ADK/TC Comments on Belleayre
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In December 2003, DEC issued a Notice of Acceptance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Crossroad Ventures' massive Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park . With this decision, the public hearing and comment phase of the project review process commenced. The Crossroad's project consists of approximately 1,960 acres of private land located to the east and west of the state-run Belleayre Mountain Ski Center . 573 of the 1,960 acres are to be developed (331 acres of the east side and 242 acres on the west side).
The eastern portion of the site, located on the prominent Belleayre Ridge, is referred to as the Big Indian Plateau. The Big Indian Plateau would include a 154-acre 18-hole championship golf course, the Big Indian Resort and Spa and Belleayre Highlands . The Spa would include a 150-unit hotel building, 95 detached hotel lodging units in 55 structures, a golf clubhouse, golf maintenance buildings and a wastewater treatment facility. Approximately 3.5 miles of roadway and 292 parking spaces are proposed. Belleayre Highlands would consist of 88 detached hotel lodging units in 22 structures, tennis courts and a swimming pool. An additional 2.4 miles of road would be constructed to access the area.
The western portion of the site will be composed of the Wild Acres Resort, Highmount Estates and a Wilderness Activities Center. The Wild Acres Resort would include another 18-hole golf course as well as 240-unit hotel, 168 detached housing units in 21 structures, a wastewater treatment facility and golf course maintenance buildings. Approximately 2 miles of roadway and parking areas accommodating a couple of hundred parking spaces are to be constructed. Highmount Estates will be composed of a 21-lot residential subdivision with lots ranging from 2 to 16.8 acres. 2,400 feet of internal roads would be constructed. The Wilderness Activities Center will use existing buildings.
According to the DEIS, approximately 85 acres of the project will be converted to impervious surfaces (roads, roofs and parking areas) and a total of approximately 530 acres will be clearcut. This Big Indian component of the project will undoubtedly alter the character of these currently wild lands. The creation of this mountaintop and mountainside resort and golf complex will involve extensive blasting, excavation and earthmoving on a narrow mountain ridge. The project proposes to create and maintain a 154 acre 18 hole golf course on the top of this narrow ridge. On either side of this mountain ridge are feeder streams flowing into the Esopus Creek, a critical source of drinking water for the New York City metropolitan area.
ADK and the Trail Conference are also very concerned about the construction of such a large resort complex in the center of the Catskill High Peaks . The DEIS refers to the number of people staying at its various amenities as visitor nights per year. According to estimates contained in Appendix 26 of the DEIS, "an estimated 435,860 persons would stay at the timeshare and Club interval ownership units per year." (DEIS, Appendix 26 p. 4-15) Upon reviewing the visitor nights per year for the various hotels, the number of visitors staying at the hotels is estimated to be 195,250 per year according to Table 4-17 of the DEIS. (DEIS, Appendix 26 p. 4-21)
Since Crossroads has stated in the DEIS that it will market its close proximity to the Forest Preserve in generating a "non-skier market," it is of great concern to ADK and the Trail Conference that a potentially large number of resort visitors will be drawn to the surrounding Catskill Wilderness areas of the Forest Preserve.
The trails and trailheads of the Slide Mountain Wilderness, which is already in danger of overuse, are just a short drive from the resort. In relatively close proximity to the project site are the very popular proposed Hunter-Westkill Wilderness area and the Big Indian Wilderness. ADK and the Trail Conference are urging DEC to require the project sponsors to address the impact of the resort complex and the very large number of potential guests on these Forest Preserve lands. Additionally, as the legally designated custodian of the Forest Preserve, we are asking DEC to complete its own careful evaluation of the impact of the project on the carrying capacity, long distance scenic views and future management of these Forest Preserve units.
Additionally, DEC is currently planning a significant expansion of the Belleayre Ski Center , which is located on the same mountain as the proposed resort. If construction is to take place at the same time, the impact of both projects on the mountain and the watershed could be greatly increased. DEC must evaluate the combined impact of these two very large construction projects on the natural and water resources of this critical part of the NYC Watershed and the Catskill State Park .
Public hearings on the DEIS were held in January. Neil Woodworth delivered ADK and the Trail Conference testimony. DEC will be accepting written public comment on the DEIS until February 24, 2004 . Please address your comments to Alexander F. Ciesluk, Jr., Deputy Regional Permit Administrator, NYSDEC, Division of Environmental Permits, Region 3, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561.
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