Email from Belleayre Resort (Crossroads)

To all our friends who have expressed their support for or interest in the Belleayre Resort Project.
 
This past week a major hurdle was crossed in our effort to obtain permission from the State of New York to construct the Resort.
 
The staff of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the state agency that decides what environmental impacts might result from the construction and operation of the resort, have declared that there are no significant or substantive issues that would cause the DEC to deny permission for the project to be built.
 
While this determination might yet be challenged by opponents of the Resort, the burden now falls squarely on these opponents to prove that DEC‘s own staff and consultants, after 14 years of review, are wrong.
 
While it is regrettably not possible to predict when permits to build will finally be issued, that day is certainly closer this week than last.
 
In the meantime both the towns of Shandaken and Middletown have begun their review of the project before their respective planning boards.  Once the DEC issues what is called a “Final Environmental Impact Statement” both the DEC and the local planning boards can then issue permits allowing construction to commence.
 
We hope this final leg of a 14 year journey to obtain permission to build the Belleayre Resort will not extend beyond the end of this year.   Your interest in and support for this project has been critical in convincing state and local authorities that this project will help sustain the economy of our region and serve to improve the lives and opportunities for all who live in or visit the central Catskills.
 
We will keep you updated on our progress through periodic emails and through our website at: www.belleayreresort.com
 
Our many thanks!
Crossroads Ventures LLC

Great! Now, all they need for a successful roll out is a casino! Wait........

I've concluded lately that Cuomo is just a common thug in a suit. Not that that's anything unusual in the history of NY state politics. (Everyone should watch the Roosevelts, on now on your local PBS outlet. They are going to repeat the series this weekend starting Saturday. Mucho NY political history to learn)

 

Benny Profane wrote

(Everyone should watch the Roosevelts, on now on your local PBS outlet. They are going to repeat the series this weekend starting Saturday. Mucho NY political history to learn)

+1
We've been watching The Roosevelts all week with our 3 girls.  Sometimes Ken Burns documentaries can get boring but this one is great.  Both TR and FDR are fascinating. TR affected NY more directly than FDR.  

For anyone with middle or high school kids (or an interest in US history) I'd highly recommend visiting the FDR site in Hyde Park.  Some really great stuff on the Great Depression and WWII.  Also has FDR's car down in the basement.

Petronio

Traveling on business just saw some of Roosevelts last night.  Segment on the depression.  Awesome.Hard to believe the arguments for lynching.  States rights.  Wtf.

Harvey wrote

Hard to believe the arguments for lynching.  States rights.  Wtf.

Yeah I saw that part.  The pic they showed -  that poor guy looked like he was beaten pretty bad before they even strung him up.  They lynched women and kids too.  Not much different from ISIS if you aske me.

The Roosevelts has been great. I've read a bio on TR before too...he is fascinating to me. FYI:  You can stream all episodes on PBS' website:http://video.pbs.org/program/roosevelts/     

Wait a minute, this is a thread about Belle...  The development, even scaled back as it is in its current form is way too big for the area.  I think if they do anything, bring back Highmont and perhaps a small develpment and see if the market can support that. Whatever they build, I'm still driving right past it until I get to Platty.Oh, and Cuomo is a hot air filled buffoon.  

I find it comical, yet I have to admit I'm wondering if they know something we don't.

Friends and Supporters of the Belleayre Resort:

You may have seen the headlines “One More Deadline” and the connected story that implies that the State has extended the public comment period on the Resort… don’t be discouraged this is a bit of a misrepresentation.  The public comment period indeed closed on July 25, 2013 and based upon the comments received minor revisions to the plans were again made and submitted to the DEC.  After their extensive review, on September 10th of this year the DEC Staff declared that the issues determined to be subject to adjudication back in December of 2006 have been addressed by modifications to the project or are no longer relevant. They also stated with respect to the modified project that “staff have otherwise determined that there are no substantive and significant issues requiring an adjudication” and moved for Cancellation the Adjudicatory Proceedings and Dismissal of the motion by Friends of the Catskill Park for reconsideration of the December 29, 2006 Interim Decision of the Deputy Commissioner.

The good news is that on September 29th, the Assistant Commissioner for Hearings and Mediation Services issued a nine page memorandum to all the “involved parties” of the pending proceedings giving them until November 17th to respond to the DEC Staff’s motion.  He very clearly limits the Scope of the Responses to the Issues that were identified in the 2006 Interim Decisions and continues to state that should the respondent raise a new issue that they feel is substantive and significant they must explain why they have reached that conclusion and offer proof of any evidence in support of their position and the grounds on which it makes its assertions.  In other words, more unsubstantiated assertions will not be considered by the DEC.

Yes it is “one more deadline” but we feel this is a positive step forward.

As always we continue to appreciate your support for and interest in the Belleayre Resort.

Crossroads Ventures, LLC