Stissing Mountain CEA expansion talks continue

PINE PLAINS — Discussion about the proposed expansion of the Stissing Mountain Critical Environmental Area (CEA) continued at the Thursday, July 14, Town Board meeting; it began at a public hearing on the matter that opened at last month’s board meeting. That meeting, like last week’s, brought a large number of residents to the Town Hall to hear what was being said.

Absence regretted

Gregg Osofsky, chair of the town’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC), could not make it to the June public hearing, but he was present at the meeting on July 14. He was granted permission to address the crowd and the board at that time.

“I apologize that I wasn’t there, but I did go through the minutes and the recordings [of the public hearing],” he said. “We are a new council … and we weren’t really able to provide the level of outreach [I would have liked]. I wasn’t aware of the level of public concern and we weren’t in front of that, and I want to apologize for that. It was a big lesson learned.”

Getting educated

The public hearing on June 16 regarded the creation of the expanded Stissing Mountain Critical Environmental Area, which impacts Stissing Lake, Twin Island Lake and Thompson Pond. The overwhelming majority of those who attended that hearing opposed the proposed expansion. Many of the complaints raised at the hearing were based on the fact that the proposed expansion affects land designated for commercial use or private homes.

At last week’s meeting, Osofsky stressed that education on the Stissing Mountain’s CEA is key for those wanting a deeper understanding of the proposed expansion.

“The more people who know about the natural resources of the area, the more that can be factored into the decision making,” he said. “The CEA is a community resource that is unparalleled, and the intention really is to protect those areas with more vigilance; that’s why it was singled out. There needs to be more communication with the community, so I’m glad we’re taking the time to do that.”

The big picture

Osofsky went on to say that Town Planner Nan Stolzenburg began looking at Stissing Mountain CEA back in 2004 and has been studying it since. Town Supervisor Gregg Pulver added it’s important to the town to treat its environmentally sensitive areas prudently, especially when looking at the big picture.

“One of the things we have to keep in mind, and I don’t think any of us realized, is how is this going to dovetail with the existing zoning,” he said. “The Stissing Lake CEA is a no-brainer. But what’s defined in the zoning document as a prime development area is now part of the CEA … I think the issue for me is we’re looking at another layer of bureaucracy that we may not have needed in there.”

Pulver went on the say the Planning Board has the ability to “do everything the CAC has asked for anyway,” which was one of the issues raised at last month’s public hearing. He added he would like to look at additional materials on how the affected areas already deemed one way would be impacted if the CEA is expanded.

A matter of paperwork?

“Given that the only real requirement of [expanding] the CEA is that [an applicant] would have to do a long form SEQRA [State Environmental Quality Review Act] process [Environmental Assessment Form] instead of a short form, and that really means there will be more questions asked — it’s not that a different determination will come up — it’s just two pages versus 22 pages,” Osofsky said.

“That could be fairly extensive, going from two pages to 22 pages,” Pulver replied, adding he would like to wait for Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky to weigh in on the matter before making any decisions, as well as Stolzenburg.

Water concerns

Town Councilwoman Rosemary Lyons-Chase then brought the issue of water, and where it runs off, into the discussion.

“Doesn’t all water shed off somewhere?” she asked, noting there are many details to consider. “I love the idea of you saying education [is important]. We want to be aware of the water and where it runs off. All of us are learning more of where the water goes and how we’re living with it.”

“We’re adding so many layers to a zoning document that is new and we don’t know where it’s going to end up,” Pulver said. “That’s why I asked [Town Engineer] Ray Jurkowski to weigh in, too. In my humble opinion, if this goes any further there will be another public hearing with plenty of notice.”

Dispersing information

The supervisor then addressed those in the CAC who complained the town did not include maps and other information they felt were available and should have been publicized on the town’s official website for residents to review, well in time before the public hearing. Both he and his assistant, Karen Pineda, said the items in question were not submitted in the proper format and therefore not published online.

“You want something on the website,” he said, “you need to bring it to us in the final form and we’ll get it on.”

In lieu of zoning?

The discussion returned to the details of the CEA expansion; CAC member Joan Redmond addressed whether the CEA can substitute for zoning protection. The answer: No, the CEA cannot be considered as a type of development control. It only provides heightened awareness of a designated area and raises a “red flag” of significant worries if a particular section is to be developed or altered.

For the people

As the conversation drew to a close, Louis Galm spoke from the crowd about his concerns regarding board members’ influencing the final outcome based on their personal wants and desires.

“State law mandates board members represent [the people],” he said. “You cannot do anything to influence the Planning Board on their decision. Be fair.”

“We’re aware of that,” Pulver replied. “We have a new ethics law, so if there are any [concerns] you can file a complaint.”