Community Voices Concern Over Environmental Impact of Ferry Point Project

At the recent City Planning Commission meeting, attendees raised significant concerns regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed Valley’s Ferry Point project. Activists and residents voiced their apprehensions about the potential loss of waterfront parkland and the expected increase in stormwater runoff, which could harm local water quality.

The Ferry Point project aims to develop a casino and hotel complex on approximately 15.7 acres of parkland, leading to the permanent loss of at least 17 acres of city parkland, which many community members criticized as essential green space (Source: https://youtu.be/s1la8BbTme4&t=4217). Testimonies emphasized that the project could disrupt the already impaired waterways of Westchester Creek and the Upper East River, as increased impervious surfaces would generate higher volumes of stormwater discharge.

Darra Ilawski from Save the Sound highlighted that the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) failed to adequately assess the project’s adverse effects or propose effective mitigation strategies. Ilawski urged the commission to prevent the project from moving forward without a comprehensive evaluation of how it would impact nearby communities and the environment (Source: https://youtu.be/s1la8BbTme4&t=4137).

In addition to concerns over environmental degradation, residents worried about the adequacy of the local sewer system. Ilawski noted that existing concerns regarding increased rainfall and flooding could lead to untreated wastewater overflow into local waters, exacerbating the pollution in already compromised areas (Source: https://youtu.be/s1la8BbTme4&t=3782). Community input revealed demands for detailed wet weather analyses to better understand these infrastructural pressures (Source: https://youtu.be/s1la8BbTme4&t=4049).

Proponents of the development argued that improving local infrastructure and providing public benefits could offset some of the negative environmental impacts. They promised enhancements to Ferry Point Park such as new playgrounds, improved park lighting, and better pedestrian connections (Source: https://youtu.be/HqdfA9ybZFE&t=8040). However, concerns remained that these improvements would not sufficiently mitigate the long-term effects of converting public parkland into private commercial space.

In earlier coverage, city officials acknowledged the necessity of evaluating how increased development density impacts local infrastructure, especially as new projects develop alongside existing community systems struggling to keep pace (Source: https://getlocalpost.com/2025/01/06/planning-for-the-future-city-commission-discusses-monitoring-infrastructure-impacts-of-increased-housing-density/).

As the proposal moves through the review process, the commission will need to reconcile community desires for preservation and appraisals of sustainable development against the backdrop of potential economic benefits tied to increased tourism and job creation. Local voices continue to call for a balanced approach to ensure that environmental health and community needs are prioritized.