Belleayre Resort SDEIS

Annimation constructed from images in Appendix 25: Visual Impact Assessment

Resort Project SDEIS Submitted, Now Available Here

In early April 2011 Crossroads Ventures submitted its long-overdue supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) for the proposed Belleayre Resort to the Department of Conservation (DEC). The DEC will conduct an internal review to determine whether the document meets the scoping requirements for the proposed project. If the submission is determined to be complete and adequate for review, the DEC will produce a new unit management plan for the state-run Belleayre Ski Center and write a cumulative impacts assessment of the two proposals. Once all internal reviews are complete, a public comment period will be scheduled.

During the DEC review period, CHA will also be looking at the document and will share our findings as they become available. In addition, through a New York State Freedom of Information Law request, CHA has obtained an electronic copy of the SDEIS and made all of it available to the public on this website.

Below is the SDEIS Table of Contents. Simply click on the highlighted section title, figure, table, plan sheet or appendix to open the associated file. As noted, some files are quite large and may take a few minutes to download. The SDEIS files are PDF (Portable Document Format) files. To open these files, you will need Adobe Reader software installed on your computer. To download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader, click on the button below.

We encourage you to review the SDEIS, especially the areas that most concern you, and to prepare any comments you may have for the DEC's official public comment period. Prior to that, CHA welcomes your comments on the SDEIS and any suggestions you may have on aspects of the document you think CHA should focus on. You can email those comments or suggestions to info@catskillheritage.org.

For nearly twelve years, Catskill Heritage Alliance has led scrutiny of the Belleayre Resort project at the grassroots level and has coordinated efforts to minimize, if not eliminate, the proposed project's adverse impacts. In seeking that goal, CHA has often required the services of environmental and legal experts, especially at key points in the environmental review process. The submission and upcoming review of the project's SDEIS is such a key stage. If you'd like to support our efforts at this critical time, please consider becoming a member or making a donation via the link at the upper left of this page. Thank you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
MODIFIED BELLEAYRE RESORT AT CATSKILL PARK
April 2011

COVER SHEETS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1-1

1.1 Project Site Location 1-1

1.2 General Project Description 1-1

1.3 Project Purpose, Need and Benefits 1-5

1.4 Environmental Review, Permits and Approvals, Public grants and Funding Sources 1-22

1.4.1 Local

1.4.2 County

1.4.3 Regional

1.4.4 State

1.4.5 Federal

SECTION 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE MODIFIED PROPOSED ACTION 2-1

