Development Threatens Highlands Trail in Chester, NY

The Bellvale Cluster Subdivision project, slated for construction in the Orange County, NY, towns of Chester and Monroe, proposes 157 lots on approximately 274 acres east of Gibson Hill Road and Lakes Road, just south of Green Pond Mountain State Park. Not only does the Highlands Trail (HT) run right through the middle of this proposed development, but some lots are planned to completely obliterate the HT where it runs along McGuinessburg Mountain Road, not far from the Appalachian Trail. OMAC Realty Associates and Eastview Properties are the driving force behind this development project.

The Chester Planning Board met on July 18, 2007 to decide whether or not to adopt the Draft Scoping Document, which forms the basis of inquiry for the next stage of review—the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. TC staff member Brenda Holzinger attended this meeting to alert the Chester Planning Board about the Highlands Trail and the threat posed to it by the Bellvale Cluster project. The Planning Board agreed that the Draft Scoping Document must reflect the Highlands Trail, and required this language in the final version of the document: “Address preservation of the existing Highlands Trail through the project site.”

Now we await the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will provide the next opportunity for public comment about the project. For further information about the Bellvale Cluster Subdivision project, please check The Preservation Collective website (http://www.thepreservationcollective.com/chester_developments.html). You can find the most recent version of the scoping document as well as the draft plans at this website: http://www.timmillerassociates.com/publicreview/bellevale/default.html. Please contact Brenda Holzinger at the Trail Conference office (Holzinger@nynjtc.org. or 201-512-9348, ext. 25) if you would like to be part of the effort to protect the Highlands Trail in Chester.

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