Follow us on Twitter!
subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, Jul 11 2009 

Published: March 17, 2008 12:00 am    print this story  

Resort proposal removes some Belleayre trails

By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau

A plan to scale back development of the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, which is part of the Crossroads resort project, is being opposed by Sen. John Bonacic.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is behind the plan criticized by the Mount Hope Republican, whose district includes Delaware County.

However, the seven environmental organizations that signed the Agreement in Principle expressed satisfaction with the detail and thoroughness of the proposal. They also agreed with the decision to drop the proposed Belleayre East trails and lift from the plan.

Bonacic said the DEC is wrong to remove the trail development plans on the east side.

The final scoping document for environmental reviews related to the proposed Wildacres and Highmount Spa Resort complex and the unit management plan for the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center was released by the DEC on Feb. 28.

The DEC began gathering public input in the fall. The purpose of the final scope is to outline the factors that must be included in the environmental impact statements for the resort project and the unit management plan.

The next step in the process is preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the ski center expansion and preparation by Crossroads LLC, the resort sponsor, of a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the Belleayre Resort.

"Unit Management Plans are exactly that _ plans," Bonacic said. "They are rarely, if ever fully implemented or fully funded in one year.

"The state has made the decision to be in the ski business and we ought to do it well," Bonacic said last week.

"If the DEC is now claiming that we need the money in the budget to fund every element of a UMP, then that means there will be no long-term planning for the growth of our parks and recreation system in the Catskills."

Bonacic said he felt the DEC was "giving in to the complaints of nearby ski areas rather than embracing the public mission of a publicly owned ski facility. By scaling back the UMP, we are saying that we want to be in the ski business, but only if it doesn't offend anyone. Either you are in the ski business or you not."

Representatives for interest groups said the DEC review is necessary.

"We are pleased that DEC will be reviewing impacts from the Ski Center and Belleayre resort just as they would any other project," Cathleen Breen of New York Public Interest Research Group said in a media release.

Deborah Meyer DeWan of The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development said "the DEC should evaluate all impacts of the Belleayre Resort and the Ski Center, as well as their cumulative impacts, fully.

"Additional ski development in this environmentally sensitive region runs the risk of damaging the watershed and trampling upon lands adjacent to those that would be protected as forever wild under the Agreement in Principle," she added.

James L. Simpson, a staff attorney with Riverkeeper, said, among the many issues will be an evaluation of salt storage and road salt alternatives, the impacts to wetlands connected off-site and an analysis of pervious surfaces for parking lots.

Roy Hochberg, from the Catskill Mountains chapter of Trout Unlimited, said the studies would produce "useful analyses and data," but he added "we remain concerned about potential water quality impacts from these developments, especially the water quality impacts from the proposed ski center expansion."

The resort development project will be in the towns of Shandaken in Ulster County and Middletown in Delaware County, within the boundaries of the Catskill Park.

___

Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.

print this story  



Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

The Neptune Diner is now accepting applications
The Neptune Diner is now accepting applications for Overnight Waitstaff Apply in Person Rt. 23 Southside....>MORE

Now Hiring ExperiencedSous Chef & Grill Cooks.
Now Hiring ExperiencedSous Chef & Grill Cooks. FT & PT. Apply in Person @ Tunnicliff Inn 607-547-9611...>MORE

Now Hiring QuickwayManager Hartwick/Oneonta NY
Now Hiring QuickwayManager Hartwick/Oneonta NY To Apply Call 607-237-4593 or email flo.kemeren@mirabito.com...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Autos

New, Used, Dealer or Individual
If you have a new or used car that you want to sell, advertise here on our Premium Auto section of our website. Whether...>MORE

1996 Sunline Travel Trailer: 26 ft.,
1996 Sunline Travel Trailer: 26 ft., excellent shape. Everything works $3800. Call 607-278-6887 ...>MORE

Clean 03 Hyundai Elantra
Clean 03 Hyundai Elantra Front Motor Seal Needs Replacing $2250.00...>MORE

Selling your car?
If you are looking for another way to advertise that you are selling your new or used vehicle, call The Daily Star Class...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Real Estate

4 bedroom Stamford village house
4 bedroom Stamford village house, no pets, all amenities $750 + deposit & utilities. 652-9019 ...>MORE

Portlandville & Otego $400-$650/mo.
Portlandville & Otego $400-$650/mo. + Utilities Security & 1 Yr Lease.Dave @ 607-330-5703...>MORE

2 & 3 bedroom apt.'s in West End
2 & 3 bedroom apt.'s in West End with garage. No pets $600 & $725/mo + util. 432-8709 after 5pm...>MORE

Oneonta 1st FL Spacious
Oneonta 1st FL Spacious 1 Bed, Garage, W/D No Pets/Smoke. Quiet & Professional $695 + Util. Avail 7/1 Call Steve 607-...>MORE

1 bedroom quiet building in Oneonta.
1 bedroom quiet building in Oneonta. In house laundry. No pets, $550+. 518-294-6719...>MORE

See all ads

thedailystar.com
Home
Local News
Local Sports
Obituaries
Weather
Community
Police Blotter
Lifestyles
Letters to the Editor
Editorials
Columns
Community News
Forums
Contests
AP Headlines
Street Talk
Special sections
Web Extras
Archive
Photos
Video
Births
Step Back in Time
Support Groups
What's Going On
Communtiy Calendar

Columnists
Emily Popek
Sam Pollak
Tanya Shalor
Tom Sears
Tom Grace
Lisa Miller
Cary Brunswick
Mark Simonson
My Turn
Michele Clapperton
Additional Resources
Business Card Index
Real Estate Professionals
Stay Tuned - TV Guide
Social Networks
WUOW Radio
SUNY Oneonta Weather Cam
Breaking News Alerts

Market Place
Jobs
Cars
Classifieds
Free Coupons
Yellow Pages
Place an ad
Employment Opportunties
Cafe Press: The Daily Star Store
Circulation
Subscriptions
Renew Subscription
Use EZ Pay
Vacation Stop
Delivery Feedback
Address Change
Weekly Star Locations

Services
Report a website issue
Contact Information
Advertise with us
Website Design
Photo Reprints
Can't find an article
Full Page Reprint

Reader Submissions
Birth Announcement
Community Event Announcement
Wedding / Engagement Announcement
News Tip or Story Idea
Photos
Letter to the Editor
Closing, Delay or Cancellation






Partners
Prom dresses Fundraisers Full Tilt kids bedding
Concert Tickets Speedy-paydayloans and Cash Advance Wireless broadband Cash Advance Car Rental Avis - Hertz - Europcar
Casinos Canda Online Gambling News Online Casino Place Your Link Here! Payday Loan
Geld Reverse Phone Number Lookup

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Advertiser index