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News
Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) Threatened under Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) is New York State’s dedicated source of environmental funding which protects our open space and farmland, clean drinking water, recreational opportunities, related businesses, and quality of life. It is slated for a 33% cut in the Governor’s proposed budget. The Governor’s proposal would also use the EPF to pay for programs that are normally paid for with other funds. This threatens the integrity of the Fund and further reduces available funding for EPF programs.
Further information about the threat can be found at The Shawangunk Ridge Coalition web site, including how to contact your state representatives and a sample letter. We urge you to further educate yourself on this critical issue and to take action to ask your legislators to reject this budget proposal.
(Posted February 19, 2010.)
Friends Response to Minnewaska Master Plan
The following letter is the formal response of Friends of the Shawangunks to the Minnewaska State Park Preserve Draft Master Plan.
Friends of the Shawangunks appreciates the opportunity to comment on the current Minnewaska State Park Preserve Draft Master Plan. Friends was established in 1963 and was active in founding the Park Preserve and in adding to its lands over the years. Several of our members served on the original master-plan advisory committee.
For the most part, you have done a fine job in protecting and preserving the Park Preserve. Our comments are only on those areas where we have concerns.
Multi-Use Trail in the Awosting Reserve Area
Labeling this proposed development a multi-use trail is fiction. No hiker, and certainly no equestrian, would want to share a narrow “single-track” trail with bikes. You might as well call it a mountain bike or ATB trail, for that’s what it would be. No “multi-use” fig leaf is needed.
We do not feel adventure or “thrill” biking is an appropriate use of public lands where preservation is paramount. Rockefeller State Park Preserve, even with its fine network of carriage roads, does not allow biking of any kind. Bikes are prohibited in designated wilderness areas of both the Catskills and Adirondacks, and bikes are limited to public roads in our national parks.
Some bikers will use this area to access foot trails in the main area of the park. We strongly oppose any single track ATB trails within Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
This area should have hiking trails. There are perfectly good shale roads in this area — such as the so-called Woods Roads #1 and 2. Only a small piece of trail construction or blazing (in the vicinity of Peaceable Hill Road) would be necessary to retain a large hiking loop through the area. Why close it?
Spruce Glen
Spruce Glen, long recognized as a unique and delicate area, should be left alone.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snow-Shoeing
The references to cross-country skiing imply, without explicitly saying so, that skiing in the park is permitted only on groomed trails. However, over the years, skiing entusiasts visiting Minnewaska have enjoyed the many open spaces (such as the former golf course) and trails to explore the park in the snow. The wording in the paragraph in chapter 5 says “skiing is allowed on…groomed carriage roads,” but no mention is made of other routes, and the wording does not say “only on groomed trails.”
It is expected that skiing off of the groomed carriage roads will be permitted. The paragraph in Chapter 6 on recreational uses at Sam’s Point refers to skiing without mention of groomed trails, implying that no such restriction is intended there.
We expect that there will be provision for snowshoers at all park entrances and that they will be allowed to share short sections of groomed carriage road in order to access the hiking trails.
During periods of good snow cover, the park should consider denying access to those without skis or snowshoes, since “post-holing” can ruin everyone’s experience on winter trails.
Rock Climbing
We support the limited expansion in the draft plan. The additional controlled access in the Peters Kill area is adequate. Three of our board members are avid long-term climbers and fully agree with this view.
(Posted November 11, 2009.)
Sam’s Point Preserve Draft Master Plan Available
The draft Master Plan for Sam’s Point Preserve can be downloaded at the Nature Conservancy web site, or hard copies are available for review at the libraries in Cragsmoor, Ellenville, and New Paltz.
(Revised posting July 22, 2009.)
Seven Peaks Project Public Meeting Summary
The Town of Mamakating Planning Board held a public meeting on February 24, 2009 regarding the proposed Seven Peaks at Mountain Road project. The developers, Mountain Road Preserve, LLC, did a presentation in which they attempted to address every point earlier made in a letter from the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation requesting that DEC assume lead agency status. The planners are going to great efforts to meet these issues head on at this point. Whether or not they’re followed through with in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is to be monitored closely.
Some specific points addressed by the developers included:
- A trail route is being planned along the westernmost (steep slope) edge of the development area.
- A viewshed analysis is supposed to be done for each of the structure sites. They indicated that they are looking into various ways to reduce the visibility of the structures.
- Surveys of specific species and species communities have already been carried out and the relative rarity ratings of species in question indicate they do not need to be concerned beyond some possible pro-active protection of chestnut oak communities.
- Basha Kill watershed issues seemed to be addressed by their planning a large “conservation” area near the headwaters of the tributary streams and reduced disturbance in other construction areas.
There were indications that a site in the north-west corner of the property may be intended for a 200-room hotel. So far there seems to be no evidence that the hotel is being considered in the overall impact for the development by either the DEC or the developers.
Several local residents expressed support based upon the supposed local tax revenue the project would generate. One person expressed the sentiment that this “environmentally sensitive development” is a far better one than having another 500-unit condo development which could be the alternative.
Concerns not mentioned that need to be addressed include: the effect on the water table and the communities below, and the ridge’s susceptibility to fire and the danger that presents to multi-million dollar homes buried back in the trees.
The developers indicated that they’ll prepare a response after reviewing the written comments and the meeting transcript. March 6th is the deadline to submit further comments, to be directed to: Town of Mamakating Planning Board, Mamakating Town Hall, 2948 Route 209, Wurtsboro, NY 12790
Edited from a summary prepared by Larry Wheelock, NY West Hudson Regional Representative, New York - New Jersey Trail Conference. (Posted Feb. 27, 2009.)
New Threat: Major Development Proposed for Southern Shawangunks
A major development project, called “Seven Peaks on Mountain Road,” has been proposed for the southern Shawangunks. The Seven Peaks property envelops 650 acres of the Shawangunks as it drapes over the ridge top and down both the eastern and western slopes. See: Map.
This venture incorporates three phases:
- Phase 1 entails building a gated community with 49 houses, each 8,500 square feet, with 6 bedrooms and 7+ bathrooms. Each $8 million house would be on a lot 5 acres or larger.
- Phase 2 is comprised of a 200 room hotel, and a conference center, spa and restaurants.
- Phase 3 involves further residential development on parcels of 17 and 10 acres.
Notably, this proposal’s environmental review must scrutinize Seven Peak’s impact at full build-out (all three phases). Analyzing only one phase at a time, or segmentation, is a violation of the State Environmental Quality Act (SEQR).
For further information, contact: Shawangunk Ridge Coalition (of which Friends is a member) at 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430; 201-512-9348 x25; info@shawangunkridge.org (Posted Feb. 12, 2009.)
Save the Lakes
Friends of the Shawangunks is acting as fiscal agent for Save the Lakes, a group working to stop the inappropriate development of Williams Lake Resort in Rosendale. To make a tax-deductible donation to Save the Lakes, send us a check made out to Friends of the Shawangunks, with “Save the Lakes” in the memo space. Or you can donate on-line, putting “Save the Lakes” in the “Designate my donation” box.