Belleayre build out is the big question

What did those opposed to full build out like?

“We also strongly endorse the principles of the Core Alternative: a renovated and expanded base area and satellite lodges up-mountain, upgraded food services and retail spaces and choices, a modernized and well-stocked rental department, a new learning center, new and safer high speed lifts, energy efficient snowmaking equipment, and green (LEED-certified) construction with the use of solar energy when possible,” CHA speakers were being asked to note this week. “Further, we strongly endorse investing in BMSC’s future to ensure that it will remain a destination and a driver of the local economy as the warming trend associated with climate change shortens winter and makes winter recreation less sustainable. Specifically, we endorse plans for BMSC to construct more trails that can be used for all-season sports (cross country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding) and that link to the trail network of the 1200-acre Big Indian Parcel adjacent to BMSC’s existing footprint and that can also tie in to the proposed regional rail trail along the Ulster-Delaware Rail Bed. We endorse the use of the lodges and grounds of BMSC for cultural events, festivals, educational courses and seminars, private events, and conferences.”

Filling the newspapers with support

The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park, meanwhile, has filled its websites with support letters and editorials from the local press, as well as lists of press contacts and elected officials to send support letters to, in addition to the written comments requested by the DEC.

The Coalition to Save Belleayre Mountain, formed in the 1980s when it seemed that the current Governor Cuomo’s father was leaning towards mothballing the state-owned ski center, was meanwhile urging strong support among its members.

“Your support is extremely important,” reads its missive, with links to other support entities including the Partners for Progress, a group of local business leaders whose website is now in Chinese.

Concurrent with all this activity, letters columns for local newspapers have filled up of late with opinions for and against the current state expansion plans at Belleayre and, in particular, the resort plans that have been pushed by the local development group Crossroads Ventures for over a decade now.

In a separate interview last week, consultant Gary Gailes of Crossroads noted how reports that there might ever be a casino at Belleayre were “completely erroneous,” and agreed that once permits were in place for a resort, the whole concept would be shopped out to larger companies with track records building and managing such projects.

Both the state Unit Management Plan and revised environmental impact statement for Belleayre Resort, as well as an additional cumulative effects analysis to be discussed on May 29, have been in the works ever since then-Governor Eliot Spitzer announced an Agreement In Principle (AIP) in September, 2007, offering a route out of a DEC review stalemate over the proposed Belleayre Resort. Under the so-called AIP’s guidelines, Crossroads would eschew half of its resort development plans, to the east of the state-owned ski center, in order to tie into expansion plans for Belleayre and have both projects move forward together for final environmental reviews.

There has been no opportunity for public comment on the growth plans for Belleayre in the past five years.

More on what happens May 29 in next week’s papers.