2.1 Overall Project Design and Layout 2-1

2.2 Highmount Spa Resort 2-2

2.3 Revised Wildacres Layout Including Highmount Golf Club 2-4

2.4 Wastewater Collection and Treatment
Pine Hill's Wastewater Treatment Plant 2-10

2.5 Substituted Lands Comprising the Project Site 2-11

2.6 Disposition of Former Big Indian Plateau Lands 2-12

2.7 Relationship to Belleayre Mountain Ski Center 2-13

2.8 Project Details 2-13

2.8.1 Buildings

2.8.2 Roads and Parking

2.8.3 Vehicular and Pedestrian Access and Circulation

2.8.4 Golf Course and Golf Course Management

2.8.5 Areas of Disturbance, Impervious Areas and Lands to
Remain Undeveloped

2.8.6 Water Supply, Potable and Irrigation

2.8.7 Wastewater

2.8.8 Grading, Drainage, and Earthwork

2.8.9 Construction Activities and Phasing

2.8.10 General Erosion Control Activities

2.8.11 Lighting, Landscaping and Signage

2.8.12 Energy and Materials Management

Section 2 Figures [Large file: 52MB] 2-54

Section 2 Tables 2-55

SECTION 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACT ANALYSIS
AND ADDITIONAL MITIGATION MEASURES 3-1

3.1 Surface Waters including Aquatic Habitats 3-1

3.1.1 Stormwater Management

3.1.2 Sediment and Erosion Control

3.1.3 Water Supply

3.1.4 Wastewater Collection, Treatment and Discharge

3.1.5 Golf Course Management

3.1.6 Stream Crossings

3.2 Groundwater Resources 3-23

3.2.1 Water Supply

3.2.2 Wastewater Collection, Treatment and Disposal

3.2.3 Golf Course Management

3.2.4 Blasting

3.3 Soils 3-29

3.3.1 Stormwater Management

3.3.2 Sediment and Erosion Control

3.4 Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology 3-34

3.4.1 Vegetation

3.4.2 Wetlands/Waters of the US

3.4.3 Wildlife

3.5 Traffic 3-47

3.6 Visual Resources 3-57

3.7 Noise 3-60

3.8 Land Use and Planning 3-63

3.8.1 Current Land Uses

3.8.2 Land Use Planning and Zoning

3.8.3 Compatibility with Land Use Plans and
Effects on Future Developments

3.9 Socio-economics 3-68

3.10 Community Services 3-69

3.11 Global Climate Change and Carbon Footprint 3-73

3.12 Air Quality 3-76

3.13 Cultural Resources 3-78

3.14 Catskill Forest Preserve 3-79

Section 3 Figures [Large file: 22MB] 3-83

Section 3 Tables 3-84

SECTION 4 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 4-1

4.1 Vegetation 4-1

4.2 Wildlife 4-1

4.3 Erosion and Water Quality 4-1

4.4 Fugitive Dust 4-2

4.5 Sound 4-2

4.6 Visual 4-2

4.7 Traffic 4-2

4.8 Water Supply 4-2

4.9 Global Warming and Carbon Footprint 4-3

SECTION 5 ALTERNATIVES 5-1

5.1 Comparison of Proposed Action with Previously Proposed Project 5-1

5.2 Alternative Layout for Highmount Spa Resort 5-3

5.3 Alternative Golf Course Layout 5-6

5.4 Alternative Water Supply 5-7

5.5 Alternative Wastewater Disposal 5-7

5.6 Alternative Golf Course Management Practices 5-8

5.7 Alternative Stormwater Management Practices 5-8

5.8 Alternative Construction Phasing Plan 5-9

5.9 No-Action Alternative 5-10

SECTION 6 IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE
COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES 6-1

SECTION 7 GROWTH INDUCING AND SECONDARY IMPACTS OF THE MODIFIED PROPOSED ACTION 7-1

SECTION 8 EFFECT OF THE MODIFIED PROJECT ON THE USE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 8-1

SECTION 9 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 9-1

REFERENCES

PLAN SHEETS

Cover Sheet

L1.00-L1.02 Project Master Plans: L1.00, L1.01, L1.02

L2.00-L2.01 Existing Conditions Plans: L2.00, L2.01

L2.02-L2.03 Soil Inventory Plans: L2.02, L2.03

L2.04-L2.05 Slope Mapping: L2.04, L2.05

L2.06-L2.09 Wetland Inventory: L2.06, L2.07, L2.08, L2.09

L3.00 Project Phasing Plan

L3.01 Construction Phasing for Phase 1 Development

L3.02-L3.21 Sediment and Erosion Control Plans: L3.02, L3.03, L3.04, L3.05, L3.05a, L3.06, L3.07, L3.08, L3.09, L3.10, L3.11, L3.12, L3.13, L3.14, L3.15, L3.16, L3.17, L3.18, L3.19, L3.19a, L3.20, L3.20a, L3.20b, L3.21

L3.22-L3.23 Final Stabilization Plans: L3.22, L3.23

L4.00-L4.11 Grading and Drainage Plans: L4.00, L4.01, L4.02, L4.03, L4.04, L4.05, L4.06, L4.07, L4.08, L4.09, L4.10, L4.11

L5.00-L5.15 Stormwater Modeling Diagrams: L5.00, L5.01, L5.02, L5.03, L5.04, L5.05, L5.06, L5.07, L5.08, L5.09, L5.10, L5.11, L5.12, L5.13, L5.14, L5.15

L6.00-L6.11 Site Layout, Materials and Planting Plans: L6.00, L6.01, L6.02, L6.03, L6.04, L6.05, L6.06, L6.07, L6.08, L6.09, L6.10, L6.11

L7.00-L7.08 Road Profiles: L7.00, L7.01, L7.02, L7.03, L7.04, L7.05, L7.06, L7.07, L7.08

L8.00-L8.03 Site Details: L8.00, L8.01, L8.02, L8.03

PN1-PN1P Preliminary Water and Wastewater Design [Large file:25MB]

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Agreement in Principle

Appendix 2 Conservation Easement

Appendix 3 Socioeconomic and Fiscal Conditions and Effects

Appendix 4 Growth Inducing and Secondary Impacts

Appendix 5 Fiscal and Marketing Information: Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3 [Very large file: 118MB]

Appendix 6 Ulster and Delaware Counties' Project Support Resolutions

Appendix 7 DRBC Permit Application [Large file: 44MB]

Appendix 8 NYSDEC Article 15 Permit Application

Appendix 9 NYSDEC WSA Application [Large file: 44MB]

Appendix 10 NYSDEC Individual Stormwater SPDES Permit Application

Appendix 11 Traffic Impact Study

Appendix 12 Supplemental Cultural Resources Study With OPRHP No Adverse Impact Letters [Large file: 41MB]

Appendix 13 Water System Preliminary Design Report: Pt. 1 [Large file: 43MB], Pt. 2 [Very large file: 172MB]

Appendix 14 Updated USACOE Submission Materials [Large file: 83MB]

Appendix 15 Organic Golf Course Management Plan

Appendix 16 Wastewater Collection and Disposal Preliminary Design Report [Large file: 25MB]

Appendix 17 Irrigation Wells Test Report

Appendix 18 Stormwater Management Design Report

Appendix 19 Draft Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

Appendix 20 Noise Impact Study

Appendix 21 Invasive Species Control Plan

Appendix 22 Water Budget Analysis

Appendix 23 Wildlife Survey Results

Appendix 24 Air Quality Assessment

Appendix 25 Visual Impact Assessment

Cover Sheets

Table of Contents

Part 1: Five Mile Study Area - Proposed Project Plan [Very large file: 134MB]

Part 2: Five Mile Study Area - Nighttime Conditions

Part 3: Viewpoints Outside Five Mile Study Area

Part 4: Five Mile Study Area - Alternative Project Plan [Large file: 84MB]

Atttachment: Email from Fraser & Assoc. to DEC

Appendix 26 Traffic Noise Impact Assessment

Appendix 27 Service Provider Correspondence

Appendix 28 Climate Change and Carbon Footprint

Appendix 29 SEQRA Documentation