an outdoor range where there will be no noise. We hear them shooting the pistols from the gun club on 81. Nicholas road~ we hear them shooting the guns from the gun club on Daley road but they say we won't be able to hear shooting from an outdoor range that is closer to our house than either of the other clubs. Do we need another shooting range in this area ofWappingers? Spring, Summer and Fall are the times of the year when we can enjoy the beautiful surroundings ofWappingers Falls. Having to hear more shooting on a regular basis will destroy our quality oflife. 4. Several competitions will be held during the year. These competitions will bring participants. The participants will most likely want to look at one another's guns and perhaps even buy and sell a gun. What is to prevent two or more shooters from going out to their car in the parking lot and showing each other the guns. Again, an accident could happen if a gun is loaded and is fired. There are many high powered guns that could easily hit someone on the soccer fields, in a backyard or in a parking lot. 5. If this facility is going to be opened to the public, who will control the public? Who will be sure that a person who comes and uses the facility or even who is denied use of the facility will not "snap" and decide to take target practice in the parking lot or surrounding woods of the facility. Who will control a group of friends having a few drinks before or after using the range? 6. Is it right to put our volunteer firemen and rescue personnel in danger if an incident does occur. Will special training be needed to deal with a large amount of gun powder? This protest is not another "not in my backyard" syndrome. Weare not against industry in the Airport Industrial Park. We have accepted Roe Mover's big warehouse and have not even complained when we hear the trucks and their horns in the middle of the night or early morning. (4:00 or 5:00 A.M.) We are not anti-gun either. As stated above, we are hunters and own several of our own guns. We just feel that there is too much potential for problems. An accident could happen at any time which could change the lives of innocent people. Yes, an accident may not happen but as a board it is your responsibility to eliminate problems. Just as the government has had to mandate car seats for children, seat belts, and seat belt use in vehicles to protect the public (and the innocent children) the planning board should not just think about money and the taxes that a business would bring in~ they should also be concerned about the public and help prevent possible problems. Weare also upset that we were not notified about this meeting. We realize that according to the law only the adjoining homeowner must be notified, but when a proposal will effect homes that are nearby, it would have been courteous to notify us. We were notified about the meeting to discuss taking down the tunnels and we do not adjoin the tunnels. This is so much more important and dangerous, and yet very few people were notified. We ask that you vote "no" on this special use permit and wait for another less dangerous business. )n~~4-~- j6~/ ~ SinctelY~ Martha Straley Harry Straley 81 Smith Crossing Rd. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 cc: Connie Smith Joseph Paoloni