The Cornwall Plaza is a shameful disaster, in my opinion. There doesn't seem to have been any cohesive plan in how the phases of constuction matched, architecturally or otherwise. The parking lot is ugly and confusing...and hazardous.We've now got a ridiculously massive (and ugly) "Hummer" of a retirement community building. The town planning and zoning boards largely failed in the concept and design a commercial center for which people could be proud. Now the floodgates to multinational corporate franchises have been opened. Of course it's "intolerable", but that's the flip side of the faustian deal they created.Now we'll get to look at Starbuck's litter, in addition to the Dunkin' Donuts trash that is increasingly strewn around our town and village. Nice job, guys!

Calling the Cornwall Plaza a 'Kaleidescope of design' is being polite. It looks as if it were 'planned' by the same jokers that built the County building in Goshen...
All kidding aside, rampant and uncontrolled growth (read: $$$for developers) is not what we need to improve the aesthetics of Cornwall. As it is, people drive from store to store within the plaza to shop and that is not only ridiculous, it is incredibly wasteful and hazardous. The plaza is an ugly strip mall. I feel terribly for the people that have to live across from it. A real plaza has a central point, a pleasing visual field, and is accessible and welcoming to pedestrians - especially now that a senior residence is being built nearby. But we'll get some "sidewalks and other things" out of it. Oh yeah, *there's* a promise to put some money on...NOT!
If you want a thriving center, PLAN one and hold developers to OUR plan. These guys walk away with serious profit, how much of that is invested in our infrastructure, for those of us that still live here after the corporation goes home?Let's put intelligent design where it is actually useful, in our commercial districts.

It's rather disturbing to see Main St. continuing to deteriorate and stip mall after strip mall at Quaker Ave. Now a drive-thru restaurant? Is that a desirable addition to the community with litter everywhere? I agree that overall planning for the town appears to be lacking and it shows miserably. It's time to take a serious look at the direction of the business district or let the developers make determine the future of the busines district.

I'm in total agreement with barb and Rick with their comments. I remember when Cornwall was a quaint community and thanks to the town planning board they are quickly changing it. You better slow it down! Its a big mess up there! maybe the planning board should spend some time in Rhinebeck and compare it to Hyde park to find out how this area will be with additions of chain establishments..

buescher

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I'd love the town to clean up the plaza and add sidewalks so everyone can walk into town - our street has sidewalks but we can't walk onto Quaker Ave - the sidewalk ends, please continue the sidewalk to all the way on Quaker so the Quaker Mill, Fontaine St, Orr-Hatch Drive and Nature's Way residents can walk into town also - Not to mention possibly add a light where 9W entrance and exit onto Quaker is - very dangerous intersection that needs to be addressed!!!!!!

The decisions made by the planning board for this property will influence the quality of life in our town forever. No plan or proposal should be considered that does not PROMOTE "Green" living, i.e., walking, biking; sidewalks, green areas, parks, etc. Parking and traffic will only continue to be issues, idling cars at drive through banks and restaurants will pollute our beautiful area. Do the right thing.

Lots of interesting comments and concerns. What everyone needs to realize, though, is that action doesn't begin and end in the "e-comments" page of an on-line news service. Your imput probably dies here. What matters is attending town board meetings, planning and zoning board meetings, and repeating what you've said here to the people who make these decisions on your behalf. I don't believe that anyone sitting on those governing boards even reads this!